Use of various antique surgical instruments

Illustrated use of various antique surgical instruments during the Civil War

By Dr. Michael Echols

Illustrations below are from the Civil War Hand-book of Surgical Operations, 279 pages, 1862, by Stephen Smith (1823-1922) More on Civil War surgery manuals.

Stephen Smith's Hand-book was the most widely used surgical manual among the Union forces (The History of Surgery in the United States, Ira M. Rutkow, M.D.).

Additional photos of amputation instruments
An 1870 Gemrig catalog with diagrams of instruments.

Click on images to enlarge

A surgical set by Wade and Ford, typical of those used in the field during the Civil War. See this Civil War set.
Various bullet forceps, extractors, and locaters. 1. forceps as found in most surgical sets 2. an expanding wire tip to grab mini ball bullet 3. screw tip to bore into bullet (not very effective) 4. ceramic tip for location of ball by feel and marking 5. scoop type tip to acquire and remove a bullet 6. forceps with ball held in tip
Chain saw, needle with thread for threading the chain, and a needle director for going around the bone and pulling back the end of the chain saw. The handle on one end of the chain is removed and then is attached to the thread and pulled around the bone.
Tourniquet used to apply pressure on the artery to stop or limit bleeding. The knob is turned to increase the pressure and the strap is released with the locking buckle on top of the arm.
The chain, shown on the right, is attached to a thread or 'ligature', which is then threaded from the right to the left. The ligature end is picked up with tweezers on the left and pulled through with the chain. The handle is then re-attached to the chain and the bone sawed (resected) in half.
Hand-hold used to quickly cut the muscle into flaps which will be turned over the end of the bone.
The muscle is hand retracted and an amputation knife is being used to trim down to the bone prior to cutting the bone with a saw.
A small amputation knife being used to cut between the joints during amputation of the fingers.
Lower leg cutting pattern to include flaps which will be turned over the bone stump.
Use of large forceps for removing bone from hand.
Ligature needle with handle used to pass a ligature (thread) through the muscle or around an artery during suturing after the amputation.

Pre-1865 Civilian & Civil War Military Surgical Antiques

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Site last updated: Friday, May 09, 2008

American Civil War Surgical Antiques

Research - Identification - Consultations

Civil War Era Surgical Kits, Surgeon's Swords & Images

The Private Collections of

Dr. Michael Echols

Illustrated use of various antique surgical instruments during the Civil War

American Civil War Surgical Antiques

Research notes and a private collection

Pre-1865 Civilian & Civil War Military Surgical Antiques