American Civil War Surgical Antiques Research - Identification - Consultations Civil War Era Surgical Kits, Surgeon's Swords & Images Civil War Surgical & Medical Books Established 1995

Wanted to Buy List Pre-1865: Surgery Sets, Medical Textbooks, Medical College Lecture Cards

The Private Collections of Dr. Michael Echols

Evaluations & Consultations Provided at No-Charge for Pre-1865 Surgery Sets, Instruments, Medical Textbooks

Military style inlayed sliding brass latch with brass re-enforcements at the corners of the mahogany case.  (See an example of Chrome or plated latches which are much later.)

Left Latch                      Right Latch Bilateral military all brass latches on the front of the case and no key hole, an engraved brass plate on the top of the mahogany case. (Both military latches and a keyed lock are very rare, but do exist)

The brass plate on the top of the case may or may not marked "U.S.A. Hosp'  Dept" or "U.S. A Medical Department."

      

Surgical instrument makers during the Civil War:

These are the maker names you would expect to find on instruments in sets made during or for the Union during the Civil War under contract from the U.S. Army Medical Department  or  U.S. Army Hospital  Department.  You should not see a mix of these names in any one set during the Civil War era.  All the names in a given set should be the same.  Generally speaking, Medical Dept. sets are more likely to be earlier than Hospital Dept. marked sets.  Medical Dept. marked sets cover a longer time frame: before, during, and after the Civil War.

Tiemann, Hernstein, Otto, Reynders, Gemrig, Kern, Snowden, Kolbe, Helmold, Kuemerle, Leypoldt, Teufel, Wirz, Wiegand, Snowden, Codman, Shurtleff, Rees, Wade, Ford, Wocher, Brinkerhoff.

A number of Civil War sets for comparison and identification 1860 to 1865 surgical set photos Display page 1: (c. 1860-1865 )  |  Display page 2: (c. 1860-1865 )  |  Display page 3: (c. 1860-1865 )   Pre- and post- Civil War sets to compare with Civil War sets 1820 to 1888 surgical set photos   Display page 1: (c. 1800-1840 )  |  Display page 2:  (c. 1840-1860 )  |  Display page 3:  (c. 1866-1888 )   Also see examples: Evaluating Civil War pocket surgical kits

A typical large Civil War field operative surgical set which would have been used in 1862-1865, there are smaller and more specialized sets, not shown on this page.  See the Displays above for more sets.

 

Buck's Rectal Trocar                          Male urinary staves or sounds

 

 

                Chain saw for bone resection               Bullet forceps (various types)                 

If you have a set with any of these characteristics, please go here for an evaluation at no charge

Contents as detailed by the U.S.A. Medical Department for Civil War surgical sets 1862

(1) The Capital Operating Case contained: 2 amputating knives (one long, one medium), 2 catlings (one long, one medium), 4 scalpels, 1 cartilage knife, 1 capital saw (long, bow, two blades), 1 metacarpal saw, 1 chain saw, 1 Hey's saw, 1 trephine (conical), 1 trephine (small crown), 1 bone forceps (Liston's long, sharp, spring handle), 1 bone forceps (broad edged, slightly carved, spring handle), 1 bone forceps (gnawing, spring handle), 1 bone forceps (sequestrum, spring handle), 1 artery forceps, 1 artery needle, 1 artery needle key, 12 surgeon's needles, 1 tourniquet screw with pad, 1 tenaculum, 1 scissors, 1 chisel, 1 gouge, 1 mallet, 4 drills (with one handle), 2 retractors, 1 raspatory, 1 elevator, 1 brush, 12 yards suture wire (iron), ¼ oz. ligature silk. 1/8 oz. wax, 1 mahogany case (brass bound, slide catch), 1 leather pouch.

(2) The Minor Operating Case contained: 1 amputating knife, 3 scalpels, 2 bistouries, 1 hernia knife, 1 finger knife, 1 artery forceps, 1 ball forceps, 1 gullet forceps, 1 dressing forceps, 1 dissection forceps, 1 artery needle, 1 artery needle key, 12 surgeon's needles, 1 tenaculum, 2 scissors, 1 trocar and canula. 1 Belloc's canula, 1 bullet probe, 1 director, 1 cutting pliers (small), 6 steel bougies (silvered, double curve, Nos. 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 11 and 12), 3 silver catheters (Nos. 3, 6, and 9), 6 gum-elastic catheters (Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11), 24 suture pins (silvered), 6 yards suture wire (iron), ¼ oz. ligature silk, 1/8 oz. wax, 1 mahogany case (brass bound, slide catch), 1 leather pouch.

(3) The Pocket Case contained: 1 scalpel, 3 bistouries, 1 tenotome, 1 gum lancet, 2 thumb lancets, 1 razor (small), 1 artery forceps, 1 dressing forceps, 1 artery needle, 6 surgeon's needles, 1 exploring needle, 1 tenaculum, 1 scissors, 1 director, 3 probes, 1 caustic holder, 1 silver catheter (compound), 6 yards suture wire (iron), ¼ oz. ligature silk, 1/8 oz. wax, 1 Russia leather case.

(4) The Field Case contained: 2 amputating knives (one long, one medium), 2 catlings (one long, one medium), 3 scalpels, 2 bistouries, 1 hernia knife, 1 finger knife, 1 capital saw (long, bow, two blades), 1 metacarpal saw, 1 Hey's saw, 1 trephine (conical), I bone forceps (broad edged, slightly curved, spring handle), 1 bone forceps (sequestrum, spring handle), 1 artery forceps, 1 ball forceps, 1 dressing forceps, 1 dissection forceps, 1 artery needle, 1 artery needle key, 12 surgeon's needles, I tourniquet screw with pad, 1 tenaculum, 2 scissors, 2 retractors, 1 trocar and canula, 1 raspatory, 1 elevator, 1 brush, 1 bullet probe, 1 director, 6 steel bougies, silvered, double curve (Nos. 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 11 and 12), 3 silver catheters (Nos. 3, 6, and 9), 6 gum-elastic catheters (Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11), 12 yards suture wire (iron), ¼ oz. ligature silk, ½ oz. wax, 1 mahogany case (brass bound, slide catch), 1 leather pinch; pocket case the same as allowed to staff surgeons.

• A list of military surgical set instrument details from the Tiemann catalog

• A list of instruments found in Civil War surgical sets from Frank Hamilton's Civil War surgery textbook

Be sure to read this short article on the Truth about Civil War Surgeons by Dr. Jay Bollet

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