American Civil War Medicine & Surgical Antiques

(A Private Collection - Research and Identification Project)

Civil War:  Medicine, Surgeon Education, & Medical Text-books

 Dr. Michael Echols

As seen in: Military Images Magazine, American's Civil War Magazine, Warman's Civil War Collectibles, Antique Week, Northeast Antiques, Civil War Army Swords, Civil War Times Illustrated, various TV programs, Antiques & Collecting publications

 

 

2011 - "The sesquicentennial of the Civil War" -  2015

 

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Civil War Surgeon's Sword of Dr. Edwin Bentley

 By Melinda K. Johnson and  Paul R. Johnson, M.D., F.A.C.S.

Contact for Dr. Paul Johnson regarding swords and images

Dr. Bentley was Brigade Surgeon and saw much action during the Peninsular Campaigns of 1862 and was captured with his patients.  Please see his CDV image with discussion and his presentation pistol.

 

M 1840 Medical Staff Sword inscribe to Dr. Edwin Bentley, Brigade Surgeon.  This Ames Surgeon's Sword is unusual in that it exhibits very simple scabbard furniture and fittings.  In fact, rather than the applied devices which hold the hanger-ringlets, they are simply and elegantly applied directly to the scabbard, and decorative engraving surrounds the scabbard in these areas.  Also, the drag is simply applied with similar engraving.

Dr. Bentley's sword with view of hilt and scabbard engraving at hanger-ringlets.  Notice also his presentation inscription.  Silver "M.S." in shield of the crossguard represents Medical Staff.

Dr. Bentley's sword by Ames Manufacturing Co., with beautiful caduceus etching.

 

Bentley's sword by Ames with "U. S. Medical Staff" and typical Ames sunray burst to the left and panolpy of arms to the right.

Dr. Bentley initially was Surgeon for the 1st Conn. Heavy Artillery Regiment.  He was commissioned Brigade Surgeon in early 1862, from whence this presentation sword was given to him. 

 As per discussion with his CDV image, Dr. Bentley served in this capacity, commanding 4 or more of the receiving Hospitals in Alexandria, Virginia.  Unfortunately, whilst there, he had to treat his wife's critical illness, to which she sadly succumbed.  Dr. Bentley was a career Army Surgeon, and is credited with delivering Douglas MacArthur at a Army post.  Dr. Bentley was one of the first physicians to record a successful blood transfusion and ligation of major arteries for hemorrhage during the Civil War.  He is buried under an impressive headstone at Arlington National Cemetery.

See Dr. Bentley's Presentation Sword and Pistol

And... an article about a transfusion by Dr. Bentley

 

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Medical Collections

Direct links to all medical & Civil War collections on this site

American Surgical Sets: Pre-1861:  1 | 2  -   Post-1865:  3  -  Civil War era:  4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8    INDEX

Medical Text-Books:

1 | 1a | 2 | 2a | 3 | 3a | 4 | 4a | 5 | 5a | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9a | 10 | 11 | 12   INDEX

Medical Lecture Cards:

1 | 2 | 34 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21  INDEX

Surgeon CDV Images:

Johnson: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7      De Gregoris: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Medical Staff Swords:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17

Hosp Dept Bottles & Tins:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

American Civil War Medicine & Surgical Antiques

Warman's Civil War Collectibles: medical examples with prices 2010

Please request permission before use or publication of any content or photos on this site and credit: 

" Dr. Michael Echols, www.braceface.com/medical "  

Permission is gladly given, but please ask first

 

All content 'by Dr. Echols' and all original photography on this Web Site is copyrighted 1995 - 2010 and may not be used on any other web site or in print without the expressed e-mail permission from Dr. Echols:  Contact   All rights reserved.  Please note, information on this site may not be normally referenced as this is an active research project and content may not yet be properly cited for publication.  Various articles are digitally reproduced under the fair use act of the copyright laws and are intended for educational purposes only.

Last update: Monday, August 30, 2010