The Private Collection of Dr. Michael Echols

Collector and preserver of Civil War surgical sets and medical text books

Articles on Collecting, Identification, Photos of Surgical Sets, & Civil War Surgeons

The heyday of American-made surgical instruments was from the 1830's to the 1870's and centered in the New York and Philadelphia areas.  Prior to the 1830's and after 1900, most surgical instruments were made in England or Europe and imported to this country.   This web site features American-made Civil War era surgical sets made during or just prior to the Civil War era.  There is information on-site for identification of pre-1870 American surgical sets and there is no charge for consultations, which are offered as a way for us to learn from antiques we do not have in this collection.

Extensive photos of Civil War era surgical sets in this collection
Surgical Set Collection Photos Civil War Era Surgical Sets 1860 to 1865 surgical set photos Display page 1: (c. 1860-1865 ) Display page 2: (c. 1860-1865 ) Display page 3: (c. 1860-1865 ) Surgery Set Evaluations   Pre- & Post-Civil War Surgical 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 )		Photos and information on surgery sets     Kolbe' Civil War U.S. Army Hosp. Dept. surgical set

Topical Indexes for 150+ articles on pre-1870 Surgical Antiques & the Civil War Civil War surgery, sets, and surgeon related articles List of surgical set makers for comparison 1820 to 1880 Surgical set identification and evaluation related articles Medical text books on Civil War surgery and medicine General medical collecting related articles What you really need to know about Civil War surgery sets

Collectors and historians will find methods for dating and identifying various instruments found in pre-1870 surgical sets.  There are articles and exhibits to show variations in style and details of surgical instruments and surgical sets in the 1800's.  The instruments from the sets and books in this collection are used to illustrate various makers and dates.  This information is used to qualify sets or instruments for a given time frame.

Instrument  identification from drawings and descriptions in Civil War era maker catalogs:

Dissecting and Post-Mortem instruments Pocket Instruments Minor Operating Instruments Eye Instruments Ear Instruments Throat Surgery Instruments Instruments for the Urethra and Bladder Lithotomy Instruments Instruments for Operations on Bones Instruments for Amputation Instruments in pocket surgical kits

Also see:

• Identification of Civil War surgical instruments in a military issue case

• Evaluating Civil War pocket surgical kits

This web site is about pre-1870 American-made surgical antiques as well as Civil War surgical instruments and sets.  The instrument sets were relatively simple during the early part of the 1800's because the 'surgeons' procedures were basic and only involved 'heroic' attempts to save a life.  Surgery as we consider it today did not exist.  Instruments were more simple and less numerous in the sets.

1870 is when sterilization began and cased sets changed drastically afterwards to allow for sterilization of the various parts of the instruments.  After 1890, the handles of the instruments were no longer made of ivory, wood, or other porous materials that could not stand up to chemical and heat treatments, thus the trend to use all metal instruments after that point in America.    This collection, by Dr. Michael Echols, centers on the Civil War era previous to sterilization.

 

Civil War Surgeon Images, Medical Swords, Surgeons and the American Civil War:

The private collection of Dr. Paul Johnson An Index: Surgeon Images and Swords Evaluation of surgeon images Image & CDV collection Evaluation of surgeon swords Sword collection photos

Detailed information on Civil War surgeons, CDV's, medical swords, and sets of instruments used during the Civil War are presented in articles and photos.  Evaluations are offered as a way for us to learn from antiques which we do not have in this collection.

 

Civil War books, manuals, and medical education:

Civil War era medical education is explored by a collection of surgical manuals and medical text books which were in the Surgeon General's Office Library during the Civil War Surgery manuals & medical book collection displays Collection Index of Civil War medical books Medical education during and before the Civil War Early American medical libraries Collecting Civil War medical books Evaluating Civil War medical books Civil War era medical books purchased by the U. S. Army Medical Department

Civil War medical text books collection

This site is organized to help Civil War medical collectors, both new and experienced.  Advice and information is offered in a non-threatening and friendly manner in hopes of furthering the distribution of our knowledge.  We have nothing for sale and do not charge for this service.

American Civil War Surgical Antiques

Research notes and a private collection

 Civilian & Civil War Military Sets

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Last updated: Friday, May 09, 2008

All original text and photography appearing on this site is the intellectual property of Michael Echols unless otherwise noted and is protected under United States and international copyright laws. The intellectual property attributed to Michael Echols and his personal notes may not be copied, transmitted, published, reproduced, stored, manipulated, projected or altered in any way without the written (e-mail) permission of Michael Echols, which is generally gladly given.  Website content copyrighted 1995 - 2007, all rights reserved. Links to this site are welcomed and encouraged.