Civil War: Hernstein, U.S.
Army Hosp. Dept., Trepanning Set
By Dr. Michael Echols
A rare and complete U. S.
Army Hospital Department issued military trepanning set
by H. Hernstein, New York City, N.Y. It has a detailed a trade label
indicating H. Hernstein, N.Y. with the 393 Broadway address. The label
also indicates it is U. S. Army
Hosp. Dept. issue. The set
brass plate is engraved with 'U.S.A'. (United States Army). The lock is keyed, rather than a
single sliding lock, which would indicate the set was produce early in 1861
before the Medical Dept. specified sliding latches. All instruments
are original to this set.
Hermann Hernstein surgical instruments
1855-57: 81 Duane and 393 Broadway
1858: 81 Duane, 131 Mercer, and 393 Broadway
1859-61: 131 Mercer and 393
Broadway
Hermann Hernstein & Son (Hermann and Albert L. Hernstein) 1862-65:
131 Mercer and 393 Broadway
Hermann Hernstein & Son & Co. 1865:
2 Liberty and 393 Broadway
Hermann Hernstein & Co. 1866-67:
2 Liberty and 393 Broadway
Reference:
Edmonson
The set is engraved on the cartouche
with " U. S. A." and the label indicates the last year Hernstein would have
used this label, which is the first year of the War. The label also
indicates the set was produced under contract for the U. S. Army Hosp. Dept.
All instruments are present and original for this Civil War set.
Trade label is marked: "H. Hernstein, N. Y, Surgical Instruments,
393 Broadway, U. S. ARMY, Hosp.
Dept."
The partition with Hernstein & Son trade label and instrument
list is present the back of the partition
Maker inventory label on back side of the partition
Scalpel is marked "Hernstein & Son"
Bone brush, Hey saw, trephine handle with two sizes of
trephines
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