American Civil War Medical & Surgical Antiques

(A Private Collection - Research and Identification Project)

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

Civil War Surgeon Education & Civil War Medicine Text-books

Established 1995      .   .   .     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

 

Feedback & Contact Dr. Echols  |  Evaluating Civil War surgical sets & instruments  |  Wanted to Buy List

Medical College Index - Lecture Cards  |  Medical Book Author-Title Index  |  Medical Collection Liquidation  

 

Amputation Surgery Set by H. G. Kern, c. 1850

Horatio G. Kern, was in the surgical instrument business in Philadelphia from 1837 to 1893.  He was a contract supplier of instruments to the Union Army during the Civil War.  During the 1860's his location was at 25 N. 6th in Philadelphia, Pa.  Kern sets are wanted to buy.  (Information is from Edmonson; American Surgical Instruments: an Illustrated History):

Horatio G. Kern surgical instrument maker

1837: Filbert St. bel. 8th

1838-42: 7 N. 8th

1843-48: 5 N. 8th

1849-59: 293 High

1860-70: 25 N. 6th

1871-89: 21 N. 6th (joined by Horatio G. Kern, Jr., in 1876; Horatio G. Kern, Sr., dies in 1889)

1890-92: 122 S. 12th surgical instruments

This is an early example of a famous Philadelphia maker who later was a contract supplier during the Civil War for the Union Army.  The rosewood case with ornate inlayed brass cartouche, measures (16.5 x 9.5 x 2.5 in.).  The interior is lined with red velvet.  The ferrules of the amputation knives and metacarpal saw are unique in that they are steel and dissimilar from the metal of the blades.  I have not seen this configuration before.

 

Note the heavy handles on the amputation knives, typical of this earlier era.  The  blades at this point are no longer blunt on the ends or curved, but are now straight as would be found on later, Civil War era knives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

H. G. Kern sets are wanted for this collection... complete or partial sets and instruments

 

  SEARCH this website  |  Feedback & Contact Dr. Echols |  Surgical Set Evaluations  |   Wanted to Buy List

 Main page  |  1800's & Civil War Surgery Set Displays  |  Article Indexes  |  What's New

Medical Faculty & Authors  |  Civil War Medical Books  |  Surgeon Images & Swords  |  Medicine Containers

Medical College Index - Lecture Cards  |  Civil War Medical Book Author-Title Index  |  Medical Collection Liquidations

 

Medical Collections          

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

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

Medical Text-Books:

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

Medical Lecture Cards:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20

Surgeon CDV Images:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

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 |

 

Currently Seeking to Purchase for this Collection

Partial or Incomplete surgical sets or instruments by:  Snowden, Tiemann, Gemrig, Kolbe', Hernstein

 Any medical instrument or book marked:   U.S.A. / Hosp. Dep't.  or  U.S.A. / Med. Department

Medical Antiques Wanted List                             Contact Dr. Michael Echols

American Civil War Medical & Surgical Antiques

This site is an active on-going collection and research project.  Additions are actively being sought.  Information and evaluations on pre-1865 material are gladly provided to individuals, universities, authors, archivists, museums, libraries, auction houses, antique dealers, and researchers. 

Students and teachers are welcome to use the content on this educational site for projects without permission.  All others please request permission before publication.  Material produced by Dr. Echols is copyrighted and all rights are reserved.  Permission is gladly given, but please ask.

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. 

("Braceface" is a term kids apply to other kids who wear braces.  Dr. Echols is a retired orthodontist)

 

Last update: Friday, March 12, 2010