Tags: USA Hospital Department,
field set, Hospital surgical set, U.S.A. Hosp. Dept., Dietrich W Kolbe,
Civil War Medicine, Surgical Field, Civil War Surgery, Amputation, bone
surgery
A
U. S. Army Hospital Dept.
resection oriented
Civil War surgical set by Dietrich W. Kolbe' of Philadelphia. Kolbe' was
one of the Philadelphia makers (1851 to 1878) who was awarded contracts to
produce surgical sets during the Civil War for the Union troops. His
company was in business from 1851 to 1854 at 45 S. 8th. For a short time he was associated with Kuemerle at 45 S.
8th, then alone at 45 S. 8th from 1856 to 1857 at 45 S. 8th. Later
addresses were on S. 9th until 1879. Kolbe sets are wanted to buy. All dates are from the Directory of
Makers and Dealers as listed by Edmonson in American Surgical Instruments: an
Illustrated History:
D. W. Kolbe (Dietrich W. Kolbe)
1856-57: 45 S. 8th
1858: III S. 8th
1859-66: 32 S. 9th
1867-78: 15 S. 9th (Dietrich W. Kolbe dies 1878)
This Civil War military surgical set was made
with emphasis on amputation and bone surgery. A much lighter general set would have
had male urology sounds, bullet probes and forceps , as well as other minor surgery and
amputation instruments. See an
example of a Tiemann
field surgery set. This set, however, was intended for a hospital or
rear area surgery location, rather than field use.
The set has heavy bone cutting
forceps, chain saw, and various "points and blunts" (hammer and chisels) which
were used to cut and trim bone. It is a "specialty" set for use in dealing
with large human bones and the wounds of war.
Click on photos to
enlarge
