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Snowden & Brother, Civil War, U.S.A. Medical Department

Marked Capital Surgical Set

Note: Field sets are smaller and less extensive than Capital sets.  Capital sets would have been in rear areas or hospitals.

Snowden & Brother (George and Henry) were one of the major suppliers to the U.S. Army before and during the Civil War.  This four layer capital set with both military latches and a key hole is from just before or during the first year of the War.  Judging by the amount of bloody use the set shows, I think it is right out of the battle field.  The brass plate is engraved for the U. S. Army Medical Department.  Medical Department sets existed prior to and during the Civil War, so accurately dating the set is hard.  The marking 'Snowden & Bro.' at N. 5th, occurs only during and four years before the War. 

Snowden & Bro. (George P. [1832-?] and Henry C. [1838-?] Snowden become partners I July 1858; William Snowden [1840­?] becomes partner I January 1866; Henry C. retires in May,

1872 and sells interest to George) surgical instrument makers

1858-64: 15 N. 5th

1864-72: 23 S. 8th

 (Edmonson)

    Proof of dates:

The trick on this Medical Department set is how to date it since there is no trade label attached,   The problem can be resolved by comparison with another Snowden and Brother set which does have the trade label. 

Given the amount of use, blood on the instruments, and the unlikelihood of heavy use prior to the War during this period, one could surmise the set was used during the War no matter when it was bought by the Medical Department prior to 1864.

All four sections of the set

Below is the lower section of the set with contents

Above are the contents of the covered box: needles, bone wax, and silver sutures

The tourniquet is not marked

Below is the contents of the lower section of the upper half of the set

Below are the contents of the lift-out tray in the upper half of the set

Below is the contents of the lift-out tray of the lower half of the set

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American Civil War Medical & Surgical Antiques

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Last update: Friday, March 12, 2010