American Civil War Surgical Antiques

Research - Identification

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

Civil War Surgeon Education & Medical Books

Established 1995

 

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The Private Collections of

Dr. Michael Echols

Evaluations & Consultations

 

Snowden & Brother, Civil War Military Capital Surgical Set

Note: Capital sets with four tiers are obviously larger than small three tier sets.  Capital sets would have been used 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 tier capital set with military latches is from during the later years of the War.  The marking 'Snowden & Brother.' at N. 5th, occurs only during and four years before the War. 

The brass cartouche appears to have been reversed!  It is not unusual to find a blank brass name plate to have been reversed after the War to hide the ownership.  Surgeon's or a dealer may not have wanted anyone to know their set came from the Army and turned the brass plate over.  The brass plate is wavy as seen on the backside of the casting and there are two brass pins in place as is the Snowden field set on this site.  I have only seen this pinning on Snowden sets.  I'm not willing to take a chance on fracturing the wood case to get a peek at the other side of the brass plate.  More than likely this is a U.S. Army Medical Dept. issued set as it is almost exactly like the other Medical Department set on this site.

Obviously the set is missing a number of parts, but it is what it is.  There is no question about it's origins or intended use given the presence of the heavy bone cutting forceps, bullet probe, bullet forceps, make sounds, and military latches.

Snowden or Snowden & Brother sets are wanted for this collection... complete or partial sets and instruments

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)

A typical Civil War military mahogany case

 

The un-engraved or reversed brass place and Snowden & Brother maker label with the No. 15 North Fifth St. address

Above: the opened case with the removable partition, upper and lower removable trays in place

Below: all four tiers of the case

All instruments in the set

 

A small delicate trocar with point cover and drain

 

 

Tenaculeum and two bistouries

 

One of the most surprising items found in this set is a Physick's suture forceps.  This forceps was used to hold a needle firmly in a groove between the curved jaws of the forceps.  This is the first one I have ever found or seen in a Civil War set and it is shown in the Snowden and Brother catalog dated to the Civil War era.

 

A double ended bullet probe and silver wire suture material

 

 

Handle for a Brainard bone drill, (missing the four drill tips)

 

Pair of heavy retractors, artery or tissue forceps, and dressing or sequestrum forceps

 

(Left) Director for a knife and (Right)  Mott's artery needle key (1/2 of set of 2)

 

Set of heavy bone forceps

 

 

Set of urinary track sounds (left) and French gum catheters (right)

Snowden & Brother's pre-War (1860) catalogue shows they were importers of French gum catheters

 

Catlin (double sided) amputation knife, light bone saw blade

 

Hey saw, elevator - bone rasp, bone brush, cartilage knife, trephine

 

Heavy bladed cartilage knife and blued Galt style trephine crown

(Dating note: The presence of the Galt style crown points to the later years of the War as this type of trephine crown was not available in the earlier years)

 

Typical Civil War years blued cast iron buckle, red & white woven strap and unmarked brass frame tourniquet

 

 

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American Civil War Surgical Antiques 

Research notes and a private collection

 Pre-1865 Civilian & Civil War Military Surgical Antiques

This site contains the personal notes and collection of private collector Michael Echols.  Dr. Echols is not a dealer and nothing on this site is for sale.   All content 'by Dr. Echols' and all photography on this Web Site is copyrighted 1995 - 2008 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.  Information gladly provided to dealers, authors, magazines, archivists, museums, and researchers.  Please reference and link this website to any on-line or printed use.

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Site last updated: Sunday, July 13, 2008