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

 

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c. 1860 Snowden U.S. Army Medical Dept. Post-Mortem Set

This small post-mortem set by Henry C. Snowden, is marked on the brass plaque for the U. S. Army Medical Department and dates to immediately before the Civil War.   Snowden was located at 15 N. 5th from 1858 to 1864.   Henry Snowden was later joined by his various relatives to form Snowden & Brother.  Both houses apparently produced medical instruments during the Civil War.  (American Surgical Instruments: An Illustrated History, by Edmonson):

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

This set is of limited scope, but the presence of the bone chisel would be indicative of more invasive dissection.  I have no idea why there is a bone chisel in the set as I have never seen this before.   One would expect there to be a blunt hammer associated with the presence of a bone chisel, unless this set was part of a larger set.

The mahogany case ( 9 x3 x 2 in. ) has a typical military latch.  Several of the instruments have the Snowden stamp, but nothing to indicate 'Snowden & Bros.' as would be expected on a later set.

Initial research shows that the USA Hospital Department purchased 303 post-mortem cases/sets during the civil war (page 966 of Vol 6 of the reprint of the Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion).  Also, on page 246 (vol 3) is an example of a pre-printed form which was filled out for a post-mortem examination for soldiers.   I am certain that many if not all Brigade Surgeons and directors of receiving hospitals all preformed autopsies.  Specifically, when the USA Hosp. Dept medical museum was created, again autopsies and great illustrative specimens were requested/required. 

 

 

   

Warning: The actual instruments sold by Tiemann during the Civil War were similar to those on these pages, but may not be exactly the same.  Many are exactly the same, but you have to make allowances for sterilization considerations after 1870.

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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: Tuesday, March 16, 2010