Post
Mortem set belonging to Civil War Surgeon Lucius Manlius Sargent
From the collection of Paul R.
Johnson, MD
Post Mortem anatomic
dissection set by George Tiemann. Paper label indicates 63 Chatham
Street, New York, possibly 1855 - 60. Set consists of bone saw with
detachable handle, costotome for splitting the breastbone, hammer
and chisel for the same purpose, enterotome scissors for opening the
bowel, blowpipe, scissors, forceps, and several dissecting knives
and 2 large closure needles. Lid inscribed Dr. L. M. Sargent.
Dr. Lucius Manlius Sargent was
a Harvard graduate and the first Surgeon for the State of
Massachusetts. He was commissioned Surgeon (Major) of the 2nd Mass.
Infantry. During the first year of the Civil War, he gave up his
Major rank for a Captaincy in the 1st Mass. Cavalry stating: "I am
tired of curing wounds...I now prefer to make them." He rose to
command this regiment and sustained a serious chest wound during the
battle of Aldie, Virginia, June, 1863 during the initial cavalry
engagements of the Gettysburg Campaign. The 1st Mass. was
involved in the major actions of the Army of the Potomac during 1863
and 1864. He was mortally wounded by a shell during
skirmishing near Petersburg, Virginia on Dec. 9th, 1864. His
Boston funeral was attended by Massachusetts Governor Andrews and
many other notables.
Article by Paul R. Johnson, MD
and Samuel B. Burgess, MD
click on image to enlarge
