William Ford and George
Wade joined forces to start an instrument business during 1861 as Wade and
Ford. The business was located in New York at 85 Fulton from 1860 -
1866. They worked with Dr. James R. Wood, a surgeon, on the design of
this type of surgical set. This information is from Edmonson's:
American Surgical
Instruments: an illustrated history:
Wade
& Ford (George Wade and William E Ford) 1860-66: 85 Fulton
(Edmonson notes that
'following the Civil War, Wade & Ford ceased to exist, page 82)
William E Ford & Co. (William E Ford and George Gilman)
1866-71: 85 Fulton
Above is and entry in Hamilton's
book on surgery showing he devised set specifications
for the U. S. Navy (Click to enlarge) Notice the information
immediately below the drawing of a surgery set, which is most
likely from an earlier period noting the banding style and keyed
lock, which would not be military issue)
Also see Federal
Navy surgical set owned by Lewis Whiting,
M. D.
On display is a Civil War-date
general operating set as designed by James R. Wood, M.D. (1813-1882), in
conjunction with the firm Wade & Ford (1860-1866), New York. For a
discussion of this collaboration, see Edmonson, pp. 80-81. Also
see the diagram of
this type set as illustrated in the Civil
War Hand-book of Surgical Operations, 279 pages, 1862, by Stephen Smith
(1823-1922)
The brass cartouche on the lid is
engraved: J.H. Culver / 1863. Josiah Howell Culver, M.D.
(1837-1868), an 1863 graduate of the Medical University of the
City of New York:
Evolution of
the University of the City of New York, Department of Medicine
1841 -
University Medical College organized as the Medical
Department of the University of the City of New York
1861 -
Bellevue Hospital Medical College Founded
See the
commencement notice for Culver at New York
University in 1863, address by none other than Dr.
Valentine Mott.
From the December 1879,
second edition, Alumni Association, Page 91:
|
"1860, Josia
Howell Culver
A. A. Surg.
U.S.A., 1862 -1863. Asst. Surg. U.S.N. March
1863. Placed on retired list on account of ill
health, July, 1867. Died Sept. 25, 1868."
|
Josiah H. Culver was commissioned a United States Navy assistant surgeon
in March of 1863, which means he was trained at the Bellevue Hospital Medical
College and New York University, and then served in the Navy beyond the Civil War until 1867 when he
was retired.
Dr. Culver served on the Federal Navy steamer 'Philadelphia' as an assistant
surgeon.
Dr. Culver may have received the set at the time of his commission in
1863. The source for this documentation is the List of Officers of the Navy of the
United States and the Marine Corp from 1775 to 1900.
Assistant Surgeon Josiah H. Culver served on Federal Navy
Steamer 'Pawnee', Additional information on the
'Pawnee' during the Civil War. He also served on the Civil War Federal Navy South Atlantic Blockading Squadron:
Steamer 'Philadelphia', 1865
Additional information on the
'Philadelphia" during
the Civil War.
Acting Master, George H. Avery.
Acting Ensigns, George R. Bailey, George Edwards, E. R. Davison, John B.
Starr, and Charles D. Duncan.
Assistant Surgeon, Josiah H. Culver.
Assistant Paymaster, Horatio L. Wait.
Engineers: Acting First Assistant, Robert Mulready; Acting Third
Assistants, Chas. T. Wamaling, and John Ryan.
A notice in the New York Times, July
23,1867 shows
Assistant Surgeon Josiah H. Culver has been placed on the retired list
in the Navy Gazette.
Dr. Josiah Culver and Mary Conkling Culver
(he was a US Navy doctor) lived in Wainscott, N.Y.
Click on any
photo to enlarge
Set open with divider (left) in place and
removed (right)
Drawing from Smith's Civil War Surgery
manual
and a lecture ticket for James R. Wood, MD at Bellevue, 1864-65, who
recommended the lay-out of this set
Center tray removed to show eye-surgery
instruments below
Capital saw removed to show neuro-surgery
instruments below
Note the small cast brass prong frame and
hinged brass prongs
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