American Civil War Surgical Antiques

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

Civil War Surgical & Medical Books

Established 1995

 

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Pre-1865: Surgery Sets, Medical Textbooks, Medical College Lecture Cards

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Dr. Michael Echols

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   1863 Wade and Ford Surgical Set

Documented set owned by Civil War Naval Officer 

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

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 1860  graduate of  the Medical University of the City of New York, who was commissioned a United States Navy assistant surgeon in March of 1863, and served in the Navy beyond the Civil War until 1867.  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.

Click on any photo to enlarge

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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

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Center tray removed to show eye-surgery instruments below

 

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Capital saw removed to show neuro-surgery instruments below

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Note the small cast brass prong frame and hinged brass prongs

 

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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: Friday, May 09, 2008