Pre- & Post- Civil War: Display 1  |  Display 2  |  Display 3                Civil War:  Display 4  |  Display 5  |  Display 6

(Note: Any surgical set in existence prior to or during the Civil War 'could' have been used during the War, but it is more likely only the Union Army supplied sets were used in the field by Union Army surgeons after the early months of the War.  The U. S. Army Hospital Department sets were made by American makers, like Tiemann, Hernstein, Kolbe', and Gemrig, expressly for use 'during' the War by Union Army surgeons.   U. S. Army Medical Department sets could have existed before, during, or after the Civil War and were made expressly for the  Union Army.   Other existing sets 'could' have been used by 'contract'  or Army surgeons on both sides during the War.  Contract surgeons typically brought their own instruments for use during the early part of the War due to a lack of instruments on both sides early in the War.  As the War progressed, contract surgeons rarely did any 'surgery' since they were relegated to the rear area hospitals on a temporary basis to do follow-up treatment such as changing bandages and to treat disease related problems, which did not include surgery.  Amputations and other major surgery was done by Army qualified surgeons, not the contract physicians. (Points taken from: Dr. Jay Bollet's book on Civil War medicine and surgery)

 

Without serious documentation, the surgical sets owned by contract surgeons are very difficult to document and attribute as being 'Civil War' since the sets may have been in existence for years prior to the War. 

• Be sure to read this short article on: The Truth about Civil War Surgeons by Dr. Jay Bollet

• Additional information from the National Archives and Medical and Surgical History regarding 'contract' physicians

• How to evaluate a Civil War surgical set

• How to identify Civil War military surgical sets

• See a list of American Civil War set makers with identification information

• Surgery Set Evaluations

6.0 c. 1860-64 U. S. Army Medical Department marked capital set by Snowden & Brother, Philadelphia, Pa. See additional details and EXPANDED photos of this set
6.1 c. 1861 U. S. Army Medical Department marked field set by Snowden & Brother, Philadelphia See additional details and EXPANDED photos of this set
6.2 c. 1864,  George Tiemann, N.Y., surgical amputation set.  A very unique set made during the Civil War for civilian use.   See additional details and EXPANDED photos of this set
6.3 c. 1860, Hernstein, New York, large surgical set owned by a Confederate doctor and the type of set a contract or Confederate surgeon would have owned and used.   See additional details and EXPANDED photos of this set
6.4 c. 1860-61 Tiemann, New York, Civil War military style surgical set, owned by 6h Mass. Vol. Militia surgeon Norman Smith, MD See additional details and EXPANDED photos of this set
6.5 c. 1861, Hernstein, New York, military surgical set, (partial) See additional details and EXPANDED photos of this set
6.6 c. 1861-63 Tiemann, New York, Civil War military set (partial) See additional details and EXPANDED photos of this set
6.7 c. 1861-63 Snowden & Brother, Philadelphia, Pa. military issue four tier set (partial) See additional details and EXPANDED photos of this set