Post-1880's Surgical
Sets and Instrument identification
Non-Civil War Surgical Sets
The key feature
for identification of post sterilization c. 1870-80's, surgical
sets is the absence of composite, ebony, ivory, or other
non-metallic handles. If it's chrome plated or has a metal
handle, it's post 1890 for sure and maybe post 1880.
If the
instruments have metal handles,
they are NOT Pre-1870 and most likely are post 1880-90. There
is absolutely no way any of the following were used in the Civil
War especially anything marked 'AESCULAP"
Typical 1890's all
metal handle set
Metal handled
knives in post 1880 pocket surgical kits
Typical post 1890's
chrome plated saw and instruments with metal handles
Post 1890
neurological set, all metal trephine, leather bag, Merck
bottles None of which, existed during the Civil War
Post 1880 French
set by Charriere, with many of the attributes of an earlier
set (velvet lined, mahogany case, brass cartouche,
bilateral latches, but the bottom line is the instruments
are all made for sterilization with all metal handles and
are post-1880 for sure
Post 1880 American
set by Shepard and Dudley with all metal handles
Tiemann surgical set c.1881 evaluation
This set came up on eBay in 2008 and I saved the photos for
evaluation and discussion. I do not own this set.
This is an unusual post-sterilization set produced by George
Tiemann & Co. c. 1881. Of particular note is the mahogany
case, which until it is opened, one would think was pre-1860
judging by the brass banding, keyed lock, and brass name
plate.
On opening, the blue velvet interior would be typical of
post-Civil War sets, but the presence of plated metal
handles on the saw, amputation knives, trephine, and absence
of any non-sterilizable materials is the cardinal point of
the example. Tiemann would still put up their
post-sterilization instruments in pre-sterilization cases
and interiors in 1881 as the era of non-sterilization slowly
passed.
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