1861 H. Hernstein & Son, U.S. Army Hospital Dept. field set

An extremely rare, 99% complete, and original H. Hernstein made U. S. Army Hospital Department marked and specified three tier field surgical set. Typically field surgical sets would have been issued to the forward operations surgeons as opposed to those issued for use in the rear area hospitals. This extensive set contains amputation instruments, as well as urological, neurosurgical, and heavy bone cutting forceps used to section large leg and arm bones. Also included are a complete set of ivory handled minor surgery knives and instruments.

The Medical Department specified the following list as minimal for a 'Field Operating Case', this set meets these standards:

The Field Case contained: 2 amputating knives (one long, one medium), 2 catlings (one long, one medium), 3 scalpels, 2 bistouries, 1 hernia knife, 1 finger knife, 1 capital saw (long, bow, two blades), 1 metacarpal saw, 1 Hey's saw, 1 trephine (conical), I bone forceps (broad edged, slightly curved, spring handle), 1 bone forceps (sequestrum, spring handle), 1 artery forceps, 1 ball forceps, 1 dressing forceps, 1 dissection forceps, 1 artery needle, 1 artery needle key, 12 surgeon's needles, I tourniquet screw with pad, 1 tenaculum, 2 scissors, 2 retractors, 1 trocar and canula, 1 raspatory, 1 elevator, 1 brush, 1 bullet probe, 1 director, 6 steel bougies, silvered, double curve (Nos. 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 and 10, 11 and 12), 3 silver catheters (Nos. 3, 6, and 9), 6 gum-elastic catheters (Nos. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11), 12 yards suture wire (iron), ¼ oz. ligature silk, ½ oz. wax, 1 mahogany case (brass bound, slide catch), 1 leather pinch; pocket case the same as allowed to staff surgeons.

The ivory handled minor surgery instruments are a carry over into the Civil War from the late 1850's, but are not typically seen in later sets during the war when most makers used the heavier cross-checked ebony handles.

The heavy three layer (16 x 6 3/4 x 4 1/2 in.) mahogany case, purple lined case is typical military issue with sliding latches and no key lock. The cast brass corners pieces are there for re-enforcement as is normal for heavy military issue.

There are three levels of the purple velvet lined case: lid with removable partition, removable tray, and the lower section for urological and heavy bone cutting related instruments.

This is a fine example of a hardcore military-issued field Civil War surgical set for the U. S. Army Hospital Department as was issued to regular regimental surgeons.

H. Hernstein & Son, of New York, was located at 131 and Mercer 393 Broadway, New York city, N.Y., during the Civil War, they produced contract ordered surgical sets for the U. S. Army Medical and Hospital Departments from this address during the Civil War. Hernstein was a contract maker for this type of field surgery sets from the start and until the end of the War. The Hernstein & Son mark verifies the set to have been made during the middle years of the War.

Hermann Hernstein & Son (Hermann and Albert L. Hernstein) 1862-65: 131 Mercer and 393 Broadway (Mid-War)

Hermann Hernstein & Son & Co. 1865: 2 Liberty and 393 Broadway (Post War)

Hermann Hernstein & Co. 1866-67: 2 Liberty and 393 Broadway

Reference: Edmonson