Civil War era Tiemann Bleeder Thumb Lancet in Pocket Case For the George Tiemann Company, 'Tiemann & Co.' was the name-form at 63 Chatham St. during the Civil War:   George Tiemann & Co. (George Tiemann, Frederick A. Stohlmann, and Edward Pfarre) surgical instruments              1855-63/64: 63 Chatham and 44 Eldridge The label (not the type used on surgical sets) shows 'Tiemann & Co.', so it's the later date at 63 Chatham and 44 Eldridge in 1855 to 1863. Tiemann did use instruments from other makers, (Eschmann Brothers, 1863-1869: 293 Broadway, N.Y.)  In this tiny leather case (2 1/2 x 1 1/8 x 1/4 in.)  are two tortoise shell 'thumb lancets', used to bleed a patient.  The thumb lancets were made by Eschmann Brothers who were around the corner from Tiemann on Broadway in New York at the same time during the Civil War. See an article on bloodletting and venesection during the Civil War Use of a thumb lancet from Bourgery's Atlas: Click on image to enlarge       The trade label is a real rarity as it would normally have been removed during use, but the lancets are in mint condition, so it can be assumed the set is unused. The  U. S. Army Medical Department specified what instruments were to be found in various set and in the list below are shown two thumb lancets specified for a Pocket Case, so thumb lancets were being used during the War. The Pocket Case contained: 1 scalpel, 3 bistouries, 1 tenotome, 1 gum lancet, 2 thumb lancets, 1 razor (small), 1 artery forceps, 1 dressing forceps, 1 artery needle, 6 surgeon's needles, 1 exploring needle, 1 tenaculum, 1 scissors, 1 director, 3 probes, 1 caustic holder, 1 silver catheter (compound), 6 yards suture wire (iron), ¼ oz. ligature silk, 1/8 oz. wax, 1 Russia leather case. Source:  "The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861-65.)  Part III, Volume II, Chapter XIV.--The Medical Staff and Materia Chirugica"  A list of what was found in various surgical sets during the Civil War: