American Civil War Medicine & Surgical Antiques

Surgical Set collection from 1860 to 1865 - Civilian and Military

Civil War:  Medicine, Surgeon Education & Medical Textbooks

 Dr. Michael Echols  &  Dr. Doug Arbittier

 

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C. 1850 Wocher Surgical Set

A c. 1850's amputation set by Maxmillian Wocher of Cincinnati, Ohio.  Wocher was in the instrument business in various forms from 1840 to 1900. 

Max (Maximilian) Wocher surgical instrument maker

1840: E. S. Walnut btw. 4th and 5th

1842-52: College cor. George and Plum

1853: II College

1855: 6th btw. Vine and Race (in Ohio Medical College building)

1856-1869: 105 W 6th (in Ohio Medical College building) surgical and dental instrument maker (1861) surgical and dental instrument manufacturer (1863)

 

Reference: Edmonson

The lay out of the instruments in this set and the capital saw with vertical slots is indicative of the 1850's.  The vertical slots in the saw blade are a design imitation after English maker Weiss.   A really nice early American set typical of the era prior to the Civil War.

The doctor/owner name inscribed on the decorative brass plate is:  "Dr. J. P. Wood / New Lebanon, Ohio"

The bone forceps differ from those of any other maker in the unusually long length of the cutting edges of the forceps.  The forceps are marked and shown in the maker close-up photo.

All instruments, including the tourniquet are marked "M. Wocher / Cin."

The (16 x 6 x  3) mahogany case has a central key lock and as is typical of this pre-Civil War era, having swinging latches on the front of the case.  The interior of the case is lined with red velvet, which is faded to a light brownish color, but the vivid red remains under the areas protected from sunlight.

Of note is the shape of the blades of the long amputation knives.  They are thin width, slender, and curved down.  This would be the transition shape from the heavier, thick, down turned blades typical of the 1840's to the straighter blades seen during the Civil War era.

 

 

 

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American Civil War Medicine & Surgical Antiques

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Last update: Thursday, February 16, 2023