Expanded Photos of

Cased Surgical Sets

This amputation kit belonged to Dr. J.R. Blair, whose name is inscribed on the brass plate on the box. The set was made by Horatio G. Kern of Philadelphia. The firm was founded in 1837 and produced surgical instruments until 1893. Horatio Jr. took over from his father when the senior Kern died in 1889. He had joined the business in 1876. The light blades and shape of the capital amputation saw points to a date just before the civil war. This is a civilian set, without the slide latches. All instruments are original except the bone snips.