General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

4

Total Parts

39

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

metal scalpel with ebony handle

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

17.0 cm

Width

1.5 cm

Height

1.1 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Instruments

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

HERNSTEIN

Country

United States of America

State/Province

New York

City

New York

Context

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Some of these instruments probably used c. 1860s +; most used c. 1880s+

Canada

Example of amputation instrument kit made for use in the American Civil War: similar kits were used in Canada during this period by doctors working in hospitals. Individual instrument design remained almost unchanged into the 20th C, and many WWI surgeons carried kits similar to this.

Function

Scalpels are used to make incisions in soft tissue. In this case, likely used for precise incisions during amputation surgeries.

Technical

Example of amputation kit of type used by doctors treating casualties in field hospitals. Some of these instruments, marked "U.S.A Hosp. Dept." may have been manufactured for use in the American Civil War: Hermann Hernstein & Son was a major supplier to the Union government. Others may be replacements for missing instruments: those with ebony handles probably pre-date 1880, and Lister's work on germ theory.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

.4 scalpel incised "HERNSTEIN/ & SON"

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

Silver coloured metal blade and tang with black handle scales.

Decoration

N/A