General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

metal (including iron) and wood construction

Dimensions

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

Length

66.0 cm

Width

20.0 cm

Height

4.0 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

Unknown

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

This instrument presumably made and used in 16th-17th c.

Canada

According to UHN records, this instrument was donated to the Academy of Medicine- History of Medicine Museum by the Royal Ontario Museum in 1954. (Ref. 2 & 3)

Function

Used to saw through bone and muscle in order to surgically remove limb.

Technical

Appears identical to 17th c. amputation saw illustrated in John Woodall's treatise "The Surgeon's Mate" (1617). (Ref. 4) ; saw featured in late 16th c. Dutch (?) painting "Saints Cosmas and Damian " by Ambrosius Franken; and large German amputation saw (c. 1540) [both Ref. 5]. Large saws like this were used to cut through heavy bone like that of leg, fore and upper arm, etc.. Curved end pieces on frame allowed, if necessary, saw to be manipulated from both sides simultaneously.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"H H" stamped into upper saw frame, near centre. UHN catalogue no. "X954.5.2" printed by hand in white ink on saw frame.

Missing

2 decorative finials from saw frame, and portion of nut fixing wooden handle to metal frame.

Finish

Unknown

Decoration

N/A