General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

39

Total Parts

39

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Case is probably mahogany, with brass reinforced corners, sliding locks, and hardware. Lined with purple velvet.

Dimensions

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

Length

44.0 cm

Width

19.0 cm

Height

9.5 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

To contain and protect contents when not in use. Specifically, this case used to contain and protect select surgical instruments.

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

" H. HERNSTEIN " & " BROADWAY N.Y. " is legible.

Missing

Inset (brass ?) plate is missing from box top.

Finish

Dark reddish-brown finished wood with brass-coloured metal corners and lock and a burgundy-coloured lining.

Decoration

Romanesque pattern of curving leaves/vines is impressed to form border around mfr's logo, also impressed, in velvet of box lid. Logo is only barely visible- depicts eagle holding banner in talons, with mfr's name and address- see image, 680579.039.aa.tif.