General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

12

Total Parts

12

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

CASE IS MAHOGANY WOOD; PURPLE VELVET LINING; BRASS & BRIGHT SILVER METAL FITTINGS.

Dimensions

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

Length

23.6 cm

Width

6.9 cm

Height

4.4 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

Down

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

City

London

Context

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

Period

PROBABLY USED MID-LATE 19TH C.+

Canada

SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS BELONGING TO DR. THOMAS BUTTER (1805-42), ROYAL NAVY SURGEON. EMPLOYED AS A SHIP'S SURGEON, PRINCIPALLY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, DR. BUTTER EMIGRATED TO LOWER CANADA C. 1832. THESE INSTRUMENTS, ORIGINALLY IDENTIFIED AS AN AMPUTATION KIT, WERE IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DONOR'S FAMILY FOR 137 YRS.

Function

TO CONTAIN AND PROTECT INSTRUMENTS USED FOR POST MORTEM EXAMINATION OF BODY WHEN NOT IN USE.

Technical

VERY SIMILAR TO NO.280 AUTOPSY KIT IN 1906 DOWN BROS. CATALOGUE; NO. 3770 AUTOPSY KIT (1901) & NO. 1 SET (1890). SUBSTANTIAL DESIGN & WEIGHT OF MOST PIECES; SHARED HANDLE FOR SAW, CHISEL (MODIFIED) & KNIFE BLADES; PRESENCE OF CHAIN HOOK; ABSENCE OF TOURNIQUET & ARTERY FORCEPS SUPPORTS USE AS POST MORTEM/DISSECTION KIT.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

"DOWN BROS. OPPOSITE GUY'S HOSPITAL" marked in black on white ivory panel inset on inside top edge of case.

Missing

Fabric ribbon used to lift [missing] blow pipe from case is torn but present. [tagged as "PT"]

Finish

RED-BROWN MAHOGANY CASE HAS BRIGHT BRASS CORNERS AND LOCK; DARK PURPLE VELVET LINING; ONE SECTION OF INTERNAL SUPPORT IS BRASS.

Decoration

N/A