Description: Surgical case in mahogany bound in brass with three layers of surgical tools to be used for range of surgical applications in red velvet-lined compartments. The brass nameplate on the top of the lid reads "W. H. H. to Frederic F. [or 'T.'] Hume M.D. March 12 . 1880" (still unidentified). The case was given to the donor by his father, Dr. William H. Field (1891-1993) of Brooklyn, NY (also see the medicine chest, HD 71.057). The gold on black manufacturer label on the inside lid reads "G. TIEMANN & CO, MANUFACTURERS OF SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, 67 CHATHAM ST NY." George Tiemann (1793-1868) and his successors were considered the major American medical instrument maker during his period of conservative surgery beginning around 1840, and promoted the designs and inventions of American doctors and surgeons. Tiemann founded the company in 1826, formed Tiemann & Co. in 1855, and moved to 67 Chatman St. in 1863 or 1864; the company is still in business. These instruments have wooden handles, which were replaced with metal handles between 1883 and 1900. The instruments (see list in data file) include an amputation bone saw, minor amputation knife; variety of scaples, curved blunt and sharp bistouries, tenaculum, forceps, probes, scissors; various lithotomy and trepanning instruments including a trephine (crown saw for removing a circular disc or button of bone, generally from the skull); trocars and cannulas, 3 staple starters(?), tonque depressors, aural specula, nasal polyp-remover, tweezers, pliers, various ply wires, tourniquet, etc.
Tags: medicine Subjects: Textile fabrics; Brass; Mahogany Link to share this object record: https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+71.057A |