[CIVIL WAR]. Surgical field kit manufactured by Shepard and Dudley, New York. [With:] 3 catalogues, incl. Catalogue of the Surgical Section of the US Army.

3" x 15.5" x 6". Shepard & Dudley Amputating surgical kit with blue velvet lining, brass hinges and bolsters, and a wood case. The interior case is struck SHEPARD & DUDLEY NEW YORK to the wood with the tools further marked SHEPARD&DUDLEY. Case contains: bone saw, trephine with detachable ebony handle, three ebony handle Liston amputating knives, scalpel, combination bone file and chisel, tenaculum forceps, hook, Hey's saw, metacarpal saw, and a bone brush. An internal compartment further contains a piece of cotton gauze, six suture needles, and a 0.69" caliber round lead ball. The Tourniquet has no visible maker marking. Item related by consignor to have once belonged to Dr. William Gregg, or Griggs, and formerly part of a museum collection.

Woodhull, Alfred A., "CATALOGUE OF THE SURGICAL SECTION OF THE United States Army Medical Museum" Washington: Government Printing Office, 1866. Marbled pages leather bound corners and spine, and copiously marked as the former property of Dr. George K. Smith. A handwritten note on the interior cover reads Geo. K. Smith/8 Clinton St/Brooklyn. A paper label pasted above this, likely at a later date, reads GEO. K. SMITH M.D./18 CLINTON STREET,/Brooklyn/No. 7, with a still later stamp reading Geo. K. Smith, M.D./1 Sidney Place Brooklyn. A receipt from the Surgeon General's office dated Nov.r. 4, 1867 and signed by Assistant Surgeon General Charles H. Crane. The rear face of shows a handwritten note reading, "Copy of the receipt/Returned to Surgeon General/No 8 Clinton St/Brooklyn, N.Y./Nov. 8th 1867/Sir/I have the honor to acknowledge the receit (sic) of the Catalogue of the Army Med. Museum this day from the Surgeon Generals Office/Very Respectfully/Your Obt Servant/Geo. K Smith/late & & Surg US/P.S./Absence from the city prevented an earlier reply. Please accept many thanks for your kindness GKS".

Dr. George K. Smith served as a Surgeon during the American Civil War, with operations he performed mentioned in publications such as The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion (1861-65) Part 3, Volume 2 (Washington D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1883), pp. 110. He continued in private practice after the end of the Civil War, retaining this volume for extensive study in surgical operations to follow. The Civil War itself had overwhelmed the capacity of the Medical Department of the Army to handle the sheer number of battlefield casualties, let alone the exposure to disease and the elements that added to the grim toll of the war. The United States Army Medical Museum was founded in 1862 as a research facility, intended to improve the medical procedures and outcomes for the wounded and sick. This publication lists the numerous human remains and artifacts used for medical research in the years to come.

Artifacts are accompanied by Dr. Gordon Dammann's "Pictorial Encyclopaedia of Civil War Medical Instruments and Equipment" Volumes I and II with tags applied to page 22 of Volume I and page 57 of Volume II showing Shepard & Dudley marked surgical sets in Civil War collections.

This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Surgical Kit Fine. Some glue residue to the handle of the Hey's saw, indicating repair, flaking to the finish of the chisel, scattered patinated spots on the saw blade, and a polished finish to the tourniquet. Trephine retains a strong nitre blue with some tarnish to brass. Color of the felt liner has faded to a mottled blue gray. Case with scattered light scratches and scuffs overall.

Catalogue Very Good. Some age toning, tears and cracking on the edges of the spine, and some stains.

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Ms. Horstman has spent over a decade specializing in historic photography and Americana at auction. During her tenure, she has overseen several notable single owner auctions, including property from the inventory of celebrated Americana and antique arms expert Norm Flayderman. During her time with the firm, she has maintained an active membership in the Daguerreian Society. Ms. Horstman holds an MA in Art History from the University of Cincinnati and a BA in Art History from The Ohio State University.

Please email [email protected] for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

American Historical Ephemera and Early Photography

[CIVIL WAR]. Surgical field kit manufactured by Shepard and Dudley, New York. [With:] 3 catalogues, incl. Catalogue of the Surgical Section of the US Army.

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