The manufacture of surgical instruments was primarily left to tradesmen prior to the eighteenth century. Armourers, blacksmiths, and cutlers made instruments that were used for crude surgery, and later, silversmiths were responsible for finer work. A dramatic increase in the complexity of surgical procedures occurred in the nineteenth century as the development of technology provided physicians with a new class of therapeutic instrumentation.
cased set by Pietro Fugini (ca. 1650)
This Italian amputation set is one of the earliest to survive with digital amputation forceps and chisels not found in sets after 1700.
Armamenterium Chirurgicum (1655) by J. Scultetus
Use of the early amputation hammer and chisel is illustrated in this classic text.
Tibetan surgical set, closed (late nineteenth century?)
Oriental surgical sets are quite rare and contained instruments that were not found in those made in Europe. Note the importance of pulse examination appreciated by all Asian physicians.
Tibetan surgical set, open
surgical etui with instruments (ca. 1750) by Savigny
This is another type of small portable surgical set from the eighteent century. (top) folding thumb lancet and scalpel: (from left) tongue blade, ear scoop, probes, shagreen case, tweezers, and scissors
circular amputation set by Savigny
This is an exceptional late 18th century amputation set by Savigny of London. Savigny was the premier British instrument manufacturer at the time and the maker of instruments for the King.
flap amputation set by Spencer & Crocker
This a complete mid 19th century amputation set by Spencer & Crocker of Cincinnati, Ohio in pristine condition. This set is very similar to the one pictured in the below daguerreotype.
daguerreotype of a surgeon with his instruments (ca. 1860)
Surgeons were proud of their cased sets and regarded them as a status symbol. They displayed intricately carved ebony and ivory handeled instruments (which could not be adequately steralized) to their patients long after the principles of asepsis had been well established.
exhibition ivory general surgery set, closed (ca. 1880) by A. Aubry
Aubrey was one of the finest French instrument makers of the nineteenth century. This set likely was manufactured only for exhibition and competition at a World's Fair. It contained the finest instruments made of ivory, plated gold, and blued steel.
exhibition ivory general surgery set, open (ca. 1880) by A. Aubry
George Tiemann's New York office during the Civil War
G. Tiemann & Co. was one of the major manufacturer's of medical equipment in the United States during the nineteenth century and continues to be in operation. They were located at 63 Chatham Street in New York 1833 -1864, at 67 Chatham Street 1864-1886, and at 107 Park Row 1886-1921
G. Tiemann's New York office 1886-1921
cased Parker’s surgical set by George Tiemann (late nineteenth century)
This four layered Tiemann surgical set represented the finest American medical manufacturing of the nineteenth century.
Charriere Marine Set
This is a large marine set that is fairly complete (surgery, urology, dentistry) as required for the demands of an ocean voyage. Ironically this marine set was paid for in New Orleans just before hurricane Katrina hit and it was months before it was clear that it had survived the storm.
Excision Set by John Weiss & Son
During the Civil War, surgeons devised an excision procedure to reduce the number of amputations. The surgeon would simply remove the elbow joint rather than the entire upper extremity. The "Butcher's Saw" (invented by Dr. Butcher) was unique to this procedure.
large pocket surgical set with various forceps and scalpel blades fitting universal handles (ca. 1870) by Tiemann
Folding surgical sets like this one gave physicians the capability of performing almost all the procedures done with larger cased sets. Thus set has a universal handle that fits several blades.
large folding surgery set by Aubry with strop
This is another large nineteenth century folding surgical set, this one one by one of the premier French makers, Aubry. There are numerous folding lancets and a strop to sharped the blades.
all-metal general operating set (ca. 1900) by Evans & Wormull
Physicians began to appreciate the concept of asepsis at the turn of the century and this was reflected by the transition to all-metal instruments that could be easily steralized.
metal pocket surgical set (ca. 1900) by George Frye
This is a portable folding surgical set manufactured in the all-metal era.