Pocket surgical instrument set, London, England, 1846-1901

Pocket instrument set, complete, in red leather folding wallet

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Pocket instrument set, complete, in red leather folding wallet
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pocket instrument set, complete, in red leather folding wallet, instruments by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

This instrument set is easily portable, designed to fit into a surgeon’s or physician’s pocket. It contains a range of instruments including bistouries, artery forceps, folding scalpels, lancets, forceps for dissection and dressing wounds, and a knife for cutting abscesses. Most of them are made from steel, copper and silver-plated metal and fold into protective tortoiseshell handles to make them easier and safer to carry.

The owner of this instrument set added some silk cord for sutures – for stitching up wounds.

Details

Category:
Surgery
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A500642
Materials:
leather and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Measurements:
overall: 60 mm x 235 mm x 140 mm, .28kg
type:
surgical instrument set

Parts

Double-headed probe, copper, British, second half 19th century

Double-headed probe

Double-headed probe, copper, British, second half 19th century

Measurements:
length 129 mm
Materials:
copper
Object Number:
A500642 Pt1
type:
probes
Spatula, steel, silver-plated, by D.C. & Co., British, second half 19th century

Spatula, steel

Spatula, steel, silver-plated, by D.C. & Co., British, second half 19th century

Measurements:
length 128 mm
width 15 mm
Materials:
steel (silver plated)
Object Number:
A500642 Pt2
type:
spatulae
Imray's aural scoop, steel and tortoiseshell, British, second half 19th century

Imray's aural scoop

Imray's aural scoop, steel and tortoiseshell, British, second half 19th century

Measurements:
length 93 mm
width 10 mm
height 3 mm
Materials:
steel and tortoiseshell
Object Number:
A500642 Pt3
type:
aural scoops
Director and gouge, silver-plated, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Director and gouge

Director and gouge, silver-plated, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Measurements:
length 126 mm
width 6 mm
height 6 mm
Materials:
metal (silver plated)
Object Number:
A500642 Pt4
type:
director - surgical instrument
Dressing forceps, steel, by Matthews of Portugal Street, London, 1846-1878

Dressing forceps

Dressing forceps, steel, by Matthews of Portugal Street, London, 1846-1878

Measurements:
length 118 mm
width 43 mm
height 5 mm
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A500642 Pt5
type:
dressing forceps
Syme's abscess knife, steel and ivory, by Matthews of Portugal Street, London, 1846-1878

Syme's abscess knife

Syme's abscess knife, steel and ivory, by Matthews of Portugal Street, London, 1846-1878

Measurements:
open: length 124 mm
width 5 mm
height 13 mm
Materials:
steel and ivory
Object Number:
A500642 Pt6
type:
abscess knife
Double bistoury, folding, steel and ivory, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Double bistoury

Double bistoury, folding, steel and ivory, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Measurements:
open: length 225 mm
width 7 mm
height 10 mm
Materials:
steel and ivory
Object Number:
A500642 Pt7
type:
bistouries
Dissecting forceps, steel, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Dissecting forceps

Dissecting forceps, steel, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Measurements:
length 114 mm
width 26 mm
height 11 mm
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A500642 Pt8
type:
dissecting forceps
Lancet, steel, in tortoiseshell sheath, by Millikin of London, 1838-1900

Lancet, steel

Lancet, steel, in tortoiseshell sheath, by Millikin of London, 1838-1900

Measurements:
length 56 mm
width 10 mm
height 2 mm
Materials:
steel and tortoiseshell
Object Number:
A500642 Pt9
type:
lancets
Liston artery forceps, steel, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Liston artery forceps

Liston artery forceps, steel, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Measurements:
length 121 mm
width 10 mm
height 8 mm
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A500642 Pt10
type:
artery forceps
Scalpel, steel and ivory, by Matthews of Portugal Street, London, 1846-1878

Scalpel, steel and ivory

Scalpel, steel and ivory, by Matthews of Portugal Street, London, 1846-1878

Measurements:
length 142 mm
width 6 mm
height 10 mm
Materials:
steel and ivory
Object Number:
A500642 Pt11
type:
scalpels
Gum lancet, steel and ivory, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Gum lancet

Gum lancet, steel and ivory, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Measurements:
length 136 mm
width 6 mm
height 14 mm
Materials:
steel and ivory
Object Number:
A500642 Pt12
type:
gum lancets
Bistoury, steel and ivory, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Bistoury, steel and ivory

Bistoury, steel and ivory, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Measurements:
open: length 161 mm
width 5 mm
height 10 mm
Materials:
steel and ivory
Object Number:
A500642 Pt13
type:
bistouries
Caustic holder, silver, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Caustic holder

Caustic holder, silver, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Measurements:
length 115 mm
diameter 9 mm
Materials:
silver
Object Number:
A500642 Pt14
type:
caustic holders
Packet of needles and cord

Packet of needles and cord

Packet of needles and cord

Object Number:
A500642 Pt15
type:
needle
Red leather folding wallet for Pocket surgical instrument set, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Red leather folding wallet for Pocket surgical instrument set

Red leather folding wallet for Pocket surgical instrument set, by Matthews of London, 1846-1900

Measurements:
wallet, closed: length 140 mm
wallet, closed: height 64 mm
wallet, closed: depth 45 mm
wallet, open: length 287 mm
wallet, open: width 132 mm
wallet, open: height 6 mm
Materials:
brass (copper, zinc alloy) and leather
Object Number:
A500642 Pt16
type:
instrument cases