Surgical instrument set, Royal Army Medical Corps (R.A.M.C.) military issue, with three trays of instruments in sterilizable trays in brass bound mahogany case, by J. Weiss and Sons Ltd., London, 1917 for use by British forces during the First World War, 1914-1918.
The scale of the First World War and the devastating effects of industrialised weaponry used by the fighting nations produced overwhelming numbers of casualties. For British forces engaged on the Western Front battlefields, those not killed outright could be left with complex wounds that could often become infected from the former agricultural lands that were being fought over. Keeping surgical equipment sterile in such environments was a constant challenge for medical personnel.
This surgical instrument set was made by J. Weiss and Sons Ltd, a well-known manufacturer with their origins in the 1780s. Dating from 1917 and described as being of military issue for the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC), the set is efficiently designed to contain a large number of instruments within a relatively small wooden box. The instruments are largely of simple design, often cast from single pieces of metal and they can be fitted into one of three removable trays. These trays were constructed to allow them, and the instruments they carry, to be easily lowered into the boiling water of a steriliser.
The Royal Army Medical Corps Medical was largely responsible for the medical care for British forces during the First World War. They aimed to maintain the health of soldiers in the field, with units responsible for the treatment and evacuation of battlefield casualties.
Details
- Category:
- Surgery
- Object Number:
- 1981-705
- Materials:
- incomplete, mahogany (wood) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
- Measurements:
-
overall: 83 mm x 451 mm x 171 mm, 6.08 kg
- type:
- surgical instrument set
- credit:
- Kynaston
Parts
Hernia director from RAMC surgical instrument set
Artery forceps
Dissecting forceps
Set of four surgical scalpels
Bistoury and scope from RAMC surgical instrument set
Bistoury from RAMC surgical instrument set
Hernia bistoury
Curved bistoury from RAMC surgical instrument set
Surgical needle
Aneurysm needle
Finger saw by Weiss
Amputation knife, part of RAMC surgical instrument set
Surgical retractor
Double skull elevator
Trephine from RAMC surgical instrument set
Needle holder
Hydrocele trocar and cannula
- Materials:
- cannula, silver and trocar, metal, nickel plated
- Object Number:
- 1981-705 Pt18
- type:
- hydrocele trocars
Hagedorn's needles in case
Suture wire, part of RAMC surgical instrument set
Artery forceps
Five pairs of artery forceps
Suture nippers, part of RAMC surgical intrument set
Watson Chayne dissector
Bone forceps from RAMC surgical instrument set
Forceps from RAMC surgical instrument set
Catheters, part of RAMC surgical instrument set
Bullet probe with porcelain tip
- Materials:
- probe, brass, nickel plated and tip, porcelain
- Object Number:
- 1981-705 Pt28
- type:
- bullet probes
Amputation saw
Retractors, part of RAMC surgical instrument set
Probang and coin catcher
Blade for amputation saw
Tracheotomy tube bivalve
Petit-type tourniquet
Surgical needles with metal thread
Surgical needles in case
Key for surgical set case
Surgical instrument case
- Materials:
- mahogany (wood) , brass (copper, zinc alloy) , nickel plated , steel (metal) , paper (fibre product) , chamois leather , metal (unknown) and textile
- Object Number:
- 1981-705 Pt38
- type:
- instrument cases