Surgical instrument set, Royal Army Medical Corps

With two round sharp ends, a scoop is used to remove tissue or bone from the body during an operation. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons often developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. Richard von Volkmann (1830-1889) was a German surgeon who developed cancer and orthopaedic operations and was an early supporter of Joseph Lister's ideas about antiseptic surgery. Volkmann type scoops are still used by surgeons today.

A hernia is when an internal part of the body pushes through the muscles or tissue wall. Usually found between the chest and the hips, hernias show as a small lump on the body. If the hernia starts to cut off the blood supply to tissues or organs or if it becomes blocked, an emergency operation is needed. A hernia director is used to guide a surgical knife to help repair the blockage or restore the blood flow.

Artery forceps are used to control bleeding from blood vessels by clamping down on the artery. A locking mechanism at the handle keeps them in place. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. Thomas Henry Wakley (1821-1907), was an English surgeon who developed artery forceps with a window in each jaw, which it made it easier to place a stitched loop on a vessel. He was also the son of Thomas Wakley, surgeon and founder of the medical journal The Lancet.

Dissecting forceps are used to hold tissue during surgical procedures. Made of nickel-plated steel, these could be sterilised in heat or chemicals so they could be re-used. The long arrow on the forceps shows it was made for military use.

Scalpels with sharp blades are used to make incisions during surgical procedures. Made of nickel-plated steel, these could be sterilised in heat or chemicals so they could be re-used. The long arrow on the handle shows they were made for military use.

A bistoury is a sharp instrument. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons often developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. George Jordan Lloyd (1854-1913) was a surgeon who worked at Queen's Hospital, Birmingham for most of his medical career.

A bistoury is a sharp surgical instrument. Made of nickel-plated steel, this could be sterilised in heat or chemicals so it could be re-used. The long arrow on the handle shows it was made for military use.

A hernia is when an internal part of the body pushes through the muscles or tissue wall. Usually found between the chest and the hips, hernias show as a small lump on the body. If the hernia starts to cut off the blood supply to tissues or organs or if it becomes blocked, an emergency operation is needed. A hernia bistoury is a surgical knife to help repair the blockage or restore the blood flow. Made of nickel-plated steel, these could be sterilised in heat or chemicals so they could be re-used. The long arrow on the handle shows it was made for military use.

A bistoury is a sharp surgical instrument. Made of nickel-plated steel, it could be sterilised in heat or chemicals so it could be re-used. The long arrow on the handle shows it was made for military use.

Known as an aneurysm needle, its curved end is used to pass stitches around aneurysm or blood vessels. An aneurysm is when a blood vessel widens 50% more than normal, causing a bulge or ballooning of the vessel. Surgical treatment may be needed to prevent the vessel from bursting.

Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons often developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. Eugène-Louis Doyen (1859-1916) was a French surgeon who developed tools still in use today. He was an early user of photography and film to record his operations and was well known for his speed during surgery.

Known as an aneurysm needle, its curved end is used to pass stitches around aneurysm or blood vessels. An aneurysm is when a blood vessel widens 50% more than normal, causing a bulge or ballooning of the vessel. Surgical treatment may be needed to prevent the vessel from bursting.

Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons often developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. James Syme (1799-1870) was a Scottish surgeon, who developed ways of carrying out foot amputations that kept the heel pad intact so patients can still put weight on the leg, with or without a prosthetic limb. Developed in 1834, it is still used today. Syme also mentored Joseph Lister, developer of antisepsis. Lister's wife Agnes, who assisted during his many experiments was also Syme's daughter.

Finger saws are used for amputations of fingers. Made of nickel-plated steel, this could be sterilised in heat or chemicals so it could be re-used. The long arrow on the handle shows it was made for military use.

Amputation knives are used for cutting the tissue and muscle around a limb to reveal the bones. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons often developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. Robert Liston (1797-1847), a Scottish surgeon, invented this type of amputation knife. Liston knives have two different edges on the blade, which improves efficiency during operations – Liston was renowned for his speed and precision. Speed was essential in a time both before anaesthesia and understanding about infection to ensure patients survived the surgery. Liston's quickest amputation was in two and half minutes. Liston also carried out the first public surgery with either in Europe in 1846.

Retractors are used to hold open parts of the body so surgeons can have a better view of where they are operating. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. Charles Ryall (1870-1922) was a British surgeon who specialised in cancer operations.

A skull elevator is used to lift fractures of the skull bones to prevent futher injury to the brain. Made of nickel-plated steel, these could be sterilised in heat or chemicals so they could be re-used. The long arrow on the handle shows it was made for military use.

Trephines are surgical instruments with a cylindrical blade to cut holes in a person's skull. Used during neurosurgery to gain access to the brain or relieve pressure, this has now been replaced by craniotomy, where a section of the skull is removed. Once the surgery is complete, the piece is replaced.

Needle holders are used during surgery to help surgeons accurately stitch tissue and blood vessels. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. Werner Hagedorn (1831-1894) was a German surgeon who also developed a curved surgical needle still used today.

A hydrocele is build up of fluid around the scrotum or testicles. A trocar is a sharp pointed instrument attached to a cannula to allow fluid to drain out of the body. Made of nickel-plated steel, this could be sterilised in heat or chemicals so it could be re-used. The long arrow on the handle shows it was made for military use.

Werner Hagedorn (1831-1894) was a German surgeon who invented these surgical suture needles, which are curved with flattened sides. The needles are threaded with suture material, such as nylon or gut, and are used to join up or close the edges of wounds.

Sutures are used to close up wounds or openings created during surgery. Silver was thought to be less irritating to wounds than other available suture material but was more difficult to sew and cut.

Artery forceps are used to control bleeding from blood vessels by clamping down on the artery. A locking mechanism at the handle keeps them in place. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. James Greig Smith (1854-1897) was a Scottish surgeon who specialised in abdominal surgery. His 1888 textbook was popular and published in French, German and Italian.

Artery forceps are used to control bleeding from blood vessels by clamping down on the artery. A locking mechanism at the handle keeps them in place. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. Thomas Spencer Wells (1818-1897) was an English surgeon who became surgeon to Queen Victoria between 1863 and 1896. He developed the rachet locking mechanism holding the forceps in position. His second design had shorter jaws to increase compression and were ridged to improve grip. By being held closed, they could also not get trapped in the body's tissues or muscles. Prior to Spencer Well's designs, an assistant had to hold the forceps closed.

Spencer Wells specialised in eye and obstetric surgery and was an early adopter of anaesthetics. He developed the operation to remove ovaries and ovarian cysts but was vocal that it should be performed only if necessary.

Sutures are used to close up wounds or openings created during surgery. Silver was thought to be less irritating to wounds than other available suture material but was more difficult to sew and cut. Made of nickel-plated steel, this could be sterilised in heat or chemicals so it could be re-used. The long arrow on the handle shows it was made for military use.

Dissectors are used to remove soft tissues from the body and from bone. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. William Watson Cheyne (1852-1932) was a surgeon and bacteriologist who was born in Australia but raised in Scotland. He was an early adopter of colleague Joseph Lister's system of antisepsis and worked with Lister for most of his career.

When bones need to be held still during delicate operations, specialist forceps are needed. Made of nickel-plated steel, this could be sterilised in heat or chemicals so it could be re-used. The long arrow on the handle shows it was made for military use.

Lion forceps are used to hold bones open during realignment or repairing fractures. They are possibly called lion forceps due to the and shape of the forceps. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. William Fergusson (1808-1877) was a Scottish surgeon, known for his surgical speed and developed these tools to give a firm old on the bone with two sets of teeth. Speed was essential in a time before anaesthesia to ensure patients survived the operation. As an early adopter of anaesthetics, he developed a range of operations for harelips, and amputations. Serving Queen Victoria and her family between 1847 and 1877.

Catheters are tubes used to empty the bladder or to widen blockages in the male urethra. The long arrow on the handle shows it was made for military use.

Bullet probes are used to located projectiles and shrapnel in the body. This example has porcelain tip. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. Auguste Nélaton (1807-1973) was a French surgeon who developed this tool to prove and locate a bullet in Guiseppe Garibaldi's ankle in 1862. Garibaldi was an Italian general who was shot while attempting to take control over Rome, Italy. Numerous doctors examined him but could find not find the bullet. When the porcelain tip of Nélaton's probe touched a bullet, the lead of the bullet would leave a mark confirming its location. While X-rays and other tools were used during the First World War, its presence in this kit shows it was still a part of many surgical kits.

Amputation saws are used to cut through bones of the arms or legs. During the First World War there were at least 41,000 British service people who underwent an amputation. For the operation to be carried out as quickly but as safely as possible, sharp tools were needed. Pain relief and anaesthetics were also essential and began to be adapted to each patient's needs.

Retractors are used to hold open parts of the body so surgeons can have a better view of where they are operating. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons developed their own tools, often naming them after themselves. George Jordan Lloyd (1854-1913) was a surgeon who worked at Queen's Hospital, Birmingham for most of his medical career.

A probang is a flexible piece of material with a sponge at the end of it to remove something from the throat or food pipe. It could also be used to apply medications if needed. As the name suggests, a coin catcher was designed to remove large, flat objects like a coin. Until the development of imagining technologies such as X-rays in te late 1890s, practitioners relied on what they could feel through the probang. Patients were recommended to drink oil or egg whites to make it easier for the probang to pass through their throat.

Amputation saws require spare blades in times of emergency. During the First World War there were at least 41,000 British service people who underwent an amputation. For the operation to be carried out as quickly but as safely as possible, sharp tools were needed. Pain relief and anaesthetics were also essential and began to be adapted to each patient's needs.

Tracheotomy tubes are used to provide an airway in someone's windpipe in an emergency. An opening is created in their neck and a tube placed inside to help them get air and oxygen. Some people have tracheotomy tubes for the rest of their lives, which have valves which can be opened and closed, ensuring that they have the option to speak.

Tourniquets are used to control bleeding or the arms of legs by applying pressure. Tourniquets were also used using amputations.

John-Louis Petit (1674-1760), a Parisian surgeon, was the first of many to introduce improvements to the tourniquet, which was invented by Ambroise Paré in the 1500s. In 1718, Petit attached a circular bandage to a screw and a leather pad to allow pressure to be focussed on a specific point. It had the advantage of not requiring an assistant to apply constant pressure to the bleeding and became the most commonly used tourniquet throughout the 1800s due to its simple but effective design.

Needles and threads are surgical tools to stitch wounds or to close surgical incisions. Many surgeons developed their own instruments and tools, which they often named after themselves. John Ward Cousins (1834-1921) was a surgeon who also specialising in operations on the eye. Ward Cousins developed a wide range of tools including types of tourniquets to stop bleeding, convertible stethoscopes, syringes, needle holders and dilators.

Needles are used during surgery to stitch wounds, close surgical incisions and repair tissue and vessels. Helped by surgical instrument makers, surgeons developed their own tool, often naming them after themselves. Unfortunately, Hambert has not been able to be traced.

Locking the case for surgical instruments had two purposes. One was to prevent any surgical tool coming out of place and the other was for security, ensuring much needed supplies did not go missing.

Inside the lid of this box is a diagram showing where each instrument should be placed to keep track of them. The trays meant that tools could be easily sterilised in place by heat or chemicals. This meant tools could be re-used.