Surgical instrument set, Royal Army Medical Corps

Made:
1917 in London
maker:
Weiss, John
Surgical instrument set R.A.M.C

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Surgical instrument set R.A.M.C
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

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

Volkmann's double scoop, from RAMC surgical instrument set

Volkmann's double scoop, from RAMC surgical instrument set

Volkmann's double scoop, by J. Weiss and Son, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 225 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt1
type:
scoops
Hernia director from RAMC surgical instrument set

Hernia director from RAMC surgical instrument set

Hernia director, by J. Weiss and Son, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 155 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt2
type:
hernia directors
Artery forceps

Artery forceps

Wakley's artery forceps, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 125 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt3
type:
artery forceps
Dissecting forceps

Dissecting forceps

Dissecting forceps, by F.H. Hallam and Son Ltd., England, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 129 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt4
type:
dissecting forceps
Set of four surgical scalpels

Set of four surgical scalpels

4 scalpels, by Weiss, London, 1917

Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt5
type:
scalpels
Bistoury and scope from RAMC surgical instrument set

Bistoury and scope from RAMC surgical instrument set

Bistoury combined with Jordan Lloyd's scope, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 175 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt6
type:
bistouries
Bistoury from RAMC surgical instrument set

Bistoury from RAMC surgical instrument set

Bistoury, curved sharp pointed by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 175 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt7
type:
bistouries
Hernia bistoury

Hernia bistoury

Bistoury, hernia, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 174 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt8
type:
bistouries
Curved bistoury from RAMC surgical instrument set

Curved bistoury from RAMC surgical instrument set

Bistoury, curved probe pointed, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 175 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt9
type:
bistouries
Surgical needle

Surgical needle

Needle, Doyen's nickel plated steel, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 174 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt10
type:
needles
Finger saw by Weiss

Finger saw by Weiss

Finger saw by Weiss, London, 1917, part of Royal Army Medical Corps surgical instrument set

Measurements:
overall: 184 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt12
type:
finger saws
Amputation knife, part of RAMC surgical instrument set

Amputation knife, part of RAMC surgical instrument set

Liston's amputation knife, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 270 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt13
type:
amputation knifes
Surgical retractor

Surgical retractor

Ryall's retractor, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 166 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt14
type:
retractors
Double skull elevator

Double skull elevator

Double skull elevator, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 176 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt15
type:
skull elevators
Trephine from RAMC surgical instrument set

Trephine from RAMC surgical instrument set

Trephine, with detachable handle, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 110 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt16
type:
trephines
Needle holder

Needle holder

Hagedorn's needle holder, by J. Weiss and Son, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 182 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt17
type:
needle holders
Suture wire, part of RAMC surgical instrument set

Suture wire, part of RAMC surgical instrument set

Reel of silver suture wire, by Weiss, London, 1917

Materials:
wire, silver
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt20
type:
sutures
Artery forceps

Artery forceps

4 Greig Smith artery forceps, nickel plated steel, by Weiss and Son, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 122 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt21
type:
artery forceps
Five pairs of artery forceps

Five pairs of artery forceps

5 Spencer Wells artery forceps, nickel plated steel, by Weiss and Son, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 121 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt22
type:
artery forceps
Suture nippers, part of RAMC surgical intrument set

Suture nippers, part of RAMC surgical intrument set

Nippers for suture wire, nickel plated steel, by Weiss and Son, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 151 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt23
type:
wire nippers
Watson Chayne dissector

Watson Chayne dissector

Watson Chayne's dissector, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 172 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt24
type:
dissectors
Bone forceps from RAMC surgical instrument set

Bone forceps from RAMC surgical instrument set

Bone forceps, by J. Weiss and Son, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 214 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt25
type:
bone forceps
Forceps from RAMC surgical instrument set

Forceps from RAMC surgical instrument set

Fergusson Lion forceps, by Weiss and Son, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 190 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt26
type:
forceps
Catheters, part of RAMC surgical instrument set

Catheters, part of RAMC surgical instrument set

3 catheters, nos. 3,5 and 8, German silver, by Weiss, London, 1917

Materials:
silver, german material
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt27
type:
catheters
Amputation saw

Amputation saw

Amputation saw, by Weiss, London, 1917, part of Royal Army Medical Corps surgical instrument set

Measurements:
overall: 305 mm
Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt29
type:
amputation saws
Retractors, part of RAMC surgical instrument set

Retractors, part of RAMC surgical instrument set

2 Jordan Lloyd retractors, nickel plated steel, by Weiss, London, 1917

Materials:
steel, nickel plated
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt30
type:
retractors
Blade for amputation saw

Blade for amputation saw

Spare blade for amputation saw, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 178 mm
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt32
type:
amputation saw blades
Tracheotomy tube bivalve

Tracheotomy tube bivalve

Tracheotomy tube bivalve, silver, no 3, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 45 mm
Materials:
silver
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt33
type:
tracheotomy tubes
Petit-type tourniquet

Petit-type tourniquet

Petit tourniquet, brass frame, by Weiss, London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 90 mm
Materials:
frame, brass
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt34
type:
tourniquet
Surgical needles with metal thread

Surgical needles with metal thread

12 Ward Cousins needles with metal threads, by Weiss, London, 1917

Materials:
needle, steel and wrapping, paper
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt35
type:
needles
Key for surgical set case

Key for surgical set case

Key for set case, in envelope, by John Weiss and Son Ltd., London, 1917

Measurements:
overall: 31 mm
Materials:
key, steel and envelope, paper
Object Number:
1981-705 Pt37
type:
keys