Post-mortem set in wooden case
- maker:
- S Maw & Son
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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Post mortem set, cased, by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
The post-mortem set contains equipment necessary to carry out an autopsy or a dissection. Among the instruments are a spine chisel, a large steel hammer, scalpels, saws and suture needles to sew up the body once the procedure was completed. The kit also contains a head rest for the body. Post-mortem or autopsy only came into practice in the early 1800s. The purpose of post-mortem was to determine whether the physician’s diagnosis when the patient was alive had been correct. It also helped physicians to learn more about the internal symptoms and signs of disease.
Details
- Category:
- Anatomy & Pathology
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A51118
- Materials:
- case, wood, case, velvet, lined and case, brass
- Measurements:
-
fully open case: 33 mm x 251 mm x 326 mm, 2.4 kg
closed case: 52 mm x 251 mm x 163 mm, 2.4 kg
- type:
- post-mortem set
- credit:
- Loan, Wellcome Trust
Parts
Saw from post-mortem set
Post mortem saw blade, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
- Measurements:
-
overall: 3 mm x 218 mm x 52 mm,
- Materials:
- steel
- Object Number:
- A51118 Pt2
- type:
- post mortem saws
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Pair of bowel scissors
Bowel scissors, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
- Measurements:
-
overall: 5 mm x 181 mm x 52 mm,
- Materials:
- steel
- Object Number:
- A51118 Pt3
- type:
- bowel scissors
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Spine chisel from post-mortem set
Spine chisel, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
- Measurements:
-
overall: 10 mm x 212 mm x 50 mm,
- Materials:
- steel
- Object Number:
- A51118 Pt4
- type:
- spine chisels
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Hammer, part of post-mortem set
Steel hammer with wooden scale tong handle, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
Head rest from post-mortem set
Bipod head rest, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
- Measurements:
-
overall: 215 mm x 12 mm,
- Materials:
- steel
- Object Number:
- A51118 Pt9
- type:
- head rests
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Surgical scalpels, from post-mortem set
Three scalpels with wooden handles, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
Surgical instrument from post-mortem set
Possibly a chisel, with wooden scale tong handle, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
Blow pipes, part of post-mortem set
Two blow pipes, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
- Measurements:
-
overall: 158 mm 7 mm,
- Materials:
- metal
- Object Number:
- A51118 Pt12
- type:
- blow pipes
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Scalpel handle, part of post-mortem set
Handle for use with disposable scalpel blades, by Bard-Parker, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
Suture needles, part of post mortem set
Three curved and three straight suture needles, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
- Materials:
- metal
- Object Number:
- A51118 Pt14
- type:
- suture needles
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Case for post-mortem set
Wooden case with velvet lining for post mortem set, cased, by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
- Materials:
- case, wood , case, velvet, lined and case, brass
- Object Number:
- A51118 Pt15
- type:
- instrument case
