Post mortem set in case

Made:
1820-1860 in Paris
maker:
Charrière
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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

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

Post mortem set, almost complete, in mahogany case
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Post mortem set, almost complete, in mahogany case, by Charriere of Paris, 1820-1860

The steel instrument set contains all the equipment needed to carry out a post mortem dissection. The set contains dissecting scissors, a large hammer, saws and knives, a so-called brain knife, three scalpels and three bistouries, which are long surgical knives. Most gruesome of all are the large and sturdy rib shears, for cutting open the ribcage, and the double bladed, curved spine saw. The set was made by the French surgical instrument maker Charrière.

Post mortem or autopsy only came into common practice in the early 1800s. The purpose of post mortem was to find the cause of death and establish whether the physician’s diagnosis when the patient was alive was correct. It also helped physicians to learn more about the internal symptoms and signs of disease. Today, post mortems are commonly associated with forensic science.

Details

Category:
Anatomy & Pathology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A106316
Materials:
mahogany, brass, felt and steel
Measurements:
case open: 218 mm x 310 mm x 278 mm, 3.73 kg
case closed: 80 mm x 309 mm x 188 mm, 3.73 kg
type:
post mortem set
credit:
Loan, Wellcome Trust

Parts

Bowel Scissors from post-mortem set

Bowel Scissors from post-mortem set

Bowel scissors, steel, by Charriere of Paris, 1820-1860

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A106316 Pt1
type:
bowel scissors and surgery
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Dissecting scissors from post-mortem set

Dissecting scissors from post-mortem set

Dissecting scissors, steel, probably French, 1820-1860

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A106316 Pt2
type:
scissors and surgery
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Post mortem saw

Post mortem saw

Post mortem saw, steel and ebony with four blades, by Charriere of Paris, 1820-1860, separate handle

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A106316 Pt4
type:
saw , post mortem and surgery
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Knives from post mortem set

Knives from post mortem set

3 knives, steel and ebony, by Charriere of Paris, 1820-1860

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A106316 Pt5
type:
knife , surgery and post mortem
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Charriere-type double spine saw

Charriere's spine saw, double, steel and ebony, by Charriere of Paris, 1820-1860

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A106316 Pt6
type:
spine saw and surgery
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Brain knife from post mortem set

Brain knife, steel and ebony, by Charriere of Paris, 1820-1860

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A106316 Pt7
type:
brain knife and surgery
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Scalpels from post mortem set

Scalpels from post mortem set

3 scalpels, steel and ebony, by Charriere of Paris, 1820-1860

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A106316 Pt8
type:
scalpel and surgery
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Bistouries from post mortem set

Bistouries from post mortem set

3 bistouries, steel and ebony, by Charriere of Paris, 1820-1860

Materials:
steel and ebony
Object Number:
A106316 Pt9
type:
bistoury
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London
Rib shears for use during post mortem

Rib shears for use during post mortem

Rib shears, steel, probably French, 1820-1860

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A106316 Pt10
type:
rib shears
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London