Post mortem saw
Post mortem saw, blade only, steel, probably British, late 19th century
Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers, in mahogany case, British, lat 19th century
Made from steel with ivory handles, the set contains knives for cartilage, bones and the brain, forceps, saws, scalpels and a spine wrench – all used for post-mortems. The instruments are all still remarkably sharp. Post-mortems only came into practice in the early 1800s. They were used to determine whether the physician’s diagnosis when the patient was alive had been correct. They also helped physicians to learn more about the internal symptoms and signs of disease. Most of these instruments were made by S Maw & Son, a surgical instrument maker based in London; the rest were made by other instrument makers based in the United Kingdom.
Post mortem saw, blade only, steel, probably British, late 19th century
Post mortem scissors, sharp-pointed, steel, by Millikin and Lawley, 106 Strand, London, England, 1860.
Bowel scissors, steel, plated, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901
Spine wrench, steel, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901
Post mortem knife, steel, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, blade only, 1870-1901
Bone forceps, steel, plated, by Ferguson of London, 1822-1869
Dissecting forceps, steel, by Mayer and Meltzer of London, late 19th century
Chain hooks, 3, on ring, metal, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901
Blow pipe, with push-through wire, metal, plated, probably British, second half 19th century
5 post mortem needles, 3 straight, 2 curved, steel, one by Blyda of England, late 19th century
Skull-rest, bipod, steel, nickel plated, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901
3 post mortem chisels, steel, one with ivory handle, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1910
Brain knife, plated blade, ivory handle, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901
Cartilage knife, steel and ivory, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901
Post mortem hammer, plated steel and ivory, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901
Post mortem scalpel, steel and ivory, by Hills of London, mid 19th century
2 post mortem scalpels, steel and ivory, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901
3 post mortem scalpels, steel and ivory, by Hilliard and Chapman, 28 Argyle Street, Glasgow, Scotland, 1842-1864.
Mahogany case for post mortem set, British, late 19th century
Set of six steel needles (5 curved, 1 straight) in paper packaging from post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers, in mahogany case, British, late 19th century