Post-mortem set, United Kingdom, 1860-1865

Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers Post-mortem set, United Kingdom, 1860-1865

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Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Post mortem set, complete set of instruments, various makers
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

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.

Details

Category:
Anatomy & Pathology
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A647260
Materials:
case, mahogany, case, brass, case, velvet, instruments, steel and instruments, ivory
Measurements:
fully open case: 54 mm x 255 mm x 346 mm,
closed case: 54 mm x 255 mm x 170 mm, 2.2 kg
type:
post-mortem set
credit:
Drew, H.G.

Parts

Post mortem saw

Post mortem saw

Post mortem saw, blade only, steel, probably British, late 19th century

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A647260 Pt1
type:
post mortem saws
Post mortem scissors

Post mortem scissors

Post mortem scissors, sharp-pointed, steel, by Millikin and Lawley, 106 Strand, London, England, 1860.

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A647260 Pt2
type:
post mortem scissors
Bowel scissors

Bowel scissors

Bowel scissors, steel, plated, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A647260 Pt3
type:
bowel scissors
Spine wrench

Spine wrench

Spine wrench, steel, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A647260 Pt4
type:
spine wrenches
Post mortem knife

Post mortem knife

Post mortem knife, steel, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, blade only, 1870-1901

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A647260 Pt5
type:
post mortem knives
Bone forceps

Bone forceps

Bone forceps, steel, plated, by Ferguson of London, 1822-1869

Materials:
steel (plated)
Object Number:
A647260 Pt6
type:
bone forceps
Dissecting forceps

Dissecting forceps

Dissecting forceps, steel, by Mayer and Meltzer of London, late 19th century

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A647260 Pt7
type:
dissecting forceps
Chain hooks

Chain hooks

Chain hooks, 3, on ring, metal, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A647260 Pt8
type:
chain hooks
Blow pipe

Blow pipe

Blow pipe, with push-through wire, metal, plated, probably British, second half 19th century

Materials:
metal (plated)
Object Number:
A647260 Pt9
type:
blow pipes
5 post mortem needles

5 post mortem needles

5 post mortem needles, 3 straight, 2 curved, steel, one by Blyda of England, late 19th century

Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A647260 Pt10
type:
post mortem needles
Skull-rest, bipod

Skull-rest, bipod

Skull-rest, bipod, steel, nickel plated, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901

Materials:
steel (nickel plated)
Object Number:
A647260 Pt11
type:
skull-rests
3 post mortem chisels

3 post mortem chisels

3 post mortem chisels, steel, one with ivory handle, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1910

Materials:
steel and ivory
Object Number:
A647260 Pt12
type:
post mortem chisels
Brain knife

Brain knife

Brain knife, plated blade, ivory handle, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901

Materials:
steel (plated) and ivory
Object Number:
A647260 Pt13
type:
brain knives
Cartilage knife

Cartilage knife

Cartilage knife, steel and ivory, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901

Materials:
steel and ivory
Object Number:
A647260 Pt14
type:
cartilage knives
Post mortem hammer

Post mortem hammer

Post mortem hammer, plated steel and ivory, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901

Materials:
steel (plated) and ivory
Object Number:
A647260 Pt15
type:
post mortem hammers
Post mortem scalpel

Post mortem scalpel

Post mortem scalpel, steel and ivory, by Hills of London, mid 19th century

Materials:
steel and ivory
Object Number:
A647260 Pt16
type:
post mortem scalpels
2 post mortem scalpels

2 post mortem scalpels

2 post mortem scalpels, steel and ivory, by S. Maw Son and Thompson of London, 1870-1901

Materials:
steel and ivory
Object Number:
A647260 Pt17
type:
post mortem scalpels
3 post mortem scalpels

3 post mortem scalpels

3 post mortem scalpels, steel and ivory, by Hilliard and Chapman, 28 Argyle Street, Glasgow, Scotland, 1842-1864.

Materials:
steel and ivory
Object Number:
A647260 Pt18
type:
post mortem scalpels
Post-mortem set, United Kingdom, 1860-1865

Post-mortem set, United Kingdom, 1860-1865

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

Materials:
steel (metal) and paper (fibre product)
Object Number:
A647260 Pt20
type:
post-mortem set