Smith-Peterson bone instruments, England, 1960-1980

Boxed set of Smith-Peterson bone instruments, comprising of a range of graded metal ball reamers, femoral head-shaping cup reamers and a brace for their attachment, manufactured by Down Bros. , from the Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital, Alton, Hampshire, England, 1960-1980

Named after N M Smith-Peterson (1886-1953), a Norwegian orthopaedic surgeon, these instruments are known as bone reamers. Made by Down Bros, the instruments were used to drill large holes in the femur and the hip joint during operations to replace worn out joints.

The set was used at The Lord Mayor Treloar Orthopaedic Hospital in Alton, Hampshire, England. The hospital was set up in 1908 to care for children with orthopaedic conditions caused by disease. It provided a range of treatments from surgery to bed rest and physiotherapy. It later became a general orthopaedic hospital treating patients of all ages – these instruments are believed to date from that period.