Post-mortem set in wooden case

Made:
1860-1870 in London
maker:
S Maw & Son
Bipod head rest. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S Handle for use with disposable scalpel blades, by Bard-Parker Two knife blades. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S Possibly a chisel, with wooden scale tong handle Chisels. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S Three curved and three straight suture needles Steel hammer with wooden scale tong handle Three scalpels with wooden handles Steel hammer with wooden scale tong handle Two blow pipes. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S Spine chisel. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S Bowel scissors. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S Post mrotem saw blade. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S Handle for instruments. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S Spine chisel. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S IPost mortem set, cased, by S. Maw and Son, English 1860-1870

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Bipod head rest. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Handle for use with disposable scalpel blades, by Bard-Parker
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Two knife blades. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Possibly a chisel, with wooden scale tong handle
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Chisels. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Three curved and three straight suture needles
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Steel hammer with wooden scale tong handle
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Three scalpels with wooden handles
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Steel hammer with wooden scale tong handle
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Two blow pipes. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Spine chisel. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Bowel scissors. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Post mrotem saw blade. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Handle for instruments. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Spine chisel. Part of a post mortem set, cased, by S
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

IPost mortem set, cased, by S. Maw and Son, English 1860-1870
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

Chisel from post-mortem set

Chisel from post-mortem set

Chisel, part of post mortem set in wooden case, S Maw & Sons, 1860-1870

Measurements:
overall: 4 mm x 131 mm x 25 mm,
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A51118 Pt1
type:
chisels
Saw from post-mortem set

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
Pair of bowel scissors

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
Spine chisel from post-mortem set

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
Spare handle for medical intruments

Spare handle for medical intruments

Handle for instruments, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870

Measurements:
overall: 14 mm x 113 mm x 23 mm,
Materials:
steel and wood
Object Number:
A51118 Pt5
type:
handles
Hammer, part of post-mortem set

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

Measurements:
overall: 20 mm x 222 mm x 71 mm,
Materials:
steel and wood
Object Number:
A51118 Pt6
type:
hammers
Knife blades, part of post-mortem set

Knife blades, part of post-mortem set

Two knife blades, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870

Measurements:
overall: 163 mm x 16 mm,
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A51118 Pt7
type:
knives
Chisels, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son

Chisels, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son

Chisels, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870

Measurements:
overall: 6 mm x 130 mm x 25 mm,
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A51118 Pt8
type:
chisels
Head rest from post-mortem set

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
Surgical scalpels, from post-mortem set

Surgical scalpels, from post-mortem set

Three scalpels with wooden handles, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870

Measurements:
overall: 6 mm x 156 mm x 12 mm,
Materials:
steel and wood
Object Number:
A51118 Pt10
type:
scalpels
Surgical instrument from post-mortem set

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

Measurements:
overall: 12 mm x 175 mm x 20 mm,
Materials:
steel and wood
Object Number:
A51118 Pt11
type:
chisels
Blow pipes, part of post-mortem set

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
Scalpel handle, part of post-mortem set

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

Measurements:
overall: 3 mm x 132 mm x 12 mm,
Materials:
steel
Object Number:
A51118 Pt13
type:
scalpels
Suture needles, part of post mortem set

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