American Civil War Medicine & Surgical Antiques

Surgical Set collection from 1860 to 1865 - Civilian and Military

Civil War:  Medicine, Surgeon Education & Medical Textbooks

 Dr. Michael Echols  &  Dr. Doug Arbittier

 

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Mexican War era, c. 1848 Goulding Military Amputation Set

U. S. Army Hospital Department

This extremely rare and historic military surgical set in a mahogany case made by William R. Goulding, New York. 

William R. Goulding surgical instruments; surgical and dental instruments (1844)

1837-38: 166 Rivington

1839: 33 1/2 Chatham, h. 166 Rivington

1840-41: 35 1/2 Chatham, h 166 Rivington

[also listed as Wm. R. Goulding & Co., 35 Ih Chatham, in 1841-42]

1842-43: 58 Gold, h. 66 Gold

1844: 35 1/2 Chatham and 29 Ann ("steam manufactory") 1845-49: 57 Chatham and 29 Ann

 

Reference Edmonson

 

The instruments of the set are marked W. R. Goulding and US ARMY HOSP DEPT.   The set was supplied to the U. S. A. Medical Department at the time of the Mexican War during the late 1840's.  Its history and use are written all over the instruments and case. This is obviously a set which saw much military use.

One small knife is missing as is the bone brush.  This same surgery set is exhibited on page 77 of Edmonson's book: American Surgical Instruments: an illustrated history.

Note the amputation saw has an unusual decorative brass frame.   The various instruments have isolated heavy rust which is due to blood having been left on them.  The set shows obvious use and is an extremely rare piece of our military history.   Please also see the Goulding c. 1840's military trephination set.

William Goulding, click here for additional information

Click on photos to enlarge 

 

goulditems.JPG (109051 bytes)

 

The conical trephine and turned handle are pre-1850 features

 

 

Note the U. S. Army Hospital Dept. markings...so rare, so rare

 

 

Matching ferrules are a key indication of the fact all knives are from the same time period and maker

 

 

 

gouldsaw.jpg (57350 bytes)  gouldblood.JPG (161105 bytes)

The 'rust' on the blades and other instruments is not from water, but from blood.  The blood stuck to the metal, the salt etched the metal, and caused electrolytic corrosion which appears thread-like as in heat 'lightening'.

 Note the U. S. Army Hospital Dept. marking on the 'T'.

Medical Antiques Index

American Civil War Medicine & Surgical Antiques Index

 

Topical Index for American Civil War Surgical Antiques 


 

Contact Dr. Arbittier with questions or if you have Civil War medical related items for sale

 

 

Civil War Medical Collections    Sitemap for entire website 

 

Direct links to all medical & Civil War collections on this site           

American Surgical Sets:

Pre-Civil War:  1 | 2  -   Post-Civil War:  3  -  Civil War 1861-1865:  4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8   INDEX

Medical Text-Books:

1 | 1a | 2 | 2a | 3 | 3a | 4 | 4a | 5 | 5a | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9a | 10 | 11 | 12    INDEX

Surgeon General's Office Library printed catalogues: 1840 | 1864 | 1865
Medical Lecture Cards: 1a | 1b 2 | 34 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21    INDEX

Medical Faculty and Authors:

INDEX

Navy Surgeon Exams:

1863 Navy Surgeon Applicant Exams with Biographies   INDEX ONE | INDEX TWO

Surgeon CDVs, Images

Surgeon's Medical Service Swords, and Pistols

Army: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8    INDEX    

M.S. Surgeon Swords and Pistols:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4  INDEX

Navy: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8   

Hosp Dep't Bottles, Tins, 

U.S. Army Pannier:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

American Civil War Medicine & Surgical Antiques

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Last update: Thursday, February 16, 2023