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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Civil War era Tiemann Bleeder Thumb Lancet in a Pocket Case

For the George Tiemann Company, 'Tiemann & Co.' was the name-form at 63 Chatham St. during the Civil War:

 

George Tiemann & Co. (George Tiemann, Frederick A. Stohlmann, and Edward Pfarre) surgical instruments

             1855-63/64: 63 Chatham and 44 Eldridge

The label (not the type used on surgical sets) shows 'Tiemann & Co.', so it's the later date at 63 Chatham and 44 Eldridge in 1855 to 1863.

Tiemann did use instruments from other makers, (Eschmann Brothers, 1863-1869: 293 Broadway, N.Y.)  In this tiny leather case (2 1/2 x 1 1/8 x 1/4 in.)  are two tortoise shell 'thumb lancets', used to bleed a patient.  The thumb lancets were made by Eschmann Brothers who were around the corner from Tiemann on Broadway in New York at the same time during the Civil War.

See an article on bloodletting and venesection during the Civil War

Use of a thumb lancet from Bourgery's Atlas:


Click on image to enlarge

   

  The trade label is a real rarity as it would normally have been removed during use, but the lancets are in mint condition, so it can be assumed the set is unused.

The  U. S. Army Medical Department specified what instruments were to be found in various set and in the list below are shown two thumb lancets specified for a Pocket Case, so thumb lancets were being used during the War.

The Pocket Case contained: 1 scalpel, 3 bistouries, 1 tenotome, 1 gum lancet, 2 thumb lancets, 1 razor (small), 1 artery forceps, 1 dressing forceps, 1 artery needle, 6 surgeon's needles, 1 exploring needle, 1 tenaculum, 1 scissors, 1 director, 3 probes, 1 caustic holder, 1 silver catheter (compound), 6 yards suture wire (iron), ¼ oz. ligature silk, 1/8 oz. wax, 1 Russia leather case.

Source:  "The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. (1861-65.)  Part III, Volume II, Chapter XIV.--The Medical Staff and Materia Chirugica"  A list of what was found in various surgical sets during the Civil War:

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