Partial Civil War Military Surgery Sets

Pre- & Post- Civil War: Display 1  |  Display 2  |  Display 3

Civil War:  Display 4  |  Display 5  |  Display 6  |  Display 7 

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Indexed list of all Civil War surgical sets in this collection

Surgery sets by: Hernstein and Son; H. Hernstein; J. Tiencken; G. Tiemann

(Note: Any surgical or medicine set in existence prior to or during the Civil War 'could' have been used during the War, but it is more likely only the Union Army supplied sets were used in the field by Union Army surgeons after the early months of the War.  The U. S. Army Hospital Department sets were made by American makers, like Tiemann, Hernstein, Kolbe', and Gemrig, expressly for use 'during' the War by Union Army surgeons.   U. S. Army Medical Department sets could have existed before, during, or after the Civil War and were made expressly for the  Union Army.   Other existing sets 'could' have been used by 'contract'  or Army surgeons on both sides during the War.  Contract surgeons and State Volunteer Militia surgeons, typically brought their own instruments for use during the early part of the War due to a lack of instruments on both sides early in the War.  As the War progressed, contract surgeons rarely did any 'surgery' since they were relegated to the rear area hospitals on a temporary basis to do follow-up treatment such as changing bandages and to treat disease related problems, which did not include surgery.  Amputations and other major surgery was done by Army qualified surgeons, not the contract physicians. (Points taken from: Dr. Jay Bollet's book on Civil War medicine and surgery)  Dr. Michael Echols.

 

Article on sources of Civil War military surgical sets

Be sure to read this short article on: The Truth about Civil War Surgeons by Dr. Jay Bollet

Additional information from the National Archives and Medical and Surgical History regarding 'contract' physicians

How to evaluate and buy a Civil War surgical set

How to identify Civil War military surgical sets

See a list of American Civil War set makers with identification information

Tiemann catalogue of Civil War instruments 

Gemrig catalog of Civil War instruments

(All sets on this site are original, contain the correct instruments, and all instruments in a given set are by the same maker.  These are not 'put-together' sets and the sets do not contain substitution instruments.  If incorrect instruments were included in the set when purchased for this collection, then the incorrect instruments were removed.)

High Def image files for some of these Civil War surgical sets are available for publishing print work, contact Dr. Echols for information.

7.1* c.1860's Civil War military field amputation set by Hernstein, New York, N.Y.; Hernstein provided surgical instruments during the Civil War.  This set is Civil War issue with the forceps marked U.S.A. Hosp. Dep't  with bilateral military sliding latches. See additional details and EXPANDED photos
7.2* 1861 Civil War U. S. A. Hosp. Dept. partial surgical set by Hernstein, which is marked as belonging to Dr. Frank Ridgway, of the 73 Infantry Regiment, New York Volunteers, more commonly known as the Second Fire Zouaves.  Bilateral military sliding latches. See additional details and EXPANDED photos
7.3* 1863-65,  Civil War, U. S. Army Hosp. Dept  marked field surgery set by J. Tiencken, New York.  Bilateral military sliding latches. See additional details and EXPANDED photos
7.4* c. 1861, Rare Civil War issue Military Urological set by George Tiemann Co.,  U.S. Army Hosp. Dept. marked and used to relieve urine retention due to disease or trauma.  Bilateral military sliding latches. See additional details and EXPANDED photos
7.5* c. 1861 H. Hernstein military general operating surgical set supplied to the 'U. S. Army / Hosp. Dept.' during the first year of the Civil War.  Keyed lock. See addition details and EXPANDED photos
7.6* c. 1861-63 Snowden & Bro.  4 tier Civil War military hospital operating surgical set. See additional details and EXPANDED photos