Dissecting set, which consists of six pieces in a wooden case; the set includes (a) a scalpel with a long, flat ebony handle that has a rounded end; the other end of the handle is over a metal blade and held together with two brass studs; the blade is flat with rounded sides and one sharp edge, and…
Dissecting set, which consists of six pieces in a wooden case; the set includes (a) a scalpel with a long, flat ebony handle that has a rounded end; the other end of the handle is over a metal blade and held together with two brass studs; the blade is flat with rounded sides and one sharp edge, and tapers to a sharp point; there is a piece of string tied around the handle where it attaches to the blade; the set also contains (b) a double-edged knife; this also has a long, flat ebony handle with a rounded end; the other end of the handle is over a metal blade and held together with two brass studs; the blade is flat and tapers out, then back in to end in a pointed tip; the edges are rounded and sharp; the set also has (c) a tenaculum with a handle similar to the scalpel and knife; the tip end of the handle attaches to a long, flat, rounded piece of metal that has a sharp tip bent in a sideways semi-circular curve; the set also has (d) a large suture needle which is a solid, cylindrical piece of metal with a sharp, tapered tip; an elongated hole has been cut through the metal at the other end; the set also contains (e) a pair of dissecting forceps; these are a tweezer-like instrument made of two joined halves; each side of the forceps has a flat piece of metal that has straight sides that taper to blunted tips; the other ends are rounded and join together to form a holding area; the outside edges of the forceps have vertical gripping grooves stamped into the metal; the inside edges of the tips also have vertical gripping grooves stamped into the metal; the final piece of the set is (f) a triple chain; this consists of three lengths of teardrop-shaped brass links which are all joined together at the top; the ends of each of these chains have metal hooks with blunted tips; the hooks are the same shape as a fishing hook; all of the pieces of the set are stored in (g) a wooden (mahogany?) case; the case is rectangular in shape with a lid that has a hinge at the back and hook clasps at the front; the inside bottom of the box has wooden dividers glued in place to hold the instruments apart; the inside of the lid has a small piece of wood and a moveable metal holding piece; this was intended to hold scissors (now lost)
Number Of Parts
7
Part Names
a - scalpel - Size: Length 15.8 cm x Width 1.1 cm x Depth 0.5 cm
b - double-edged knife - Size: Length 14.9 cm x Width 1.1 cm x Depth 0.5 cm
c - tenaculum - Size: Length 16.0 cm x Width 1.2 cm x Depth 0.5 cm
d - suture needle - Size: Length 6.8 cm x Width 0.2 cm x Depth 0.1 cm
e - dissecting forceps - Size: Length 12.1 cm x Width 2.1 cm x Depth 1.2 cm
f - triple chain - Size: Length 18.8 cm x Width 1.5 cm x Depth 0.5 cm
g - wooden case (closed) - Size: Length 17.5 cm x Width 6.2 cm x Depth 3.3 cm
Provenance
Originally owned by Dr. J.E. Mabee; collected by Dr. A.A. Travill for Queen's Faculty of Medicine collection
Maker
Shepard & Dudley
Material
metal: silver; grey; yellow
wood: black; brown
fabric: brown
Inscriptions
(a) The scalpel has the words "SHEPARD & DUDLEY" stamped into one side of the metal, just below the blade edge; (b) the double-edged knife has the words "SHEPARD & DUDLEY" stamped into one side of the metal, just below the blade edge; (c) the tenaculum has the words "SHEPARD & DUDLEY" stamped into the metal just above where it joins to the handle; (e) the forceps have the words "SHEPARD & DUDLEY" stamped on the inside of one of the blades; (g) the bottom of the case has "J.E. MAbee" written on it in ink
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-E1-5
Condition Remarks
The metal parts show minor wear and staining and no corrosion except for the small brass studs in the ebony handle of the scalpel; all pieces are in good condition except for the case, which is missing a hinge at the back and has a damaged clasp at the front; one of the inner wooden dividers has come unglued; #2: returned in the same condition; #3: the lid is coming off the case.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Document
JPG
Reference Comments
Previous number #16; Faculty of Medicine Collection 1984 Inventory; "Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of Surgical Instruments and Orthopaedic Appliances," by Max Wocher & Son, 189-, p. 65 (similar to #5) (see attached photocopy); "Surgical Instruments," by The Kny-Scheerer Company, 1915, p. 1024 (similar to A/-1123) (see attached photocopy); CD #3
Exhibit History
Bracken Library Exhibit "Boning Up on Anatomy"; Sept 9, 2002-Sept. 29, 2003