Surgical pocket case, which consists of several instruments housed in a folding leather case; the case contains (a) an elevator/spatula; this is an instrument made of a flat piece of metal with rounded ends; one end curves slightly upwards and the other end curves slightly downwards and has a small…
Surgical pocket case, which consists of several instruments housed in a folding leather case; the case contains (a) an elevator/spatula; this is an instrument made of a flat piece of metal with rounded ends; one end curves slightly upwards and the other end curves slightly downwards and has a small slot cut into the metal at the end; the case also contains a pair of hemostatic forceps (b,c); the forceps consist of a scissor-like instrument with two halves--(b) left and (c) right--that fit together; the forceps have two oval finger grips and straight tapered handles with rounded outer edges that taper to tips with serrated inner edges; the forceps' two halves join together with a pivot and round slot near the tip blades; part (b) has a rounded pivot which stands up from the inner edge of the piece and part (c) has a rounded slot cut through the metal; the handles of the forceps are straight with finger grips at their ends; the grips flare slightly outwards and have a single snap catch ratchet just below the rings; the serrated inner edges of the tips fit together when the forceps are closed; the case also contains a probe (d) which consists of a length of solid cylindrical metal that has a tapered, pointed tip at one end and a slightly bulbous, rounded tip at the other end; the case contains three lancets in ebony sheaths (e-g); each of these lancets has a metal blade that is hinged at the end between two flat pieces of ebony; the hinge allows the blade to be placed between the ebony pieces for storage; the ebony handle has flat inner edges and rounded outer edges with rounded tops and bottoms; the blades vary in shape: (e) is long and curved with a blunt outer edge, sharp inner edge, and blunt rounded tip; (f) has a small, rounded blade on a long shaft; the tip of the blade is sharp; (g) is long and curved with a blunt outer edge, sharp inner edge and has a tapered tip that ends with a sharp point; the case also contains a pair of tissue forceps (h); this is a tweezer-like instrument made of two halves joined at the handle; each half is made of flat metal with rounded ends joined permanently together; the metal tapers to rounded tips that have serrated inner edges which fit together when the forceps are squeezed closed; one side of the forceps has a small hole through the metal; the other inner side of the forceps has a corresponding cylindrical metal piece that fits into the hole when the forceps are closed; the case also contains a catheter (i) with two removable tips -- a male tip (j) and a female tip (k); the catheter (i) is made of a hollow cylindrical metal tube with round open ends; the tip end has threading on its outer edges; the other end is open with a slight lip; there is a small round ring attached to the outer edge near this open end; removable tips (j,k) fit onto the threaded tip of the catheter; the male tip consists of a long curved length of hollow cylindrical metal tubing with a round open end that has threading on its inner edge; the other end of the tube has a closed rounded tip; there are two small oval holes in the tube near the tip end; the female tip consists of a short slightly-curved length of hollow cylindrical metal tubing with a round open end that has threading on its inner edge; the other end of the tube has a closed, rounded tip; there are two small oval holes in the tube near the tip end; all pieces are stored in (l) a three-fold leather case with a metal clasp; the case has three rectangular sections with an outer flap on the right and left sides which fold inwards to cover the section; the sections are joined together and fold upwards onto each other; the top section has a leather-covered cardboard and cloth section at the back; the case has a rounded leather-covered cardboard flap with a metal clasp that holds the case together when folded; the inner sections have leather instrument-holding loops sewn into the centre of the section; these hold the instruments securely inside the case
Number Of Parts
12
Part Names
a - elevator/spatula - Size: Length 12.1 cm x Width 1.5 cm x Depth 0.5 cm
b - hemostatic forcep (left) - Size: Length 10.7 cm x Width 2.4 cm x Depth 0.6 cm
c - hemostatic forcep (right) - Size: Length 10.7 cm x Width 2.4 cm x Depth 0.6 cm
d - probe - Size: Length 12.6 cm x Diameter 0.2 cm
e - lancet (open) - Size: Length 14.6 cm x Width 1.2 cm x Depth 0.8 cm
f - lancet (open) - Size: Length 14.2 cm x Width 1.2 cm x Depth 0.8 cm
g - lancet (open) - Size: Length 14.7 cm x Width 1.2 cm x Depth 0.8 cm
h - tissue forceps - Size: Length 10.9 cm x Width 2.1 cm x Depth 1.0 cm
i - catheter base - Size: Length 11.8 cm x Width 1.1 cm x Depth 0.5 cm
j - catheter tip (male) - Size: Length 11.9 cm x Width 5.0 cm x Depth 0.5 cm
k - catheter tip (female) - Size: Length 3.2 cm x Width 1.0 cm x Depth 0.5 cm
l - leather case (closed) - Size: Length 14.4 cm x Width 6.7 cm x Depth 3.8 cm
Provenance
Collected by Dr. A. A. Travill for Queen's Faculty of Medicine collection
Material
metal: silver; grey; yellow
wood: black
cardboard: brown
leather: brown
fabric: red; brown
Inscriptions
(a-c, e-h) All instruments have "A.L. HERNSTEIN" stamped into the metal; (l) the metal clasp on the case has, "PAT. JUNE 25 67" stamped into the metal
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-F1-16
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
The surgical pocket case arrived very dirty and dusty; (a,d-g) the metal shows some wear and minor staining; no corrosion is visible; (e-g) the ebony is complete and undamaged except for a very small chip in one side of lancet (e); (b,c,i-k) the metal shows wear and areas of plating loss; no corrosion is visible; (h) the metal shows wear, staining and some corrosion (rust) is visible; (l) the leather is dry and brittle with several torn and/or missing areas; case smells of mildew; cardboard and cloth sections show tears and missing areas; part of the metal clasp is missing; #2: leather torn, fabric torn, metal tarnished
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Document
Reference Comments
Previous number #234; Faculty of Medicine Collection 1984 Inventory; "Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of Surgical Instruments and Orthopaedic Appliances," by Max Wocher & Son, 189-, p. 57 (similar to No. 9)