(a) Catlin amputation knife, which consists of a straight, long, thin blade with two sharp cutting edges and a slightly raised central ridge on each side; there is a 6-cm length at the top of the knife, just before the handle, that is rounded and not sharp; the knife tapers to a sharp point; the ot…
(a) Catlin amputation knife, which consists of a straight, long, thin blade with two sharp cutting edges and a slightly raised central ridge on each side; there is a 6-cm length at the top of the knife, just before the handle, that is rounded and not sharp; the knife tapers to a sharp point; the other end of the knife blade goes into a long, rounded ebony handle that has cross-hatched gripping incisions carved into the wood of the front and back; the sides are smooth; the outer end of the handle tapers to a blunt point; the knife is stored in a leather sheath (b); the sheath is made of two pieces of leather cut into the shape and length of the blade and sewn together with the bottom left open, so that it can be put on or taken off the knife blade.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - amputation knife - Size: Length 27.0 cm x Width 1.8 cm x Depth 1.2 cm
b - leather sheath - Size: Length 16.7 cm x Width 2.6 cm x Depth 0.9 cm
Provenance
Originally owned and used by Dr. B. N. Kropp; collected by Dr. A. A. Travill for the Queen's University Faculty of Medicine Collection.
(a) One side of the blade has the words, "[illeg.] OWDEN // [illeg.] HIL" stamped into the metal just above the handle; the handle has the number "2" stamped into one side of the wood, just below the blade
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-E1-3
Condition Remarks
The metal shows some wear; some non-active corrosion is visible on one side of the knife blade; the wooden handle has a 3 cm-long crack on one side, close to the blade; the leather is complete, unstained, and flexible; #2: returned in same condition.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Book
Reference Comments
Previous number #141; Faculty of Medicine Collection 1984 Inventory; "A Pictorial Encyclopedia of Civil War Medical Instruments and Equipment," Vol. I, by Dr. Gordon Dammann, 1983, p. 14 (item #21); "Antique Medical Instruments," by C. Keith Wilbur, M.D., 1987, p. 126; came in instrument roll 997.001.414 with 6 other amputation knives (997.001.415-.418, .420-.421)
Research Facts
The double-edged knife was used in the "flap type" of amputation procedure
Exhibit History
Bracken Library Exhibit "Boning Up on Anatomy"; Sept 9, 2002-Sept. 29, 2003