(a) Virchow brain knife, which consists of a straight, flat blade with thin, sharp edges and a thin, sharp, rounded tip; the other end of the blade tapers in and joins with a metal handle that is long, rounded and hollow inside; the handle end is rounded; the knife is stored in a leather sheath (b)…
(a) Virchow brain knife, which consists of a straight, flat blade with thin, sharp edges and a thin, sharp, rounded tip; the other end of the blade tapers in and joins with a metal handle that is long, rounded and hollow inside; the handle end is rounded; 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 - brain knife - Size: Length 28.9 cm x Width 2.1 cm x Depth 1.2 cm
b - leather sheath - Size: Length 17.0 cm x Width 3.3 cm x Depth 0.7 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, "INGRAM & BELL // MADE IN GERMANY" stamped into the metal near the handle; the other side of the blade has, "CHROME – RUSTLESS" stamped into the metal near the handle.
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-E1-3
Condition Remarks
The metal shows some wear; there are a few small spots of plating loss and non-active corrosion on the blade; the leather is complete, unstained, and flexible.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Book
Reference Comments
Previous number #141; Faculty of Medicine Collection 1984 Inventory; "Surgical Instruments," by Jetter & Scheerer Co., c. 1960, p. 189 (item #04 516); came in instrument roll 997.001.414 with 6 other amputation knives (997.001.415-.420)