University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Military Medicine
Diagnostic & Treatment Artifacts
Surgery
Classification
General Surgery
Military Medicine
Surgery
Accession Number
1921.2.2 a-t
Description
Wooden surgical case (a) lined with velvet and containing (b,c,d) Liston's amputation knives, three different sizes, each with a black wooden handle; (e) broad elevator with a wooden handle for trepanning and necrosis; (f) octagonal wooden handle that fits onto (g) a brass and steel trephine; (h) L…
Wooden surgical case (a) lined with velvet and containing (b,c,d) Liston's amputation knives, three different sizes, each with a black wooden handle; (e) broad elevator with a wooden handle for trepanning and necrosis; (f) octagonal wooden handle that fits onto (g) a brass and steel trephine; (h) Liston's artery forceps with clasp and curved interlocking tips; (i) bullet forceps with scooped tips; (j) straight hemorrhoid forceps with fixing slide; (k,l) scalpels each with a wooden handle; (m) tenaculum in wooden handle; (n) scalpel with wooden handle; (o) glass spool with white silk for suturing; (p) metal key for lock; (q,r) Petit's spiral screw tourniquet made of metal, cloth, and leather; (s) amputating saw with a carved wooden handle; miscellaneous items not numbered: one half-circle, round-eye Hagedorn suture needle, two quarter-circle, plain eye suture needles; one straight, plain eye suture needle; one roll of sutures, possibly catgut; (t) handwritten note on tan paper in black ink with red underlines under the date and heading, note is about Dr. Grasett and his father
Number Of Parts
19
Part Names
a -case - Size: Length 35.7 cm x Width 20.8 cm
b - amputation knife - Size: Length 33.0 cm
c - amputation knife - Size: Length 27.0 cm
d - amputation knife - Size: Length 17.9 cm
e - elevator - Size: Length 17.5 cm
f - handle - Size: Length 9.2 cm
g - trephine - Size: Length 11.1 cm
h - artery forceps - Size: Length 12.7 cm
i - bullet forceps - Size: Length 18.1 cm
j - hemorrhoid forceps - Size: Length 13.3 cm
k - scalpel - Size: Length 15.2 cm
l - scalpel - Size: Length 16.0 cm
m - tenaculum - Size: Length 12.0 cm
n - scalpel - Size: Length 16.5 cm
o - glass spool - Size: Length 2.5 cm
p - key - Size: Length 3.5 cm
q - screw tourniquet - Size: Length 8.0 cm
r - screw tourniquet - Size: Length 8.0 cm
s - amputating saw - Size: Length 33.0 cm
t - paper - Size: Length 18.6 cm X Width 27.9 cm
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; donated by Dr. Frederick LeMaitre Grasett; owned and used by his uncle Dr. G. R. Grasett, and before him by his father. Field set belonging to Dr. Henry Grasett, surgeon-in-chief to forces during the War of 1812.
2013: conserved & repaired; Lid broken off box; several large cracks; bullet forceps' scooped tips do not come together completely when closed; #2: three additional cracks; velvet on the inside of the lid was worn; one clasp missing; bottom of the case has a crack running down the centre of its length; the arm of the proper left clasp was broken; there is a minor crack in the handle of (b); all other pieces show signs of moderate wear; (i) and (j) heavily worn; no signs of active corrosion on the metal pieces; fishing line had been used to secure both tourniquet straps; the bottom of the case was scratched and the corner joins were stressed; a splinter had come apart from the front proper right corner of the case, 5 cm long.
Case lid is broken off near the hinge. The corner joints at the hinged edge are slightly separated. Case lid and bottom have cracks across the length of the case. PL front latch arm is broken and hook is lost. The exterior of the case is scratched and the bottom has small losses and a white-ish material rubbed into the wood. Metal components are slightly tarnished. Velvet lining is abraded, matted, and dirty. Fabric has peeled away from wood in some areas and some dividers inside the case are loose.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Donor remarks
Reference Comments
Information paper written March 1921 donated with the objects in this lot.
Research Facts
Dr. G.R. Grasett was born in Portugal Coimbra in 1811, son of Henry Grasett, who was Surgeon 48th Northampton Regt., serving under Sir Arthur Wellesley (Duke of Wellington).
Dr. G.R. Grasett (born 1811) came with his father in 1813 to Quebec (War of 1812-14).He graduated by license of Lower Canada, passed the Medical Board of Upper Canada July 1838 (Christopher Widmer, Peter Diehl, Robert Hornby). He practiced in Amherstburg, county of Essex. A suspicion of aneurism brought him to Toronto, and in 1847 he took charge of the Immigrants hospital and died of typhus fever in the Rectory of St. James, Adelaide in 1847. It is believed the case belonged to his father, Surgeon and Dt. Inspector-General of Hospitals before it came to him. His father was born in County Longford, Ireland, educated at Mercer's Hospital in Dublin. He entered the army as hospital mate by commission on the 27th of December, 1794. 48th Regiment March 1797. He served in Martinique, St. Vincent, and as prisoner of war at Guadeloupe in charge of British sick and wounded. Joined the 48th in St. Lucia. At the capture of Trinidad 1797. 1800 he was at Minorca and at the capture of Malta, and stationed there three years. 1805 ordered to Gibraltar. In May 1809, joined the army under Sir A. Wellesley (the Iron Duke of Wellington Arthur Wellesley) at Lisbon, at Salamanca, Cludad Rodrigo, and Badajoz. In 1813 in North America appointed Surgeon in Chief and so went after the general peace. Died in Quebec 1843.
Exhibit History
Queen's University Art Conservation Program, 4 Sept. 2012-15 Feb. 2013: L-2012-5. On loan to Historic Fort York, City of Toronto, Culture Division, Museums and Heritage Services, 24/10/2003-24/10/2005: L-2003.2; On exhibit in "Friendly Fire 1812," Agnes Etherington Art Centre, 27 Feb. 2012 - 7 Sept. 2012: L-20120-2..