University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Diagnostic & Treatment Artifacts
Surgery
Classification
Orthopedic Surgery
Surgery
Accession Number
1983.25.1
Description
A hardwood box with a flat leather handle contains a universal motor with a sterilizable shell, a lathe with one dowel cutter in place, a foot switch, a circular blade in an envelope, a cloth-covered electrical cord that connects the foot switch to a cord from the motor (which is missing); the emp…
A hardwood box with a flat leather handle contains a universal motor with a sterilizable shell, a lathe with one dowel cutter in place, a foot switch, a circular blade in an envelope, a cloth-covered electrical cord that connects the foot switch to a cord from the motor (which is missing); the empty compartments in the case suggest that various instruments are missing; accompanied by a twin saw attachment (1983.25.2) and a box of drill bits (1983.25.3).
Part Names
motor - Size: Length 25.4 cm
box - Size: Length 43.8 cm x Width 21.6 cm x Depth 11.4 cm
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; source: the Brantford Clinic, Brantford, Ont.
Base of carrying case has separated at the hinge side from the base sides; foot switch worn; items missing from kit.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Person
Book
JPG
Reference Comments
Dr. D. Grant Honeyman; Kny-Scheerer catalogue, 1915, p. 2179; "Bone Graft Surgery in Disease, Injury, and Deformity," by Fred A. Albee, 1940, ch. 2; CD #UHN
Research Facts
Named after Dr. F.H. Albee (1876-1948), a New York surgeon, ca. 1915. This is an early application of power tools to surgery; Albee copied tools used by cabinetmakers to make precision cuts and joints; according to Dr. Honeyman (Brantford Clinic), it would have been most unsafe electrically, particularly since it was used at a time when explosive anaesthetics were being employed; use of power tools in orthopedic surgery improved the speed and accuracy of cutting bone, reduced, operating time, lessened the shock to the patient, and enabled more intricate reconstruction to be done.