Civil War Medical Sets

Contained herein are the basic medical instruments sets carried by Medical Officers during the American Civil War, or as referred to in the Southern States, the War Between the States. This information is designed to assist Civil War Medical Impressionist when obtaining the correct medical sets and cases in order to  accurately "portray the Surgeons and Assistant surgeons that served both the United States Army and the Confederate army during the War Between the States.  It should be noted that although what was to be carried was specifically outlined in the Manual of the Medical Department, they were known to vary somewhat depending on manufacturer. Click on the thumbnails pictures for a larger view of the various cases and sets. 

Amputating Set

This set contained 1 x Capital Saw, 1 x Metacarpel Saw, 1 x Large Amputating Knife, 1 x Medium Amputating Knife, 1 x Small Amputating Knife, 1 x Large Catlin, 1 x Small Catlin, 1 x Scalpel, 1 x Tenaculum, 1 x Artery Needle, 1 x Artery Forceps, 1 x Artery Needle, 1 x Bone Forceps, 1 x Spiral Tourniquet, and 12 x Surgeon's Needles. The items were issued in a Mahogany Brass bound case with a Gutta-Percha (Outer) Pouch.  The Amputating Case pictured is a reproduction from Ed Archer and Sons, and is the property of the F. J. Schaller Jr. 

 General Surgical Set 

Often thought of as a larger "amputation set", this was in fact a different case with it's own large selection of instruments for more detailed surgical procedures. Though the instruments in the General Surgical Cases often differed slightly the one above contains 1 x Metacarpel Saw, 1 x Trocar, 1 x Ball Forceps, 1 x Gullet Forceps,   1 x Gullet Forceps, 1 x Artery Forceps, 1 x Dressing Forceps, 2 x Scissors (Straight and Curved), 1 x Artery Needle (with 4 points), 12 x Surgeon's Needles, 1 x Tourniquet, 1 x Small Amputating Knife, 1 x Small Catlin, 3 x Bistouries, 1 x Hernia Knife,  3 x Scalpels, 1 x Cataract Knife, 1 x Cataract Needle, 1 x Tenaculum, 1 x Double Hook, 6 x Steel Bougies, 6 x Wax Bougies, 3 x Silver Catheters, and 6 x Gum-Elastic Catheters. The set above also contains  1 x Trephine, 1 x Hey's Saw, 1 x Bone Brush and 1 x Elevator. The Revised Regulations (1863) indicated that the instruments were carried in 2 x Brass Bound Mahogany Cases. All of the sets pictured above are from the collection of Dr. Michael Echols. 

Pocket Set

This set was usually carried by the Assistant Surgeon as he set up the Primary Dressing Station near the battlefield. There, with the aid of his Orderly, only wound dressing and minor medical attention was rendered; all amputations and other major procedures being done at the Brigade or Divisional Hospital. These kits, either in a wood case or leather "wallet", contained a variety of items. Some cases had but a few few instruments while others had as many as 30. They varied greatly. This set should not be confused with the Exsecting (Resection) Case. A good example of the contents of a Pocket Case would be 1 x Probe-Pointed Bistoury, 1 x Long Probe-Pointed Bistoury, 1 x Straight Scissors, 1 x Knee Scissors, 2 x Probes,      1 x Flat-Curved Scissors, 1 x Gum Lancet,  1 x Tenaculum, 1 x Tenotomy Knife, 1 x Abscess Lancet, 1 x Director,  1 x Exploring Needle, 1 x  Spatula,  1 x Exploring Trocar, 1 x Double Canula, 1 x Silver Catheter, 6 x Surgeons Needles,  1 x Artery Needle, 1 x Large Scalpel, 1 x Small Scalpel, 1 x Artery Forceps, 1 x Bulldog Forceps, 1 x Curved Forceps, 1 x  Dressing Forceps, 1 x Needle Forceps, and 1 x Sharp Bistoury. 

Exsecting Set

The next example is the Exsecting (Resection) Sete which contained instruments used for performing a resection; a procedure used in lieu of amputating an extremity. These cases usually contained 1 x Bone Forceps, 2 x Sharp Bone Forceps, 1 x Forceps (for Sequestra), 1 x Chain Saw, 1 x Chisel, 1 x Gouge, 1 x Lenticular Knife, 2 x Spatulas, 1 x Trephine (Small Crown) and  1 x Ecraseur. The items were carried in a Brass Bound Mahogany Case, which is from the collection of Dr. Michael Echols.    

Trephine Set

Trepanning was a surgical procedure wherein a hole is cut in skull in order relieve pressure on the brain due to swelling or to lift a compression fracture of the skull. This may sound barbaric and yet this procedure, which is still done today, was being performed over 3000 years ago. This standard issue case contained 2 x Trephines, 1 x Scalpel with Raspitor, 1 x Hey's Saw, 1 x Elevator and 1 x Bone Brush. The items were issued in a Mahogany Brass bound case. Of note, cases did vary slightly but essentially they contained the same items. The case  pictured is in the collection of F. J. Schaller Jr. 

Field Medical Cases

Field Medical Cases contained bandages, scissors, linen, dressings and medications (in japanned tins with cork stoppers). They were usually carried by the Orderly, who accompanied the Assistant Surgeon to the Battle Dressing Station while the Surgeon remained back at the Field Hospital where all of the major medical procedures were performed. The two main types of Field Medical Cases are pictured above and  are exact copies of the originals hand made by Master Craftsmen Brad Bradley.  The Cooledge Case (1863) is on the left and model 1861 (Kidney) case is on the right and both were made for F. J. Schaller Jr. by Brad Bradley. The medicines in these cases were carried in "japanned tins", with cork stoppers to prevent breakage.

Hospital Knapsacks

Another item carried by the Orderly to the Battle Dressing Station was the Hospital Knapsack. These knapsacks carried additional dressing, bandages, Anodynes and varied in design. Both the Hospital Knapsack (left) and Dunton Hospital Knapsack (center)  were made for F. J. Schaller by Mastercraftsman Mr. Brad Bradley from original patterns. Like the "companions" (above), any medicines were contained in "japanned tins", with cork stoppers. The photo on the right is of both these knapsacks and a Surgeon's Companion.  

Apothecary (Medicine) Chests

In the field environment, many Surgeon's carried their own personal medicine "cases" which contained only the most essential medicines and these cases varied greatly in size and contents. Privately purchased, most often the medicines in this case were carried in glass bottles with glass stoppers.  It should be noted that these were not all the medicines carried during the war, The bulk of them were carried in Army issued Medical Panniers, which according to The United States Dispensary (1858) and the Standard Supply Table for General and Post Hospitals, contained 52 types of medicines. The most common Medical Pannier was issued by Edward R. Squibb Company of Brooklyn, New York.

Note to Civil War Medical Impressionist

Steer clear of any surgical knives and scalpels with metal handles or stainless steel metal parts being passed off as "original" pieces, as neither were used  prior to the period (pre-1865) being emulated. In regards to "reproduction" surgical instruments, many are manufactured with stainless steel blades (to prevent rust) however, to be acceptable for reenactment purposes, all should still wither have "checkered" ebony (wood) or bone handles.