Amputation saw, reputed to have been the property of George 'Graveyard' Walker, United Kingdom, 1800-1884

Made:
1800-1884 in United Kingdom
Amputation saw, unsigned, British, 1800-1884 Amputation saw

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Amputation saw, unsigned, British, 1800-1884
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Amputation saw
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Amputation saw, unsigned, British, 1800-1884. Reputed to have been the property of George 'Graveyard' Walker, c.1800

George Alfred Walker (1807-84) was an English surgeon who studied the impact of town graveyards on health and disease. He believed there was a link between infectious disease and the dreadful state of many cemeteries. He wrote a book called Gatherings from Grave Yards in 1839 and his work led to a number of parliamentary committees being set up to investigate the issue. Laws were introduced in 1851 which prevented further burials in London’s inner city graveyards and any burials that were seen as a danger to public health. People were buried outside of city centres and burial inspectors appointed.

Details

Category:
Surgery
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A119811
Materials:
blade, steel, frame, steel and handle, ebony
Measurements:
overall: 19 mm x 410 mm x 93 mm,
blade: 287 mm
type:
amputation saw
credit:
Tylke, J.