Post mortem set, cased, by S. Maw and Son, English, 1860-1870
The post-mortem set contains equipment necessary to carry out an autopsy or a dissection. Among the instruments are a spine chisel, a large steel hammer, scalpels, saws and suture needles to sew up the body once the procedure was completed. The kit also contains a head rest for the body. Post-mortem or autopsy only came into practice in the early 1800s. The purpose of post-mortem was to determine whether the physician’s diagnosis when the patient was alive had been correct. It also helped physicians to learn more about the internal symptoms and signs of disease.
Details
- Category:
- Anatomy & Pathology
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A51118
- Materials:
- case, wood, case, velvet, lined and case, brass
- Measurements:
-
fully open case: 33 mm x 251 mm x 326 mm, 2.4 kg
closed case: 52 mm x 251 mm x 163 mm, 2.4 kg
- type:
- post-mortem set
- credit:
- Loan, Wellcome Trust
Parts
Saw from post-mortem set
Pair of bowel scissors
Spine chisel from post-mortem set
Spare handle for medical intruments
Hammer, part of post-mortem set
Knife blades, part of post-mortem set
Chisels, part of post-mortem set by S. Maw and Son
Head rest from post-mortem set
Surgical scalpels, from post-mortem set
Surgical instrument from post-mortem set
Blow pipes, part of post-mortem set
Scalpel handle, part of post-mortem set
Suture needles, part of post mortem set
Case for post-mortem set
- Materials:
- case, wood , case, velvet, lined and case, brass
- Object Number:
- A51118 Pt15
- type:
- instrument case