This is a beautiful capital amputation set and an impressive reminder of nineteenth century medicine. The brass-bound wood case is excellent. Fitted with a key lock, the case opens to display a vivid, red lined interior with a “Shepard & Dudley / 150 William Street / New York “address label in gilt lettering on a black oval on the cover of the inside lid. The lid lifts out to reveal the amputation saw, Hey saw, trephining tools and metacarpal saw. The bottom of the case is fitted for a tourniquet, which is in place, three amputation knives, tenaculum, forceps, etc. The knives have checkered black handles and are Shepard and Dudley marked. A small bottle of surgical thread rests in one of the compartments.

Shepard and Dudley were in the rubber goods business from about 1860 to 1870 when they purchased William Ford’s surgical instrument business, which gives a beginning date for this set. The use of a metal handle for the amputation saw, dates it no earlier than the 1880s, though the other elements do not, leaving open the possibility that the case was retrofitted with a more up-to-date saw. In any case, an upper limit for the set is 1894 when the firm went out of business, qualifying it as a late Indian Wars surgical set.  [sr]

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