Presented here is a very good set of original medical saddlebags employed by physicians when they made their medical rounds on horseback. Such saddlebag devices were used before, during and after the Civil War. This artifact carries an 1870 patent date and is maker marked. Accouterment consists of a pair of black leather, box-like saddlebags in strong condition. Bags still contains the doctor or surgeon’s complement of twenty-two original, medicinal glass vials.  The vials were filled with various liquid and powdered medicines to help treat wounds and sickness.  Some of the vials still hold powder and ten vials retain their stoppers. 

Each saddlebag is constructed of smooth, strong, thick black leather and measures approximately 8” high x 7” across x 7” deep. Bags are connected with one-piece of tooled leather that measures 18” long, 4” wide at the center and widens to 7½” at each end to form the outer flaps.  Outer flaps are riveted in place to each saddlebag. Each bag opens up to reveal a two-compartment section.  The top section of one saddlebag is an 8”x 3”x 2½” box shelf that holds ten glass vials while the bottom section opens forward to reveal another 2½” deep box with ten more vials in place.  All these vials are unbroken save one that has a small crack at the spout. Opposite saddlebag has one intact vial in the top box place and one in the bottom shelf. Also contain a number of broken glass vial pieces. NO paper labels visible on the vials. 

Saddlebag construction uses copper-brass rivets and the bags have a two-piece, harness leather strap that serves as a handle.  Each bag is fitted with a brass closure lock on the flap. All leather exhibits fancy edge tooling and is strong and supple but exhibits moderate surface crazing overall with cracking on the belt.  Stamped on each flap is the maker’s large, clear oval that reads “ELLIOTT’S PATENT / GRANTED JAN. 18^TH, 1870 / A. AMELLIER / ST. LOUIS, MO. / SOLE PROPRIETOR”.