MEDICAL AND SURGICAL ANTIQUES ARCHIVES

All pictures and text on this site are copyrighted ©1982-2007 Alex Peck.  All rights reserved.

a.peck@mchsi.com

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A Civil War CDV of Confederate surgeon Robert Herbert Worthington (1835-1886) dressed in a regulation CSA medical staff uniform.  The backmark is that of Charles Rees, Richmond, Virginia.  Dr. Worthington graduated from the School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, in 1861, and he joined the 31st North Carolina Infantry later in the same year.  He was captured at the fall of Roanoke in August of 1862 and was exchanged.  Subsequently, he was assigned to the 7th Virginia Infantry, Pickett's Division, Army of Northern Virginia.  Surgeon Worthington was severely wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863, and he was with General Lee's army at Appomattox.  He practiced in Kempsville, Virginia, after the War.

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sword, MS1840, John Cockayne Copesake, hilt.jpg (47240 bytes)

sword, MS1840, John Cockayne Copesake, maker detail.jpg (50185 bytes)

sword, MS1840, John Cockayne Copesake, MS legend.jpg (13470 bytes)

sword, MS1840, John Cockayne Copesake, Masonic detail.jpg (25614 bytes)

sword_MS1840_John_Cockayne_Copesake_tinplate_wb.jpg (35671 bytes)

 

A fine Civil War date U.S.A. Medical Staff sword Model 1840 made by Henry Folsom, St. Louis , Missouri , and so marked at the ricasso.  Folsom was in business under this name from only 1859 to 1864.

The brass hilt and scabbard retain 90% of their original gilt finish.  The blade is in superb bright condition, and the etching is sharp and frosty.  Besides the legend Medical Staff, the blade is marked with Masonic emblems and other decorative flourishes.

By documented family history, the sword belonged Dr. John Cockayne Copesake (1837-1917), of West Jersey, Illinois, who entered service in October of 1864 with the 114th Illinois Infantry and served until August of 1865, seeing action at the Battle of Nashville and on into Mississippi.

A Civil War tinplate image of Assistant Surgeon Copesake accompanies the medical sword.

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neurosurgery, Wiegand and Snowden,  c. 1830s, wb.jpg (55434 bytes)

A superb c. 1830 antique trephine set by Wiegand & Snowden, Philadelphia .  Note the fully-blued blade to the Hay's saw.  The underside of the case is marked in period ink $20., the original price for the set.

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doc, bloodletting, cuppers card, Pittsburgh.jpg (83058 bytes)

A rare bloodletting antique business card for CUPPERS & LEECHERS in Pittsburgh.  Note the graphics of five leeches.  

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Stephen Smith,  Hand-Book of Surgical Operations.  279 pp.  2nd ed.   New York: Bailliere Brothers, 1862.  This book went through five editions within two years and was the most popular surgical manual of the Civil War.  There are over 250 illustrations of various surgical  instruments and operations.  The original stiff paper covers are present and in very good condition.  Rutkow, GS53.

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a.peck@mchsi.com

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