Presented here is a very rare, Civil War medical specimen known as the Lambert Patent tourniquet. In very good condition, this surviving field tourniquet device was developed and patented in January 1862 by Dr. Thomas S. Lambert of Peekskill, New York. Device consists of a faded, 10¼" long x 1¼" wide piece of maroon, herringbone twill cloth tourniquet strap that has been shortened or cut down from its original longer length. The remaining 11" of the strap is folded up and rests in the tin case. Strap is secured to two, concave-shaped, rectangular metal pads equipped with fold-down metal loops used to lock in the strap. The metal pads were used to apply pressure to the affected limb when secured in place with the strap. The cloth fabric of the tourniquet is in good overall condition except for the mild fading of the red dye. Both metal pads are painted with original, dark forest-green colored paint. One of the pads is stamped with the maker mark of "LAMBERT'S PATENT / JAN 7, 1862."

An oval-shaped, two-piece tin case houses the tourniquet and is coated with the same green colored paint as the pads. Case exhibits heavy to moderate scratching, scuffing and depressions to its surface. Exterior of the case retains 50-70% of its painted finish while the case inside shows approximately 95% of the original, shiny bright finish. The tourniquet set also includes the original paper directions of use for the device, including the wartime testimonials and pictorial diagrams from medical doctors that used the device. The papers are clean and original but suffer heavily from being stuffed into the case and are now torn, frayed and mostly in shreds. A fine but grim Civil War medical specimen that would display well in any collection.