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CIVIL WAR MILITARY CASED CAPITAL AMPUTATION SET BY JACOB H. GEMRIG MARKED USA MEDICAL DEPARTMENT AND U.S. INSPECTED

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Amputation and capital operating sets from the Civil War are scarce, military amputation sets are even scarcer, marked ones by Jacob H. Gemrig of Philadelphia are scarcer still, and one not only military marked but military inspected is rare indeed. This is an impressive, four-tiered capital operating set housed in a Mahogony, brass-bound case set up in the military style with sliding latches omitting a key lock. It bears one partial and one complete J.H. Gemrig manufacturer’s paper label with a 109 South Eighth St. address. Gemrig was in business in Philadelphia from about 1841 to 1880. Edmonson dates this address 1866-1880, but our own research in city directories shows it dates at least to 1860 and throughout the Civil War.

The engraved, inlet, oval brass escutcheon plate is in place on the top of the box and is engraved in script: “U.S.A. / Medical Department” and is stamped just below that with the inspector’s initials “J.C.W.” The latter are repeated inside the case on the edges of the upper and lower main compartments of the case. We are aware of a James C. Watson using a “J.C.W.” inspection stamp in his work as an Ordnance Dept. sub-inspector starting in late 1863, but cannot say for certain this is the same man, though that Watson was inspecting edged weapons lends it some credibility. It is unclear through what channels these Medical Department marked sets were ordered, and where the inspector was assigned- to the Medical Department, to the Quartermaster Department, etc.

Sets marked “U.S.A. Medical Department” (versus “Hospital Department,” a subdivision of the Med. Dept.) could be used before, during, or after the war, but were very limited in number, corresponding to the prewar and early war needs of the regular Army, which before the war had few more than a hundred surgeons and assistant surgeons, a number that did not increase much during the war. Opinion among collectors seems to be that the majority of these Medical Department sets were ordered at the very beginning of the war and outside the purchasing channels of those later ordered during the war by the Hospital Department, and so marked, totaling some 4,900 amputation and general surgery sets, some of which remained unissued and were sold as surplus after the war, making an immediate postwar army purchase unlikely. We note also that some of the tools in this set  show early characteristics, such as the checkered rather than smooth, black wood handles on the knives.

A very few of the tools are missing, but those present clearly show the purpose of the set was to deal with shattered bones resulting from gunshot and artillery projectile wounds. The tools include the amputation saw and two amputation knives (one the longest of four for which indentations are evident, and the other the smallest, as well as several bone nippers, bone chisels, hammer, a chain saw with its two detachable handles, Hey’s saw, bone brush, two trephines (both with bright gilt and blue finish) with separate handle, tenaculum, several scalpels, needles, etc.  The condition of the case is excellent. The exterior has nice color and surface with few handling marks to the wood, just slight age darkening to the top, nice patina to the brass. The interior plush, red velvet lining has strong color shading very slightly toward orange, with no tears and few wear spots. The pad on the reverse of the retaining panel for the trays inside the lid is there. The tools have bright blades, no chips to the handles, with only some of the steel tools like the nippers showing some age toning and the blade and frame of the saw showing darker with some thin, light brown, some dust and soiling to the handle, with a touch of green in the recesses, enough to indicate it saw some use. We see at least seven tools clearly marked “GEMRIG” or “GEMRIG / PHILA.” The label on the underside of the lid is partial, but mostly there. The second label, inside a recess for the tenaculum and scalpels is complete.

Please see our photos and consult Dammann’s books and Doug Arbittier’s wonderful website on medical material for further information on these sets. We also show a page from McElroy’s Philadelphia 1860 directory listing this business address for Gemrig. This is a very rare military marked and inspected surgical set by a scarce maker.  [sr][ph:L]

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