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Steel amputation saw with metal and ebony handle. Short, wide bladed saw with integrated handle fashioned to fit hand having both a finger hole and a tang to supply support for base of thumb and forefinger. Used to quickly saw through bone while removing injured body parts – primarily arms and legs. After a tourniquet is applied above the injury site, a long, sharp knife is used to quickly cut through the skin and muscle around the circumference of the limb completely down to bone in (if possible) in one circular pass. After the bone is exposed, the saw is used to quickly remove the limb. The exposed muscle is cauterized with a hot iron and the edges of the bone end are rounded with a file. The large arteries and veins are tied off with silk suture material and the skin sewed together to cover the end of the stump. A skilled surgeon could complete the procedure in minutes. The patient generally was given copious amounts of liquor or laudanum (opium) prior to the surgery, but still it was necessary to have several strong men at hand to keep the patient on the operating table. Dimensions: Overall: 14.25 in.(length) x 3.0 in. (height) x 0.75 in. (thickness of handle). Toothed part of blade is 10.5 in. (length) x 0.03125 in. (thickness) and from 2.0 to 2.75 in. wide. Finger hole is 0.875 in. (diameter). Condition: Good to excellent condition with mild corrosion on blade surface and metallic frame. Dried blood is present in the checkering on the handle as well as in the corner formed by the junction of the blade and the surrounding metal frame. The teeth of the blade show moderate wear and there is evidence of wear adjacent to the teeth along the length of the blade where it contacted bone being sawn through. SCRC Purchase. EDU2015.006

Apothecary pharmacy metal balance scale with brass weights in wooden box. The scale is connected by green strings and a green, purple, and blue tassle hangs on the top. There are 15 brass weights consisting of drams, scruples, and grains. Box measures 6 3/4'' (length) x 3 3/4'' (width) x 1 1/4'' (height). Fair condition with a number of the weight exhibiting heavy oxidation and the scale showing rust. EDU2012.068

Tinted light blue apothecary bottle. The bottle reads "Boston" on one side and "Burnett" on the other. Burnett was a company owned by Joesph Burnett, a druggist, established in 1847 that sold personal and medical products or tools. The company made a popular product called "Burnett's Cocoaine", used to promote hair growth. The bottle likely held this hair product or castor oil. Measures 6 1/4'' (height) x 3'' (width). Fair condition with a few slight marks or chips on the bottom of the bottle. EDU2012.069

Solid brass apothecary mortar and pestle from the mid 19th century. The mortar is shaped like a cup with a large bell-like opening and has two handles on the side.Apothecary mortar and pestles were used to grind solids into powders for the application of ingredients or for ingredients to be used in a medical mixture. Pestle measures 5'' (length). Mortar measures 4'' (length) x 4 1/2'' (width). Brass shows little to no oxidation but the inside of the mortar does exhibit heavy use. EDU2012.070A-B

Artifacts originally created to define space for human activities or to be used as components of space-defining artifacts.

Artifacts originally created as expressions of human thought. Communication artifacts comment on, interpret, or enhance people's environments. Communication artifacts can function symbolically or literally. This category excludes tools and equipment that are used to create communication artifacts.

Artifacts originally created to transport or distribute animate and inanimate things. This category also includes artifacts originally created to facilitate such transportation or as an adjunct to such transportation. This category includes propelled vehicles such as automobiles or wheelbarrows as well as containers that facilitate distribution. Also included are parts of aircraft, spacecraft, land vehicles, rail vehicles, and watercraft.

3-Lead shot pellets from the Shot Tower in Chester, England. The Chester Shot Tower, also known as the Boughton Shot Tower, was erected next to the leadworks established by Walkers, Maltby, and Company in 1800 in order to produce lead shot for the Napoleonic Wars. The brick tower is circular measuring 9m (diameter) at the base and 6m (diameter) at the crown. The building is 51m tall. Molten lead, to which arsenic was added, was poured from the top of the tower passing through a griddle to separate into pellets. It then would land in a vat of water at the bottom of the tower. No measurements (sealed with wax in glass container). Pellets are in good condition with no visible defects but there are some much smaller pieces in the container as well (possibly remnants from another pellet). EDU2012.065

Plastic folding ruler that measures in centimeters. Ruler is black with metal tips. Ruler measures about 20'' (length) x 1/3'' (width). Condition is fair with some noticeable damage to the plastic along the edges and rust on the metal tips. EDU2012.020