Skull Saw, Surgeon's Case, David Stodart of London
Manufacturer
David Stodart of London
Date1835
Object number00055607
DCMITypeStill image
NameSaw
MediumMetal, Wood
DimensionsDisplay dimensions: 165 × 46 × 18 mm
Overall: 51 g
Overall: 51 g
ClassificationsTools and equipment
Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection
DescriptionSkull saw from a surgeon’s instrument case belonging to Dr John Coverdale who travelled to Australia on board the PERTHSHIRE in 1837 as both shipboard doctor and immigrant.
The case was purchased at the surgical instrument suppliers David Stodart in London at a cost of £10 (approximately AUD $2350 in today’s money).
HistoryDuring the 19th century practices in the medical profession was still developing and when compared to modern day standards seem fairly primitive. Often doctors were only called in emergency situations, such as a serious accident or illness. They would make home visits carrying a wide variety of instruments in their portable kits, ranging from dental, amputee and extraction utensils. Many of their prescribed cures are worrying for modern eyes, such as bloodletting which was used for fevers, headaches and even hemorrhages.
Ship surgeons worked in much more confined spaces and harsher conditions than ordinary homeland doctors. Operations and consultations were performed between decks in cramped spaces, usually in the cockpit. Ship surgeons were confronted with maintaining the general health of the entire ship. This involved managing any disease outbreaks, performing amputations (common on naval ships), dental work and any sickness brought on by poor health and diet. Hernias were a common ailment for seamen who regularly undertook hard manual labour and consumed a poor diet.
Dr John Coverdale became a major medical figure in Tasmania, serving as the last Civil Commandant at the convict / penal settlement at Port Arthur in 1874 and Surgeon Superintendent at the Queen's Asylum for Orphans in 1864. He had extensive experience practicing medicine on board ships as a ship surgeon for two British troopships travelling to India between 1835 and 1836. Coverdale was also the ship surgeon and an immigrant on board the PERTHSHIRE in 1837, when he migrated to Tasmania. He initially established a surgery at Richmond which ran from 1840 to 1864, while he was the District Surgeon. Coverdale is believed to have acquired his surgeon’s case in 1835 when he graduated from Glasgow with a medical degree.SignificanceThis surgeon’s kit is a fine representation of medical equipment and surgical practices on board ships during the 19th century, reflecting the limited resources available to physicians. It is associated with Dr John Coverdale, a major medical and surgical figure in Australia's colonial history.
