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CIVIL WAR ERA WOODEN SHOULDER or COLLAR BONE
SPLINT – EXCELLENT, LIKE NEW CONDITION - MAKER MARKED -
SCARCE EARLY MEDICAL PIECE: This original Civil
War era Shoulder or Collar Bone Splint was patented and
manufactured by Dr. Almiron M. Day of Bennington,
Vermont. Apparently securing his patents during the mid
1850’s through the mid 1860’s, Dr. Day’s splints were
generally used in the army hospitals during the Civil
War.
This is as good a place as any to plead the limits of my
medical knowledge, as I am not sure what the exact
application of this splint was, however from its shape
and design, it was apparently intended to be used over
the shoulders and across the back of the neck.
Dr. Day’s splints are described and pictured on page 73
of Dr. Dammann’s Pictorial Encyclopedia of Civil War
Medical Instruments and Equipment, Volume One, and
again on page 76 of Volume Two by the same title, ,
however this particular model is not shown in either
volume, perhaps indicating this shoulder splint is
considerably more scarce than the common arm and leg
splints.
Having survived the passage of time in remarkable
condition, this splint measures 18” long and 6 ¾” wide
at the center. The metal fittings on each end are
stamped with Dr. Day’s patent information and dated July
5, 1853, well before the Civil War. The splint shows
little sign of having been used, retaining the original
varnish finish and all of the metal fittings for
securing the splint with ties. On one end is attached a
1 ¼” wide woven band that features a padded swell for
securing the splint under the arm pit. The other end
retains a section of the same sort of band, but the
padded section with the rest of the band is no longer
with the piece. This missing section could be
replicated with little effort if you so desired. The
under side of the splint retains the original velvet or
mole skin like material lining which probably helped
keep the piece in place and prevented it from sliding.
This is a very unusual splint from before the Civil War,
and from all appearances fairly rare, and this piece
will certainly be an important addition to a Civil War
display or any 19th Century Medical display.
$400
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