Description
Post mortems were first conducted in the early 1800s, mainly to determine whether the physician’s diagnosis of the patient when alive was correct. They also allowed physicians to learn more about internal signs and symptoms of diseases.
The instruments found in post mortem sets vary but most, even today, have a heavy hammer, a saw, scalpels, clips and dissecting scissors as found in this old set. This set is likely to have also contained a chisel, forceps, retractors, suture needles and a blowpipe (used to inflate arteries and veins).