RARE CIVIL WAR WOODEN SHOULDER or COLLAR BONE SPLINT DATED “1853”

This is another rare medical piece being offered, it is an original Civil War Shoulder or Collar Bone Splint. It measures 18” x 6” and stamped into the metal strap guide is “A.M. DAY’S PATENT / JULY 5 1853 / BENNINGTON VT.” (see pictures). Dr. Almiron M. Day secured patents for wooden medical splints from the mid-1850s through the Civil War.

A shoulder splint such as this would be more common in the Army hospitals during the Civil War. They were intended to be used over the shoulders and across the back of the neck. Arm and leg splints would be available to both the hospitals and to the Regimental surgeons.

Dr. Day’s splints are on display in the Civil War Medical Museum in Frederick, Maryland (see pictures). They are also described in Dr. Dammann’s Pictorial Encyclopedia of Civil War Medical Instruments and Equipment. His splints were the most common examples used throughout the war.

When a soldier was wounded, quite often it would cause bone damage which had to be set with splints. The splint shows signs of having been used, but still has some of the original varnish finish remaining.

This is a very unusual splint and much rarer than the typical arm and leg examples. This piece will certainly be an important addition to a Civil War display or any 19th Century Medical display.