Summary
Mortician's instrument box used in the morgue at the 'Sunbury Lunatic Asylum', later renamed Caloola Training Centre, a mental health hospital in Victoria, Australia. Box contains a selection of instruments used when conducting a post-mortem.
The term 'lunatic asylum' was in official use in Victoria until 1903.
Physical Description
Hinged wooden box with lid fastened to base by two brass hinges. Some instruments are missing. Instruments include: short metal saw with a wooden handle; metal knife with black bone handle; metal scapel; metal hammer-like instrument; two small scapels; knife with metal handle; hinged instrument with sharp ends; metal instrument; three interlinked chains with three hooks. The box has a compartments for each instrument. It is lockable although the key is missing.
Significance
Example of surgical equipment used in psychiatric hospitals in Victoria Australia
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Caloola Training Centre, 28 Apr 1994
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Place Used
Sunbury Mental Hospital (Asylum), Sunbury, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, circa 1900
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Inscriptions
[Illegible- maker's name]
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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overall dimensions
13.5 cm (Length), 6 cm (Width), 31.5 cm (Height)
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Exhibition Collection Management
285 mm (Length), 320 mm (Width), 30 mm (Height)
case fully open
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Dimensions
315 mm (Length), 140 mm (Width), 65 mm (Height)
Measurement From Conservation.
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Dimensions
315 mm (Length), 140 mm (Width), 65 mm (Height)
Measurement From Conservation.
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Keywords
Hospitals, Mental Health, Mortuary Equipment, Psychiatric Hospitals, Surgical Apparatus & Instruments, Making History - Psych Services
