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Displays	Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Object numberRCSIC/X 11 CollectionInstruments Categorygeneral surgery, dressing and suture instruments Object namelancets DescriptionInoculation lancet by Wood, in shagreen case, the property of Thomas Dimsdale (1712-1800) and said to have been used by him to inoculate Empress Catherine of Russia, 1768. Thomas Dimsdale trained at St Thomas' Hospital and entered practice as a physician in Hertford in 1714. In 1767 he published a book on 'The Present Method of Inoculation for the Small Pox' and in 1768 he was invited to St Petersburg to inoculate the Empress Catherine and her son, the Grand Duke Paul. Catherine was aware of the risks that inoculation carried for both patient and, in this case, for the practitioner. She arranged for a relay of horses to be provided to carry Dimsdale to safety if she should succumb to infection. Fortunately they were not required and Dimsdale was well-rewarded for the risk. Dimsdale also inoculated Omai, the Polynesian who travelled to Britain in 1775 with Captain Cook. Manufacturer‎ Joseph Wood, instrument maker, York, York Owner/user Dimsdale, Thomas, 1712-1800, physician Patient/subject Mai, fl 1753-1776, Tahitian visitor to London presented Knaggs, H G, fl 1890s, medical practitioner (1894) Related objectsRCSSC/P 241 Physical Location LocationOn display in the Hunterian Museum, Room 7: St George's Hospital Physical Information Physical descriptionThe case is wood covered with polished green shagreen. The lid is hinged and bears a plain silver plate. Two lancets fit into slots in the wood. The lancets are broad with pivoted tortoise-shell scales which touch the blade when closed. Dimensions of case: 70mm l x 35mm w x 10mm h. Dimensions of lancets: 58mm l x 10mm w x 3mm h. MaterialSteel, tortoise shell, wood (plant material), shagreen This lancet case was given by one of his relatives to Mr Martin of Bewlay Cliff Cottage, N.W. who was a patient of mine and gave it to me. [reverse] The fee of fees, however, was that received by Dr. Dimsdale in 1768 for inoculating the Empress Catherine and her son at Petersburg. It consisted in £12,000 paid down, a pension of £500 a year for life, and the dignity of a Baron of the Empire Dimensions case length: 70 mm case width: 35 mm case height: 10 mm lancets length: 58 mm lancets width: 10 mm lancets height: 3 mm Bibliography SourceDoran 1917

Reproduction

Object numberRCSIC/X 11

Categorygeneral surgery, dressing and suture instruments

Object namelancets

DescriptionInoculation lancet by Wood, in shagreen case, the property of Thomas Dimsdale (1712-1800) and said to have been used by him to inoculate Empress Catherine of Russia, 1768. Thomas Dimsdale trained at St Thomas' Hospital and entered practice as a physician in Hertford in 1714. In 1767 he published a book on 'The Present Method of Inoculation for the Small Pox' and in 1768 he was invited to St Petersburg to inoculate the Empress Catherine and her son, the Grand Duke Paul. Catherine was aware of the risks that inoculation carried for both patient and, in this case, for the practitioner. She arranged for a relay of horses to be provided to carry Dimsdale to safety if she should succumb to infection. Fortunately they were not required and Dimsdale was well-rewarded for the risk. Dimsdale also inoculated Omai, the Polynesian who travelled to Britain in 1775 with Captain Cook.

Manufacturer‎

Joseph Wood, instrument maker, York, York

Owner/user

Dimsdale, Thomas, 1712-1800, physician

Patient/subject

Mai, fl 1753-1776, Tahitian visitor to London

presented

Knaggs, H G, fl 1890s, medical practitioner (1894)

Related objectsRCSSC/P 241

Physical Location

LocationOn display in the Hunterian Museum, Room 7: St George's Hospital

Physical Information

Physical descriptionThe case is wood covered with polished green shagreen. The lid is hinged and bears a plain silver plate. Two lancets fit into slots in the wood. The lancets are broad with pivoted tortoise-shell scales which touch the blade when closed. Dimensions of case: 70mm l x 35mm w x 10mm h. Dimensions of lancets: 58mm l x 10mm w x 3mm h.

MaterialSteel, tortoise shell, wood (plant material), shagreen

This lancet case was given by one of his relatives to Mr Martin of Bewlay Cliff Cottage, N.W. who was a patient of mine and gave it to me. [reverse] The fee of fees, however, was that received by Dr. Dimsdale in 1768 for inoculating the Empress Catherine and her son at Petersburg. It consisted in £12,000 paid down, a pension of £500 a year for life, and the dignity of a Baron of the Empire

Dimensions

case length: 70 mm
case width: 35 mm
case height: 10 mm
lancets length: 58 mm
lancets width: 10 mm
lancets height: 3 mm

Bibliography

SourceDoran 1917