{"product_id":"french-naval-surgical-set-by-samson","title":"French Naval Surgical Set by Samson","description":"Naval Surgical Set\u003cbr\u003e Samson\u003cbr\u003e Inventory dated 1854 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Equipped for the formidable demands of surgery at sea, this extensive French surgical set by Samson offers a compelling record of 19th-century naval medicine. Its fitted wooden case houses an array of instruments, including scissors, forceps and curved probes. A printed inventory mounted inside the lid identifies the chest as a surgical outfit intended for use aboard French state vessels, establishing its specialized maritime purpose. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Working far from hospital resources, naval surgeons needed the knowledge and practical skill to treat everything from everyday illnesses and dental problems to serious battle injuries requiring amputation. Their surgical chests consequently accommodated a broad range of medical needs, bringing an extensive selection of specialized tools into a portable, carefully organized case. This set reflects the considerable responsibilities entrusted to these practitioners and the challenges of caring for a crew at sea. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Among its most fascinating instruments is the trepan, used to create an opening in the skull. The accompanying inventory includes a dedicated section headed “Instruments pour le Trépan,” documenting the specialized equipment supplied for this procedure. Dated 1854, the inventory provides a valuable documentary counterpart to the surviving instruments, preserving a detailed account of the tools available to a naval surgeon of the period. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Arranged within individual recesses against a rich red lining, the instruments combine practical organization with the careful craftsmanship of a fitted surgical chest. The inventory identifies their maker as Samson, a Parisian surgical instrument manufacturer and supplier to the Faculty of Medicine of Paris. Brass mounts reinforce the original wooden case, while a brass plaque engraved “M. Aurran \/ Chirurgien de Marine” likely refers to Charles-Marius-Benoît Aurran, the French naval surgeon who served aboard the \u003cem\u003eEuménide\u003c\/em\u003e and was appointed a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1858. Together, the handsome ensemble offers a compelling glimpse into the history of medicine at sea. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Instruments marked “Samson” \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e Monsieur Aurran, naval surgeon, France, likely Charles-Marius-Benoît Aurran (1827-1912), who served aboard the \u003cem\u003eEuménide\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Private collection, France\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Case: 5\" high x 23\" wide x 13 1\/2\" deep","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46322747801735,"sku":"32-2083","price":48500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/32-2083_1.png?v=1793052470","url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/products\/french-naval-surgical-set-by-samson","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}