DAVIS & GECK antique SURGICAL SILK SUTURES glass VIALS 1920 lik new PHIALS in BOX Rare Medical Surgery Needles Start Price USD 89.00 Current Price USD 89.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, August 27, 2008 End Time Wednesday, September 03, 2008 Location Montclair, NJ See more about 'DAVIS & GECK antique SURGICAL SILK SUTURES glass VIALS' Description TITLE Up for sale here is a box of twelve Davis & Geck twelve silk sutures. Manufacture in Brooklyn New York NY, I believe these are from the 1920s, but I am not certain. Box reads: "Davis & Geck: Sterile Surgical Silk Sutures; Black Braided Silk, Treated, With 3/8 Cirle Eyed Needle; Twelve Tubes. Each tube contains one 20 inch strand. Non-capillary, and non-irritating heat sterilized sutures. Exterior of tubes may be sterilized by boiling, autoclaving or by submersion in any active alcoholic germicidal solution. Tubing fluid used is xylol containing 2% cera alba U.S.P. Unaffected by age, climate or light." Base of the box indicates "Medical Department, U.S. Navy." From reading the companies history on the web, I believe that they were a major supplier to the United States Military in World War I and World War II, providing the majority of sutures that were used by the army in the second world war- though by that time they were made from nylon. The box is original, as are the six cardboard sleeves that each hold two of the glass tubes. Suturing needle with silk thread, sealed in glass phial. Liquid also in phial. Original, disinfectant liquid still in unbreached vials. Each tube also contains a metal needle, which I believe is a steel "Atraumatic" needle- see company history notes below- which is why I believe that these date from the twenties. The box has been opened, but otherwise the product is as it was manufactured with all 12 tubes present and unused. There is a stock number on the box. The following is a quote from Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center: "In 1909, the year that the Davis and Geck Company was founded, most hospitals were sterilizing their own catgut sutures, frequently through the use of a chemical solution. The process was imperfect, and frequently resulted in infections or operative delays. In 1913 the Davis and Geck Company introduced the Calustro-thermal process for the heat sterilization of suture tubes after the sutures were sealed inside. This provided hospitals with a reliable product, and saved time in the operating room as well. In 1922, Davis and Geck began to market Atraumatic needles, which were eyeless needles that had the sutures directly attached to the needle." The company later became a subsidiary of American Cyanamid, and was ultimately sold to the Tyco corporation. I have searched the web, looking for other examples of this particular suture, or similar. The only references I found were at the Medical History Museum Guide To Records, under "Surgical- Wound Closure", and are from the collection of Dame Jean Macnamara, but as far as I can tell it is only a single vial containing a suture (does not specify if it is silk) and needle, with original fluid intact- no packaging mentioned. Also, in the same collection is a phial of "glass steel and silk" manufactured by Johnson & Johnson- no packaging mentioned. DESCRIPTION Cardboard box containing 12 glass vials in cardboard sleeves. Box is 4 and 1/4 inches tall, 3 and 1/4 wide, 1 inch thick. Each glass vial is 4 inches long, about a 1/4 inch thick. CONDITION Condition of the BOX is Good- has been opened, so seal is broken; a considerable amount of overall surface mildew/ foxing; Condition of the glass vials and sleeves is AS NEW. Each is unbroken, with its liquid intact. I think I've covered it all, but all questions are welcome. GUARANTEE All my books come with a no questions asked, money back guarantee: Buyer has 30 days from receipt to return item for a full refund of final bid price (sorry, but shipping costs are not refundable). SHIPPING All my books come carefully wrapped in bubble wrap, and are shipped in a box- not an envelope. All are priced at the lowest shipping price available- Media Mail, but Priority Mail is available if you are willing to pay the extra cost. Insurance is optional- buyer's expense. For Outside the USA, buyer pays actual shipping cost, but no handling fee. Combined shipping is fine on multiple purchases. PAYMENT For credit cards, I accept Paypal (I am a Verified member)- click logo below. Checks and Money Orders are also welcome. BUYERS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES MUST PAY BY PAYPAL. Good luck! Place a Bid!