Surgical forceps have been used in various forms from ancient times and have evolved into a indispensable instrument for modern surgeries. Forceps are surgical instruments for the practice of medicine which are used for grasping, holding, and manipulating tissues and objects during surgical procedures. Ancient Origins Surgical instruments, including forceps, have been use since man first started working with tools. Ancient civilizations, like Egypt, Greece, and Rome, had physicians who used rudimentary forceps made of bronze or iron. The forceps of the ancient world were often simple in design, with two arms that could be squeezed together to grasp objects. They were primarily used for tasks like extracting foreign bodies or handling tissues. Middle Ages and Renaissance During the Middle Ages, medical knowledge and surgical techniques experienced a decline in Europe. While the Roman empire enjoyed remarkably advanced medical care and practices, its collapse left a vacuum that led to a loss of a centralized medical knowledge and a disruption of education and trade. At the same time, religious superstitions suppressed medical inquiry. With many of the medical texts of Hippocrates and Galen and others lost, the medical practice experienced a decline. However, surgical forceps continued to be used in various forms, albeit with limited advancements. With the Renaissance period came a revival in medical knowledge and innovation. Ambroise Paré, a French surgeon of the 16th century, is credited with introducing improvements to the forceps design, making them more versatile and effective. 18th and 19th Centuries Innovators The 18th and 19th centuries marked a significant period of advancement in surgical instruments, including forceps. The famous French Surgeon Jean-Louis Petit introduced forceps with curved tips, making them more suitable for specific procedures. John Hunter, a Scottish surgeon, designed forceps with fine tips, allowing for more delicate and precise manipulation during surgeries. Joseph Lister, a pioneer of antiseptic surgery, emphasized the importance of cleanliness and sterile instruments during surgical procedures. This led to advancements in forceps sterilization techniques, which greatly improved patient outcomes. Modern Era The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the development of a wide variety of specialized forceps for different surgical procedures. Advances in metallurgy and manufacturing techniques allowed for more intricate and delicate designs. As surgery became more specialized, forceps were tailored to suit specific procedures, such as neurosurgery, ophthalmology, and gynecology. Contemporary Advances In recent decades, surgical technology evolves continuously. Many surgical procedures are now performed using minimally invasive techniques, which require specialized instruments. Modern surgical forceps are typically made of high-quality stainless steel, stainless steel alloy, or titanium. They come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, each suited to specific surgical tasks. Some forceps have serrated jaws for a better grip, while others have delicate tips for fine tissue manipulation. Modern Forceps The history of surgical forceps is a story of innovation, adaptation, and continuous refinement. From ancient origins to the modern era, these instruments have evolved alongside medical knowledge and surgical techniques, playing a crucial role in improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of surgery. https://www.wpiinc.com/blog/post/history-evolution-of-forceps These forceps were donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by the family of Doctor William Roy Angus, Surgeon and Oculist. It is part of the “W.R. Angus Collection” that includes historical medical equipment, surgical instruments and material once belonging to Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Thomas Francis Ryan, (both of Nhill, Victoria) as well as Dr Angus’ own belongings. The Collection’s history spans the medical practices of the two Doctors Ryan, from 1885-1926 plus that of Dr Angus, up until 1969. ABOUT THE “W.R.ANGUS COLLECTION” Doctor William Roy Angus M.B., B.S., Adel., 1923, F.R.C.S. Edin.,1928 (also known as Dr Roy Angus) was born in Murrumbeena, Victoria in 1901 and lived until 1970. He qualified as a doctor in 1923 at University of Adelaide, was Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1924 and for a period was house surgeon to Sir (then Mr.) Henry Simpson Newland. Dr Angus was briefly an Assistant to Dr Riddell of Kapunda, then commenced private practice at Curramulka, Yorke Peninsula, SA, where he was physician, surgeon and chemist. In 1926, he was appointed as new Medical Assistant to Dr Thomas Francis Ryan (T.F. Ryan, or Tom), in Nhill, Victoria, where his experiences included radiology and pharmacy. In 1927 he was Acting House Surgeon in Dr Tom Ryan’s absence. Dr Angus had become engaged to Gladys Forsyth and they decided he would take time to further his studies overseas in the UK in 1927. He studied at London University College Hospital and at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and in 1928, was awarded FRCS (Fellow from the Royal College of Surgeons), Edinburgh. He worked his passage back to Australia as a Ship’s Surgeon on the on the Australian Commonwealth Line’s T.S.S. Largs Bay. Dr Angus married Gladys in 1929, in Ballarat. (They went on to have one son (Graham 1932, born in SA) and two daughters (Helen (died 12/07/1996) and Berenice (Berry), both born at Mira, Nhill ) Dr Angus was a ‘flying doctor’ for the A.I.M. (Australian Inland Ministry) Aerial Medical Service in 1928 . The organisation began in South Australia through the Presbyterian Church in that year, with its first station being in the remote town of Oodnadatta, where Dr Angus was stationed. He was locum tenens there on North-South Railway at 21 Mile Camp. He took up this ‘flying doctor’ position in response to a call from Dr John Flynn; the organisation was later known as the Flying Doctor Service, then the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A lot of his work during this time involved dental surgery also. Between 1928-1932 he was surgeon at the Curramulka Hospital, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. In 1933 Dr Angus returned to Nhill where he’d previously worked as Medical Assistant and purchased a share of the Nelson Street practice and Mira hospital from Dr Les Middleton one of the Middleton Brothers, the current owners of what was once Dr Tom Ryan’s practice. Dr L Middleton was House Surgeon to the Nhill Hospital 1926-1933, when he resigned. [Dr Tom Ryan’s practice had originally belonged to his older brother Dr Edward Ryan, who came to Nhill in 1885. Dr Edward saw patients at his rooms, firstly in Victoria Street and in 1886 in Nelson Street, until 1901. The Nelson Street practice also had a 2 bed ward, called Mira Private Hospital ). Dr Edward Ryan was House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1884-1902 . He also had occasions where he successfully performed veterinary surgery for the local farmers too. Dr Tom Ryan then purchased the practice from his brother in 1901. Both Dr Edward and Dr Tom Ryan work as surgeons included eye surgery. Dr Tom Ryan performed many of his operations in the Mira private hospital on his premises. He too was House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1902-1926. Dr Tom Ryan had one of the only two pieces of radiology equipment in Victoria during his practicing years – The Royal Melbourne Hospital had the other one. Over the years Dr Tom Ryan gradually set up what was effectively a training school for country general-practitioner-surgeons. Each patient was carefully examined, including using the X-ray machine, and any surgery was discussed and planned with Dr Ryan’s assistants several days in advance. Dr Angus gained experience in using the X-ray machine there during his time as assistant to Dr Ryan. Dr Tom Ryan moved from Nhill in 1926. He became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1927, soon after its formation, a rare accolade for a doctor outside any of the major cities. He remained a bachelor and died suddenly on 7th Dec 1955, aged 91, at his home in Ararat. Scholarships and prizes are still awarded to medical students in the honour of Dr T.F. Ryan and his father, Dr Michael Ryan, and brother, John Patrick Ryan. ] When Dr Angus bought into the Nelson Street premises in Nhill he was also appointed as the Nhill Hospital’s Honorary House Surgeon 1933-1938. His practitioner’s plate from his Nhill surgery states “HOURS Daily, except Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturday afternoons, 9-10am, 2-4pm, 7-8pm. Sundays by appointment”. This plate is now mounted on the doorway to the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool. Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Tom Ryan had an extensive collection of historical medical equipment and materials spanning 1884-1926 and when Dr Angus took up practice in their old premises he obtained this collection, a large part of which is now on display at the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. During his time in Nhill Dr Angus was involved in the merging of the Mira Hospital and Nhill Public Hospital into one public hospital and the property titles passed on to Nhill Hospital in 1939. In 1939 Dr Angus and his family moved to Warrnambool where he purchased “Birchwood,” the 1852 home and medical practice of Dr John Hunter Henderson, at 214 Koroit Street. (This property was sold in1965 to the State Government and is now the site of the Warrnambool Police Station. ). The Angus family was able to afford gardeners, cooks and maids; their home was a popular place for visiting dignitaries to stay whilst visiting Warrnambool. Dr Angus had his own silk worm farm at home in a Mulberry tree. His young daughter used his centrifuge for spinning the silk. Dr Angus was appointed on a part-time basis as Port Medical Officer (Health Officer) in Warrnambool and held this position until the 1940’s when the government no longer required the service of a Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool; he was thus Warrnambool’s last serving Port Medical Officer. (The duties of a Port Medical Officer were outlined by the Colonial Secretary on 21st June, 1839 under the terms of the Quarantine Act. Masters of immigrant ships arriving in port reported incidents of diseases, illness and death and the Port Medical Officer made a decision on whether the ship required Quarantine and for how long, in this way preventing contagious illness from spreading from new immigrants to the residents already in the colony.) Dr Angus was a member of the Australian Medical Association, for 35 years and surgeon at the Warrnambool Base Hospital 1939-1942, He served as a Surgeon Captain during WWII1942-45, in Ballarat, Victoria, and in Bonegilla, N.S.W., completing his service just before the end of the war due to suffering from a heart attack. During his convalescence he carved an intricate and ‘most artistic’ chess set from the material that dentures were made from. He then studied ophthalmology at the Royal Melbourne Eye and Ear Hospital and created cosmetically superior artificial eyes by pioneering using the intrascleral cartilage. Angus received accolades from the Ophthalmological Society of Australasia for this work. He returned to Warrnambool to commence practice as an ophthalmologist, pioneering in artificial eye improvements. He was Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist to Warrnambool Base Hospital for 31 years. He made monthly visits to Portland as a visiting surgeon, to perform eye surgery. He represented the Victorian South-West subdivision of the Australian Medical Association as its secretary between 1949 and 1956 and as chairman from 1956 to 1958. In 1968 Dr Angus was elected member of Spain’s Barraquer Institute of Barcelona after his research work in Intrasclearal cartilage grafting, becoming one of the few Australian ophthalmologists to receive this honour, and in the following year presented his final paper on Living Intrasclearal Cartilage Implants at the Inaugural Meeting of the Australian College of Ophthalmologists in Melbourne In his personal life Dr Angus was a Presbyterian and treated Sunday as a Sabbath, a day of rest. He would visit 3 or 4 country patients on a Sunday, taking his children along ‘for the ride’ and to visit with him. Sunday evenings he would play the pianola and sing Scottish songs to his family. One of Dr Angus’ patients was Margaret MacKenzie, author of a book on local shipwrecks that she’d seen as an eye witness from the late 1880’s in Peterborough, Victoria. In the early 1950’s Dr Angus, painted a picture of a shipwreck for the cover jacket of Margaret’s book, Shipwrecks and More Shipwrecks. She was blind in later life and her daughter wrote the actual book for her. Dr Angus and his wife Gladys were very involved in Warrnambool’s society with a strong interest in civic affairs. Their interests included organisations such as Red Cross, Rostrum, Warrnambool and District Historical Society (founding members), Wine and Food Society, Steering Committee for Tertiary Education in Warrnambool, Local National Trust, Good Neighbour Council, Housing Commission Advisory Board, United Services Institute, Legion of Ex-Servicemen, Olympic Pool Committee, Food for Britain Organisation, Warrnambool Hospital, Anti-Cancer Council, Boys’ Club, Charitable Council, National Fitness Council and Air Raid Precautions Group. He was also a member of the Steam Preservation Society and derived much pleasure from a steam traction engine on his farm. He had an interest in people and the community He and his wife Gladys were both involved in the creation of Flagstaff Hill, including the layout of the gardens. After his death (28th March 1970) his family requested his practitioner’s plate, medical instruments and some personal belongings be displayed in the Port Medical Office surgery at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and be called the “W. R. Angus Collection”. The W.R. Angus Collection is significant for still being located at the site it is connected with, Doctor Angus being the last Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool. The collection of medical instruments and other equipment is culturally significant, being an historical example of medicine from late 19th to mid-20th century. Dr Angus assisted Dr Tom Ryan, a pioneer in the use of X-rays and in ocular surgery. Stainless steel forceps, angled handles, ring shaped tips From the W.R. Angus Collection.Stamped "2" and crown, staff and snake insignia.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, dr w r angus, dr ryan, surgical instrument, ent ear nose throat surgery, t.s.s. largs bay, warrnambool base hospital, nhill base hospital, mira hospital, flying doctor, medical treatment, forceps, surgery, medical history

South Australian Rifles Snakes Head Clasp leatheruniform, pre fed, army

Mike Bate holding Snake outside Schwerkolt Cottage.bate, mike, schwerkolt cottage

Bookplate featuring a couple running nude in flowers with a snake"Ex Libris - Betty and Jeff Bidgood"couple, nude, flowers, snake

Bookplate featuring a couple running nude in flowers with a snake"Ex Libris - Betty and Jeff Bidgood"bookplate, nude, couple, flowers, snake

Inspected by Joanna Freslov (2.6.2008) - possibly made in New Guines.A hand-carved walking stick of light brown wood. It has a carved snaked curled around its length. Wood burning has been used to decorate the snake decoration.carving eyhnographic walking-stick

Belonged to Beryl Gray's(deceased Member) brother and they played with it as children.Snakes And Ladders Board Game with signs such as 'Avirace', ''Pride'' and ''Depravity''.on back E.W.Smithtoys, general, recreations, games

This book was completed with autographs from fellow students at Ballarat College during Bruce's years at the school (1946 - 1953). Includes some staff signiatures and greetings. Staff names include - George Hay, Keith Young, Hewson, Stuckey, Porter, Student surnames include - Price, McClure, Hewitt, Davidson, Dehnert, Dodd, Cameron, Fraser, Gibson, Walker, McDonald, Ronaldson, Gray, Naismith, Fyffe, Oxburn, Dyer, Cumming, Coulson, Gilbert, Gilmour, Chester, Young, Gray-McIntosh Girls names include - Barbara Day, Small autograph book with faux snake-skin cover and coloured pagesHandwritten signatures and sayings throughout book

Cardboard box with snakes and ladders board, rules and playing pieces insideSee photogames, board game, family, snakes & ladders

Aboriginal necklace made from snake backbones,, threaded on cotton. no catchlocal history, ethnographic material, dress and ornament, necklace, snake, aboriginal

The poster has the following instructions for the treatment of snake bite:- "A ligature, that is, a strong string or narrow strip of clothing if no string is to be had, should be at once applied near the bitten part, and between the bite and the heart. tight enough to stop the circulation. The bitten part should then be immediately cut out by making, in the manner shown in the engravings, two curved incisions, which should be, where practicable, a quarter of an inch deep. The wound should then be well sucked for then minutes, by persons who have no wound, cut, sore or ulcer in their mouths, or on their lips. When the bite is on the head, face or body, or on any place where a ligature cannot be applied, the bitten part should be kept tightly pinched up till it can be cut out." The poster was authorised by T.R. Wilson, Secretary of Melbourne's Central Board of Health, between 1865 and 1881. It was printed by John Ferres, Government Printer, Melbourne, 1865-1881. The Central Board of Health, Melbourne, was in existence between 1855 and 1889. This poster has significance as an early record of public health instruction issued by the Central Board of Health in Melbourne for the treatment of snake-bite. The materials used to mount and frame the poster are also of significance, with the printing being done on fabric, and the newspaper inserted between the poster and the backboards.Timber-framed rectangular poster with printed instructions for treating a snake bite. The poster is printed on fabric. Between the poster and the backboards is a layer of newspaper, revealed by the damaged fabric. The back of the frame is filled by three vertical timber panels that are strengthened by three horizontal timber slats across the top, centre and bottom. The timbers are fixed in place with nails. The edges of the frame at the back have remnants of paper. Two metal eyelets are inserted into the top edge of the frame. The poster was issued by the Central Board of Health in Melbourne and printed by the Government Printer in Melbourne. It has the British Coat of Arms on top, diagrams and text, plus sections of newsprint.Symbol of [British Coat of Arms] between the letters "V." and "R." Headline "CENTRAL BOARD OF HEALTH" Subheading "WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF SNAKE-BITE" Instructions are printed on the poster. Diagrams include a bite on the knee and bites on the hand. Publisher "Central Board of Health, Melbourne, 28th February ----" "(By Order of the Board), T.R. WILSON, Secretary" "BY AUTHORITY, - - - - - - - - -, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, MELBOURNE" Newsprint includes:- "Duties in the bay were put ... --rried out. On ... harbour boat's cr-- ... , and formed of sufficient ... given ... to vessels in distress, and ... life-b- ... the help of a few..." and "last, a Gold English ... engraved -- cove-- to leave it at F.P. ..."flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, central board of health, melbourne, t.r. wilson, secretasry, government printer, john ferres, snake-bite, treatment, first aid, 19th century, poster, government health announcement

Carved by an elderly Cockatoo resident and given to the history and heritage groupWooden hand carved walking stickCarved wooden walking stick, snake entwined down the full lengthwalking stick, cockatoo, carving, snake

Black and white copy of original photograph of a man in a dark suit with white collar and buttonhole, seated on an ornate chair. Standing on his right is a lady in a light coloured dress and hat, with her left hand resting on a turned wooden stand, and she is holding a small book in her right hand."Wedding photo c1915 Mr & Mrs John Hanrahan of Snake Valley".mr john hanrahan, mrs hanrahan, anne thomas (nee hanrahan), snake valley

Flat rectangular background with rounded corners at top with high relief carving of two birds on each side, with a snake between them. The head of the snake is in one beak and the tail in the other. Decorated with yellow, black, ochre and white pigments.

Dark Blue Felt Pennant HMAS Cerberus Three Herded Dog with Snake Tails.Semper Vigilans

The Mayo-Simpson (Adams) Retractor is designed with ring-handles and U-shaped blades that curve outward. This device can be moved up and down the shaft of the centre blade that it connects to, which can be removed if needed. This self-retaining retractor is primarily used for procedures such as appendectomy, carotid endarterectomy and brain surgery.Jetter Scheerer Germany Crown, sceptre and snake in shape of S logo designsurgery, surgical procedure, medical instrument

Poundkeeper's Book - Keilor. faded blue covers, tan-coloured spine.Pound fees list and snake catching in Keilor taped on the inside of front cover.

Slide. Dry Lake Eppalock. The Campaspe River snakes through the dry bed of Lake Eppalock.slide, bendigo, dry lake eppalock., dry lake eppalock.

Wool classer Alfred Henry Turton joined the Australian Field Artillery 11th Bde as an Armourer Quartermaster Sergeant.Round silver medallion with crown motif on top. Snake tail at bottom. Inscribed on both sides. Shield side: Alfred H Turton 1797 En Reconaissance. Ship side: Rust rcestturton, 1797, elkington, alfred henry turton

This is the before paired photograph used in the 150 year, Lakes Entrance 1858-2008 display.|The after paired photograph number is 01666.1|Also one 12 x 16 framed photograph used in room display.Colour photograph showing sand dunes, Snake Island and rock groynes, Lakes Entrance, Victoria.waterways, islands, vegetation

One of several illustrated envelopes, without letter, sketched by soldier/s during the second world war and sent to Mrs MacDonald of WangarattaVictoria's 2/24th Infantry Battalion was raised in Wangaratta in July 1940. They were welcomed with open arms by the local community as they rapidly built up their numbers. The people of Wangaratta adopted the Battalion and they became known as "Wangaratta's Own" because of the time the battalion spent in the town during its formative period prior to deployment overseas. Many of the soldiers maintained life long friendships with the people of Wangaratta. Even though the Battation was disbanded in 1946 members and their families return each year, in November, for a commemorative service at the 2/24th Battalion Memorial Wall at the Wangaratta Cemetery.Cream paper envelope with coloured sketch of soldier holding green snake. Signature above sketchTop left - AIR MAIL and red cross Top right - postage stamp Left side - AIF Censor stamp Right side Mrs M MacDonald "Monald" 32 Grey Street Wangaratta Victoria Australia Signature above sketch Below sketch - "The boys are tough here" / Australian Red Cross Society ww2, envelope art

Purchased by the society to add to the collectionA pair of snake skin design on leather uppers with gold band on Cuban heels. Green coloured liningEasy Steps Sandlercostume, female footwear

single small sheet of folded paper, printed on one side.Method of Treatment with Sanax Snake and Spiderbite outfit. 8 point list of treatment actions

Robin Boyd developed a close friendship with the founder of the Bauhaus in Weimar Germany, Walter Gropius, who had moved to the USA in the 1930s. Through this connection, Boyd was invited to be the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Bemis Professor at the School in the North American academic year 1956-7. Robin and Patricia Boyd, with their youngest daughter Suzy, were based in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the year. Boyd gave some lectures at MIT and he was also invited to give lectures at many other universities, allowing him to travel widely within the USA, especially on the East Coast. This gave him the opportunity to meet architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Eero Saarinen, Paul Rudolph and many others, and visit the offices of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, and places like Taliesin and the General Motors Technical Center Detroit. On the way home, the Boyds visited London, Berlin, Paris and Le Corbusier’s Ronchamp Chapel in France.Colour slide in a mount. Window detail of Baker House (1948), MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USAMade in USA / 34 / SNAKE WINDOWS / Encircled 37F / 19 (Handwritten) / C5 (Handwritten)mit bemis professorship, mit, robin boyd, slide

A hand-made wooden carving of a snake. It has burnt incised eyes and other patterns along its body.aboriginal carving snake

A metal badge, American eagle logo with banner underneath, emblazoned with stars. Possibly snake positioned behind eagle.bendigo, gold mining, qc binks, qc binks, america