19th Century Adjustable Operating Table

Title: 19th Century Adjustable Operating Table
Description: This heavy oak surgical table was advertised as the Alison table in a number of physician supplies catalogs during the 1890’s. The company that made the table existed as Roberts and Alison between 1886 and 1890 on East South Street in Indianapolis, Indiana. Here is the text of the advertisement in the True Axe and Green Catalog; “made of oak, walnut, or cherry material and workmanship first class. Elegant finish, hand polished, the top is made plain, upholstered, or with movable cushion and pillow. The patient crossbar on which the upper portion rests enables the operator by use of the two-foot treadles at the side of the table instantly to adjust it to perfect ease and with the heaviest patient on it to any desired position. The adjustable stirrups, divided leg rest, revolving cabinet, removable cushion, and the adjustable armrest are some of the desirable features of the table. Satisfaction guaranteed, prices range from fifty to ninety dollars”. A second catalog Allo advertised; “it is safe to assert that this appliance stands without a pier and in its estimations patrons throughout the length and breath of this country”. For an anesthesia the table could be adjusted so that the patients head would be lower than the rest of the body. This would prevent fluids from flowing down and blocking the airway trachea, during surgery. The table could also be tilted on one side to help control bleeding on the raised side.
Date: 1886-1890
Original Format: medical equipment
Extent
Local Identifier: Country Doctor Museum
Subject(s)
Location of Original: Country Doctor Museum
Rights: This item has been made available by The Country Doctor Museum for use in research, teaching, and private study. Researchers are responsible for using these materials in accordance with Title 17 of the United States Code and any other applicable statutes. For information regarding reproduction, please contact The Country Doctor Museum at hslcdm@ecu.edu;
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
Permalink: https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/13885
Preferred Citation: Cite this item

This item
19th Century Adjustable Operating Table
My Collections Login
Printable Feedback Form

Found in theme/project
Health and Medicine
North Carolina History and Fiction Collection

Contact Digital Collections

If you know something about this item or would like to request additional information, click here.

Comments

Mary Thompson Sep 11 2023

Is it possible to get the dimensions, H+W+D, of this table please?

Comment on This Item

Complete the fields below to post a public comment about the material featured on this page. The email address you submit will not be displayed and would only be used to contact you with additional questions or comments.