{"product_id":"a-rare-antique-18th-century-macabre-needle-in-a-box-removed-from-a-soldier-s-belly-in-1745","title":"A Rare Antique 18th Century Macabre Needle In A Box Removed From A Soldier’s Belly In 1745","description":"\u003cp\u003eA Rare Antique 18th Century Macabre Needle In A Box Removed From A Soldier’s Belly In 1745.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThe wording on the label reads as follows:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\"A Needle, cut out of the Fat of a Soldier's Belly in the ------ on Sunday the 23 of Feb.1745\/6.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eK. P.------ M:D:  F.R.S.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaving contacted the ‘Scottish History and Archaeology\u003cbr\u003eNational Museum’, I received a reply in which they explained the following:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“A Jacobite connection is possible – the siege of Inverness took place on 20th February 1746 so this might have been a related injury.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe letters after the name of the person, do however, suggest this was owned by a physician, possibly the physician who removed the needle – thus a souvenir of the operation. M.D. is the initial for someone with medical training, while F.R.S suggests Fellow of the Royal Society.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIsn’t it blimmin’ fascinating!?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eIt wasn’t uncommon for surgeons to take mementos from operations they performed, particularly if it was a difficult procedure. These mementos would be showcased for research purposes and as a tool for their teaching work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThe Needle inside this box is sitting on a piece of very old cotton wool (possibly original) and was most probably kept by the British Army \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSurgeon who removed it, as a souvenir!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eThis is a unique and most unusual piece of mid 18th century British Military Surgical history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eCondition is good, commensurate with age. Some rust yo the needle. Box is structurally sound.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eMeasures 7.5cm x 3.7cm x 1.1cm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eWeighs 24.56 grams\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Source Vintage","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40616735899684,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0259\/1729\/2580\/products\/image_eadc226f-c02e-47d5-b687-b95606ab25f4.heic?v=1681305059","url":"https:\/\/folkandfableantiques.com\/products\/a-rare-antique-18th-century-macabre-needle-in-a-box-removed-from-a-soldier-s-belly-in-1745","provider":"Folk \u0026 Fable Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}