A haemostatic set which would have been taken by an obstetrician or physician attending deliveries and used to prevent post partum haemorrhage.

It contains three vials marked Liq Opii, Liq Ergotoe and one unmarked vial. All three retain their original contents. The stoppers are secure and I have not tried hard to remove them. In the main section of the case at one end there is a minims container graduated with markings 10 through 60 “Drops”. At the other end there is silk braided suture. In the lid section there is a needle, a probe, scissors and a silver telescopic female catheter. The case is signed Walters & Co London. There is a similar set in the Wellcome Medical Museum in London.

• From the Phisick collection