Sterling Silver Lancet Case

This very attractive and well made sterling silver case with a hinged lid, contains two steel bladed lancets which were used by doctors for bloodletting, applying vaccines or draining an infection. The lancets, also known as thumb lancets, have steel blades by Weiss of London and swivelling tortoiseshell protectors. The case was made by Thomas Dones of Birmingham in 1853, who was active for a short time in the early to mid 1850's. Engraved on the top of the lid is "Presented to James Harris Esq. by the O'Donovan July 8th 1856", and the letters J H are also engraved on the front. "The O'Donovan" would have been Henry Winthrop O'Donovan (1812-1890), the hereditary chief of Clan Cathal, based around Cork in Ireland. The case is 63 mm (2.5 inches) high, 30 mm (1.25 inches) wide and 10 mm (3/8ths of an inch) thick.