A Victorian field syringe in it's original case dating from between 1860-1890. This time was the early pioneering era of hypodermic medicine. The modern hypodermic syringe was invented in 1853 by Scottish doctor Alexander Wood so this example is an early one. These early syringes were primarily used for localised morphine injections to treat neuralgia and other painful conditions, most likely on a battlefield, hence pocket sized. 
 
The case is leather covered with some scuff marks, the interior lid has a padded purple fabric lining which pulls down to reveal the original wire cleaning rods which appear to have never been used. The syringe is glass with a graduated plunger from 1-10, the padded end of the plunger is missing, most likely to have originally been a small piece of fabric. One needle is present and marked '17'. These two components sit tightly into the purple felt covered base. The case closes tightly.
 
The case measures just 8cm (3.25")in width.
 
Items such as these were necessarily made in tiny numbers and to the highest quality standards and so are rare finds.