Inscribed antique spring lancet JL Ord

When a collector encounters a piece with an inscription the goal is to link the item with the history of the physician. To American collectors the ability to link the piece to a physician from the states markedly enhances the value of an item. Any piece connected to a famous physician is highly prized, regardless of his place of residence.

Several references exist to aid the collector in identifying the physician in the inscription. Medical Obituaries by Elizabeth Holloway is an excellent starting point. The text provides a list of all cataloged physicians to the beginning of the 20th century. The listing provides the subjects dates of birth and death, graduation date and college of attendence, affiliation in the armed services, place of residence .

This piece is a mint condition sterling silver presentation piece. It retains all of its original bluing on the internal mechanism. The piece is ornately engraved with a floral design around the entire border. It belonged to Dr. James Lycurgus Ord. The Ord family is a famous family in the history of the American military. Edward Otho Cresap Ord (1818-1883) was the Civil War general that gave his name to a famous California Fort still in existence. James Ord married Angústias de la Guerra in San Francisco. She was a daughter of José de la Guerra, one of California's most distinguished citizens of the pre-American period. Her mother was a Carrillo, another important California family. Ord practiced medicine in the Monterey area and also got involved in ranching. He was one of the first ranchers to attempt to raise avocados in California. The Mojavi Buckwheat also gets its name from the Ord family, Eriogonum ordii. He also served for a time as U.S. consul-general in Mexico. He was an officer of the Santa Ynez Turnpike Company in the late 1860s, which built the main stagecoach road over the Santa Ynez Range by way of San Marcos Pass. During the late 1850s and early 1860s, Ord served as county coroner.

From:
RECORDS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF ACTING ASSISTANT SURGEONS
UNITED STATES ARMY. A. D.1891. EDITED BY W. THORNTON PARKER, M. D., Recorder A. A. A. S. SALEM, MASS. : SALEM PRESS PUBLISHING AND PRINTING CO.1891.

JAMES LYCURGUS ORD.
Dr. James Lycurgus Ord was born in Washington, D. C. He graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., in 1846. He was appointed acting assistant surgeon U. S. A., on July 14, 1846. He served during the Mexican war in California, during the rebellion in California and in Arizona; at Forts Grant, Bowie, Mohave and Thomas. He is still in service, post surgeon at Fort Bowie, Arizona. He has been mayor of city of Santa Barbara,

California, and consul general, city of Mexico. He is one of the oldest in the service, having entered on July 14, 1846. That day he sailed in the ship Lexington from New York for California with the company F, 3rd artillery, with Capt. C. T. Tompkius in command. They were six months in making the voyage, stopping at Rio Janeiro and Valparaiso about a week for water and fresh provisions, reached Monterey, California, on the 27th of
January, 1847, where they landed and took possession of Monterey and the Block House, retaining the sailors and
marines, who were boarded on shore. Lieutenant Baldwin, late admiral, U. S. Navy, was in command of
the Block House, which overlooked and commanded the town. Lieutenant Maddox was in command of the marines
and occupied the old barracks (qnartel) that had been used as quarters by the Mexican troops. He remained at Monterey, California, for one year, doing duty with Dr. Robert Murray, recently retired as surgeon general. Was then ordered to Santa Barbara, California, where he remained until October, and was mustered out of service ( Capt. A. J. Smith, 1st Dragoons). Again entered the service in 1862, and did duty with the California volunteers who were stationed at Santa Barbara, under command of Lieut. Col. Olney, for about six months. Then again, in 1879, entered the service and did duty as post surgeon at Fort Winfield Scott for over a year, then was ordered to Arizona in March, 1880, where he has been ever since. In 1880 was in the field. The 6th Cavalry and 1st Infantry had a skirmish with Victorio, the Indian chief of the Apaches, at Sterns' ranch, midway between Forts Thomas and Apache. This was the last raid that Victorio made, as he was driven into Mexico and killed by the Mexicans while trying to escape from the American troops. His first post in Arizona was Fort Grant, then in the field, then for a short time at Camp Rucker, near the stronghold of the Apache chief, Cochise ; then for nearly two years at Fort Bowie as post surgeon ; thence to Fort Mohave on the Colorado river, 300 miles north of Fort Yuma, which was considered to be the hottest place on this continent. From this place, the story was told that one of the men died and went to "Sheol"
and came back to get his blankets as he found it too cold there without them. Fort Mohave is in the centre of the
deserts of Arizona, and the hottest place on this continent, and only one place that is hotter, called Aden, on the Red sea, entrance of the Suez Canal. Remained at Fort Mohave five years, thence to Fort Thomas on the river Gila,
a branch of the Colorado, where he remained about one year. O the 22nd came here from Thomas and Ecland, Dr. Arthur as post surgeon. His long and distinguished services entitle him to official recognition by the government.
Surely here is a case where a commission is deserved. His present residence and address is Fort Bowie, Cochise
county, Arizona.