KNIFE, DRAW

Description: KNIFE HAS HOOKBILLED BLADE WITH STRAIGHT EDGE AND HALF-CIRCLE TOP. BLADE SITS NEARLY PERPENDICULAR TO HANDLE. HANDLE IS GALVANIZED STEEL AND MOLDED TO FIT HAND. BUTT OF KNIFE HANDLE HAS 90 DEGREE BEND AND THINNER GUARD. OVAL AREA ON HANDLE HAS "LIPSHAW MFG CO. DETROIT U.S.A." STAMPED INTO IT. KNIFE HAS SMALL AMOUNTS OF CORROSION ON BLADE AND WHERE GALVANIZATION HAS WORN OFF ON HANDLE.

History: KNIFE WAS REMOVED FROM THE MORGUE AT ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL BEFORE THE HOSPITAL WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1996. FOR MORE HISTORY ON HOSPITAL SEE P19960116001-GA. PRESENTATION BY PATHOLOGY STAFF DR. RAY BAINBOROUGH AND HARRY HEINRICHS IN MARCH 2007 CLAIMED THAT THE KNIFE WAS USED PRIOR TO THE ADVENT OF RIB SHEARS. THE KNIFE’S HANDLER WOULD START AT THE TOP OF THE RIBS AND PUSH ALL THE WAY DOWN, MAKING SURE HE/ SHE DID NOT STRIKE BONE BUT INSTEAD CARTILAGE. IF HE/ SHE CUT THROUGH BONE WITH THE KNIFE, THERE WAS A GOOD CHANCE THAT THE DOCTOR WOULD CUT HIMSELF/ HERSELF ON SHARP BONE ENDS AS HE/ SHE EXAMINED THE INTACT ORGANS. HEINRICHS ALSO ADDED THAT THE SCALPEL WAS USED TO MAKE A ‘V’ INCISION FROM THE DIAPHRAGM AREA DOWN TO THE GROIN. A SCALPEL IS THEREAFTER USED AND TISSUE AND MUSCLE PULLED BACK, EXPOSING THE RIBS AND BOWEL. ONCE UNCOVERED, STOMACH ORGANS WERE REMOVED AS THEY WERE EXPOSED.