Indian Wars First Aid Kit?

[oldmxrat]

I found this cartridge several weeks ago, but just discovered a surprise today! I was cleaning the dirt out of the cartridges I found at the old Fort site and discovered that this D.C. Co. 40-65 shell contained two swatches of what I believe is gauze. Thinking maybe part of a soldier's personal first aid kit, or? Any input is welcome.

 

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[Almy]

The material appears to have 5 and 6 sided holes. That suggests modern manufacture. Is it made of plastic?

 

[oldmxrat]

The material appears to have 5 and 6 sided holes. That suggests modern manufacture. Is it made of plastic?

It feels like cotton.

 

[Seahound]

That is strange, but Congrats on the find!!!

 

[Tesorodeoro]

I found this cartridge several weeks ago, but just discovered a surprise today! I was cleaning the dirt out of the cartridges I found at the old Fort site and discovered that this D.C. Co. 40-65 shell contained two swatches of what I believe is gauze. Thinking maybe part of a soldier's personal first aid kit, or? Any input is welcome.

Could it be bore patches stored in a used cartridge to stay dry? Transitional period..muzzle loaders to center fire?

 

[Seahound]

You could be right Tesorodeoro

 

[oldmxrat]

Could it be bore patches stored in a used cartridge to stay dry? Transitional period..muzzle loaders to center fire?

I've been shooting muzzleloaders for years and the fabric seems like it would be too fragile for use as patches. Still, quite possible they just used what they had.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

I've been shooting muzzleloaders for years and the fabric seems like it would be too fragile for use as patches. Still, quite possible they just used what they had.

Well it should be quite fragile after 156 years or so.

 

[Tesorodeoro]

I found this cartridge several weeks ago, but just discovered a surprise today! I was cleaning the dirt out of the cartridges I found at the old Fort site and discovered that this D.C. Co. 40-65 shell contained two swatches of what I believe is gauze. Thinking maybe part of a soldier's personal first aid kit, or? Any input is welcome.

Im thinking a civil war first aid kit would consist of a tourniquet primarily..maybe gauze to stuff a bullet wound.

 

[TimberCrack]

A 40-65 wasn't a tradional cartridge for the military...but it might of been some sheep-herders first aid kit.. Found a few of those cartridges in sheep-herder camps around here..

 

[Timbermaster]

An intriguing find for sure! Now we have a mystery to solve…

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

Interesting find for sure... I just love these types of 'Detecting Mysteries'!

 

[Almy]

A simple test if you want to sacrifice a bit of the fabric: hold a match flame to a fragment. If it melts and then burns, it's plastic and modern. If it chars and starts to burn but doesn't melt, it's a natural finer like cotton or linen.

 

[oldmxrat]

A simple test if you want to sacrifice a bit of the fabric: hold a match flame to a fragment. If it melts and then burns, it's plastic and modern. If it chars and starts to burn but doesn't melt, it's a natural finer like cotton or linen.

It chars and burns. Here's a close-up of the fabric.