Accession No. RARE.2026.0023: Purchased, 2017 March
[identification of item], “Der Erste Verband nach Professor Esmarch” Medical Illustration Bandage Developed by Johann Friedrich August von Esmarch, SPEC.RARE.MMS.0436, Rare Books and Manuscripts Library, Ohio State University
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Processed by: David Mezick, 2026 February; Finding aid written by: David Mezick, 2026 February
Johann Friedrich August von Esmarch (1823-1908) was a German surgeon. He earned his medical degree from Kiel University in 1848. That same year, Esmarch enlisted as a surgeon in the German army. He served during several wars in his career first as a field surgeon and later as surgeon-general. Esmarch also worked as leadership in several hospitals in Germany, as a professor at Kiel University, and developed training in first aid for civilians and military personnel. Esmarch was responsible for several advancements in military surgery and first aid, including the Esmarch bandage, which originally consisted of a triangular piece of cloth that could be applied in a variety of ways. He also authored several publications about military surgery and first aid, including “Der erste Verband auf dem Schlachtfelde” (First Aid on the Battlefield), which was first published in 1869.
The “Der Erste Verband nach Professor Esmarch” Medical Illustration Bandage Developed by Johann Friedrich August von Esmarch, dated after 1882, is a triangular cotton bandage, known as an Esmarch bandage, printed with an illustration. The illustrated bandage was developed by Johann Friedrich August von Esmarch as tool for teaching and learning about first aid. The illustration shows six men wearing bandages on different parts of their bodies, demonstrating the various ways to use this type of bandage. The illustration include numbers that likely correspond to a related publication by Esmarch. Text printed on the bandage indicates that the bandage was produced by Gabriel Herose A. G. (Konstanz, Germany) with artwork by Wittmaack, printed by Gesellschaft fur Baumwoll-Industrie (Hilden, Germany). Gesellschaft fur Baumwoll-Industrie was established in 1883, and was formerly Ludwig & Gustav Cramer. The text is in German.