Robin William Smallwood was Dean of the Faculty of Anaesthetists at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons from 1986 - 1987. Smallwood died 6 October 1987 after a brief illness. Smallwood completed medicine at the University of Melbourne in 1958 and decided on anaesthesia as a career, attaining his FFARACS in 1964. The Orton Medal was awarded posthumously.Gold coloured oval shaped medal with the Faculty of Anaesthetists coat of arms on the obverse in relief. The owner's name has been engraved into the reverse. There is a thick, ribbed, navy blue ribbon connected to the medal by a circular ring at the top. The medal and ribbon are encased in a black velvet box with white satin lining on the inside of the lid and a red velvet cushion resting in the base.Engraved on reverse of medal: R.W. SMALLWOOD / 1986 - 1987medal, medallion, dean, anaesthetist, anaesthesia, anaesthetic history, royal australasian college of surgeons

Experiments with intravenous anaesthesia were undertaken in 1872 using chloral hydrate. The high mortality rates discouraged further experimentation until the early 20th Century. Thionembutal, or Pentothal Sodium, was one of these early developments. This ampoule has "Experimental" stamped on it. It has come directly from the manufacturing process. Pentothal Sodium is its trade name. It is now more commonly known as thiopentone.Glass ampoule of Pentothal Sodium (Thiobarbiturate No. 8064) 1.0 gm with large yellowed white label.Printed in black ink on label: Experimental / A 512738 / Abbott Laboratories / North Chicago. Ill., USA.pentothal, sodium, thionembutal, thiopentone, experimental, drugs, intravenous, anaesthesia, anaesthetic, john lundy, ralph waters

This gas anaesthesia machine comprises a four yolk manifold, two circular metal components for nitrous oxide and two for oxygen. It is mounted atop a four pointed stand on casters for portability. In addition to reducing valves and regulators, the main stand also supports a cream-coloured, cylindrical Austox fractional rebreather and an ether vaporiser with variable bypass control within a circular glass container. portable, anaesthesia, midwifery, dentistry, obstetrics, oxygen, nitrous oxide, commonwealth industrial gases ltd, cig, austox fractional rebreather, ether vaporiser, variable bypass control, 1950

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A black and white photograph of Corporal (Chuck) Berry, adjusts the anaesthesia machine in the operating theatre at 1st Australian Field Hospital, Vung Tau, South Vietnam. The medics at the hospital were highly trained photograph, cpl alex (chuck) berry, 1st australian field hospital, vung tau, medic, gibbons collection catalogue, operating theatre

This object is Magill's adaptation of the battery handle in the form of an "inserting tracheoscope". Introduced in 1935 for one-lung anaesthesia, it is combined with an endotracheal tube, the central part of which is a latex-covered wire spiral, and a bronchus blocker. In use, the tube was fixed to the holder and the whole apparatus inserted as a ttracheoscope. At the carina, the blocker was inserted into the bronchus and the balloon (now perished in this example) inflated. The holder was then removed leaving the endotracheal tube and blocker in place. The bronchus blocker consists of gum elastic on woven silver wire and has a suction channel opening at the tip. in other stages of development of Magill's laryngoscope, the original pattern blade was adapted to the battery handle, at first in a fixed arrangement and then with interchangeable blades of different sizes. Later still, the folding handle was introduced.This U-shaped chrome plated laryngoscope comprises an endotracheal tube used to facilitate access to the patient's airway, wire spring attachments and a cylindrical handle with provisions for battery to illuminate inside the body during use.Embossed on the central shaft of the item is 'A Charles King, Ltd', the maker's details.laryngoscope, anaesthesia, macgills, chrome, battery, a charles kind ltd

Black and white photograph showing ten unidentified male students standing around a lecture theatre table watching the unidentified male instructor as he points to one of four anaesthesia apparatus, carbon dioxide absorbers.•Black paper label glued on top of photograph with caption written in all caps in white ink: Demonstration of apparatus (Carbon Dioxide absorbers, in section). •Handwritten in black ink on reverse: Frame 14. •Handwritten in grey pencil on reverse: 16. 14 has been crossed out.students, anaesthetic equipment, carbon dioxide absorbers

Robin William Smallwood completed medicine at the University of Melbourne in 1958 and decided on anaesthesia as a career, attaining his FFARACS in 1964. Smallwood was Dean of the Faculty of Anaesthetists at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons from 1986 - 1987. Smallwood died 6 October 1987 after a brief illness and was awarded the Orton Medal posthumously. The Orton Medal is the highest single achievement the College can bestow. Anaesthesia had its origins in October 1846 in America, by May 1847 news of ether anaesthesia had reached Australian shores and by June 1847 Australian medical practitioners had begun experimenting with and demonstrating ether anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was not really recognised as a distinct branch of medicine in Australia until the first Diploma of Anaesthesia course began in Sydney in 1944. The specialty grew quickly and by 1952 the Faculty of Anaesthesia at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons had been established. Within 40 years the Faculty had grown to such an extent it became a College in its own right and continues to offer training and professional support to anaesthetists.Printed certificate from the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) awarded to Robin William Smallwood as a Fellowship. Printed in black ink at the top of the certificate is the RACS coat of arms. The certificate is dated 25 Feburary 1965 and has been signed by President of the College, Member Executive Committee, Dean of the Faculty and the Secretary.smallwood, robin william, orton, robert, faculty of anaesthetists, royal australasian college of surgeons, ffaracs, racs, fanzca

The Bird Mark 4 is an anaesthesia assistor or controller with pressure and volume controller to be driven by a respirator. Combination of Mark 4 with respirator makes an automatic anaesthesia respirator eliminating manual bagging. The machine can work through Boyle anaesthetic system. It is designed for both paediatric and adult application. (Drugs and Equipment in Anaesthesia Practice, Aruna Parameswari, 2019)Green metal box atop a clear plastic unit with a black bellows inside, which forms one part of the overall unit. The unit is attached to a pole, enabling height adjustment. The pole is, in turn, attached to a set of four castors [not original].White text on black stick on strip on top of metal box: DO NOT PULL APART / FOR USE IN THEATRE ONLY A series of instructions are printed in white text over the unit.anaesthesia assistor, anaesthesia controller, pressure controller, volume controller, paediatric, adult

Dr. Curt Schimmelbusch (1860-1895), a German physician, designed his original mask around 1889 while an assistant surgeon. Surgical assistants were often assigned the task of delivering the anesthetic. During anesthesia it was not uncommon for ether and chloroform to get onto the patient’s skin, causing irritation. Chloroform can even cause burn-like reactions. Schimmelbusch designed the rim of his mask so that both sides curve away from the patient’s face to form a kind of trough. He intended the trough-like rim to collect excess anesthetic that would otherwise have trickled onto the patient’s face. To anesthetize a patient, gauze was stretched over the metal bars and fastened in place by the hinge. The mask was placed over the patient’s nose and mouth, and the anesthetic was applied in drops or lightly poured onto the gauze so that the patient breathed in evaporated anesthetic as well as air. This type of mask is sometimes still used today for ether anesthesia in developing countries when other means are not available. (Wood Library Museum of Anesthesiology) This particular object is a modified version of Schimmelbusch's design, known as Chadborn's modification.Oval shaped chromium plated mask with two metal strips linked front to back and side to side to create a dome. An oval shaped mobile wire frame is attached to the lower part of the mask by a hinge at the back, approximately two inches from the lip of the metal handle. A "U" shaped bit of metal is attached to the front of the mask which acts as a clip to fasten the wire frame to the lower section of the mask.anaesthesia

The use of chloroform as an anaesthetic for humans was first demonstrated by Edinburgh surgeon James Young Simpson in 1847. It was used as an anaesthetic in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Dr Mitchell Henry O'Sullivan worked in the Victorian country town of Casterton as a general practitioner from 1919 until his death in 1977. He also practiced obstetrics. His son, Dr David More O'Sullivan donated his obstetric bag and its contents to the College in 1999. The bag and contents are a unique time capsule of the type of instruments and pharmaceuticals used in the inter-war period.Amber glass bottle (empty) with clear glass stopper. Bottle carries its original label which "W.J. Bush & Co. Ltd. London ... Chloroform.."". On the base is the number "12" and "AS 9A"anaesthesia

The use of chloroform as an anaesthetic for humans was first demonstrated by Edinburgh surgeon James Young Simpson in 1847. It was used as an anaesthetic in the 19th and early 20th centuries.Dr Mitchell Henry O'Sullivan worked in the Victorian country town of Casterton as a general practitioner from 1919 until his death in 1977. He also practiced obstetrics. His son, Dr David More O'Sullivan donated his obstetric bag and its contents to the College in 1999. The bag and contents are a unique time capsule of the type of instruments and pharmaceuticals used in the inter-war period.Amber glass bottle [197.1] with long neck and matching stopper [197.2]. The text "Lamprecht's" and "36587" stamped into the glass. Bottle is round with a fluted, vase like top and a small spout. Stopper is topped by a circular knob and tapers towards a point."Lamprecht's" "36587"anaesthesia

Topacain is a surface contact anaesthetic for dental procedures. This object would have been used for dentistry procedures.A kit, containing a brass cartridge syringe with three cartridges. One cartridge [with red and white label lettering], contains eleven hypodermic needles. A second cartridge is labelled "Topacain".anaesthesia

The airway was manufactured in four sizes - Infant, Children, Adult Medium and Adult Large. The use of this type of red rubber tubing was discontinued in the late 1950s when a thinner, more moulded rubber with chromium-plated incut tubes was introduced into public hospital throughout Australia.Airway tube. Consists of a red rubber tube, 2cm in width. The tube is cured at one end, and attached to metal flange/mount at the other end.anaesthesia

This print of Sir James Young Simpson (1811-1870) was given to the College by Robyn Adams, the daughter of the late obstetrician Gordan Findlay. The portrait was gifted to Dr Findlay when he stated his obstetrical practice in Wellington in 1945. The portrait was then passed to Robyn’s late husband, dermatologist Dr John Adams FRACP FACD, and hung on the wall of his dermatology practice in Wellington until 2014. Sir James Young Simpson was a significant figure in the field of obstetrics. Admitted to the University of Edinburgh at the age of fourteen, he was responsible for introducing the use of chloroform for safe analgesia in childbirth, as well as for the development of an ‘air extractor’ (the forerunner to the modern vacuum extractor) and the creation of obstetric forceps with both long and short handles. Significantly, Simpson’s long handled forceps also became the prototype for many subsequent British designs.Charcoal print in an oval shaped wooden frame. Print features a head and shoulders portrait image of a man, pictured slightly side on with his eyes looking to the left of the viewer. The main is wearing a coat, waistcoat, and a shirt buttoned up to the collar, and has dark coloured hair reaching to his shoulders.anaesthesia

During surgery under general anaesthetic, these forceps were used to pull the tongue forward to keep the patient's airways clear from obstruction. This tool was in general use from the 1930s onwards in teaching hospitals, and became a standard piece of equipment on all anaesthetic trolleys. In the majority of teaching hospitals, the blades of these forceps were smooth and wide to cause less trauma to the tongue. This particular style of tongue forceps is known as Guy's tongue forceps.Dr Mitchell Henry O'Sullivan worked in the Victorian country town of Casterton as a general practitioner from 1919 until his death in 1977. He also practiced obstetrics. His son, Dr David More O'Sullivan donated his obstetric bag and its contents to the College in 1999. The bag and contents are a unique time capsule of the type of instruments and pharmaceuticals used in the inter-war period.Pair of metal forceps. Similar in appearance to a pair of scissors, and other surgical forceps, but with rounded teardrop shaped tips. There is also a notch clip for the handle to keep the forceps open. Inner aspect of both forceps blades engraved with the number '3'. The left hand blade is also engraved with a 'P'.anaesthesia

The Bird ventilator Mark 7 is driven by medical compressed air or oxygen. It is not suited for anaesthesia unless using a special anaesthesia assistor controller attachment, which is essentially a “bag in a bottle” device.Apparatus attached to four castor stand with attached white wall connecting tubing.anaesthesia attachment, bag in a bottle

Black and white photograph of the head of a portable Foregger "Metric" Gas Anaesthesia Apparatus. The apparatus has glass flowmeters and controls for fine and coarse oxygen, cyclopropane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. There is also an ether container and a blood pressure nanometer.•Handwritten in grey pencil on reverse: Dr. Desai's Special Metric •Handwritten in black ink on reverse: III. •Handwritten in grey pencil on reverse: dvpd.anaesthetic equipment, anaesthetic machine, flowmeter, foregger metric gas anaesthesia apparatus, oxygen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, cyclopropane

Ketamine is useful for inducing anaesthesia in shocked patients. It is also commonly used in low doses or infusions for the management of chronic pain. It can produce a state of 'dissociative anaesthesia', where patients are pain free, but not necessarily unconscious. Three small glass vials with different colour print labels on each containing 10ml Ketalar (Ketamine Hydrochloride).local anaesthetic, ketalar, ketamine hydrochloride, shock, parke davis

Hyoscine hydrobromide was used before a general anaesthetic, particularly in the days of ether anaesthesia. It is sedating, decreases nausea and vomiting and dried secretions, particularly saliva. It made ether anaesthesia more pleasant for both patient and administrator.Three (3) small clear glass ampoules with red print on glass containing 1ml Hermette, Hyoscine Hydrobromide.ether anaesthesia, sedative, anti-nauseant

Dr Thomas Small designed this ether anaesthesia and analgesia machine while he was an Honorary Medical Officer at the Royal Women's Hospital in Sydney during the 1930s. The inhaler is compact and portable. Initially, Small experimented with other agents for the relief of labour pain but was not happy with any of them. He also tried various agents on himself, including nitrous oxide/oxygen, chloroform and ethyl chloride. Finally he settled on ether via a Clover inhaler as the best analgesic. This inhaler is only described in use in Australia and New Zealand, although it was used for almost 40 years. Black leather box with leather handle, lockable latches on either side and drop down front case panel containing a metal ether inhaler and length of black corrugated rubber hose with one end attached to the inhaler and the other end open for attaching a mask. The metal inhaler drum is circular and attached to the floor of the case with a small tap/lever to one side and a mixing valve on the top near the hose connection. The lever has incised gradings of quarter increments from 0 to 1. The box is designed for the ether inhaler to be portable.ether, small, thomas, analgesia, obstetrics, anaesthesia, anaesthetic, royal women's, sydney, queen victoria, melbourne

This is an example of an early airway management device for anaesthesia. Hollow curved metal tube with flat plate at one end and two tube coming out of it, one curved to the left, one curved to the right.Engraved by hand on curve of tube: POE'S / ASA 1940 Engraved by hand on flat plate: Wood Stamped into flat plate: REGGERairway, poe, american society of anesthesiologists

Ethyl chloride was first used as a general anaesthetic in 1847, by Johann Ferdinand Heyfelder (1798-1869), a German surgeon. Once ethyl chloride became readily available, it was again taken up as a general anaesthetic in the late 1890s (USA). Ethyl chloride evaporates very quickly so that when it is sprayed onto the skin it produces very cold temperatures. “Refrigeration anesthesia”, or cryoanesthesia, refers to the anesthesia produced when the skin is significantly cooled.Due to its rapid onset, ethyl chloride was often used to induce general anaesthesia. It would be followed by a second anaesthetic, such as ether or nitrous oxide, which would be used for the remainder of the procedure. (The Wood Library Museum, 2016) The bottle has clear side and base mould seams which indicate it was made using a cup bottom mould.Glass bottle with paper label, metal fastening at the top and cream coloured plastic sealant at the neck. The bottle has clear side and base mould seams which indicate it was made using a cup bottom mould.Printed on main label at front: 100 c.c. 3 1/2 fl. ozs. / MEDICINAL CHEMICALS CORP [illegible] / MEDCO / ETHYL CHLORIDE / PURE / This Product conforms to all the re-/quirements of the BRITISH PHARMA-/COPCEIA, 1932, for / GENERAL ANAESTHESIA / Manufactured by / MEDICINAL CHEMICALS CORPORATION PTY. LIMITED / 39 Martin Place, Sydney Printed on round label on reverse side: 6d. / Cred [illegible]this container if returned in good order and condition. Stamped into underside of bottle: CM / S99ethyl chloride, medco, medicinal chemicals corporation pty. ltd, dr [e.s] holloway, bottle

Captain Arthur Guedel was an American anesthetist who arrived at the Western Front with the American expeditionary force prior to America's official entry. He trained students in airway management and the monitoring of dept of anaesthesia using his chart board description of the signs and stages of anaesthesia. Black plastic tube, flattened and squared off, with a flat mouth plate. There is a metal inner tube which also has a flat plate.Stamped into metal flat plate: KING / 1 Moulded into plastic flat piece: KINGguedel, airway, pharyngeal, gilbert brown

A characteristic black, round topped box, to carry medical equipment with a divider which would have held a square, plain glass bottle. The donor, Dr. Holloway is known to have acquired much of Dr. Howard Jones' equipment. In 1930 Dr Howard Jones, M.B., B.S., (Lond.). Surgeon Anaesthetist to Charing Cross Hospital first described percaine in an article in the British Journal of Anaesthesia. According to Norman, J. in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, Jones was the first honorary secretary of the Association of Great Britain and Ireland, 'of spinal anaesthesia fame', and a leading practitioner in his day. He apparently committed suicide in 1935, there are references that he 'could not make a living from anaesthesia'. (Norman, 2002, 'An informal history of the first 25 years', The British Journal of Anaesthesia, 88 (3): 445-450) The maker of this medical box, Allen and Hanburys Ltd., was a British pharmaceutical manufacturer, founded in 1715, absorbed by Glaxo Laboratories in 1958.Black cardboard box with handle and simple border decoration on top. Brass hinges at the rear and two brass hook clasps at the front. Interior is lined with black linen. Cardboard divider inside and square compartment in corner would have been used to hold a bottle of ether in place.Printed in gold leaf inside lid: ALLEN & HANBURYS LTD / LONDON.W. / 48.WIGMORE STdr. [e.s.] holloway, medical box, carry kit, allen & hanbury's ltd.

Sectioned by Dr. Geoffrey Kaye in 1939.A large, narrow black cylinder with an attached black free-standing base. There is a thick horizontal line painted in silver. The outflow regulator valve at the top of the cylinder has been sectioned.anaesthesia, gas

Glass syringe with metal plunger and a three finger grip. There is red printed text on the barrel, including measurement lines for drawing up to 10cc of liquid. The nozzle is offset, not in the centre.anaesthesia, medicine

Glass and metal 10cc syringe with nozzle for connecting needle offset from the centre.anaesthesia, medicine

Black and white photograph of an anaesthetic machine, likely to be a portable Foregger anaesthesia apparatus. Flowmeters with glass cylinders including Oxygen and Nitrous Oxide sit on a metal benchtop of a trolley with two drawers. A glass vaporiser is attached undernath the metal benchtop and there are metal valves attached on either side of the benchtop.anaesthetic apparatus, anaesthetic machine, foregger anaesthesia apparatus, flowmeter

Chloroethane, commonly known by its old name ethyl chloride, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3CH2Cl, once widely used in producing tetraethyllead, a gasoline additive. It is a colorless, flammable gas or refrigerated liquid with a faintly sweet odor. Originally, it was proposed as a general anaesthetic, filling the gap between the weaker narcotic nitrous oxide and the more powerful drugs ether and chloroform. 8670.1 - Dark blue cardboard lid. 8670.2 - Dark Blue cardboard box. 8670.3 - Cotton ball padding. 8670.4 - Semi circle cardboard. 8670.5 - Small rectangular boxes (2) placed either side of the top of the cylinder. 8670.6 - Glass cylinder with metal fitting. 8670.7 - Paper label on cylinder.- 100 c.c./- MEDCO./- 3 1/2 fl. oz./- ETHYL CHLORIDE./- Pure./- This conforms to all the requirements of the BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA. 1932./- LOCAL ANAESTHESIA/- MEDICINAL CHEMICALS CORPOATION LIMITED. SYDNEY.