With the introduction of nitrous oxide for patients undergoing dental treatment, 100% nitrous oxide was usually administered as an anaesthetic. This caused the patient to lose consciousness quickly and could also cause severe hypoxia. In the late 1890s, dentist Samuel Stockton White introduced this two cylinder apparatus, which could administer oxygen with N2O.Early model apparatus with cast iron stand, and two gas bottles. Comes with two canvas gas bags and a detached metal mask and fabric connecting tube.samuel stockton white, nitrous oxide, oxygen, hypoxia

Sir Frederick William Hewitt was a great advocate of nitrous oxide anaesthesia, mainly for short procedures. In 1885, he reviewed the methods of administration and concluded that accurately fitting valves were essential at the commencement of the inhalation, in order to ensure the rapid washout of air from the lungs; and there was a distinct advantage in allowing some rebreathing of nitrous oxide towards the end of inhalation. He thus devised the stopcock. The stopcock consists of a cylinder with two rotating sleeves and two rubber flap valves. The arrangement allows air to be breathed either through the valves or rebreathed to and from the bag; nitrous oxide to be breathed either through the valves from the bag and out to the atmosphere or rebreathed to and from the bag. Soon after the introduction of this stopcock, there was an increased interest in administering oxygen in combination with nitrous oxide.Amber coloured ether inhaler, with leather mask, celluloid shield and inflatable cushion with attached Hewitt's stopcock.hewitt, stopcock, celluloid, ether, inhaler, mask, rebreathing

This object dates back to 1925 and was sectioned by Dr Geoffrey Kaye in 1938. Flowmeters were attached to an anaesthetic machine to measure the flow rate of gas or liquid.Metal cylinder with glass inner chamber and gauge inside. The object has been sectioned for teaching purposes.Inscription on top screw valve. "K/38, Screw Lightly, Oxygen Fine." Inscription on back of top screw valve. "Direct Ox." Inscription on top of flowmeter tube. "G. Kaye fecit. 1938"flowmeter, water depression, gas, sectioned, slight feed, anaesthetic machine

Early cylinders were coloured as their maker saw fit, usually black, perhaps with a white top for oxygen. The Americans first achieved standardisation, but other countries do not follow American Standards. Australia follows the colour-scheme of the British Oxygen Corporation. The body is coloured individually for each gas, viz: compressed air, grey; carbon dioxide, brown; oxygen, black; nitrous oxygen, blue’ cyclopropane, primrose-yellow’ ethylene, mauve. Panels of other colours may appear on the body, but indicate technical points of cylinder-design and do not concern the anaesthetist. (Penn catalogue entry)Empty small pale green painted cylinder with rounded base and attached outflow valve with circular 'On-Off' knob.Handwritten in red paint across the main body of the cylinder: ST. VINCENTS 32510 Printed on manufacturer's label: 'KEEP CYLINDER COOL / CIG [logo] / MADE IN AUSTRALIA / MEDICAL AIR COMPRESSED / DO NOT ALLOW OIL OR GREASE ON VALVE / OPEN VALVE SLOWLY CLOSE AFTER USEcompressed air, cylinder, colour standardisation

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

Robert James Minnitt introduced the concept of self-administered analgesia, using an apparatus designed and built in conjunction with London scientific instrument-maker, Charles King. The Minnitt apparatus met with considerable success and led to further modifications, including the introduction of the Queen Charlotte gas-air analgesia apparatus in 1936, manufactured by the British Oxygen Company.Black and white photograph of a Minnitt gas/air analgesia apparatus, in a Queen Charlotte case. The case is standing open with the apparatus inside. A label with instructions is on the left side of the case, and the apparatus is on the right side of the case. A nitrous oxide cylinder tank and valve is connected to a small box with a regulator. A tube with a breathing mask is attached to the box. The Queen Charlotte case has hinges on the side and a handle on the top.minnitt gas air apparatus, minnitt, nitrous oxide, queen charlotte case, anaesthetic equipment

Large unused hexagonal shaped CIG label made for use on carbogen cylinders. Beige and green background with black lettering.Information printed on label: CIG MEDICAL SECTION [logo] / OXYGEN 90% CARBON DIOXIDE 10% / (These Percentages are subject to a tolerance) / Contents..........Imp. Gallons / COMPRESSED / CARBOGEN / C.I.G. (Victoria) Pty. Ltd. / 550 Latrobe Street, Melbourne, C.3 / Telephone: FJ6681 / USE NO OIL / OR GREASElabel, cylinder, cig, carbogen, compressed carbogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, cig victoria