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 small, neat, domette covered mask was widely used throughout Australia for the administration of chloroform anaesthesia.Triangular shaped mask with hinged arm at point of triangle that connects to upper frame section via a hook. Used for the administration of chloroform.chloroform, facemask, foldable, anaesthesia, anesthesia

The Bellamy Gardner mask was in use by 1905 and was the first British mask for the open administration of ether. This mask combines the features of the Bellamy Gardner mask with a tower frame designed by Ogston. The Museum's "Penn catalogue", circa 1970, describes this mask: "this followed closely upon Ferguson's lead, but has an enormous amount of "dead-space" contained within the apparatus."Open wire ether mask with inner dome (Bellamy Gardner mask) and outer wire frame tower (Ogston frame).Moulded into connector clip: BRITISH MAKEbellamy gardner, ogston, open ether administration, henry peter penn

Picrotoxin is a bitter crystalline compound derived from the seed of an East Indian woody vine (Anamirta cocculus). It is a central nervous system and respiratory stimulant formerly used in barbiturate and other anaesthetic poisonings. Hexagon shaped amber glass bottle with red rubber stopper. There is an ivory coloured manufacturer's label with black printed text adhered to the front of the bottle, along with some handwritten notations. The bottle has powdery contents.Handwritten on manufacturer's label: PURE FIRST USED 8/10/64 •Moulded into base of bottle: T195respitaroty stimulalnt, t and h smith, barbiturate poisoning, edinburgh, blandfield chemical works

This is a simple metal mask with an ether chamber surmounting it. The patient breathes air down through the variable orifice over the surface of ether and in through the variable orifice over the surface of ether and in through the inspiratory valve. Exhalation was by means of the expiratory valve placed in the centre of the mask. All channels are extremely small and would offer considerable resistance to respiration.Metal inhaler with shaped rim edgeEngraved by hand into side of mask: DEWEE'S ETHER / INHALER.. 1901. Stamped into side of mask: J.E. LEECO / PATD. NOV. 12-1901 / 400ether, inhaler, ramsay, dewee, leeco

Blood was long thought to be the essence of life and the centre of the soul; it was believed to provide a person with physical strength and mental abilities. In 1677, Richard Lower and Jean Baptiste Denis, in separate experiments, attempted animal-to-man transfusions to treat mental disorders. They had mixed success but didn't appear to cure the ailment. In 1818, James Blundell became interested in blood transfusion after witnessing the many deaths resulting from post-partum haemorrhage. He began with experiments in dogs and soon established it was possible to transfuse using a syringe if he worked quickly. Blundell established that cross-species transfusions didn't work and were dangerous. The early part of the 20th Century saw major developments in blood transfusion. Blood groups were identified by 1907 and the Kimpton Brown vessel (see 3675) slowed coagulation. These transfusion needles were used to collect and administer blood for transfusions.Two glass tubes, one with straight and one with a curve at the base. The tubes, known as cannualae, were used to facilitate blood transfusions.transfusion, cannula, kimpton brown, blood, blood transfusion, blundell, lower, denis

Dr James (Jim) Villiers went to Vietnam as an anaesthetist with the Australian Surgical Team (civilian) during 1963. He used this bag for carry-on luggage. Despite assurances about the quality of resources available on arrival, he carried an essential part of the breathing circuit for an EMO vaporiser in his carry-on. The actual vaporiser was packed in his check-in luggage. In 1963 the Vietnamese government sought training in Australia in anaesthetics for several medical technicians. Australia was not able to meet the request as anaesthesia training in Australia is restricted to qualified doctors. Instead, the Dean of the Faculty of Anaesthetists at RACS suggested sending a team of anaesthetists to Vietnam to conduct training for technicians there. However, they requested a preliminary survey be undertaken in order to determine the abilities of the prospective trainees and establish contacts with medical authorities in Vietnam. James (Jim) Villiers was one of the people who undertook the survey and made a report. Training of Vietnamese medical technicians was undertaken using the Epstein MacIntosh Oxford Anaesthetic Apparatus (EMO). This equipment was robust, portable and relatively cheap, there are few moving parts for servicing, it requires only ether and air for operation.Brick-red vinyl bag with white Qantas branding including the flying kangaroo printed on both sides. The bag has a zipper opening and contains an anaesthetic apparatus mounted on a piece of wooden particle board. There are two black hoses, a white hose, a black plastic connector, a metal t-bar connect, a green resuscitation bag and black face mask.james villiers, malignant hyperthermia, vietnam, qantas, australian surgical team, long xuyen, bien hoa, anaesthesia training

The Epstein, Macintosh, Oxford vaporizer (EMO) was designed in 1952 by Dr H. G. Epstein and Sir Robert Macintosh of the Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics at the University of Oxford, with the aid of their technician, Mr Richard Salt. It was essentially a refinement of their earlier Oxford vaporizer and designed specifically to deliver ether in known concentrations, irrespective of the temperature of the ether. Robert Macintosh was born at Timaru New Zealand in 1897. In December 1915 he travelled to Britain and was commissioned in the Royal Scots Fusiliers, soon transferring to the Royal Flying Corps. He was shot down behind enemy lines on 26 May 1917 and taken prisoner, escaping several times. When the war ended he returned to medical school and qualified in 1924 as MRCS LRCP. Macintosh's initial intention was to be a surgeon, but soon after qualifying he developed an interest in the field of anaesthesia. Macintosh became the first professor of anaesthetics at Oxford although the university was at first against the appointment. He recruited the scientists Dr Kurt Mendelssohn and Dr H G Epstein and together they designed and built the Oxford vaporiser, a simple, portable, and accurate means of delivering varying concentrations of ether which was to see service in the second world war. He was knighted in 1955 and died at Oxford in 1989.The apparatus is a round, barrel style object with three small rubber feet and a moulded handle over the top. It consists of a vaporising chamber, wick, ether level indicator, temperature compensating value, air bypass chamber and mixing chamber. Manufacturer's label on reverse: EMO, Longworth Scientific Inst. Co. Ltd. England. Serial No. 5878macintosh, epstein, oxford, vaporiser, nuffield, ether

Dr Alan Holmes á Court enlisted in the Australian Army in 1916 as a medical officer with the rank of Captain. In 1918, Holmes á Court was promoted to Major and attached to the 4th Australian Field Ambulance on the Western Front. As the front advanced, the Casualty Clearing Stations became further removed from the battlefield, creating an urgent need for immediate resuscitation prior to transfer back to the CCS. In June 1918, Holmes a Court and his colleagues established a forward resuscitation team. The team consisted of one doctor trained in surgery, blood transfusion and resuscitation, another doctor trained in anaesthesia, resuscitation and blood classification, and four other assisting staff. This team moved out to the wounded, rather than waiting for them to be stretchered back. They provided on-the-spot, life-saving resuscitation. The wounded were then transported back to the Casualty Clearing Station or Regimental Aid Post for further treatment. Among the assorted surgical and resuscitation equipment carried by the forward resuscitation team, were a number of Kimpton-Brown flasks. Blood was collected from patients with minor injuries using the flask. It was then administered to those in need, after establishing their blood type. Citrated blood was introduced by the Americans in 1917. This allowed blood administration to be delayed for up to two hours but there were many problems with transport, storage and infection in these early experimental days.Round, clear glass bottle with white [discoloured] paper label, with red printed, and metal screw-top lid.Handwritten on white [discoloured] paper label: Phillip HARRIS Moulded into the top of the screw-top lid in red ink: RED CROSS BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICEblood transfusion, red cross, world war one

Nitrous oxide has been used for anaesthesia in dentistry since December 1844, where Horace Wells made the first 12–15 dental operations with the gas in Hartford. Its debut as a generally accepted method, however, came in 1863, when Gardner Quincy Colton introduced it more broadly at all the Colton Dental Association clinics, that he founded in New Haven and New York City. Hospitals administer nitrous oxide as one of the anaesthetic drugs delivered by anaesthetic machines. Nitrous oxide is a weak general anaesthetic, and so is generally not used alone in general anaesthesia. In general anaesthesia it is used as a carrier gas with oxygen for more powerful general anaesthetic drugs.Medium size empty blue coloured cylinder with rounded base and painted white neck once containing Nitrous Oxide. A large blue on white diamond shaped label is adhered onto the main cylinder body.Printed on manufacturer's label: 'CIG [logo] / [blank weights table] / DRY / NITROUS OXIDE / C.I.G. (Victoria) PTY. LTD. / 50 LA TROBE STREET, MELBOURNE C3 / Telephones: FJ 6681 / FJ 4164 / USE NO OIL / OR GREASE'nitrous oxide, dental anaesthesia, dental anesthesia, gardner quincy colton, colton dental association

The Soulevac sterile glass drip tube was used for blood transfusions.Clear glass bulb with rubber caps at each end and blue manufacturer's information stamped onto bulb. Drip tube is housed in original packaging.blood transfusion, world war i, first world war

Prior to the introduction of halothane, most anaesthetic agents were flammable or had other limitations such as nausea, arrhythmias or slow recovery. It was clear there was a need for a new, non-flammable anaesthetic agent. Fluothane is a brand name for halothane.Amber glass bottle with white rounded manufacturer's label and green printed text, with white metal screw top lid. The bottle is housed in its original cardboard packaging. Bottle has been decanted.halothane, fluothane, non-flammable, nausea, fluorinated

In Australia, the wholesale druggists Fenton, Grimwade and Company, established in 1876, were producing small quantities of oxygen for medical and industrial purposes(11,11). In 1910, they produced a booklet promoting the therapeutic use of oxygen, suggesting it's use in pulmonary and cardiac affections, asphyxia, and morphine poisoning(9). Eventually, oxygen was to play a more significant role in medicine following two significant events. In 1895, Karl Von Linde succeeded in liquefying air, and then fractionally distilling its individual components, including oxygen. This new technique for the production of oxygen from air was revolutionary, but large demand for it did not develop in the wider community until Claude and Hess managed to compress acetylene into cylinders safely in 1897, keeping the highly explosive fuel stable by dissolving it in acetone. By 1900, the oxy-acetylene welding technique was born, and the demand for oxygen for industrial purposes accelerated worldwide. In Australia, Russell Grimwade, working for his father's company, ordered the first oxygen plant to be built in Australia in 1910. (George Kantianis, 2013)Medium sized black coloured cylinder with rounded base once containing oxygen with a large black on white diamond shaped manufacturer's label adhered to the front. Much of the label has been degraded with missing bits, and rust stains.Printed on to manufacturer's label: OFFICIALLY PREPARED FOR MED? / AUSTOX [in logo] / COMPRESSED / OXYGEN / CONTENTS / 33 [handwritten in pencil] Imperial Gallons / KEEP COOL / Australiand Oxygen and Industrial ? / Pty. Ltd. / MELBOURNEoxygen, cylinder, therapeutic, russell grimwade

The advent of anaesthesia posed immediate problems for the oral surgeons and dentists who were used to operating on awake patients with intact airway reflexes. Early anaesthetics were very light and often created an uncooperative patient. Dentists were quick to complain they had trouble opening the mouth quickly enough and dental props soon made an appearance. Gags and tongue depressors proliferated, all initially devised to improve surgical and anaesthetic access, not to protect the airway. Other instruments for opening the jaws included the somewhat fearsome devices known as mouth openers. Heister's mouth opener was incorporated in anaesthetic practice but was not designed for this purpose. Lorenz Heister (1983 - 1758) used his device for mouth inspection and for operations on the palate, tonsils and teeth in the pre-anaesthesia era. He was not impressed with the way it was used by others in his life time and believed that it overstretched the jaw when used inappropriately. Despite its apparent brutality, the Heister mouth gag was still advertised for sale in 1983 and its useful mechanism has been incorporated into modern surgical retractors.Steel cork-screw shaped object with a twist top handle which will force the two arms apart. Each arm has ribbing toward the end to create friction when inserted in the mouth.Stamped into the twist top handle: MAYER & MELTZERheister, mouth gag, mouth opener

The advent of anaesthesia posed immediate problems for the oral surgeons and dentists who were used to operating on awake patients with intact airway reflexes. Early anaesthetics were very light and often created an uncooperative patient. Dentists were quick to complain they had trouble opening the mouth quickly enough and dental props soon made an appearance. Gags and tongue depressors proliferated, all initially devised to improve surgical and anaesthetic access, not to protect the airway. Other instruments for opening the jaws included the somewhat fearsome devices known as mouth openers. Heister's mouth opener was incorporated in anaesthetic practice but was not designed for this purpose. Lorenz Heister (1983 - 1758) used his device for mouth inspection and for operations on the palate, tonsils and teeth in the pre-anaesthesia era. He was not impressed with the way it was used by others in his life time and believed that it overstretched the jaw when used inappropriately. Despite its apparent brutality, the Heister mouth gag was still advertised for sale in 1983 and its useful mechanism has been incorporated into modern surgical retractors. This Heister heavy patterned mouth opener was acquired from an Italian Army medical unit at Tobruk in 1941 and donated to the museum in 1946.Scissor-like metal device with a screw mechanism at the top which allows for the open or closed position to be locked.heister, lorenz, mouth opener, gag, heavy patterned

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

Doctors trained in blood transfusion were essential to the development of Forward Resuscitation Teams during World War I. In 1918, Dr Alan Holmes a Court and his colleagues established a resuscitation team and, following their remarkable success at the battle of Hamel on July 4, teams were permanently established at each of the five Australian divisions. Each team consisted of one doctor trained in surgery, blood transfusion and resuscitation, another doctor trained in anaesthesia, resuscitation and blood donor classification, and four other assisting staff. This team moved out to the wounded, rather than waiting for them to be stretchered back. They provided on-the-spot, life-saving resuscitation. The wounded were then transported back to the Casualty Clearing Station or Regimental Aid Post for further treatment.A selection of metal cannula of various designs and sizes.blood, transfusion, intravenous, cannula

Citrated blood was introduced by the Americans in 1917. This allowed blood administration to be delayed for up to two hours but there were many problems with transport, storage and infection in these early experimental days. This bottle contains ACD Solution (Anticoagulant Citrate Dextrose Solution) for ensuring blood doesn't coagulate during storage.Clear glass bottle with white [discoloured] label on the front with red printed text. The bottle contains a yellowish solution. The metal screw-top lid has been covered with brown paper and a black rubber tie is draped around the shoulder of the bottle.anticoagulant, citrate, dextrose, transfusion

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

Charles Gabriel Pravaz (1791-1853) was a French orthopedic surgeon and inventor of the hypodermic syringe. In 1844, Irish physician Francis Rynd (1811-1861) invented the hollow needle. In 1853, French physician Charles Pravaz developed the first practical metal syringe. Pravaz added a fine, hollow needle to the end of his syringe instead of the tube. This was an important innovation. Yet in the pre-antiseptic era it was a mixed blessing. The use of injections rather than oral drug administration can more readily promote the spread of disease as well as facilitating its cure. An understanding of the germ theory of disease - and the cardinal importance of using sterile needles - awaited the discoveries of Lister, Pasteur and Koch. But intravenous injection allows extremely rapid pain-relief - and the induction of general anaesthesia when suitable agents were developed.Small ornate metal syringe with raised ridge at either end and in the middle. Tapers to a point at the distal end with pencil like extrusion. Finger ring at the proximal end.pravaz, intravenous, hyperdermic, subcutaneous, syringe, needle

Lambert Ormsby was a New Zealand surgeon who migrated to Ireland. He described his inhaler in a letter to the Lancet in 1877.Ormsby listed the advantages of his inhaler as simple, inexpensive, small quantity required to produce sleep, prevents evaporation of ether, portable and small (can be carried in pocket), short time to complete anaesthesia (two minutes) and safe. Disadvantages of this apparatus were that it had to be removed in order to recharge the sponge with ether or when anaesthesia becomes too deep. Considerable carbon dioxide accumulation developed and there would also be some oxygen lack. In thirty years of use, Ormsby's Inhaler underwent certain modifications, an exhalation valve was fitted to the mask and device for recharging the sponge with ether was later added. The Ormsby inhaler was modified by Carter Braine in 1898 with the aim of making it easier to clean. Essentially it is very similar except there is no net around the bag.The inhaler consists of an india-rubber flexible bag enclosed within a net bag to limit expansion. There is a soft metallic mouthpiece with india-rubber tubing around the edge. The tubing had to be purchased separately from the manufacturer. The body contains a wire cage with a similarly shaped hollow sponge into which ether was poured.Maker's details inscribed into metal ring around the bore: Barth Co. London.ormsby, new zealand, carbon dioxide, carbon accumulation, carter braine, portable

The Bruck Inhaler is a modification of the Clover Inhaler, designed by Lambert Bruck. Bruck added a glass dome which enabled the level of ether to be monitored during administration. This was a revolutionary change as it removed guess work from the process.The Bruck Inhaler is a historically, aesthetically and scientifically significant piece. The basic design is based on the Clover Inhaler, but with a rounded bottom. The idea of a glass viewing window was possibly inspired by Wilson-Smith Inhaler. The Bruck Inhaler is historically significant as it is the first inhaler to be made with a completely clear lower glass section. This improved the usability for the ether administrator, and eliminated much of the guesswork associated with dosage and ether levels, which in turn improved the patient experience. This piece provides a strong local link to both anaesthetic and general medical practice at the turn of the century. The design is credited to Ludwig Bruck of Sydney, and was presumably manufactured in the same area. Bruck, as the attributed designer, holds much relevance to the significance of the object, as connected with him is much historical information about the social context of medical practice. Ludwig Bruck was a prominent figure in the medical industry. He started his medical career in Sydney as a Medical Transfer Agent, and later owned a shop at 16 Castlereagh Street, Sydney. This business is listed in the 1903 Register of Firms as a Medical Agent and Importer of Medical Instruments and Books. Bruck was vocal as a journalist and published analyses of medical statistics, as well as the well known Australasian Medical Dictionary and Handbook, which included the “List of Unregistered Medical Practitioners”. Ludwig Bruck was an immigrant. He was of German descent, which placed him in a precarious position within Sydney society during the turn of century. Bruck conducted several public conversations with prominent members of the Australian Natives Association through the Sunday News in regards to his disagreement of the employment of medical practitioners by the ANA specifically to corroborate their health insurance policies. He was also a stalwart supporter of the Australian arm of the British Medical Association, being the publisher of the first and subsequent editions of The Australian Medical Gazette. Bruck chose to end his life with a combination of poison and chloroform on 14 August 1915, after being accused of trading with the enemy during World War One. His suicide note stated his horror at leaving his business partner to deal with the tarring of his reputation as the reason for his decision. The Bruck Inhaler has aesthetic significance as it is a beautiful example of turn of the century surgical design and craftsmanship. Aseptic methods of surgery were well known by 1909, and the aesthetic design of the Bruck Inhaler conformed to these principles. The ability for the surgeon to unscrew, clean and sterilize each part of the Inhaler contributes to the streamlined design of the piece. The Buck Inhaler holds scientific significance. There is the capacity for further research to be undertaken on the object. Geoffrey Kaye often collected multiple examples of equipment, usually one for reverse engineering and another for teaching. There are currently two examples of the Bruck Inhaler in the collection, presenting an opportunity for further technical research on the object. The inhaler is oval shaped with one half made of glass to allow observation of the ether level. A vertical cross tube, 22mm in diameter passes between the face-piece and the bag [missing]. There is a stopcock for admission of oxygen or nitrous oxide opposite the bag attachment. There is a central tube, 28mm in diameter, with controllable ports on either side. There is also a tear-drop shaped fask mask.Hand engraved on side of base: L. Bruck / Sydneyclover, joseph, bruck, lambert, inhaler, rebreather, nitrous oxide, oxygen, williams, probyn

The Bruck Inhaler is a modification of the Clover Inhaler, designed by Lambert Bruck. Bruck added a glass dome which enabled the level of ether to be monitored during administration. This was a revolutionary change as it removed guess work from the process.The inhaler is oval shaped with two halves. One half should be made of glass [missing] to allow observation of the ether level. A vertical cross tube, 22mm in diameter passes between the face-piece and the bag [broken]. There is a stopcock for admission of oxygen or nitrous oxide opposite the bag attachment. There is a central tube, 28mm in diameter, with controllable ports on either side.The Bruck Inhaler is a modification of the Clover Inhaler, designed by Ludwig Bruck. Bruck added a glass dome which enabled the level of ether to be monitored during administration. This was a revolutionary change as it removed guess work from the process.joseph clover, lambert bruck, inhaler, rebreather, nitrous oxide, oxygen, probyn williams, hewitt

Catalogue of surgical and anaesthetic equipment from the 1950sRed bound book with black printed text, and green and white internal pagesTyped in black and red ink onto fly page added to book: RETURN TO: / N. PALLATT, / ALLEN & HANBURYS (AFRICA) LTD. / 1956.catalogue, surgical, anaesthetic

Surgical and anaesthetic equipment catalogue from 1938Black bound book with gold leaf text on front cover and spine and white internal pages with blue printed text and illustrationsBook plate adhered to inside cover: SCIENTIA SAULTEM FERAMUS / SIR ANTHONY JEPHCOTT, BT. Handwritten in blue ink: J. Jephcott / NOV 1977

Undated catalogue outlining anaesthetic apparatus designed and supplied by MIE (Medical and Industrial Equipment), London.Blue cardboard covered book with low sheen white pages. Bound using staples through the spine and star pins.

Undated catalogue outlining a range of respirators available through Garthur (London) Ltd.Pale blue [discoloured] cardboard covered book with blue pages printed in black ink, bound by a staple through the spine.Handwritten in blue ink on front cover: P. Penn

Undated catalogue outlining all anaesthetic equipment available through A. Charles King Ltd.Brown cardboard covered book with white glossy pages, held together by a star clip.

This book is the third edition of the "Golden Rules of Anaesthesia" and, while it is instructional in style, predates any formal text book on the subject. The first text book in Australia, Practical Anaesthesia, was published in 1932.Book with beige coloured cloth over heavy cardboard cover with gold leaf printing on front cover.Handwritten in black ink on spine: Anaesthesia •Handwritten in black ink on white label adhered to back cover: A.S.A. •Handwritten in blue and black ink on inside cover: Presented to the / ASA / by / W.D. Counsell / 17 June 1952 •Stamped in blue/purple ink on fly sheet: AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY OF ANAESTHETISTS / FACULTY OF ANAESTHETISTS / ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONSbook, instruction manual, golden rules

Grey/brown hardcover book with cloth covering produced as a trade catalogue for surgical instruments and appliances, including anaesthetic equipment and apparatus