The attribution of this item as a thyroid elevator is currently uncertain.This is one of a collection of items associated with Dr Felix Henry Meyer (1858-1937). Meyer was a very prominent early obstetrician and doctor, playing a part in the establishment of the role of the chair of obstetrics at the University of Melbourne in 1929. He was also a foundation member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.Surgical tool. Consists of a central shaft, the shape of which bows out in the middle into an elongated oval, with prongs in the shape of double hooks at either end. Inscription on one end of the tool reads 'MAYER & MELTZER', and inscription at the other end reads 'LONDON'.'MAYER & MELTZER' 'LONDON'surgery

This is one of a collection of items associated with Dr Felix Henry Meyer (1858-1937). Meyer was a very prominent early obstetrician and doctor, playing a part in the establishment of the role of the chair of obstetrics at the University of Melbourne in 1929. He was also a foundation member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.Set of tissue forceps. Forceps resemble a thin, elongated pair of scissors with a locking latch below the handle and a small, curved claw with three teeth at the end of each blade. The blades of these forceps curve in towards each other just below the locking latch. Manufacturer's inscription on the forceps reads 'MAYER & MELTZER LONDON'.'MAYER & MELTZER LONDON'surgery

Michel clips are small clips used to close surgical incisions. They are then removed when healing is complete. They are also sometimes used temporarily as part of a procedure to stop blood flow. This is one of a collection of items associated with Dr Felix Henry Meyer (1858-1937). Meyer was a very prominent early obstetrician and doctor, playing a part in the establishment of the role of the chair of obstetrics at the University of Melbourne in 1929. He was also a foundation member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.Metal tin containing two sets of applicators, which resemble tweezers. Tim also contains a thin wire device and a stand for holding these items in place inside the tin. Tin has a removable lid.surgery

This is one of a collection of items associated with Dr Felix Henry Meyer (1858-1937). Meyer was a very prominent early obstetrician and doctor, playing a part in the establishment of the role of the chair of obstetrics at the University of Melbourne in 1929. He was also a foundation member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.Set of tissue forceps. Forceps resemble a thin, elongated pair of scissors with a locking latch below the handles and a round loop at the end of each blade. The blades of these forceps curve in towards each other just below the locking latch. The pin joining the blades together is a loose fit, meaning the blades are easily separated.surgery

This is one of a collection of items associated with Dr Felix Henry Meyer (1858-1937). Meyer was a very prominent early obstetrician and doctor, playing a part in the establishment of the role of the chair of obstetrics at the University of Melbourne in 1929. He was also a foundation member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.Surgical tool consisting of four metal prongs, extending from a frame in the rough shape of a pointed oval. The two lower prongs are straight, and the two upper prongs taper downwards towards the lower prongs. The top of the frame has a butterfly type screw point and two handles/finger grips.surgery

This is one of a collection of items associated with Dr Felix Henry Meyer (1858-1937). Meyer was a very prominent early obstetrician and doctor, playing a part in the establishment of the role of the chair of obstetrics at the University of Melbourne in 1929. He was also a foundation member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.Metal surgical tool with bakelite handle. Tool consists of a metal shaft with a hook/clip at the end. Metal fixture on the side of the shaft, just above the handle, can be used to open and close the loop of the hook.surgery

This is one of a collection of items associated with Dr Felix Henry Meyer (1858-1937). Meyer was a very prominent early obstetrician and doctor, playing a part in the establishment of the role of the chair of obstetrics at the University of Melbourne in 1929. He was also a foundation member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.Set of tissue forceps. Forceps resemble a thin, elongated pair of scissors with a locking latch below the handle and a round loop at the end of each blade.surgery

Adenoid curettes are used to remove infected or inflamed adenoids. Their sharp inner blade removes the adenoid in an atraumatic manner without causing harm to the surrounding tissues.This is one of a collection of items associated with Dr Felix Henry Meyer (1858-1937). Meyer was a very prominent early obstetrician and doctor, playing a part in the establishment of the role of the chair of obstetrics at the University of Melbourne in 1929. He was also a foundation member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.Metal curette (surgical scraping tool). Consists of a handle section with divots for ergonomic finger grip, and a straight, thin metal shaft which forks into two small arms with a cutting blade between them at the tips. The arms at the end of the shaft are curved so that the blade is perpendicular to the shaft of the instrument. Shaft of the curette is engraved with the text 'MEDICAL SUPPLY DEPOT''MEDICAL SUPPLY DEPOT'surgery

This is one of a collection of items associated with Dr Felix Henry Meyer (1858-1937). Meyer was a very prominent early obstetrician and doctor, playing a part in the establishment of the role of the chair of obstetrics at the University of Melbourne in 1929. He was also a foundation member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.Double headed metal curette (surgical scraping tool). Consists of a thin metal shaft with a small cutting blade in the shape of an open loop at one end, and a solid metal scoop at the other end. There is an ergonomic grip at the middle of the tool. surgery

These forceps are believed to be a type of uterine forceps. More research needed.This is one of a collection of items associated with Dr Felix Henry Meyer (1858-1937). Meyer was a very prominent early obstetrician and doctor, playing a part in the establishment of the role of the chair of obstetrics at the University of Melbourne in 1929. He was also a foundation member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.Set of metal scissor forceps. Consists of two blades, joined with a pin, with finger grips/handles at one end. Each blade of the forceps ends with a fine, curved point. When the forceps are closed, the tips of the blades touch. Engraved with the text ' BRITISH MEDICAL SUPPLY', the number 20, a symbol, and the text 'PAT.5.3.92.''BRITISH MEDICAL SUPPLY', 'PAT.5.3.92.'surgery

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster. Examined and identified by Bryan Hibbard.This forceps design is associated with German obstetrician Hermann Franz Naegele (1810-1851). His father, Franz Karl Naegele (1778-1851) was also an obstetrician.Set of Naegele style forceps, consisting of two plated metal blades with ebony handles. The handles have cross-hatch patterning, as well as pointed spurs at the top of each handle, to improve grip.forceps, obstetrics

Dr. Joseph Clover (1825-1882), an English physician, first described his Portable Regulating Ether Inhaler on Jan. 20, 1877. Clover was an especially sought after anesthesiologist and early pioneer in the specialty. This was the best-known of many inhalers that Clover designed. The dome-shaped reservoir was turned to points on a control dial to gradually increase or decrease the percentage of the air that passed over the ether. Several inventors based new inhalers on this, while the original continued to be manufactured as late as the beginning of WWII. (Source: Wood Library Museum)Black round topped box with brass hooks at front and brass hinges at rear. There is a black fabric handle on the top. Inside the box is black padding with the manufacturer's logo printed in gold leaf. There is a square section in the base of the box for holding the square clear glass bottle for ether. There is also a dome-shaped metal inhaler with a "whistle tip" type connection to the mask. The mask is made of tan leather. There is also a metal ether measure for pouring the ether.Printed in gold leaf inside lid of box: MAYER & MELTZER [?] PORTLAND ST. / MAKERS •Engraved on side of inhaler: Mayer & Meltzer / London •Stamped on connector of inhaler: MAYER & MELTZER RN NO 212327 •Engraved on rear of inhaler: Clover's Inhaler •Printed in white on blue sticker: O.2.5A •Measurements have been stamped on the bottom of the inhaler. •Printed in black ink on mask: MADE IN ENGLAND •Stamped on metal connector inside mask: 6 •Printed in black ink on white manufacturer's label on glass bottle: ETHER PURUS '720 / H. Francis & Co., Melbourne.clover, joseph, mollison, crawford henry, george bankin, mccaul, kevin, royal women's hospital, coroner, freemason, surgeon, gynaecologist, obstetrician, mayer & meltzer, francis & co, melbourne, ether purus

William Smellie (1697-1763) was a Scottish obstetrician who primarily practised and taught in London. Smellie was groundbreaking in his understanding of childbirth and became an influential teacher of obstetrics. He diligently studied the birthing process, particularly the descent of the baby’s head down the birth canal. His observations lead to him noting that many deaths occurred because of a lack of understanding of this process and the inappropriate handling of forceps. Smellie is generally given the credit for improving the forceps to make them easier to use and less likely to damage the baby. Smellie’s "Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery" was published In 1751 and became a widely influential teaching resource. Copies of this birth atlas are held in the Frank Forster Library, RANZCOG. The RANZCOG collection also holds a set of forceps supposedly used by William Smellie.Photographic of an engraving. Image depicts a man in silken clothing, including scarf/tie and turban. The image is a head and shoulders portrait, and the subject is facing the artist. The man has stubble on his cheeks and dark coloured eyebrows. Text printed below image reads 'W.S. M.D. Aged 56'. Handwritten inscription below printed text reads 'Wm. Smellie, aged 56'. The image is mounted in white card and housed in a black wooden frame. An old display label is affixed to the bottom left hand corner of the back of the object. Handwritten inscription at centre on the back of the work reads 'John Green Room/Presented by Frank Forster, 1975'. Two hooks and a wire are attached to the back of the frame for hanging.