Camphor has been used traditionally for many years, solely or in combination with other treatments for the relief of pain, inflammation and irritation in body and skin. Persian physicians Rhazes (860–932CE) and Avicenna (980–1037CE) used camphor extensively in the treatment of particular types of headache. Symptoms of camphor poisoning include “psychomotor agitation” and hallucinationsPale blue cardboard box with blue manufacturer's label across the face of the box and down each side. The label has black printed text. Inside the box is allocation for ten (10) ampoules. There are three (3) clear glass ampoules each with a pale blue label with black printed text. A metal blade is wrapped in tissue paper and a thin, squared off piece of metal is also wrapped in tissue paper.pain medicine, inflammation, rhazes, avicenna, camphor, headache

Oral airways, such as the Guedel, make it much easier for patients to be ventilated. They depress the tongue and prevent it from falling to the back of the throat where it would obstruct the airway.Curved, red rubber tubing with a metal connector in one end. 19M.M. DOairway, ventilation, obstruction, guedel, rubber

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

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

Between 1867 and 1920, anaesthesia for dental operations was often maintained by blowing the vapour of ether or chloroform into the patients' oral or nasal pharynx. Junker's inhalers are a "blow over" device used with a hand-held bellows to bubble air through liquid chloroform and to the patient. It was initially intended for use with bichloride of methylene, a mixture of chloroform and methyl alcohol. Ferdinand Ethelbert Junker introduced his inhaler in 1867 as appointed physician to Samaritan Free Hospital for Women (although it didn't have that name until c.1904). Glass jar with liquid measure markers etched onto. The jar has a metal lid, with a metal tube descending into the jar. Two metal tubes are protuding out of the top of the lid, and each has a small section of rubber tubing attached. There is also a metal hook, used to attached the jar to the physicians (anaesthetist's) lapel.Stamped into frame of metal lid: LONDON MADEjunker, blow over, chloroform, samaritan free hospital for women

Small glass container with a round base, extending into an oval shaped openingeye bath, glass

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

One of a range of metal face masks designed to have a cover which helps protect the patient's face.Wire frame mask designed to cover mouth and nose. There is a metal hook on the left hand side protuding from the base of the mask and wire mesh raised from the base with a circle in the middle.facemask, anaesthesia, ramsay surgical

The Fluotec vaporizer was made to administer only halothane (Fluothane). It was one of the first vaporizers made for use with only one anesthetic, and one of the first to use a bimetallic coil for temperature compensation.The bimetallic coil is part of the valve that controls how much of the carrier gas enters the vapor chamber to vaporize the anesthetic.Modern vaporisers still use this bimetallic coil technology today. Serial No: 5040 Patent No: 814427 A ready reference “calibration card” came attached to these vaporizers. The card was printed with a scale that indicated the concentration of halothane produced at different flow rates and dial settings.This item does not have a reference card with it.This Flotec vaporiser holds historic significance as a very good example of an early model piece of equipment for halothane only administration. Modern vaporisers still use the bimetallic coil technology and therefore this object has scientific and research significance.Small metal stand with 3 rubber feet, Main metal cylinder body housing the bimetallic coil. Inlet valve with a brass attachment and metal outlet valve. Metal dial that controls % Penthrane. Dial notches range from OFF to 1.5. Small silver chain hangs from the top of the dial lever. Small silver metal box held by 4 screws and a round bakelite window with FULL inscribed in white text located on the front of the main cylinder Fluothane Cyprane vaporiser. Fluotec Mark II by Pentec, with stand. Royal Children's HospitalStamped on Inlet and outlet valve: INLET OUTLET Stamped on to a plate on the front of the vaporiser: KEEP UPRIGHT / PENTHRANE / WHEN CHARGEDinhaler, fluotec mark ii

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

Black round topped box with brass hooks at front and brass hinges at rear. There is a black fabric handle on the top (broken). 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, usually for a glass bottle but which is holding a metal pourer. The rest of the kit is missing.Printed in gold leaf on inside lid of box: MAYER & MELTZER / LONDON / MELBOURNE & CAPE TOWN Stamped on underside of metal pourer: BARTH & CO / LONDON Handwritten on inside of lifting linen-covered paper: [indecipherable] d as described on Pawn-Ticket / January 1903 / Jacket / Boots [cont...]mayer & meltzer, barth & co

They sphygmograph was devised as an improved device to measure blood pressure, and was a marked improvement on the first machine of its type. The sphygmomanometer was considered cumbersome and the Dudgeon sphygmograph was smaller, and once placed into its box, could be carried in a pocket. The Dudgeon sphygmograph was introduced in 1881. It was strapped tot he wrist with a metal strip that moved a stylus. This transmitted a record of the pulse onto smoked paper, creating a record of blood pressure.The sphygmograph is housed in a purple-lined, leather bound case with a metal hinge and clasp located halfway up the case. It is constructed from chrome and comprises several moving parts including wires, knobs and handles. A black fabric strap with a metal attachment is also present, used to attach to the patient's wrist.blood pressure, dudgeon, pocket-sized, portable

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

This oscillotonometer was owned by Dr. Herbert Claus Newman, an Anaesthetist who gained his diploma in Anaesthetics in 1956. Dr Newman served in the Vietnam War and was also one of over 50 of Australia's medical professionals who signed a joint statement in 2004 condemning the Federal Government for committing Australian troops to the Iraq war.Brown leather case with silver clasp and brown leather handle. Case contains Dr. von Recklinghausen Scala Alternans Oscillotonometer – a round silver pressure gauge with paper scale and needle point reader. The silver valve and lever at the bottom of the gauge connects black and orange rubber tubing to the grey linen arm cuff rolled closed with Velcro and a rubber inflation bulb.Yellow sticker on top of case in yellow type: H. NEWMAN Printed on face of gauge: Oscillotonometer / n. Dr. von Recklinghausen / "SCALA ALTERNANS" / 6585868 / S|K Printed on scale near zero reading: mmHg Printed on scale near highest reading: mm Hg = Torr Printed on scale is numbers 0 to 300 in increments of 20 Stamped on reverse of valve: 148blood pressure, oscillotonometer, dr. von recklinghausen, scala alternans, newman, h., newman, herbert claus, vietnam war

Used by mothers during childbirth, the anaesthetic Trilene (trichloroethylene) was inhaled through a face mask [missing] attached to the rubber tubing [missing] and the vaporising chamber. The Trilene was poured into the chamber to be turned into a vapour. The machine was used in the obstetric wards at University College Hospital, London. Trilene was introduced in the 1940s. The machine was made by Cyprane Ltd.Khaki metal multi layered cylinder. Set on top of khaki metal plate with four (4) rubber feet.Stamped in red on top level of vaporiser: Cyprane Ltd •Stamped in red on serial plate: TECOTA MARK 6 / CHARGE WITH TRICHLOROETHYLENE B.P. / CYPRANE LTD. SERIAL No / KEIGHLEY / YORKS. / T1469 •Clear sticker with red printed text stuck on metal plate: PAT No 646680 / PATENTS PENDINGtrichlorethylene vaporiser, tecota mark 6

This device was designed by W E Collison for self administration of oxygen therapy, particularly in the home. By his own description "It presents none of the tiresome and irksome features associated with medical apparatus and is readily understood by patients." Registration number: 772839 and 785517 Patent number: 415437Metal tubing designed to attach to an oxygen cylinder which leads to a number of gauges and continues on to a metal head which holds two glass bulbs. Glass bulb on left is amber in colour and the glass bulb on the right is clear.Both bulbs have residue on the inside. Between the bulbs is a connecter that leads to red rubber tubing that is fluted toward the end.collison, oxygen therapy, inhaler

This vaporiser has a main cylindrical body with a step up to the dial plate with a small red latch to lock dial in to place.On the front of the body sits a square gauge to indicate the level FULL along with a long rectangular shape.There is an Inlet and outlet valve that sits behind the metal dial.There is a manufacturers plate sitting on top of the dial and the inlet/outlet valve. Inscribed on top plate: KEEP UPRIGHT/ PENTEC 2/ WHEN CHARGED •Inscribed on inlet & oulet valve plate: PENTEC 2/ SERIAL NO 252939/ PATENTS PENDING •MADE IN / ENGLAND BY/ CYPRANE LTD / KEIGHLEY •Metal dial has inscribed: OFF/.2 .5 1 1.5 2 Max •Inscribed on front plate in green writing: USE ONLY/ PENTHRANE/ (METHOXYFLURANE)penthrane, vaporizer, anaesthesia, anaesthetic machine

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

Mottled brown cardboard box containing twelve (12) metal needles woven through a metal tray and covered in clear plastic.Handwritten in blue ink on front cover of box: ML172hypodermic, needles, flag brand

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

Acupuncture is gaining wider acceptance as a medical treatment.Twenty six (26) fine metal needles with twisted copper ends used for acupuncture.acupuncture, qi, pain management, analgesia

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

The main component of the nitrous oxide gasometer is a reflective white metal urn-shaped chamber from which an outlet valve and circular moulded tap allows for the flow of gas. A rectangular frame sits atop the chamber and comprises ornately decorated metal flourishes and three white metal anchoring pipes, two attached to each side of the chamber and one attached to the centre of the two-tiered, domed lid. The gasometer sits atop a Y-shaped cast iron stand, ornately decorated with metallic golden brass paint, with a circular base. There is also a black cast iron ring that is attached to the stand. Manufactured by Buffalo Dental Manufacturing Company, Buffalo NY.Inscription on base. "B.D.M. CO, BUFFALO N.Y." Inscription on vertical. "1 2 3" Inscription on upper side of top ring. "J. DEMAREST//PAT.FEB.15.1876." Inscription on lower side of top ring. "15"gasometer, nitrous oxide, storage, anaesthesia, dentistry, chloroform, ether, b.d.m. co

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 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

Ether in oil was used for rectal anaesthesia. Rectal anaesthesia offered a way to administer anaesthesia when using a mask was impractical, such as oral or respiratory tract surgery. Undiluted ether was irritating to the bowel and even proved to be fatal. Ether in oil, developed in 1913, minimized irritation with no reported deaths.Empty clear glass bottle with cork stopper which has become dislodged and is now inside the bottle. The bottle has a white label with handwriting on the front. The bottle has been decanted.Handwritten in ink: Ether in Oil / = parts Stamped in red ink on top left corner of label: CAU... [faded and almost indecipherable]ether, ether in oil, rectal administration, anaesthesia

Box relates to Capt Henry SOUTHBY, 39th Batt. KIA 12.10.1917. Refer Cat No 1906 for his full service history also 1905P, 1903.2.Wooden trunk with hinged top lid, both box & lid metal lined. Carry handles each end & two strap hooks front & back. Key lock in front. Lid has a lock down clip on each side. Lid has metal strip screwed on front & sides. Painted in white on each end of box: “Lt H SOUTHBY 39TH BATT”.personal effects - travel goods, military equipment - containers, trunk, officers