This type of string, or twine, was frequently used by obstetricians to tie the umbilical cord after the delivery of a baby. Thicker string was favoured because there was less chance of cutting through the soft cord tissue surrounding the umbilical vein. 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.Brown string, possibly made of hemp, in two separate lengths. obstetric delivery

This type of forceps was invented by Italian surgeon Paolo Assalini (1759-1840). Obstetrical forceps gripped a baby’s head during difficult childbirths. Assalini’s design was immediately popular and was manufactured until the 1930s. (Wellcome Collection)Forceps, Assalini's. No Manufacturer's stamp. Old tags attached identify the manufacturer as "H.A. Taylor & Sons/ Made by A.J.Taylor /No. 3" probably written by Cyrus Jones or Frank Forster.forceps, obstetric

This appliance can used in two different ways: externally to spray antiseptic mist on to the skin or internally on the back of the throat. Insufflator is the clinical term for spraying. This was used by a midwife in the care of mother and newborn babies. (Becton Dickson)Mary Howlett (1840-1922) began practising as a country midwife in 1866 in the western district of Victoria. She qualified as a 'ladies monthly nurse' in 1887 and continued to practise as a nurse and midwife until 1920.She began her six months training at the Melbourne Lying-In Hospital. She was known by many as 'Auntie', and her career spanned more than 50 years. Mrs Howlett's midwifery box and contents were given to Dr Frank Forster, and he donated them to the museum collection in 1993.White metal applicator, probably made from nickel plate. Consists of three sections - application cup (.1), watch spring attached to a piston and flange (.2), and a section of metal connection (.3). Applicator was originally attached to a glass tube mounted on black vulcanite by metal connections of various sizes. Inscribed 'BECTON DICKSON & CO/PAT. DEC. 06", "RUTHERFORD N.J."midwifery, infant care

This photo shows seamstresses at their sewing machines at what could be, Tylers which is located on the first floor of the corner of Bridge and Grenville Streets. The lady in the foreground is 'Baby' Gingell who later became Mrs W. Wallis.tylers, sewing, business, commerical, fashion, ballarat, bridge street, grenville street, manufacturing, costume work

Nipple shields will help some babies attach to the breasts, that are otherwise unable to. They are used occasionally with women who have flat or inverted nipples and their baby is unable to attach to the breast. Shields are made of a fine, silicone material that sits over the areola and nipple. (Source: Mater Mother's Hospital, 'Engorgement and Breast milk Oversupply') The business card [118.4] belonged to W Henderson, who was most likely a sales representative of Surgical Manufacturing C, 191 Lygon Street, Carlton. The card was inserted into the box with the nipple shields, suggesting that the product may have been distributed by Surgical Manufacturing.Opaque plastic nipple shields, with manufacturer's box [118.3] and supplier business card [118.4]. Box is printed with the text "MATER/NURSING/SHIELDS/(Reg. Design)".breast feeding

Baby's long cotton nightdress.Bodice has diagonal overlay of lace and diagonal pintucks. Gathered skirt attached. White cotton tie, (lace at ends) to tie at rear. Back opening. Tie at rear neckline, one covered button on bodice - 4 rows of tucks at hemline. Old Box 346.costume, children's, christening long gown

Magazine. Norman Penrose collection: paper cutting with various illustrations of human hands. Blue, green, red and yellow background of materials and whitish bubbles. Cutting pasted onto a piece of cardboard with an advertisement on the back depicting the Victorian Comforts Fund urging people to give a newspaper to provide comforts for the babies.person, bendigo, norman william penrose, norman penrose collection, human hands

"First described by professor R. R. Macintosh in the Lancet of February 13th, 1943, this design is now the acknowledged leader throughout the world." (PENLON, 1969) Reference: PENLON. 1969. Anaesthetic Equipment - Longworth Scientific Instrument Company LTD. Abingdon, Berkshire, England. January 1969. Macintosh semi curved blade designed in a baby size, with an unfitted light bulb attached. Minor scratches and some slight hit marks over the piece surface caused by its previous use. It has the manufacturer name and the place where it was made along with the owner’s name engraved at the back of the blade. Engraved at the back of the blade near light bulb the owner details: R.C.H. / O.P.T. Stamped at the back blade base into metal the manufacturer's name and place: Longworth / MADE IN ENGLAND Stamped on light bulb base serrated surface, HEINE XHL / #059 2,5v paediatric blades, royal children's hospital, macintosh, light bulb, longworth, blade, laryngoscope

Cream Linen Calico Baby’s Night Gown. Made in Magar Style. Lace trimmed neckline with a chain stitched edge. Drawn up with a tape. Edge of sleeve button holed in cream silk. Place for Ribbon button holed. A spray worked in cream silk on front. Mrs Thelma Clark. stawell clothing material

The sounding of the Last Post makes Charles Harris 'cry like a baby' every Anzac Day - but the World War II veteran from Greensborough said he would go into battle again to protect his country.News article 1 page, black text, colour image.charles harris, anzac day, world war 2

Humidicribs are used to transport sick babies from small hospitals to major hospitals for specialist care. They work by maintaining normal body temperature and provide oxygen if needed during ambulance transit. Known by a variety of commercial names, earlier humidicribs were ones heated with water bottles. Not part of an ambulances standard equipment, humidicribs are kept in ambulance stations and carried if babies needed to be transported. In the early days before humidicribs came into use and when air ambulances did not exist, many more babies died during emergency transits than do today The Thermocot Developed from the Port-O-Cot, CIG later produced the Thermocot. The new humidicrib had a number of advantages over the Port-O-Cot. Most importantly it had an over-temperature alarm and cut out. It was also calibrated in degrees Celsius as by then the metric measuring system had been introduced to Australia. It also had a front opening canopy which was easier for nursing staff to use. Metal box with Perspex opening top section. Carry handles at each end.Thermocot portable infant incubator CIGinfant

Humidicribs are used to transport sick babies from small hospitals to major hospitals for specialist care. They work by maintaining normal body temperature and provide oxygen if needed during ambulance transit. Known by a variety of commercial names, earlier humidicribs were ones heated with water bottles. Not part of an ambulances standard equipment, humidicribs are kept in ambulance stations and carried if babies needed to be transported. In the early days before humidicribs came into use and when air ambulances did not exist, many more babies died during emergency transits than do today The Thermocot Developed from the Port-O-Cot, CIG later produced the Thermocot. The new humidicrib had a number of advantages over the Port-O-Cot. Most importantly it had an over-temperature alarm and cut out. It was also calibrated in degrees Celsius as by then the metric measuring system had been introduced to Australia. It also had a front opening canopy which was easier for nursing staff to use. Metal box with Perspex opening top section. Carry handles at each end.Thermocot portable infant incubator CIG

This book was owned by the late Dr Elizabeth Kerr and was donated to the Museum by the executor of her estate, Margaret Cameron. It was produced by Coats Patons and contains knitting patterns for mens, womens and babies garments, as well as instructions on how to knit and crochet.Patons / WOOLCRAFT / A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO KNITTING AND CROCHET / COATS PATONS (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED / 35c - 3'6knitting handicrafts - history crochet, coats patons (australia) limited, knitting, handicrafts - history, crochet

Black and white image: baby sitting, dressed in dark dress with white apron. On rear of image : 'Photographers miniature and portrair painters. Barlett Bros. View Place, Sandhurst. This picture can be enlarged to any size as a plain photograph or as a painting in oil, crayon or water color. Copies can always be had'Bartlett Bros., Sandhurstperson, individual, baby portrait, sandhurst, bendigo, barlett bros., photographer

Seven assorted postcards with various themes : (a) River scene at dusk, entitled ' Eventide ' , (b) Painting of a basket of violets, (c) Miss Marie Studholme (actress), (d) Miss Mabel Love, (e) Miss Billie Burke, (f) Miss May Beattie , (g) Baby Bruce ( 11 months old)postcard, various themes, eventide, basket of violets, marie studholme, mabel love, billie burke, may beattie, baby bruce

Laundered 30/10/1999Long white Christening robe with Ayrshire embroidery on a vee shaped bodice front coming to a point at the waist with a small opening under the point. If the baby was a boy the point was left showing an if a girl it was tucked into the opening. Tucking across the front panel. Drawstring at neck.lace and pin tucking down front. Drawstring neckcostume, infants'

A rubber teat would be attached to the top of this nipple shield for breast feeding. From 1801 onwards, nipple shields were available in a variety of materials, such as pewter, horn, bone, ivory, wood, glass and silver. They varied in shape from a bell to a flatter, cap shaped appliance. With the application of the nipple shield, the baby was able to take milk from the breast without giving added trauma to the nipples. In the ante partum period the nipple shield could be worn to assist in drawing out flat nipples; or, as it was known during this period, for the formation of "new nipples". (Fildes, Valerie. 'Breasts, Bottles & Babies - A History of Infant Feeding', 1986) Mary Howlett (1840-1922) began practising as a country midwife in 1866 in the western district of Victoria. She qualified as a 'ladies monthly nurse' in 1887 and continued to practise as a nurse and midwife until 1920. She began her six months training at the Melbourne Lying-In Hospital. She was known by many as 'Auntie', and her career spanned more than 50 years. Mrs Howlett's midwifery box and contents were given to Dr Frank Forster, and he donated them to the museum collection in 1993. Glass nipple shield. Shape resembles that of a bell.infant feeding, midwifery

A rubber teat would be attached to the top of this nipple shield for breast feeding. From 1801 onwards, nipple shields were available in a variety of materials, such as pewter, horn, bone, ivory, wood, glass and silver. They varied in shape from a bell to a flatter, cap shaped appliance. With the application of the nipple shield, the baby was able to take milk from the breast without giving added trauma to the nipples. In the ante partum period the nipple shield could be worn to assist in drawing out flat nipples; or, as it was known during this period, in the formation of "new nipples". (Fildes, Valerie. 'Breasts, Bottles & Babies - A History of Infant Feeding', 1986) Mary Howlett (1840-1922) began practising as a country midwife in 1866 in the western district of Victoria. She qualified as a 'ladies monthly nurse' in 1887 and continued to practise as a nurse and midwife until 1920. She began her six months training at the Melbourne Lying-In Hospital. She was known by many as 'Auntie', and her career spanned more than 50 years. Mrs Howlett's midwifery box and contents were given to Dr Frank Forster, and he donated them to the museum collection in 1993.Glass nipple shield. Shape resembles that of a bell.midwifery, infant feeding

One of a collection of 56 knitting pattern books donated by Mrs Hilma Carruthers. These books had been used by Mrs Carruthers, her mother and her two daughters. This book was produced by Patons and Baldwins and contains patterns for babies clothes.Patons / KNITTING BOOK / NO. 197 / RECIPES / REPRINTED / BY REQUEST / 6d.handicrafts - history knitting, patons and baldwins (australia) ltd, handicrafts - history, knitting

One of a collection of 56 knitting pattern books donated by Mrs Hilma Carruthers. These books had been used by Mrs Carruthers, her mother and her two daughters. This book was produced by Paragon and contains knitting patterns for baby clothes.Paragon / KNITTING BOOK / No. 75 / LAYETTES / PRAM SET / PRAM COVER / Price 1'3handicrafts - history knitting, paragon art needlecraft, handicrafts - history, knitting

A newspaper article titled 'Winner of Church Choir Contest.' A photo of members of St.John's, Forest Street, Presbyterian Choir which gained first place in a contest raising money for the Methodist Babies' Home Appeal. Mr. A. Anderson was the conductor. Item part of Mr. Ken Hesse Collection donated by Mr. James Lerk.church, celebration, presbyterian church forest st bendigo, ken hesse collection, collection, newspaper, choir, singing, music, contest, competition

Photograph of an Iron roofed wooden building. Piepers Hill Hotel, Strathfieldsaye Road,Kennington, is painted on a wooden sign above the veranda. In front of the veranda is a lady wearing a dark coloured long dress, holding a baby. Two small girls standing beside her. An elderly woman is standing on the veranda and there is a dog in the foreground.buildings, commercial, hotel, piepers hill hotel

B&W photo of Bill Hermon holding a baby of about three months of age. Bill is wearing a sleeveless pullover over a shirt with rolled-up sleeves. They appear to be on the Hermon farm at Menzies Creek. In the field behind them is a metal hand roller. Beyond a small row of shrubs is a child's tricycle. 1940s.

Poster - printed on paper that could be pasted or adhered to the inside windows of trams titled "Baby Carriages and Shopping Jeeps on Trams". Dated April 1985. Notes that prams and shopping jeeps could be carried subject to room being available, and that assistance may not be available to lift them onto vehicles. Has The Met logo.trams, tramways, the met, prams, baby carriages, posters

sculpture, australian artist, female artist, alien, young family, family, mother, motherhood, babies, baby, feeding, genetic modification