In 1896 Robert James Probyn-Williams was appointed first honorary anaesthetist to the London Hospital and joined a select band of fulltime anaesthetists (26) in Great Britain. The Probyn Williams inhaler was a further modification of the Clover inhaler with narrow airways and rebreathing. The metal inhaler is ovoid shaped. The rotating gauge has a series of numbers engraved onto the inhaler for measurement. There is an elbow joint leading to a connector for attaching a re-breather bag, and at the other end is tap-style mechanism. There is a small glass bulb encased in a metal housing. The facemask is completely made of metal as well.Stamped into handle of tap: COEXTER & SONjoseph clover, frederick hewitt, robert probyn williams

In 1896 Robert James Probyn-Williams was appointed first honorary anaesthetist to the London Hospital and joined a select band of fulltime anaesthetists (26) in Great Britain. The Probyn Williams inhaler was a further modification of the Clover inhaler with narrow airways and rebreathing.Ovoid shaped metal ether inhaler device with a dark brown leather fask mask attached.Moulded into inhaler: MAYER & MELTZER / LONDON

Mechanical resuscitation devices, such as the Pulmotor and Lungmotor, were popular in the early part of the twentieth century. Their use waned in the 1920s as significant bodies like the British Medical Research Council and American Red Cross refused to endorse them. The most popular of the resuscitators to emerge in the 1930s was the E&J (Ericson and Johnson) resuscitator. The device was soon widely available, vigorously promoted with support from many medical practitioners. They were soon to be found in hospitals, emergency services like the ambulance and fire brigade, and voluntary life-saving organisations. In Australia, Norman James, director of anaesthesia at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, developed an interest in equipment for ambulances and the resuscitation of drowning victims. Little in the way of practical, portable equipment was available to either the ambulances or the voluntary life-saving organisations, such as Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA); American resuscitators, like the E&J, were expensive and bulky to import. James designed a simple portable resuscitation device for local use after being approached by Jack Conabere, secretary of the Elwood Life Saving Club (ELSC). The resulting Royal Melbourne Hospital resuscitator, or the R.M. resuscitator as it was marketed, was a simpler, manual version of those available overseas. It was gas driven with a plunger, marked “Press”, and a safety valve. The small working unit attached directly to the facemask. Once the patient was positioned facedown and the airway cleared of debris, the mask was placed firmly over the face. The plunger allowed gas to flow and lung inflation; releasing the plunger allowed expiration. This simple resuscitator was marketed by Commonwealth Industrial Gases (CIG) and became very popular in Australia with volunteer and professional rescue organisations. It represents one of the many innovations in resuscitation equipment that resulted from cooperation between volunteer life savers and medical practitioners. Norman James worked closely with Jack Conabere and the Government Pathologist to develop the equipment. ELSC was the first life saving club to use the resuscitator on the beach. While conducting an early training exercise on 23 December 1951, they used it to successfully resuscitate a man who had drowned after capsizing his home made yacht. The R.M. resuscitator was also used in more inventive ways. At Fairfield Hospital in Melbourne, a group of physiotherapists and doctors did some innovative work with polio patients, teaching them glossopharyngeal (or “frog”) breathing, as a means of becoming less dependent on ventilators. In 1981, the Australian Standards Association stated that the RM head failed to meet its revised standards and it was withdrawn from the market. Red leather suitcase with black leather trim with metal studs. There are clip locks for locking the suitcase in the closed position. The suitcase contains equipment for oxygen resuscitation. There is a space allocated for two oxygen cylinders, however there are no cylinders present.Embossed into metal plaque: The C.I.G. / Oxy-viva / PORTABLE UNIVERSAL OXYGEN RESUSCITATORresuscitation, portable, surf life saving australia, royal melbourne hospital, rm resuscitator

Professor Arthur Barrington (Barry) Baker was the first Australian anaesthetist to gain a DPhil in anaesthesia. He completed his DPhil at Oxford University at the Nuffield Department of Anesthesia in 1971, titled, Physiological Responses to Artificial Ventilation. The Waveform Ventilator is the machine developed to illustrate his DPhil. The waveform ventilator was used in several scientific studies on 'the effects of varying inspiratory flow waveforms and time in intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV)', published in the 'British Journal of Anaesthesia'. Professor Arthur Barrington Baker had an extensive career in research and clinical practice including holding the position as the Nuffield Professor of Anaesthetics at Sydney university (1992 - 2005) and also as the Dean of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) (1987-1990).The variable waveform ventilator is of national significance, due to its association with Professor Arthur Barrington Baker (Prof. Baker) the first Australian academic anaesthetist, and the representation of historical social themes and research and design, in anaesthesia. Historic significance – It is a rare type of ventilator in good condition and well provenanced. It is a tangible record of the beginning of the long established and distinguished career of Prof. Baker, the first anaesthetist in Australia to gain a DPhil. Prof Baker has a strong involvement in the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) organisation. The object is a product of Prof Baker’s Doctorate of Philosophy (DPhil) on respiratory physiology and is associated with the prestigious Oxford University and the well-known Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics. It also represents the social theme of migration to England from Australia in the 1960s and 1970s to access and experience academic and artistic opportunities limited in Australia at the time. Scientific Value – The object is of scientific value as it offers major potential for education and interpretation in anaesthesia. Although ventilators are common equipment, this specific design and construct prototype is one of a kind, designed and used specifically for research purposes. A rectangular shaped object on a trolley with four wheels. The top half of the object consists of two panels, one of cream coloured painted wood, the other black plastic, both containing several dials of different shapes and sizes. The wood surface also contains several gauges and a safety pressure clear plastic box. The plastic surface also contains a pin board. The bottom half of the object consists of two shelves. The whole object's perimeter is lined with perforated metals. The top wooden surface has several metal pieces of equipment and a long tube. The rear of the object contains numerous types of tubing and wire, a gas cylinder and two leather straps with buckles. The bottom half of one side of the objects has 3 electrical power outlets.Waveform Generator, Drs Colliss N Cowie, Dr Baker Dr Murray Willson, Dr Babbington, Safety Pressure, Error POS F/B, Position, Feedback, Set Balance, Reset, Full Stroke, Velocity, Converter Current, line Pressure, Low Pressure, Bias Pressure, Start, Stop, Stop, Reset Press, Max Press, W/G Output, A/CRO B/2.baker, arthur barrington, baker, barry, professor, academic anaesthetist, oxford university, nuffield department of anaesthesia

A characteristic black, round topped box, to carry medical equipment with a divider which would have held a square, plain glass bottle. The donor, Dr. Holloway is known to have acquired much of Dr. Howard Jones' equipment. In 1930 Dr Howard Jones, M.B., B.S., (Lond.). Surgeon Anaesthetist to Charing Cross Hospital first described percaine in an article in the British Journal of Anaesthesia. According to Norman, J. in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, Jones was the first honorary secretary of the Association of Great Britain and Ireland, 'of spinal anaesthesia fame', and a leading practitioner in his day. He apparently committed suicide in 1935, there are references that he 'could not make a living from anaesthesia'. (Norman, 2002, 'An informal history of the first 25 years', The British Journal of Anaesthesia, 88 (3): 445-450) The maker of this medical box, Allen and Hanburys Ltd., was a British pharmaceutical manufacturer, founded in 1715, absorbed by Glaxo Laboratories in 1958.Black cardboard box with handle and simple border decoration on top. Brass hinges at the rear and two brass hook clasps at the front. Interior is lined with black linen. Cardboard divider inside and square compartment in corner would have been used to hold a bottle of ether in place.Printed in gold leaf inside lid: ALLEN & HANBURYS LTD / LONDON.W. / 48.WIGMORE STdr. [e.s.] holloway, medical box, carry kit, allen & hanbury's ltd.

Ethyl chloride was first used as a general anaesthetic in 1847, by Johann Ferdinand Heyfelder (1798-1869), a German surgeon. Once ethyl chloride became readily available, it was again taken up as a general anaesthetic in the late 1890s (USA). Ethyl chloride evaporates very quickly so that when it is sprayed onto the skin it produces very cold temperatures. “Refrigeration anesthesia”, or cryoanesthesia, refers to the anesthesia produced when the skin is significantly cooled.Due to its rapid onset, ethyl chloride was often used to induce general anaesthesia. It would be followed by a second anaesthetic, such as ether or nitrous oxide, which would be used for the remainder of the procedure. (The Wood Library Museum, 2016) The bottle has clear side and base mould seams which indicate it was made using a cup bottom mould.Glass bottle with paper label, metal fastening at the top and cream coloured plastic sealant at the neck. The bottle has clear side and base mould seams which indicate it was made using a cup bottom mould.Printed on main label at front: 100 c.c. 3 1/2 fl. ozs. / MEDICINAL CHEMICALS CORP [illegible] / MEDCO / ETHYL CHLORIDE / PURE / This Product conforms to all the re-/quirements of the BRITISH PHARMA-/COPCEIA, 1932, for / GENERAL ANAESTHESIA / Manufactured by / MEDICINAL CHEMICALS CORPORATION PTY. LIMITED / 39 Martin Place, Sydney Printed on round label on reverse side: 6d. / Cred [illegible]this container if returned in good order and condition. Stamped into underside of bottle: CM / S99ethyl chloride, medco, medicinal chemicals corporation pty. ltd, dr [e.s] holloway, bottle

Dr. S.A. Mellick was a long standing member of the Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (FARACS) and gifted this object to the Faculty at the end of his term in 1989. Dr. Mellick was the first Australian to have become President of the International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery. The provenance and date of the salt cellar is verified by the hallmarks at the base of the dish made in 1804 during the reign of Britain's King George III.Sterling silver open cut salt cellar with blue glass bowl insert, boat shaped, featuring four ball feet, beaded borders with pierced and engraved detailing to the sides.[stand] PRESENTED BY S.A. MELLICK / FARACS / JUNE 1989 [hallmark] S E D (indicates maker as S & E Davenport), Image of Lion (indicates sterling silver), I (Indicates made in 1804) Image of kings head (indicates made in London), image of Sovereign's Head (indicates duty mark) Three cursive initials on side of dish are difficult to recognize however may possibly be identified as J E Wopen cut work, salt cellar, sterling silver, s & e davenport, dr sam mellick, faracs, salt cellar

In February 1984, Dean WM Crosby of ANZCA, admitted Dr. William Derek Wylie to the Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty of Anaesthetists of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. Derek Wylie is one of the best known British Anaethetists and during his career devoted much of his attention to medical negligence and its prevention. He lectured and wrote extensively and is noted as the co-author of one of the most widely read textbooks on anaesthesia, 'A Practice of Anaesthesia', which was translated into several languages.Sterling silver wine coaster with ribbed pattern on top border and turned wooden base.With gratitude DEREK WYLIE HON. FFARACS, 1984 Engraved on base: MAPPIN & WEBB LTD. Hallmarks [Makers mark/ image of lion passant/ image of lion head / cursive script L]wylie, derek, mappin & webb

The Porton resuscitator was devised in 1951 at the British Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment in Porton, Sailsbury, as a bellows-valve-mask resuscitator. Extensive testing was undertaken over eight years, with the device being successfully used for air transport of polio patients, for emergency resuscitation in hospital wards, and by hospital orderlies.Black rubber mask attached to a black concentina bag with a round metal filter at the end. Sits in its original wooden box with perspex lid. Instructions of use displayed on each side of the box. [white print on black rubber concertina bellows] PR 504 / P.B.C. 22 / - SEPT 1962resuscitator, porton

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 diamond shaped Austox label made for use on ethylene cylinders. Red with beige lettering.Information printed on label: AUSTOX [logo] / INFLAMMABLE / ETHYLENE / KEEP COOL / Product of the British Oxygen Co. Ltd. / Contents...............c.ft. ...............gallons (Imp.) / Weight of Full Cylinder ..........lbs. ..........ozs. / 31 OUNCES ETHYLENE = 166 1/2 GALLONS (IMPERIAL) / Use only moderate force when closing valve / Always test with water for leakage after using / Australian Oxygen & Industrial Gases / Pty. Ltd. / MELBOURNElabel, cylinder, cig, ethylene, austox, british oxygen company, boc, australian oxygen and industrial gases pty ltd, commonwealth industrial gases ltd