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

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

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

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

This tube is designed for left pneumonectomy (surgical removal of a lung or part of a lung). The left stem bronchus may be completely blocked off, while the right lung is inflated. There is provision for aspiration of the left bronchus.Rubber tubing with curved and tapered end for insertion into lung. Three smaller tubes come off the larger end, two of which have small rubber valves attached. The tube appears with a banded effect however, the banding is represents the now disintegrated rubber cuff.Blue sticker with white writing on side of tube: S.I.6.bronchus, bronchial, blocker, pneumonectomy, macintosh, leatherdale

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

Blue cardboard box with lighter blue manufacturer's label and blue cardboard slide tray holding eleven (11) needles. The slide tray has allocation for twelve (12) needles.hypodermic, needle, syringe, solila, amalgamated dental

Metal tin with hinged side and allocated space for twelve (12) needles with only five (5) needles present.Stamped into flat of connector: ACIDEX / 17hypodermic, needle, syringe, acidex, germany

Brown and white cardboard box containing blue cardboard tray with six (6) needles embedded into it. There is allocation for twelve (12) needles.hypodermic, needle, syringe, luer lock, ramsay surgical limited, japan

White cardboard box with white manufacturer's label with black and red printed text. Inside the box is a white plastic tray holding twelve (12) needles wrapped in white tissue paper.Stamped in black ink on underside of cardboard box: 85320Whypodermic, needle, syringe, dozen top, luer lock, top surgical, tokyo, japan

Cream coloured metal tin with hinged side and manufacturer's information in red and black printed text on front of tin. Inside tin are twelve (12) needles on a metal tray which is wrapped and sealed with a plastic covering.hypodermic, needle, syringe, unimed, switzerland

Cream coloured metal tin with hinged side and manufacturer's information in red and black printed text on front of tin. Inside tin are twelve (12) needles on a metal tray which is wrapped and sealed with a plastic covering.hypodermic, needle, syringe, unimed, switzerland

Congo Red Solution was used to test the purity of Avertin before use. Avertin is a rectal anaesthetic that was used heated which could created dibromacetaldehyde and hydrobomic acid, the former being highly corrosive to rectal mucosa. Once this was known it was recommended that the solution should not be heated above body temperature and should be tested with Congo Red prior to use.Brown cardboard box with pink manufacturer's label adhered to front and text printed in black. The box contains an amber coloured bottle with blue wax seal and pink manufacturer's label with black printed text. There is also a clear glass dropper.avertin, dibromacetaldehyde, hydrobomic acid, rectal anaesthesia, rectal mucosa

Magill laryngoscope with a battery in the handle was one of first of its kind This piece of equipment is made of stainless steel and has a canal on its left side and a handle to put batteries inside of it and it has attached a round screw to make it extendable. This object also has an stamped inscription and on the other side it has the manufacturer details. Stamped A.CHARLES KING.LTD Stamped REG.NO.749019 Stamped STAINLESSmagill, ivan, battery

Metal laryngoscope in two parts. A round hollow handle with a textured grip and a screwed in base for holding batteries. The metal blade screws in to the handle and has a moulded section for a small light bulb. Engraved in to top of blade, D.A. Engraved in to base of handle, B.T.S. / R.W.H. D.A. Stamped in top of the handle, PAT.NO.683731 Stamped in top of the handle, BRITISH [indecipherable]laryngoscope, light bulb, battery

A curved laryngoscope blade with bulb only. Its has an engraved detail about the place it belonged. Also, it has stamped on the blade the maker's seal and its material. At the base of the blade is stamped the place where it was made. The top of the blade has some scratches and the base has an oxide spot over the name of the place it was made. Engraved on the blade, Anaes. Dept. Alfred Stamped on the base of the blade, MADE IN ENGLAND Stamped on the blade left side, STAINLESS Stamped on the blade on top of the base a circular seal with the letters, BOC laryngoscope, light bulb, glass, blade, boc, british oxygen company

Curved laryngoscope blade with light bulb only. Etched on the base of blade is engraved the word 'Whittam'. It has visible and deep scratches on top of its blade and back side. Also has on the edge of the blade a spot of oxidation and some green paint stains under the blade surface. Visible oxidation is present in the blade base back side over the small lamina attached by a screw. Engraved the presumably owner's name, Whittamlaryngoscope, blade, light bulb, curved laryngoscope, glass, whittam

Laryngoscope handle, with screw in connector for blade. It has a textured handle with a serrated grip for ease of use. The handle is also a battery deposit. Stamped on the base of the handle is the trade mark name details (PENLON) and the place where was made (ENGLAND). The piece has some slight scratches and surface subsidence because of its use. It has a residual marks from an used sticky tape on the base. Stamped on the base, REGD TRADE MARK / P E N L O N / MADE IN ENGLANDlaryngoscope, handle, screwed laryngoscope, screw, penlon, battery