General anaesthesia relaxes muscles around the airway which can result in the airway becoming obstructed. Holding the jaw open or keeping the tongue out of the way were crucial. Often, brutal devices were used to open the jaw or pull the tongue forward to clear the airway.Set of four chrome plated metal tongue depressors of different sizes. Each depressor has been engraved with a number (1 - 4). Numbers 2 - 4 also have a metal tube that could be used to administer anaesthesia simultaneously. Numbers 2 - 3 also have cross-hatched grooves in the depressor and all have finger grips engraved into the handles.boyle-davis, airway management

Chrome plated metal "L" shaped tongue depressor. The depressor arm downside has cross-hatched grooves to facilitate adherence to the tong. A small metal tube is attached to the upper-side of the depressor through which anaesthesia or oxygen could be administered. The lateral arm handle has grips engraved to attach the mouth gag frame which is missing. This item has a stamp inscription on its handle about maker's details, size and material. Black spots of dust are present inside the metal tube and out near the extreme of the tube. It has accumulated dust between the cross-hatched grooves. Minor scratches around the piece.Stamped in the depressor handle, D.H.A. / 6 / STAINLESSboyle-davis, tongue depressor, airway management

This is an example of an early airway management device for anaesthesia. Hollow curved metal tube with flat plate at one end and two tube coming out of it, one curved to the left, one curved to the right.Engraved by hand on curve of tube: POE'S / ASA 1940 Engraved by hand on flat plate: Wood Stamped into flat plate: REGGERairway, poe, american society of anesthesiologists

A mouth gag was used when required to assist in the administration of anaesthesia to a patient. It is used to keep the patient's mouth open, and could also be used for oral surgery or airway management. This particular mouth gag is known as a Doyen's type.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 the obstetric bag and its contents to the College in 1999. The gladstone bag and contents are a unique time capsule of the type of instruments and pharmaceuticals used in the inter-war period.Stainless steel mouth gag. Design of item resembles a pair of scissors, but with a foot at the end of each blade and a ratchet attached to keep the device open.anaesthesia

Captain Arthur Guedel was an American anesthetist who arrived at the Western Front with the American expeditionary force prior to America's official entry. He trained students in airway management and the monitoring of dept of anaesthesia using his chart board description of the signs and stages of anaesthesia. Black plastic tube, flattened and squared off, with a flat mouth plate. There is a metal inner tube which also has a flat plate.Stamped into metal flat plate: KING / 1 Moulded into plastic flat piece: KINGguedel, airway, pharyngeal, gilbert brown

This bite block was used to prevent patients under anaesthesia or sedation from involuntarily biting down. This protected the patient’s teeth and tongue, while also shielding vital instruments like endotracheal tubes from damage during procedures. The device narrows in the centre to rest securely between the molars, with a beaded metal chain and loop designed to prevent it from slipping too far into the throat — a simple yet essential feature in an era before digital monitoring. Allen & Hanburys Ltd., a prominent British pharmaceutical company, was known for producing surgical and dental instruments throughout the 20th century. Their bite blocks were part of a broader evolution of airway management tools that prioritised safety, hygiene, and patient comfort. Black hard rubber tubular bite block with red rubber ends. Block narrows in the centre where there is attached a metal beaded chain ending in a circular loop for securing and preventing from losing down the patient's throat. medical device, anaesthesia, bite block

This bite block was used to prevent patients under anaesthesia or sedation from involuntarily biting down. This protected the patient’s teeth and tongue, while also shielding vital instruments like endotracheal tubes from damage during procedures. The device narrows in the centre to rest securely between the molars, with a beaded metal chain and loop designed to prevent it from slipping too far into the throat — a simple yet essential feature in an era before digital monitoring. Allen & Hanburys Ltd., a prominent British pharmaceutical company, was known for producing surgical and dental instruments throughout the 20th century. Their bite blocks were part of a broader evolution of airway management tools that prioritised safety, hygiene, and patient comfort.Black hard rubber tubular bite block with red rubber ends. Block narrows in the centre where there is attached a metal beaded chain ending in a circular loop for securing and preventing from losing down the patient's throat.medical device, anaesthesia, bite block

This bite block was used to prevent patients under anaesthesia or sedation from involuntarily biting down. This protected the patient’s teeth and tongue, while also shielding vital instruments like endotracheal tubes from damage during procedures. The device narrows in the centre to rest securely between the molars, with a beaded metal chain and loop designed to prevent it from slipping too far into the throat — a simple yet essential feature in an era before digital monitoring. Allen & Hanburys Ltd., a prominent British pharmaceutical company, was known for producing surgical and dental instruments throughout the 20th century. Their bite blocks were part of a broader evolution of airway management tools that prioritised safety, hygiene, and patient comfort.Black hard rubber tubular bite block with red rubber ends. Block narrows in the centre where there is attached a metal beaded chain ending in a circular loop for securing and preventing from losing down the patient's throat.medical device, anaesthesia, bite block

Taking castings from the larynx of cadaver's, Archie Brain studied the anatomy and physiology of the upper airway in minute detail. He devised the Laryngeal Airway Marsk (LMA) as an alternative to endotracheal intubation. Since first gaining a patent in 1982, he produced over 1000 prototypes over the next 30 years in a constant effort to improve the device and patient safety. The LMA is a recent innovation and provides an alternative to endotracheal intubation and has made a significant contribution to safe airway management. Ovoid shaped black rubber layrngeal airway with orange access point stopper. Translucent rubber tube is glued into the airway and is cutaway within the internal space of the airway. The item is a prototype and the materials used to construct it are gathered from different medical items. The following text is present on the rubber tubing: 'EX 9.5 ORAL 12.9 USE ONCE Z79-IT 24 26 29'.anaesthesia, dr archie brain, laryngeal, mask, airway, medical advances, rubber, prototype, endotracheal