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

Black and white photograph of a demonstration of a dental procedure on a patient who is receiving anaesthesia. Dr Geoffrey Kaye, wearing a white gown, is changing a mouth gag dental instrument in the patient's mouth. The anaesthetist's hands are supporting the patient's head and administering anaesthesia to the patient through an inhaler. The background of the photo has been covered with black ink so that only Dr Kaye, the patient, and the hands of the anaesthetist are visible.•Printed text in black ink on paper label glued under photo: Changing-Over the Gag. •Handwritten with blue ink on reverse: Photo. 4. / (Frame 20).dental procedure, dental instrument, anaesthesia, anaesthetist, patient, geoffrey kaye

Black and white photograph of a demonstration of a dental procedure on a patient who is receiving anaesthesia. Dr Geoffrey Kaye, wearing a white gown, is holding an instrument to the patient's mandible. An anaesthetist's hands are supporting the patient's head and administering anaesthesia to the patient through an inhaler. A fourth person's hand is holding a mouth gag dental instrument in the patient's mouth. The background of the photo has been covered with black ink so that only Dr Kaye, the patient, and the hands of the anaesthetist and fourth person are visible.•Printed text in black ink on paper label glued under photo: Depression of Mandible by the Operator. •Handwritten with blue ink on reverse: Photo. 5. / (Frame 22).dental procedure, dental instrument, anaesthesia, anaesthetist, patient, geoffrey kaye

Black and white photograph of a demonstration of a dental procedure on a patient who is receiving anaesthesia. Dr Geoffrey Kaye, wearing a white gown, is holding the patient's jaw and is placing an instrument inside the patient's mouth. An anaesthetist's hands are supporting the patient's jaw and administering anaesthesia to the patient through an inhaler. The background of the photo has been covered with black ink so that only Dr Kaye, the patient, and the hands of the anaesthetist are visible.•Printed text in black ink on paper label glued under photo: It takes Two to support the Mandible. •Handwritten with blue ink on reverse and underlined: Photo. 6. / (Frame 23).dental procedure, dental instrument, anaesthesia, anaesthetist, patient, geoffrey kaye

Black and white photograph of a demonstration of a dental procedure on a patient who is receving anaesthesia. An anaesthetist standing on the right is supporting the patient's mandible and administering anaesthesia to the patient through an inhaler. A second person's hand is holding a mouth gag dental instrument in the patient's mouth. The background of the photo has been covered with black ink so that only the patient, anaesthetist and hand of the third person are visible.•Printed text in black ink on paper label glued under photo: Supporting the Mandible : the Anaesthetist's Stance. •Handwritten with blue ink on reverse: Photo. 7. / (Frame 22).dental procedure, anaesthesia, anaesthetist, patient

Black and white photograph of a demonstration of a dental procedure on a patient who is receiving anaesthesia. Dr Geoffrey Kaye, wearing a white gown, is holding the patient's mouth open with one hand and is holding medical equipment in the other. The anaesthetist's hands are supporting the patient's head and administering anaesthesia to the patient through an inhaler. The background of the photo has been covered with black ink so that only the anaesthetist's hands, Dr Kaye, and the patient are visible.•Printed text in black ink on paper label glued under photo: Opening Mouth without a Gag. •Handwritten with blue ink on reverse and underlined: Photo. 1.geoffrey kaye, anaesthesia, dental procedure, patient, anaesthetist

Black and white photograph of a demonstration of a dental procedure on a patient who is receiving anaesthesia. Dr Geoffrey Kaye, wearing a white gown, is inserting a mouth gag dental instrument into the patient's mouth. The anaesthetist's hands are supporting the patient's head and administering anaesthesia to the patient through an inhaler. The background of the photo has been covered with black ink so that only Dr Kaye, the patient, and hands of the anaesthetist are visible.•Printed text in black ink on paper label glued under photo: Inserting the Gag under Vision. •Handwritten with blue ink on reverse and underlined: Photo. 2.anaesthesia, dental procedure, anaesthetist, patient, geoffrey kaye

Dr Bernard Johnson was elected on December the 6th December 1952 as the Faculty's first honorary Fellow. At the time, Johnson was the Dean of the Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal College of Surgeons, England. He was invited to visit Australia to receive his award and in 1953 Johnson received his award and brought with him a notable gift being the local Dean's medal of office which was presented on behalf of the Royal College of Surgeons. Johnson had previously met with Ivan Jose and H.J. Daly by providing advice for the establishment of an Australasian Faculty. Johnson is a significant figure as a pioneer into intravenous anaesthesia into Great Britain. He then turned his attention to improving dental anaesthesia. Working with fellow colleagues R R Macintosh and W S McConnell, they established the ‘Mayfair Gas Company’, primarily for dental anaesthesia, but also provided anaesthesia for general surgery during honorary hospital sessions. Johnson participated in the development of the Faculty of Anaesthetists within the Royal College of Surgeons. A founding member of the Board of Faculty, he served as Vice-Dean and then was the second Dean (1952-5), a role which provided a seat on the council of the RCS England. A 9 carat gold [375] oval shaped Dean's Medal of the Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons secured onto a red coloured woven tape by two large gold links. Obverse depicts in coloured enamel secured onto base the RACS coat of arms and crest. Engraved around the sunken diameter are the Faculty and College names. The reverse side has the presentation details inscribed onto a plaque secured onto the main piece with three rivets with hallmarks on both the message plaque and the outer rim. The original red leather box is in poor condition. Printed on the inside silk cover are the maker's marks.[obverse] THE FACULTY OF ANAESTHETISTS / ROYAL AUSTRALASIAN COLLEGE OF SURGEONS [reverse] PRESENTED / BY THE DEAN / DR BERNARD JOHNSON / ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF / THE FACULTY OF ANAESTHETISTS / OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF / SURGEONS OF ENGLAND / AT THE INAUGURAL MEETING / 17th APRIL 1953 [hallmarks on reverse] GAS CO LTD 9 375 R Edinburgh? [black print on inside box cover] By appointment silversmiths to / THE LATE KING / GEORGE VI / THE [goldsmith's logo] / GOLDSMITHS & SILVERSMITHS / COMPANY LTD / CROWN JEWELLERS / incorporating GARRARD & CO / 112 REGENT STREET, LONDON W. I.dean medal, mayfair gas company, rcs england, johnson, bernard

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

Seems to be a non- collapsible mask. Otherwise is a similar, thinner variety of Murray's mask, which was used for the administration of choloroform. John Murray was born in England, 1843 and described his wire mask in 1868 as a young chloroformist at Middlesex Hospital. It was wedge-shaped and made of thick wire and designed to be folded. The removable cover was originally made of several layers of flannel. Murray’s mask became very popular, especially in Australia, and was generally used with a single layer of flannel without an aperture or opening, as is this example. John Murray was an enthusiastic and innovative physician who also had an interest in nitrous oxide anaesthesia and conducted a series of experiments with J. Burdon Sanderson on dental patients comparing nitrous oxide to pure nitrogen. His career was short-lived and he died just before his 30th birthday. (Ball, C 1995, 'Cover Note: Murray's Chloroform Mask', Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Vol. 23, No. 2, pg. 135)Triangular shaped wire mask covered by flannel. The flannel is sewn over frame and stitched around the base and along the vertical wire. The style and shape is similar to Murray's mask, which was used for the administration of chloroform, however this variation is not collapsible like Murray's mask.dr [e.s] holloway, mask, dr j. murray, chloroform

This photograph was reproduced in the book One Grand Chain : The History of Anaesthesia in Australia 1846 - 1962 : Volume 2 1934 - 1962, Gwen Wilson, edited by Jeanette Thirlwell Jones, on page 89.Black and white photograph depicting a dentist's office with a woman patient sitting in a chair receiving anaesthesia. Behind the chair is a fully gowned and masked anaesthetist operating a DM Machine with CIG oxygen cylinders. The male dentist is seated to the left of the patient holding equipment near the patient's mouth. A woman dental nurse is standing to the left of the dentist holding a suction tool.•Stamped in red ink on reverse: C.I.G. Equipment Pty. Ltd. •Handwritten in blue ink on reverse: CG13 •Handwritten in grey pencil on reverse: Dr H.N. Matthews / Essendon / Return to F Biggs •Handwritten in grey pencil on reverse: 6 [in a circle]dentist, anaesthetist, dental nurse, patient, cig, oxygen cylinder, shipway, dm machine

Black and white photograph of a demonstration of a dental procedure on a patient who is receiving anaesthesia. Dr Geoffrey Kaye, wearing a white gown, is inserting a mouth-pack into the patient's mouth. The anaesthetist's hands are supporting the patient's head and administering anaesthesia to the patient through an inhaler. A fourth person's hand is holding the patient's mouth open with a mouth gag dental instrument. The background of the photo has been covered with black ink so that only Dr Kaye, the patient, and the hands of the anaesthetist and the fourth person are visible.•Printed text in black ink on paper label glued under photo: Inserting the Mouth-Pack. •Handwritten with blue ink on reverse: Photograph 3. / (Frame 16).dental instrument, dental procedure, geoffrey kaye, anaesthesia, anaesthetist, patient

Black and white photograph of a demonstration of a dental procedure on a patient who has received anaesthsia. Dr Geoffrey Kaye, wearing a white gown, is holding a dental suction hose and metal medical tray under the patient's mouth, who is leaning over the tray. An anaesthetist is holding an inhaler over the patient's nose. The background of the photo has been covered with black ink so that only Dr Kaye, the patient, and anaesthetist are visible.•Printed text in black ink on paper label glued under photo: Management of Vomiting. •Handwritten with blue ink on reverse: Photo. 8. / (Frame 29).anaesthesia, anaesthetist, geoffrey kaye, dental procedure, patient

This photo album depicts a small period of time during 1919, and highlights some of the anaesthetic work conducted by Dr Rupert Hornabrook. There is no record as to the reason for the construction of the album, but it appears to offer insight into his work the Dental School, as well as experimentation with different types of anaesthetic agents, using himself as a test subject.Rupert Hornabrook was an early full-time anaesthetist in Australia. He helped to develop anaesthesia into a specialised field of medicine by conducting research into the way anaesthesia worked, and its effects on the body. This album is of historic significance as it not only documents a specific period in the professional life of a full-time anaesthetist in Australia, it also documents anaesthetic equipment, and the way it was used.Blue photograph album with vinyl wrapped heavy card cover. A three ringed binder is attached to the inside of the album and sixteen (16) photographs are inside, mounted on heavy card. Each photograph has a typed label on white paper in blue ink adhered to the front describing the events of the photograph. Photographs depict various administrations of ethyl chloride as anaesthesia and analgesia, with many photographs of Rupert Hornabrook.anaesthesia, anaesthesia history, medical history, dentistry, dental history, ethyl chloride, ether

Pale blue cardboard box with white (discoloured) and blue manufacturer's label adhered to front. Inside the box is a cardboard rest holding a glass syringe with metal point and hand grip. The plunger has a metal end, with a rubber or plastic plunge. The manufacturer's label records it as a Record type hypodermic syringe, an Everett Product, and distributed by the Amalgamated Dental Co Ltd of Melbourne and Sydney. Additional information on the label suggests it have been marketed as The Laminex.medicine, anaesthesia, hospital

Sectioned by Dr. Geoffrey Kaye in 1946.Cross-sectioned silver metal dental syringe, which injects at a high pressure of c.10 atmospheres. It was used for raising intradermal wheals, injecting the cranial foramina and infiltrating fibrous tissues. Hand-written inscription on barrel. "DENTAL SYRINGE/G Kaye sect. 1946"anaesthesia, dentistry, dental

An Austox "Dental and Midwifery" (D-M) Machine on a stand with castors. The machine has attached black corrugated tubing with masks to go over the nose and mouth. There are two white, circular chambers on either side of the machine into which oxygen and nitrous oxide respectively were piped.anaesthesia, midwifery, dentistry, nitrous oxide, oxygen gas, oxygen

The Austox "Dental and Midwifery" (D-M) machine has been sectioned for teaching purposes. Namely, one of the two white, circular chambers on either side of the machine has been sectioned to show the tambour inside, as has the central valve and one of a connection point below the chamber on the left. The two chambers are connected to the central pole by thin metal tubes and are attached with metal framing.anaesthesia, dentistry, midwifery, nitrous oxide, oxygen, oxygen gas, sectioned, sectioning

The De Ford Inhaler was introduced in 1913 and was designed to allow anaesthesia to continue through the nose while dental surgery was happening.This inhaler is composed of metal and rubber. The oral mask and rubber covered nasal mask are connected to a curved rubber covered support that was placed on the patient's forehead to hold the inhaler in place. The gas was administered via a long tube; the terminus designed to allow for the placement of a vial containing the anaesthetic drug and a rebreather bag mount. Inscribed on the back of the mouth inhaler: 'Dr De Ford's Universal Inhaler for Somniform Nitrous Oxide etc. E. De Trey & Sons Phila. PA U.S. Pat. Pending.'anesthesia, dentistry, somniform, surgery, medical instrument, de ford, 1913, e de trey and sons, vial, rebreathr bag mount, inhaler

This gas anaesthesia machine comprises a four yolk manifold, two circular metal components for nitrous oxide and two for oxygen. It is mounted atop a four pointed stand on casters for portability. In addition to reducing valves and regulators, the main stand also supports a cream-coloured, cylindrical Austox fractional rebreather and an ether vaporiser with variable bypass control within a circular glass container. portable, anaesthesia, midwifery, dentistry, obstetrics, oxygen, nitrous oxide, commonwealth industrial gases ltd, cig, austox fractional rebreather, ether vaporiser, variable bypass control, 1950

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

Topacain is a surface contact anaesthetic for dental procedures. This object would have been used for dentistry procedures.A kit, containing a brass cartridge syringe with three cartridges. One cartridge [with red and white label lettering], contains eleven hypodermic needles. A second cartridge is labelled "Topacain".anaesthesia

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