Replica of original glass ether inhaler used by Dr William Russ Pugh in Launceston in 1847. William Russ Pugh is credited with being the first person in Australia to administer ether as anaesthesia. Pugh created his own ether inhaler based on a report in the London Illustrated News, dated January 1847. The paper reached Pugh in May and by June he had already designed, made and used the ether inhaler. On 7 June 1847 he performed two surgeries using anaesthesia. He also had a journalist present to record the event.The main container comprises an inverted funnel shaped glass jar that is connected to the top glass globe via an etched glass valve. Sea sponges are located within the glass vessel and the woven cloth tube is connected to the base of the glass container. inhaler, anaesthesia, william russ pugh, replica, glass, sea sponge, ether, launceston, illustrated london news, lady howden, dr john belisario, dr gwen wilson