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'

The main component of the nitrous oxide gasometer is a metal urn-shaped chamber form which an outlet valve and circular moulded tap allows for the flow of gas. A frame sits atop the chamber and comprises ornately-decorated metal flourishes and three anchoring pipes, two attached to each side of the chamber and one attached to the centre of the lid. The gasometer sits atop an ornately decorated cast iron stand with a circular base.gasometer, nitrous oxide, storage, anaesthesia, dentistry, chloroform, ether

Large unused diamond shaped Austox label made for use on nitrous oxide cylinders. Dark purple, violet and white background, with white, violet and red lettering.Information printed on label: SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR MEDICAL USES. / AUSTOX [logo] / NITROUS OXIDE / KEEP COOL / WEIGHTS: / GROSS..........LBS. ........OZS. / TARE.......... LBS. ........OZS. / NET..........LBS. ........OZS. / Contents Imp. Gallons / WARNING. - Great caution must be exercised to prevent any oil entering the cylinder, or being applied to the valve or fittings. The use of oil may lead to a dangerous explosion. / AUSTRALIAN OXYGEN / AND / INDUSTRIAL GASES / PTY. LTD. / MELBOURNElabel, cylinder, austox, australian oxygen and industrial gases pty ltd, nitrous oxide

Black and white photograph of a drawing of anaesthetic equipment, a flowmeter and an ether vaporiser. On the right is the ether vaporiser inside a glass cylinder, with a control tap on top of it. It is attached to a metal cylinder which houses the flowmeter which is measuring the Oxygen and Nitrous Oxide. There is a round Oxygen control and a Nitrous Oxide control attached underneath the metal cylinder, as well as an Oxygen Bypass and a Nitrous Oxide Bypass. The diagram has each part of the apparatus named with an arrow pointing to the parts.ether vaporiser, anaesthetic equipment, flowmeter, nitrous oxide, oxygen

Possibly part of a series of photographs taken at the Geoffrey Kaye Museum when it was located at the University of Melbourne in the late 1940s.Black and white photograph depicting six male figures standing around a c1870 nitrous oxide gasometer. The second man from the right is holding and pointing to an inhaler connected to the gasometer, demonstrating it to the dental students.•Handwritten in blue ink on reverse and underlined: Frame 11. •Handwritten in grey pencil on reverse: 12. [11 has been crossed out.] •Handwritten in blue ink on reverse: 5 (i) (c). •Black paper label which has separated from the photograph, written in white ink: A GASOMETER (C.1870) IS DEMONSTRATED TO DENTAL STUDENTSdental students, gasometer, nitrous oxide

Black and white photograph depicting a labour ward in a hospital, with two men in business suits standing on the left of the photograph next to an nitrous oxide machine. A woman patient is lying in a hospital bed on the right, wearing a hospital gown and holding the mouth-piece of the apparatus to her face. The two men are looking down at the equipment and the man on the left, Dr Kevin McCaul, is pointing at the patient, demonstrating the use of the demand flow nitrous oxide/oxygen apparatus. A lamp is above the bed and there are curtains behind the men on the left.•Handwritten on reverse in grey pencil: 1 [in a circle] •Printed stamp in blue ink on reverse: 51 4776 / PHOTOGRAPHED BY SPECIALIZED / PHOTOGRAPHIC / COMPANY PTY. LTD. / REF. No .................... 240 CHAPEL STREET / TAKE ........................ PRAHRAN, VICT., S1 / PHONE 51 4776 / 51 1752 •Handwritten in black ink on reverse: 4874 [next to REF. No] / D [next to TAKE]nitrous oxide apparatus, demand flow apparatus, kevin mccaul, anaesthetic equipment

Black and white photograph of the head of a portable Foregger "Metric" Gas Anaesthesia Apparatus. The apparatus has glass flowmeters and controls for fine and coarse oxygen, cyclopropane, nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide. There is also an ether container and a blood pressure nanometer.•Handwritten in grey pencil on reverse: Dr. Desai's Special Metric •Handwritten in black ink on reverse: III. •Handwritten in grey pencil on reverse: dvpd.anaesthetic equipment, anaesthetic machine, flowmeter, foregger metric gas anaesthesia apparatus, oxygen, nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, cyclopropane

Francis Percival de Caux invented this endotracheal tube which was devised for use during nitrous oxide/oxygen anaesthesia. Though he wasn't the first to use a two-tube method of anaesthesia, de Caux's invention was particularly effective; in 1930 he reported having given 20,868 nitrous oxide/oxygen anaesthetics in a four year period without a fatality. A long flexible metal tube formed from tightly wound metal with a small bulbous introducer at the distal end. The tube is mostly encased in a metal and rubber sheath. The proximal end has a finger ring and screw clamp.endotracheal, de caux, airway, nitrous oxide, anaesthesia

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

Black and white photograph of a Boyle's anaesthetic machine. The light-coloured metal frame on castors has a metal top with a flowmeter attached to the top, and there is one drawer at the bottom of the trolley. One side of the trolley has two vaporisers connected to two corrugated tubes with a facemask. An oxygen cylinder and two nitrous oxide cylinders are on the other side of the machine along with a small cyclopropane cylinder.anaesthetic equipment, boyle's machine, anaesthetic machine, nitrous oxide, oxygen, flowmeter

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 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

When Hewitt introduced his regulating stopcock in 1887, attempts were made to dilute the nitrous oxide with air and so obviate the element of asphyxiation. The method was to be seen in London, mainly in dentistry and minor surgery, so late as 1930. It was not very successful. To give even 10% of oxygen (which is not enough) the gas-mixture must contain 55% of air and 45% of nitrous oxide. The latter is thus so diluted by atmospheric nitrogen as to be incapable of producing anaesthesia except by asphyxiation. "Gas-air" was confined to analgesia, for example in midwifery. (Source: Penn catalogue)Brown leather facemask attached to metal inhaler and stopcock device that has been sectioned to reveal its inner workings. The various exposed channels have been painted either green, red, blue or purple.Engraved into side of stopcock: HEWITT'S / N20-02 / 1895 / G. Kaye sect. 1952. •Stamped into other side of stopcock: [indecipherable] BARTH & CO. / SOLE MAKERS / 54. POLAND STREET LONDON.W.frederic hewitt, stopcock, nitrous oxide, oxygen, gas-air

This is a modified version of the original Clover inhaler. Joseph Thomas Clover preferred this modified version over his later, portable regulating ether inhaler.This modified Clover's ether and chloroform inhaler is composed of metal and is cylindrical in shape. There is a gas distribution control key on the top and a metal hook enables the operator to hang the vaporiser from a strap around his/her neck. Stamped on top tap: COEXETER LONDONjoseph thomas clover, inhaler, ether, anaesthetic, portable, nitrous oxide, modified, gas, coexeter london, chloroform, rebreather bag, face mask

This Boyle’s machine was made by the British Oxygen Company (BOC) in the 1950’s. The original Boyle's machine was invented by the British anaesthetist, Henry Boyle in 1917. His machine was a modification of the American Gwathmey apparatus of 1912, and became the best known early continuous flow anaesthetic machine. The Boyle’s machine was first made by Coxeter and Sons, under the direction of Lord George Wellesly, which was later acquired by the British Oxygen Company (BOC). Though a lot of changes have been made to the original design of the Boyle’s machine, the basic structure remains the same today.Green trolley on casters with flowmeter and vaporiser bottles attached to a stainless cross bar. There is a glass shelf at top of the trolley and a second glass shelf at base of trolley, above a pull out drawer. The pull out drawer contains 4 x black rubber masks, 3 x black rubber tubing connectors, 4 x seals, 1 a black corrugated rubber hose with red rebreather bag, red tube and masonite support board.Tin plate attached to upper portion of trolley: THE / BOYLE / apparatus / BY THE BRITISH OXYGEN CO. LTD.henry boyle, anaesthetic machine, gas, oxygen, flowmeter, nitrous oxide, british oxygen company, boc, coxeter and sons

Dr. Joseph Clover (1825-1882), an English physician, first described his Portable Regulating Ether Inhaler on Jan. 20, 1877. Clover was an especially sought after anesthesiologist and early pioneer in the specialty. This was the best-known of many inhalers that Clover designed. The dome-shaped reservoir was turned to points on a control dial to gradually increase or decrease the percentage of the air that passed over the ether. Several inventors based new inhalers on this, while the original continued to be manufactured as late as the beginning of WWII. Clover, to spare the patient the unpleasantness of induction with his "closed" inhaler (1877), suggested the "mitigated-ether" technique. The inhaler was fitted with a bypass tap for the reception of N2O. The bag was filled with the gas and anaesthesia was inducted a combination of N2O and asphyxiation. Ether was then admitted gradually by rotation of the bowl of the inhaler. When the patient had been duly "weaned over" to ether, the mask was lifted, the N2O allowed to escape, the bag refilled with exhaled air, and normal anaesthesia "a la Clover's inhaler" was continued.Metal domed chamber with a bulb attachment for rebreather bag, including a tap mechanism. Remnants of the paper rebreather bag are attached to the bulb. At the other end is a yellow facemask made of plastic (probably celluloid). The manufacturer's logo has been moulded into the dome of the chamber.Manufacturer's logo: THE HOLBORN / SURGICAL INSTRUMENT CO. LTD. / LONDON •Blue sticker with white writing: O.2.4.joseph clover, mitigated-ether, nitrous oxide, n2o, closed method

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

Black and white photograph of an anaesthetic machine, likely to be a portable Foregger anaesthesia apparatus. Flowmeters with glass cylinders including Oxygen and Nitrous Oxide sit on a metal benchtop of a trolley with two drawers. A glass vaporiser is attached undernath the metal benchtop and there are metal valves attached on either side of the benchtop.anaesthetic apparatus, anaesthetic machine, foregger anaesthesia apparatus, flowmeter

Sir Frederick William Hewitt was a great advocate of nitrous oxide anaesthesia, mainly for short procedures. In 1885, he reviewed the methods of administration and concluded that accurately fitting valves were essential at the commencement of the inhalation, in order to ensure the rapid washout of air from the lungs; and there was a distinct advantage in allowing some rebreathing of nitrous oxide towards the end of inhalation. He thus devised the stopcock. The stopcock consists of a cylinder with two rotating sleeves and two rubber flap valves. The arrangement allows air to be breathed either through the valves or rebreathed to and from the bag; nitrous oxide to be breathed either through the valves from the bag and out to the atmosphere or rebreathed to and from the bag. Soon after the introduction of this stopcock, there was an increased interest in administering oxygen in combination with nitrous oxide.Amber coloured ether inhaler, with leather mask, celluloid shield and inflatable cushion with attached Hewitt's stopcock.hewitt, stopcock, celluloid, ether, inhaler, mask, rebreathing

The McKesson Nargraf anaesthetic record was introduced in 1930, created by Dr Elmer I. McKesson.Black and white photograph of a drawing of the head of a McKesson Nargraf anaesthetic record, Model H. The view is from the top looking down onto the machine. There are two pressure gauges on either side of the round central component, with controls for oxygen, nitrous oxide, ethylene and carbon dioxide. A circular vaporiser for Ether is also attached to the machine.The recorder on the top of the photograph has a chart attached to it with written details.anaesthetic equipment, mckesson nargraf anaesthetic record, oxygen, ether

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

Chloroethane, commonly known by its old name ethyl chloride, is a chemical compound with chemical formula CH3CH2Cl, once widely used in producing tetraethyllead, a gasoline additive. It is a colorless, flammable gas or refrigerated liquid with a faintly sweet odor. Originally, it was proposed as a general anaesthetic, filling the gap between the weaker narcotic nitrous oxide and the more powerful drugs ether and chloroform. 8670.1 - Dark blue cardboard lid. 8670.2 - Dark Blue cardboard box. 8670.3 - Cotton ball padding. 8670.4 - Semi circle cardboard. 8670.5 - Small rectangular boxes (2) placed either side of the top of the cylinder. 8670.6 - Glass cylinder with metal fitting. 8670.7 - Paper label on cylinder.- 100 c.c./- MEDCO./- 3 1/2 fl. oz./- ETHYL CHLORIDE./- Pure./- This conforms to all the requirements of the BRITISH PHARMACOPOEIA. 1932./- LOCAL ANAESTHESIA/- MEDICINAL CHEMICALS CORPOATION LIMITED. SYDNEY.

Dr Thomas Small designed this ether anaesthesia and analgesia machine while he was an Honorary Medical Officer at the Royal Women's Hospital in Sydney during the 1930s. The inhaler is compact and portable. Initially, Small experimented with other agents for the relief of labour pain but was not happy with any of them. He also tried various agents on himself, including nitrous oxide/oxygen, chloroform and ethyl chloride. Finally he settled on ether via a Clover inhaler as the best analgesic. This inhaler is only described in use in Australia and New Zealand, although it was used for almost 40 years. Black leather box with leather handle, lockable latches on either side and drop down front case panel containing a metal ether inhaler and length of black corrugated rubber hose with one end attached to the inhaler and the other end open for attaching a mask. The metal inhaler drum is circular and attached to the floor of the case with a small tap/lever to one side and a mixing valve on the top near the hose connection. The lever has incised gradings of quarter increments from 0 to 1. The box is designed for the ether inhaler to be portable.ether, small, thomas, analgesia, obstetrics, anaesthesia, anaesthetic, royal women's, sydney, queen victoria, melbourne

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