Metalsigmoidoscope

This item was used before the flexible sigmoidoscope (1996) and before the introduction of fibre optics late 1900s. The 1900s saw an incredible leap forward in the field of medical procedures. The ability to visually see what was happening within the human body (in real time) provided greater analysis about certain biological abnormalities during a greater time elapse than before. This procedure involved less trauma to the patient and greater flexibility to the Physician in treatment schemes. The rigid signoidscope, however provided the first visual of the colon in situ, but was highly invasive to the patient.This item was used in the Mount Beauty Hospital for qualified Physicians to use in their diagnostic evaluation of patients. This would not be an instrument used by a General Physician. This item is still a internal observatory method which may, in some instances, cause some minor complications. This item does point to the level of medical diagnostics, equivalent to those available in larger towns and cities, which brings this rural area (once considered to be an isolated region) to a higher level of medical care.This rigid 35 cm long sigmoidoscope (internal probe) is made of stainless steel outer hollowed rounded rod, which permits the use of both a fixed (very thin) lighting rod and two flexible cord lights access. Both the lighting rod and the flexible lights can be lowered within the main rod to allow the physician to see the colon at the bottom of the rod.These items are all contained within a specifically inlaid wooden box. The box has separate open compartments for the main instruments and a small lidded compartment containing replacement light bulbs. The hollowed tube permits the physician to visually observe the signoid (an S shaped part) of the colon.On the stainless steel main rod body are engraved the lengths of the body,in centimetres ,with numbers starting at the five centimeter mark and then every five centimetres up to the thirty centimetre mark. On the front inside rim of the box are two inlaid white plastic strips with black print, "ALLEN & HANBURYS Ltd" and the other "LONDON"medical diagnostics, sigmoidoscope examinations, medical examinations, hospital equipment

Shelf One – North End of Isolation Ward  1 x slipper enamel bedpan  1 x enamel pan with spout  1 x stainless steel bedpan  1 x stainless steel urinal  2 x ceramic urinals  1 x ceramic bowl Shelf Two – North end of Isolation Ward  1 x small enamel kidney dish  2 x slipper ceramic bedpans  1 x enamel wash-bowl & jug Shelf Three – North end of Isolation Ward  1 X dry Steriliser Shelf Four – North end of Isolation Ward  1 X steam Steriliser Shelf One – South end of Isolation Ward  1 x nurse’s dictionary  Domestic Medical Practice Book  Doctor and Specialist Book  Aids to Gynaecological Nursing Book  Foundations of Anatomy & Physiology Book  2 x thermometers  1 x stainless steel swab bowl  1 x ophthalmoscope  1 x stainless bowl & bandages  1 x scissors/ tweezers kit  1 x large operating scissors & 1 x operating tweezers  1 x camode pot  1 x sigmoidoscope  3 x plessors Shelf Two – South end of Isolation Ward  1 x ceramic jug  Kaarimba Ladies Auxiliary History of Num. Dist. Health  Nursing Certificates & Notebooks – Winifred Smith Shelf Three – South end of Isolation Ward  Nursing Certificates & Notebooks – Winifred Smith Shelf Four – South end of Isolation Ward  1 x white enamel bucket  1 x enamel bowl Glass Cabinet:  Premature Babies Book  Handbook of Paediatrics  Various health brochures  1 x enamel potty, dry liners, nappy pins  1 x infant welfare leather case  2 x breast pump  2 x dippers Medical Items placed around the room  1 x kidney dish with syringes & bandage  1 x stethoscope  1 x catheters  1 x oxygen tubing  1 x hospital bed (pre-dates 1950’s eg from local private hospital)  1 x operating table and 1 x theatre stool (original Numurkah Hospital 1950’s)  1 x heart table  1 x dental chair, mouthwash dish & stand  3 x wooden crutches  1 x early dentist chair  1 x Infant Welfare Centre sign hospital, medical equipment