In 1913, Mark Cowley Lidwill designed a machine for the purpose of mechanical or insufflation anaesthesia. The Lidwill machine was a portable machine weighing 7kg that could easily be packed into two small bags. The machine involved compressed air being delivered to an ether vaporiser. An ether/air control device allowed varying concentrations of ether to be delivered. The ether vaporiser could be immersed in hot water to prevent cooling and the ether temperature was measured. From the vaporiser, the ether/air mixture went through a trap bottle, then to a crude mercury blow-off valve and subsequently to the patient.Large leather suitcase style bag divided into two levels containing and insufflation anaesthesia machine.insufflation, mark cowley lidwill, thoracic surgery, positive pressure

Illustrated textbook with red binding and black printnon-fictionAn historic textbook for student and post graduate nurses on the essential points of nursing patients with diseases of the chestnursing, medical equiptment, thoracic surgery

suction regulating deviceOf significance to AHNL as similar to equipment used by nursesLarge glass test tube, with rubber stopper with two holes in top. Through one hole is inserted a long hollow glass tube, through the other hole is inserted a plastic y connector. On one arm of y connector is a short length of orange rubber tubbing, to the other end of this tubing is another larger y connection, with another short length of orange rubber tubing, with a metal clamp attached to bottom. The test-tube is attached to a varnished wooden board by two metal brackets. At the base of the test tube is a small wooden shelf for protection. On this backboard is a marked gradient of 60 cms. Two instruction diagrams are attached. Old catalogue numbermedical equipment, surgical drainage, suction regulator, thoracic surgery