The object has been identified as a vaginal (douche) irrigator. The glass tube is similar in appearance, however, to one of the four types of Brewer's glass cannula used in direct blood transfusion. (Reference Down Bros, page 958A)Mary Howlett (1840-1922) began practising as a country midwife in 1866 in the western district of Victoria. She qualified as a 'ladies monthly nurse' in 1887 and continued to practise as a nurse and midwife until 1920.She began her six months training at the Melbourne Lying-In Hospital. She was known by many as 'Auntie', and her career spanned more than 50 years. Mrs Howlett's midwifery box and contents were given to Dr Frank Forster, and he donated them to the museum collection in 1993.Glass tube, which functions as a vaginal irrigator. There is a curve in the tube, and it gets wider at proximal (far) end. The distal (near) end is round and blunt for attachment to rubber tubing.irrigation, midwifery

This douche, with the manufacturers object description of "heisswasserspulungen" which translates as healing water douche, came from the Edward Rowden White Estate. The heisswasserpular designed by Dr Walzer-Frank was used as a vaginal douche by attaching a rubber hose to the glass connector which was then inserted into the vagina. Acquired from Dr Harold Attwood, the Curator of the Medical History Unit, University of Melbourne, 2 April 1996. In a letter to Geoff Bishop ... " I think they are best held in your collection rather than here." (see accession file)Transferred from the collection of the Medical Unit (Brownless Medical Museum) University of Melbourne, from the Sir Edward Rowden White Estate. Sir Edward (1884-1958) was a Foundation Fellow of the Australian Regional Council of RCOG and was the first Chairman of the Arthur Wilson Foundation, and created (with his brother) the EA Rowden White and Edward R White Foundation for Medical Research at the Royal Women's Hospital in 1955. Black bakelite bulb with glass douche nozzle and irrigator connections at each end. Stored in original box. Handwritten in blue pencil on side of box: "Vaginal Douche".vaginal irrigation

Artefact may have been used for enema or vaginal irrigation. Mary Howlett (1840-1922) began practising as a country midwife in 1866 in the western district of Victoria. She qualified as a 'ladies monthly nurse' in 1887 and continued to practise as a nurse and midwife until 1920.She began her six months training at the Melbourne Lying-In Hospital. She was known by many as 'Auntie', and her career spanned more than 50 years. Mrs Howlett's midwifery box and contents were given to Dr Frank Forster, and he donated them to the museum collection in 1993.Black bakelite irrigator, resembling a test tube in shape. The irrigator has four entries, a connecting bridge and serrated edged flange. Stopcock attachment and tubing are missing.irrigation, midwifery

This item may have been used for enema or vaginal irrigation. Mary Howlett (1840-1922) began practising as a country midwife in 1866 in the western district of Victoria. She qualified as a 'ladies monthly nurse' in 1887 and continued to practise as a nurse and midwife until 1920.She began her six months training at the Melbourne Lying-In Hospital. She was known by many as 'Auntie', and her career spanned more than 50 years. Mrs Howlett's midwifery box and contents were given to Dr Frank Forster, and he donated them to the museum collection in 1993.Black bakelite nozzle with one entry. irrigation, midwifery

Perforated canister was used for the intravaginal application of perfumes and medical creams. Very similar to a vaginal douche pipe.A black bakelite cone shaped instrument with perforations.irrigation

This nozzle could be attached to a Higginson's syringe for either rectal administration of fluid or to irrigate the vagina. The nozzle could also possibly be inserted into a trocar or canula.Mary Howlett (1840-1922) began practising as a country midwife in 1866 in the western district of Victoria. She qualified as a 'ladies monthly nurse' in 1887 and continued to practise as a nurse and midwife until 1920.She began her six months training at the Melbourne Lying-In Hospital. She was known by many as 'Auntie', and her career spanned more than 50 years. Mrs Howlett's midwifery box and contents were given to Dr Frank Forster, and he donated them to the museum collection in 1993.Irrigator nozzle for vaginal or rectal use. Nozzle has a small flange at the distal end with four small bevel lines. midwifery

These are parts of a vaginal douch apparatus set. The apparatus appears to be a T More-Madden model, as used at the Rotunda Hospital, Ireland.Mary Howlett (1840-1922) began practising as a country midwife in 1866 in the western district of Victoria. She qualified as a 'ladies monthly nurse' in 1887 and continued to practise as a nurse and midwife until 1920.She began her six months training at the Melbourne Lying-In Hospital. She was known by many as 'Auntie', and her career spanned more than 50 years. Mrs Howlett's midwifery box and contents were given to Dr Frank Forster, and he donated them to the museum collection in 1993.Black vulcanite bridge attachment (.1) and irrigator (.2). The bridge would attach to the rubber tubing of the set and a lead sinker, The bridge would attach to a stopcock at the proximal end of the set.midwifery

The vaginal syringe, also known as a female syringe, was introduced in the early 1900s and was in use until the late 1940s when it was replaced by the glass douche nozzle. (Thackray, 'Midwifery & Gynaecological Instruments, (M)463, p. 264.)Mary Howlett (1840-1922) began practising as a country midwife in 1866 in the western district of Victoria. She qualified as a 'ladies monthly nurse' in 1887 and continued to practise as a nurse and midwife until 1920. She began her six months training at the Melbourne Lying-In Hospital. She was known by many as 'Auntie', and her career spanned more than 50 years. Mrs Howlett's midwifery box and contents were given to Dr Frank Forster, and he donated them to the museum collection in 1993. Vaginal syringe with glass barrel and plunger and a cork bung. Fluid capacity of syringe 60-90 mls. Cotton thread is woven tightly around the end of the plunger. There are five holes in the end of the glass barrel.midwifery

This douche syringe was in the collection of Dr Frank Forster.Douche syringe consisting of a hollow bakelite rod with a red rubber bulb. Imprinted in black, "CORONET GUARANTEED", "ENGLISH MADE".irrigation