Significance

This is an early example of the Boyle's Anaesthetic Machine which was to become widely used throughout the world. The plaque on the wooden plinth suggests it was a display model from the medical equipment distributor Charles A King of London.

Physical description

The gas anaesthesia apparatus is mounted to a rectangular wooden base. It comprises two long, vertical glass cylinders held in place with metal brackets which are connected to a glass chloroform vaporiser container via metal tubes and associated valves and connections. The bottom of the glass flasks have outlet connections and inscriptions on the glass to measure volume. The chloroform vaporiser and adjacent glass ether vaporiser also have volume measurements etched on the glass, and the latter is the same height as the former but is larger in diameter. Both are connected via metal tubes and include outlet pipes that have associated cork stoppers. The maker's details are provided on a brass plaque attached to thewooden platform.

Inscriptions & markings

A. Charles King Ltd. London, W1.