Incubator, neonatal

424.JPG

424.JPG

From the Collection of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists

Description

Neonatal incubator, "Glenleigh", made and used, late 1950s- early 1960s. The four side laminated panels as well as bottom panel are possibly made of asbestos fibreboard,. Each panel is sealed with polished aluminium strips, and has a metal handrail.The incubator is mounted on four castors made by "Shepherd USA'. On the front panel is a bakerlite dial and a bakerlite switch. The item is incomplete: the cover, probably glass, is missing. Inside the unit is an old calico infant's mattress.There are two name plates on the front panel; “Australia/ Victor Watson/Limited/ New Zealand” and "Glenleigh/ Baby Incubator/ Aeronautical & Industrial Lighting Co/ 677-9 North Road Carnegie”.

Links

Rare incubator acquired Article in O+G magazine. Spring 2013.

Object Registration

424

Historical information

This item was purchased at Leski's, Melbourne, Medical collection auction, 8 May 2013. The incubator was part of a rare collection of medical, dental and pharmaceutical objects belonging to a tourism business, Kryal Castle, near Ballarat, Victoria from 1974. At some point,apparently, an officer manager discarded the museum records, so the provenance of the neonatal incubator, and many other items in the Leski auction, has been lost.

When Made

late 1950s- early 1960s

Made By

Australia/ tVictor Watson/Limited/ New Zealand”

Inscriptions & Markings

Australia/ Victor Watson/Limited/ New Zealand”
"Glenleigh/ Baby Incubator/ Aeronautical & Industrial Lighting Co/ 677-9 North Road Carnegie”.
Castors::"Shepherd USA'

Last updated

3 Mar 2017 at 10:11AM

Surgeon's Operating Apron

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Surgeon's operating apron [oiled silk]

Significance

Part of a collection of unknown provenance donated by Frank Forster

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Nozzel, irrigator

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Irrigator nozzle for virginal or rectal use, bakerlite, has a small flange at the distal end with four small beval lines, hollow. The nozzle could possibly be attached to a Higginson's syringe and inserted int a trocar and cannular.

Historical information

Frank Forster collection.

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Irrigator, virginal

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Vaginal irrigator, glass tube, slightly wider at proximal (viginal ) end, the distal end is round and blunt for attachment to rubber tubing.

Historical information

The object has been identified as a viginal (douche) irrigator. However the glass tube is similar in appearance to one of the four types of Brewer's glass cannular used in direct blood transfusion. Reference Down Bros, page 958A

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Canula

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

canula, glass or eye dropper finely tapered at one end and at the other is the open ended bulb.

Historical information

Used to either irrigate the eye, instill medicated drops or other uses such as for wound irrigation or the evacuation of fluid under the skin, canula's or eye droppers as they are commonly called were used both in homes and hospitals during the late 1880s and the early 1900s and were commonly available at Chemists.

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Valve

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Valve, small, glass,some sort of connector,possibly for a syringe or a cannula.

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Insufflator/Applicator

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

White metal applicator probably made from nickel plate consists of watch spring attached to a piston and phlange which was attached to a glass tube mounted on black vulcanite by metal connections of various sizes.

Historical information

This appliance can used in two different ways: externally to spray antiseptic mist on to the skin or internally on the back of the throat. Insufflator is the clinical term for spraying and applicator is the clinical term for the application of medical topical powders or liquids. This was used by the midwife in the care of mother and newborn babies.

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Pessary, Eyeglass

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Pessary, black vulcanite, "eyeglass", stem style, small size.

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Pessary, Thomas

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Pessary, black vulcanite, Thomas retroflexion, small size.

Historical information

Tiemann & Co Surgical Instruments catalogue.1989. page 486.]

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Pessary, Hodges

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Pessary, black vulcanite, Hodges, single curve.

Historical information

his type of pessary was often used for uterine malpositions and displacements and usually made from vulcanite. This particular object is known as Hodges moulded pessary. [Source: George Tiemann & Co Surgical Instruments catalogue.1989. page 486.]

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Pessary, Hodges

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Pessary, black vulcanite, Hodges, large size.

Historical information

his type of pessary was often used for uterine malpositions and displacements and usually made from vulcanite. This particular object is known as Hodges moulded pessary. [Source: George Tiemann & Co Surgical Instruments catalogue.1989. page 486.]

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Pessary, Hodges

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Pessary, black vulcanite, Hodges, irregular shape, moulded, medium size. "I.T.A.Y." inscribed on upper curve

Historical information

This type of pessary was often used for uterine malpositions and displacements and usually made from vulcanite. This particular object is known as Hodges moulded pessary. [Source: George Tiemann & Co Surgical Instruments catalogue.1989. page 486.]

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Speculum, rectal

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Wooden case and introducer with "Galante" inscribed on lower side of case and "2" near the top of the case.

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Breast pump

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Glass breast pump with brass screw attachment and remnants of rubber pump.

Historical information

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. Mrs Howlett's midwifery box and contents were given to Dr Frank Forster and he donated to the museum collection in the 1993. A related item held in the collection is Mrs Howlett's linen apron donated by Patricia Thompson in 1993.

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Container, base, for bath thermometer

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Container, base, for bath thermometer, cyclindrical, tin with copper lining, 31cm in length.[bath thermometer missing].

Historical information

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. Mrs Howlett's midwifery box and contents were given to Dr Frank Forster and he donated to the museum collection in the 1993. A related item held in the collection is Mrs Howlett's linen apron donated by Patricia Thompson in 1993.

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Cotton bandages

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Cotton bandages in four different sizes

Historical information

The two narrow bandages, on and a quarter to one and a half inch would have been used to cover hand and finger dressings. The two larger bandages, one and a half and to two inch would have been used for arm and foot dressings and applied in a figure of eight. [Helen Johnson, 1998]

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Test tube and case

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Glass test tube with a thin glass lip in original cylinder cardboard case.

Historical information

This type of test tube would have been used to collect blood or other bodily fluids such as urine.

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Regulator, intravenous drip

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Regulator, glass, part of intravenous drip.

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Photograph

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Photograph, sepia, Mrs Mary Howlett, midwife, formal studio portrait, studio stamp "Johstone O'Shannessy & Co." Inscribed on verso, probably by Dr Frank Forster, "MRS MARY LIVINGSTONE/ HOWLETT".

Historical information

This paper was read on 14 June 1965 by Dr Frank Forster at a meeting of the section of Medical History, Victorian branch, Australian Medical Association, according to Ann Tovell, who worked at the AMA and in association with Frank. It was likely that Frank Forster acquired the midwifery box belonging to Mrs Mary Howlett at the former Eastern market that was located on the corner of Bourke and Russell Streets up to the early 1960s.

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Transcript, lecture.

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Lecture transcript, titled, "Mrs Howlett and Dr Jenkins: Listerism, and early Midwifery practice in Australia by Dr Frank Forster. Lecture given 14 June 1965.

Historical information

This paper was read on 14 June 1965 by Dr Frank Forster at a meeting of the section of Medical History, Victorian branch, Australian Medical Association, according to Ann Tovell, who worked at the AMA and in association with Frank. It was likely that Frank Forster acquired the midwifery box belonging to Mrs Mary Howlett at the former Eastern market that was located on the corner of Bourke and Russell Streets up to the early 1960s.

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Diary

Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists,

Personal diary, small navy blue hard cover bound diary"1940" in gold lettering on front cover. Inscription on front page, "F.J. Browne/ 8 Downing Street/ Cambridge". The diary entries finish on 1 June 1940.

Historical information

Personal diary of Dr F.J Browne used in 1940. Donated by Grace Cuthbert Browne, wife of Dr Brown.

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