Historical information

Recognising that warmed ether was less irritating to the airway and patients receiving it were less likely to experience shock, Francis Shipway developed the Shipway's apparatus which was used during World War 1 and continued to be used through to World War 2. Reduction of shock for patients who had experienced trauma was crucial to their later recovery, particularly during war times. This example of the Shipway's apparatus also has the facility for administering chloroform.

Physical description

A triangular metal stand with two glass jars sitting in a metal tub and a green metal jar that looks like a thermos, also sitting in a metal tub. A metal pole has been screwed into the centre point of the stand, with a circular top to act as a handle. One of the jars has a rubber stopper in the neck with metal tubing attached to the stopper. The other glass jar has a metal screw top with a dropper spout. The two glass jars are connected via red rubber tubing. The apparatus has been sectioned in parts to show the inner mechanisms.

Inscriptions & markings

Typed in black ink on white paper and adhered to metal bath: SHIPWAY'S APPARATUS
•Typed in black ink on white paper and adhered to metal bath: ETHER VAPORISER
•Typed in black ink on white paper and adhered to metal bath: THERMOS WITH HOT WATER
•Typed in black ink on white paper and adhered to glass bottle: CHLOROFORM VAPORIZER
•Typed in black ink on white paper and adhered to metal connector: TO AIR BELLOWS
•Typed in black ink on white paper and adhered to tube in thermos: DELIVERY TUBE
•Moulded into base of thermos: THERMOS