Historical information

A characteristic black, round topped box, to carry medical equipment with a divider which would have held a square, plain glass bottle.
The donor, Dr. Holloway is known to have acquired much of Dr. Howard Jones' equipment. In 1930 Dr Howard Jones, M.B., B.S., (Lond.). Surgeon Anaesthetist to Charing Cross Hospital first described percaine in an article in the British Journal of Anaesthesia. According to Norman, J. in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, Jones was the first honorary secretary of the Association of Great Britain and Ireland, 'of spinal anaesthesia fame', and a leading practitioner in his day. He apparently committed suicide in 1935, there are references that he 'could not make a living from anaesthesia'. (Norman, 2002, 'An informal history of the first 25 years', The British Journal of Anaesthesia, 88 (3): 445-450)
The maker of this medical box, Allen and Hanburys Ltd., was a British pharmaceutical manufacturer, founded in 1715, absorbed by Glaxo Laboratories in 1958.

Physical description

Black cardboard box with handle and simple border decoration on top. Brass hinges at the rear and two brass hook clasps at the front. Interior is lined with black linen. Cardboard divider inside and square compartment in corner would have been used to hold a bottle of ether in place.

Inscriptions & markings

Printed in gold leaf inside lid: ALLEN & HANBURYS LTD / LONDON.W. / 48.WIGMORE ST