Historical information

Taking observations of a patient is a very important part of nursing assessment, and a thermometer would be used to assess a patient's temperature as required, at least daily for most patients.

Significance

Nurses used this item commonly every day. The thermometer was attached to the patient's bed. The thermometers were supposed to be cleaned before use - kept in chlorhexidine solution in the holding tube, wiped over with alcohol swab prior to use in later years. The process of cleaning changed over the years in line with infection control practices. The thermometer is a very fragile glass vessel, often dropped and smashed on the floor, resulting in mercury on the floor.

Physical description

metal holder with bracket, plastic tube (not original) holding mercury thermometer

Inscriptions & markings

plastic tube marked 176-98, bracket marked 176-98 (original catalogue notes 176-098)