Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists

Zwanke's intra-uterine stem pessary, copper, stem with two wings. Small tag inscribed "Zwanke's pessary"

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.

Metal Tongue depressor

Thom's pelvimeter,internal, stainless steel. Reefer to Down Bros. catalogue 939/4, page 939. Quoted from this source Thom's as used by Whitridge Wuilliams, Obstetrics", pp. 860-906. Thom, "Study of funnel pelvis,"Amereican Journal of Surgery, July 1f915.

Historical information

Provenance unknown, found in a box with five other pelvimeters, marked "PELVIMETERS ( not accessioned)"in the hand of the previous curator, Melissa Campbell pre 2006.

Vectis, with mahogany handle, retractable, no pivet notch to fix the handle in position, Stamped on verso "ARNOLD LONDON'".

Historical information

Most likely collected and donated by Dr Frank Forster

Forceps, Neville-Barnes with Nevill's axis traction handles, c 1886. Engraved on the inside blade and on the traction handle "Frank Forster 1952".

Historical information

These forceps were owned and used by Dr Frank Foster

Metal bone cutter with hand grip scoring on outer arms. In the 1950s and 60s, Ferguson's bone cutters were used by obstetricians to remove the foreskin during circumcisions.

Historical information

Belonged to Dr Lorna Lloyd Green

Blunt hook and crochet, with central hand grip of mahogany wood inlaid on either side. Unknown manufacturer.

Historical information

Most likely collected and donated by Dr Frank Forster. Labelled Standard blunt hook and crochet- viewed by Bryan Hibbard.

Forceps, Denman's type, mahogany inserts in handle. Manufacturer's stamp, "Burgoyne Ac Burbidge" [London] on inner arm.

Historical information

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster

Traction handle, one metal rod missing, late ninteenth century, rosewood handle, turned. On label, noted "may belong to long Simpson's forceps- 1900002 Frank Forster"."

Historical information

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster

Saline infusion apparatus, "Horocks", metal lidded box [1969.1], oval, containing a gauze insert, a glass intravenous drip chamber [169.2], needle straight, intravenous [169.3], wire insert for the needle [169.4] and rubber tubing [169.5]. Inscribed inside box, "Down Bros., St Thomas Street, Borough of London.

Historical information

Dr Henry Mitchell O'Sullivan worked in the Victorian country town as a general practitioner in Casterton from 1919 until his death in 1977. He also practiced obstetrics. The gladstone bag and contents are a unique time capsule of the type of instruments and pharmaceuticals used in the inter-war period. His son, Dr David More O'Sullivan donated the obstetric bag and its contents to the College in 1999.

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.

Forceps, straight, dissecting, contained in chamois pocket dressing case [185.1]and other instruments. Marking, "1".

Case, for microscope, Microscope, Beck, London, Model 29, 13695 with swing out sub-stage with oak carry case [233.1]

Historical information

This microscope belonged to Dr Alec G. Bond and was donated in 2000.

Jug, cream enamelled metal with blue rim, inside are markings for imperial and metric capacity.

Historical information

Dr Henry Mitchell O'Sullivan worked in the Victorian country town as a general practitioner in Casterton from 1919 until his death in 1977. He also practiced obstetrics. The gladstone bag and contents are a unique time capsule of the type of instruments and pharmaceuticals used in the inter-war period. His son, Dr David More O'Sullivan donated the obstetric bag and its contents to the College in 1999.

Instrument case, small, containing small silver knife, a small silver ladel with a sharp probe at one end, a tweezeer like instument and string with three hook attachments. Looks unused, not gynaecological, nasal?

Historical information

Donated by Miss Beatrice May Devlin, items that belonged to her paternal grandfather, Dr Henry William Devlin who graduated in Medicine from Dublin and worked at the Rotunda hospital, Dublin. He immigrated to Australia and was the first doctor to practise in Parkes NSW.Please refer to supplementary file filed under Accession number 1995001

Perforator, Blots's, with ebony handle, cross-hatch paterning. Stamped on handle,left side of joint screw "G.Marriere/ A. Paris". On right of joint screw, another illegible stamp.

Historical information

Most likely donated by the late Dr Frank Forster

Ecraseur, Chassaignac's, the straight shaft can be extended and has a straight handle at one end and a metal loop at the other. Used to remove polyps or other growths, using the ever tightening chain to gradually lacerate the growth, minimizing haemorrhage. Devised by Charles Marie Edouard (1805-1879) who was a surgeon in Paris. Posibly the manufacturer was Geo. Tiemann & Co Surgical Instruments USA page 514, figure 3663.

Historical information

Belonging to Dr Frank Forster

Glass jar with metal lid and inner metal tray, containing five glass hypodermic syringes and several hypodermic needles. Designed to be portable.

Historical information

This belonged to Dr Bill Rawling's and was in a medical bag that he used in the 1940s and 1950s. It was donated by Dr Geoff Bishop.

A kit, containing a brass cartridge syringe with three cartridges, one cartridge [with red and white label lettering], contains eleven hypodermic needles., one cartridge labelled "Topacain", surface contact anaesthetic for dental porcedures.

Feeding cup for an adult made out of white china, now discoloured. The cup has a curved spout with a handle.

Historical information

This type of cup would be in use from the early 1900s to the 1930s. The cups were used both in the home and in hospitals.

Black bakerlite bulb with glass douche nozzle and irrigator connections at each end. Stored in original box. Handwritten in blue pencil on side of box: "Vaginal Douche".

Historical information

This douche, with the manufacturers object description of "heisswasserspulungen" which translates as healing water douche, came from the Edward Rowden White Estate. The heisswasserpular designed by Dr Walzer-Frank was used as a vaginal douche by attaching a rubber hose to the glass connector which was then inserted into the vagina. Acquired from Dr Harold Attwood, the Curator of the Medical History Unit, University of Melbourne, 2 April 1996. In a letter to Geoff Bishop ... " I think they are best held in your collection rather than here." (see accession file)

Forceps, Barclay's, all nickle plate metal, On label, identified by Bryan Hiibbard. Manufacturer: Jones Melbourne

Historical information

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster

Lippes Loop, intrauterine device, white plastic, double S-shape with yellow string attached to one end, size C. Also, Manufacturer's label "LIPPES LOOP" [28.2], inside lid of container, plastic [28.1] containing another size C Lippes Loop intrauterine device [28.4].

Historical information

This item came from Geoff Bishop's rooms at Mollison House, 386 Albert Street, East Melbourne. Disatrby Ethnor P/L Sydney, these bulk purchase packs pre-dated the individually sterile packaged products with disposable applicators.

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

College gown, RNZCOG, The "prototype" gown designed for the New Zealand College. It was donated by Dr Ron Jones, who was part of a committee including Mercia Barnes and the wives of two of the foundation Council members Liam Wright and Ron Jones.

Historical information

Prototype design of college gown, RNZCOG

Forceps, Denman's type, mahogany inserts in handle. Manufacturer's stamp, "Moore and Co" an "16" on inner arm.

Historical information

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster

Fetal stethoscope made from ebony consists of a tube with phlanges at each end. The large phlange would be placed onto the abdomen and the small phlange would be placed to the ear to hear the fetal heart beat.

Historical information

The Furgusson stethoscope was in use from 1866

Glass boat- shaped feeding bottle with one end flattened and a spout at the other. There is a larger opening with a lip on the top surface.

Historical information

Mrs Prue Forster, wife of Dr Forster, believes this bottle was given to her by 'Auntie' Maud Pepper when she worked for the Aboriginal Health Service from 1980-1983. Maud Pepper explained to Prue that fine material was used over the mouth piece instead of a rubber teat.

Canister, surgical steel, for operating theatres, medical surgeries and hospital wards, for storage of dry items such as gauze.