Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists

Forceps, Tarnier's, incomplete, traction rods missing.

Historical information

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster

Forceps, Zeigler, with ebony insert in handles. Manufacturer "Coxeter".

Historical information

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster

Perforator, Simpson's, with screw joint and hinge. Manufacturer "W.Skidmore Sheffield" stamped on central arm.

Historical information

Most likely donated by the late Dr Frank Forster

A black bakelite cone shaped instrument with perforations.

Historical information

Perforated canister was used for the intravaginal application of perfumes and medical creams. Very similar to a vaginal douche pipe.

Sims uterine dilator, three bladed, upper blade, polished stainless steel with matt steel handles. upper surface, (trademark) MADE IN GERMANY INOXIDABLE", "21" inscribed.

Historical information

This was included with other obstetric instruments, mostly destructive instruments, from Box Hill Hospital labour ward given to RANZCOG in February- March 1998. The maternity service at Box Hill hospital combined with St George's hospital in Kew to be known as Birralee Maternity Service. These instruments were collected by Julie Collette, Unit Manager, St George's Kew and given to RANZCOG Museum Curator, Susan Barnett.

Stainless steel pap smear spatula 18cms in length. There is parallel scoring along the spatula's head.

Forceps, Simpsons, left blade, short handle, all metal.

Forceps, Assalini's. No Manufacturer's stamp. Old tags attached identify the manufacturer as "H.A. Taylor & Sons/ Made by A.J.Taylor /No. 3" probably written by Cyrus Jones or Frank Forster.

Historical information

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster

Forceps, placenta praevia, a pair, long handled. Similar to Willett's placenta praevia forceps [see Down Bros Catalogue of Surgical Instruments and Appliances, c1930, p 940]. Inscribed "B.H.H.L Ward" inner handle.

Historical information

This was included with other obstetric instruments, mostly destructive instruments, from Box Hill Hospital labour ward given to RANZCOG in February- March 1998. The maternity service at Box Hill hospital combined with St Geroge's hospital in Kew to be known as Birralee Maternity Service. These instruments were collected by Julie Collette, Unit Manager, St George's Kew and given to RANZCOG Musuem Curator, Susan Barnett.

Metal blade for cutting glass vials

Historical information

Item belonging to Dr Mitchell Henry O"Sullivan donated by his son David More O'Sullivan

Three nickle plated safety pins. The pins aare similaaaaara to those advertised in Felton Grimwade & Deudin catlaogue 1934 and 1948. thtese type of safety pins were commonly used in hospitals between 1930- 1960.

Historical information

This item belonged to Dr Mitchell Henry O'Sullivan�s (1892-1972) obstetric bag.

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

Forceps, Aveling's, with ebony handles. Stamped "Meyer & Meltzer London & Melbourne"on inner arm.

Historical information

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster

Blunt hook and crochet, with central hand grip of mahogany wood inlaid on either side. Maufacturer's stamp "MAW LONDON". MAW stamped at one end near the central wood inlay handle and LONDON at the other end.

Historical information

Most likely collected and donated by Dr Frank Forster.

Blunt hook, Barnes, with mahogany handle and fine cross hatching pattern on four sides. Unknown manufacturer.

Historical information

Most likely collected and donated by Dr Frank Forster. Label attached indicates the item has been viewed by Bryan Hibbard and attributed as a Barnes type of blunt hook.

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

Commerative silver medallion celebrating the Centenary of the Births, Deaths Registration and Marriage Acts 1837-1937. Portraits of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in profile are on one side and a lit torch is on the other.

Historical information

Belonged to Dr Frank Forster

Neville-Barnes forceps with traction attachment in a cloth pouch

Historical information

This was in the possession of Dr Lorna Green and donated pre-1974

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

Towel, thick cotton, "Hospital" woven into the central band.

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.

Clear glass bottle with six sides with calibrations in ounces and cubic centimetres. 16.5 cms in length. Also included is the cream coloured plastic top. Plastic top has yellowed and the insert cap is missing.

Significance

In Australia this type of bottle was known as "Truflow" which was also manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.

Inscriptions & Markings

Embossed on side: "Evenflo and "Made in the USA"

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)

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.

Box lid, circular, cardboard, containing two lead nipple shields. Text on lid, manufactruer's information...Dr Wanbrough's

Historical information

Nipple shields were known from the sixteenth century and have been made from a variety of materials. Stays and corsets of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries resulted in much nipple inversion and were often used day and night. Bennison, Elizabeth. Antique Medical Instruments Sotheby's 1979- p.271. Kevill Davies, Sally Yesterday's Children, p 32-33.

Vectis, with mahogany turned handle, "No. 4", according to label, non-retractable, no manufacturers stamp, but T.R. Taylor (Surgica PtyLtd) inscribed on old label, attached.

Historical information

Most likely collected and donated by Dr Frank Forster

Forceps, Naegele's, late modification. No manufacturer's stamp.

Historical information

Possibly collected by Dr Frank Forster

Small wieghing scales,portable, metal, spring balance, used to weigh babies.

Historical information

This item belonged to Dr Mitchell Henry O'Sullivan�s (1892-1972) obstetric bag

Simpson's, cranioclast, with traction attachment,ebony handle inserts. Manufacturer unknown. Otago Medical School registration number "�M 11.211" on label.

Historical information

On Loan from the Otago Medical School Alumnus Association as of 18 March 2013.This loan was arranged by Dr Richard Seddon. Initially the instrument was to be donated to RANZCOG, however the Alumnus association decided on long term loan instead.

Box lid, circular, cardboard, manufacturer Dr Wansbrough, with label and instructions containing two lead nipple shields.

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]