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Item 8

Embossed angular item with a glass tube running down the left side, on a smoky red background

Anaesthetic inhaler

1880–90

Leather, glass, brass, tortoiseshell

X714

 

Surgeon John H Morgan (1847–1924) introduced this tapered shape for anaesthetic  inhalers in the 1880s. A sponge soaked in ether was inserted at the narrow end, and the glass phial at the bottom probably measured the concentration of the drug. This improved the surgeon’s control of the anaesthetic dosage.

early anaesthesia inhaler

View catalogue entry for anaesthetic inhaler

 

 

Part of the exhibition Unfamiliar.

Explore further:

Embossed angular item with a glass tube running down the left side, on a smoky red background
Wooden item with glowing orange section on dark blue background
Previous: Item 7
Spherical item on green smoky background
Next: Item 9

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