Glass flask designed by Joseph Lister, United Kingdom, 1860-1880

Glass flask with textile covering mouth of flask, designed and possibly used by Lister

This flask was designed and possibly used by Joseph Lister (1827-1912), the surgeon and pioneer of antisepsis, in his microbiology experiments. It has a glass stopper covered with gauze and a long thin spout which is slightly bent to prevent any dust entering the flask. The bend is used to trap dirt and dust from the atmosphere and stop it contaminating the contents but still allow air into the flask. This flask would have been boiled before it was filled with fluids in order to make it sterile.