
Bottle of trichloroethylene, England, 1940-1960

Unopened metal bottle containing trichloroethylene, made by ICI Ltd., English, 1940-1960
Trichloroethylene is known as Trilene. It is a volatile liquid introduced as an anaesthetic agent in 1934. Trilene was used during labour. It was inhaled via a mouthpiece before each contraction. This provided pain relief rather than full anaesthesia. This bottle of trichloroethylene was made in England by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited. The use of Trilene in obstetrics has declined since the development of portable inhalers delivering nitrous oxide mixed with oxygen. Nitrous oxide is pleasanter to inhale and has fewer side effects.
Details
- Category:
- Anaesthesiology
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A625468
- type:
- anaesthetic bottle
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- anaesthetic machine