Tracy ether inhaler

Tracy ether inhaler

In 1847, Samuel John Tracy (1813-1901), a surgeon-dentist at St Bartholomew's and Christ's hospitals in London, developed this type of ether anaesethetic inhaler. A glass curved pipe contained ether soaked sponges, and patients would inhaler the vapours. The side tube was added to make it easier to use with patients that were lying down. It is likely that it was made by Ferguson, a surgical instrument maker attached to the hospital.

However, within a year, Tracy abandoned his inhaler, using just an ether soaked sponge instead and later adopting the use of chloroform.

Tracy was an early advocate of anaesthetics, writing to the medical journals of its time of its benefits and use.