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Brown glass ampoule of chloroform. Ampoule alongside box. White perspex background.
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Brown glass ampoule of chloroform, made by A Vicario, Paris, France, 1854-1945
Chloroform was used as an anaesthetic from the late 1840s until the 1950s. Liquid chloroform was dropped on to a face mask or vaporised and inhaled by the patient through a face mask. The chloroform was prepared by a Parisian pharmacist, A Vicario. Once the potentially toxic nature of this anaesthetic had become apparent, it was used far more cautiously.
The vial was owned by Sir James Cantlie (1851-1926), a surgeon and medical administrator whose prestigious career included a leading role in setting up the London School of Tropical Medicine and the provision and training of ambulance services during the First World War.
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Science Museum: Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries
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Details
- Category:
- Anaesthesiology
- Object Number:
- A56873/1
- Materials:
- ampoule, glass, ampoule, paper, label, box, paper
- Measurements:
-
ampoule: 140 mm 23 mm, .061 kg
- type:
- ampoule
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- container - receptacle
- vessel
- credit:
- Cantlie, N.
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Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
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