"Brisettes" or crushable chloroform ampoule for use in midwifery, made by Macfarlan and Co. and supplied by Billings and Sons Ltd., Manchester, England, 1935-1949

Chloroform was used as an anaesthetic. These crushable ampoules contain the vapour. They are also known as ‘Brisettes’. The ampoules are composed of glass with a protective wrapping of gauze and cotton wool. They were specially prepared for use in midwifery. An ampoule was crushed and chloroform vapour inhaled from the gauze. The Brisettes were made by Macfarlan and Company in Edinburgh. They were supplied by Billings and Sons Limited of Manchester.