Midwifery bag and steriliser

Midwifery bag and steriliser Midwifery bag and steriliser Midwifery bag and steriliser Midwifery bag and steriliser Midwifery bag and steriliser Midwifery bag and steriliser Midwifery bag and steriliser Midwifery bag and steriliser Midwifery bag and steriliser

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Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Combined box-type metal midwifery bag and sterilizer with some contents, made by W.H. Bailey and Son, 45 Oxford Street, London, 1940-1948.

Bags such as this were taken by midwives when assisting with home births during the 1940s. This example was last used in 1948. It folds open to reveal an inner canvas bag containing medications, dressings, instruments and a measuring glass. Integral to the set is a metal steriliser in which instruments can be sterilised in boiling water.

Also present are birth registration forms for Hertfordshire County Council. These required the midwife to register whether infants were born dead or alive and declare if they were illegitimate. Legitimacy questions are not included now. This reflects attitude changes since the 1940s about children born outside of marriage.

Details

Category:
Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Contraception
Object Number:
1982-561/80
Materials:
cloth, metal, steel and glass
Measurements:
overall: 190 mm x 370 mm x 180 mm,
type:
midwifery bag
credit:
Mirrielees, Esther

Parts

Carton's mucus evacuator

Carton's mucus evacuator

Carton's mucus evacuator, metal

Measurements:
overall: 21 mm x 262 mm x 54 mm,
Materials:
metal
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt1
type:
mucus evacuators
Halstead's Artery Forceps

Halstead's Artery Forceps

2 pairs Halsted's artery forceps, plated steel

Measurements:
overall: 6 mm x 128 mm x 58 mm, .04 kg
Materials:
steel (plated)
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt2
type:
artery forceps
Irrigator, enamelled tin

Irrigator, enamelled tin

Irrigator, enamelled tin, with attached rubber tubing

Measurements:
overall: 183 mm 128 mm, .58 kg
Materials:
metal (enamelled) and tubing, rubber
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt3
type:
irrigators
Roll of lint dressing

Roll of lint dressing

Roll of lint dressing

Materials:
lint
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt5
type:
dressings
Bottle containing mixture with handwritten label

Bottle containing mixture with handwritten label

Bottle, glass, containing mixture prepared by D.M. Owen, Hoddesdon

Measurements:
overall: 148 mm x 55 mm x 32 mm,
Materials:
glass and stopper, cork
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt6
type:
bottles
Clinical Thermometer

Clinical Thermometer

Clinical 1/2 min. thermometer, in metal case, by Maw, Barnet

Measurements:
overall: 111 mm 7 mm,
Materials:
glass , mercury and case, metal
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt7
type:
thermometers
Glass jar containing Dettol obstetric cream

Glass jar containing Dettol obstetric cream

Glass jar with screw top containing "Dettol" obstetric cream, prepared by Reckitt and Colman, Hull and London

Materials:
glass and top, metal
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt9
type:
jars
Glass jar containing twine

Glass jar containing twine

Glass jar with screw top containing twine

Measurements:
overall: 67 mm 47 mm,
Materials:
glass and top, metal
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt10
type:
jars
Glass jar containing boracic crystals

Glass jar containing boracic crystals

Brown glass jar with screw top, containing boracic crystals

Materials:
glass and top, metal
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt11
type:
jars
Bottle containing ophthalmic collosol argentum

Bottle containing ophthalmic collosol argentum

Drop bottle, brown glass, containing ophthalmic collosol argentum, prepared by Crookes Laboratories, London

Materials:
glass , lid, plastic and lid, rubber
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt12
type:
drop bottles
Glass jar containing cord powder

Glass jar containing cord powder

Brass glass jar with metal screw top, containing cord powder

Measurements:
overall: 63 mm 52 mm,
Materials:
glass and top, metal
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt13
type:
jars
Glass jar containing cord dressings

Glass jar containing cord dressings

Glass jar with metal screw top, containing cord dressings

Measurements:
overall: 85 mm 51 mm,
Materials:
glass and top, metal
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt14
type:
jars
Hypodermic syringe

Hypodermic syringe

Hypodermic syringe, glass, 20 minim, with 1 needle, in metal case, made by Maw

Measurements:
overall: 20 mm x 77 mm x 28 mm, .04 kg
Materials:
glass and needle
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt15
type:
hypodermic syringes
Blue poison bottle containing Dettol

Blue poison bottle containing Dettol

Blue poison bottle with glass stopper containing dettol, made by Bailey, London

Measurements:
overall: 95 mm 34 mm,
Materials:
glass and stopper, glass
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt16
type:
bottles
Soap dish

Soap dish

Metal soap dish

Measurements:
overall: 32 mm x 92 mm x 64 mm, .12 kg
Materials:
metal
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt17
type:
soap dishes
Sterile gauze masks

Sterile gauze masks

Sterile gauze masks

Materials:
gauze and tape
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt18
type:
face masks
Five ampoules containing coramine solution

Five ampoules containing coramine solution

5 ampoules containing coramine solution, inside box, prepared by Ciba Laboratories Ltd. Horsham

Materials:
glass and box, cardboard
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt19
type:
ampoules and coramine
Ampoule of Ergotrate

Ampoule of Ergotrate

Ampoule of "Ergotrate" prepared by Eli Lilly and Co. Ltd., Basingstoke, in packet

Measurements:
overall: 57 mm 14 mm,
Materials:
glass and packet, cardboard
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt20
type:
ampoules
Phial of ergometrine tablets in carton

Phial of ergometrine tablets in carton

Glass phial full of 25 .5 mg tablets of Ergometrine in original carton with a cork stopper. Carton: 98 mm x 15 mm x 15 mm, 8g total. British Drug Houses, London, 1940-1948.

Materials:
glass , cork , cardboard and ergometrine
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt21
type:
phial and ergometrine
Glass bottle containing Ergotrate tablets

Glass bottle containing Ergotrate tablets

Brown glass bottle with plastic cap, containing "Ergotrate" tablets, prepared by Eli Lilly and Co. Ltd., Basingstoke

Measurements:
overall: 45 mm x 25 mm x 21 mm,
Materials:
glass and cap, plastic
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt22
type:
bottles
Set of nine temperature charts

Set of nine temperature charts

Set of 9 temperature charts, paper, printed and published by Ratnett and Co. Ltd., Leicester

Measurements:
overall: 222 mm x 174 mm .02 kg
Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt23
type:
temperature charts
Book of medical forms by Central Midwives Board

Book of medical forms by Central Midwives Board

Book of forms "for sending for medical aid", issued by Central Midwives Board, published by Spottiswoode, Ballantyne and Co. Ltd., London

Measurements:
overall: 128 mm x 202 mm x 6 mm, .1 kg
Materials:
paper and cardboard
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt24
type:
forms
Notification of births business reply folders

Notification of births business reply folders

4 notification of births business reply folders, by Hertfordshire County Council, c. 1947

Measurements:
overall: 240 mm x 157 mm
Materials:
cardboard
Object Number:
1982-561/80 Pt25
type:
business reply folders