General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

5

Total Parts

5

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Metal body

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

33.7 cm

Width

19.1 cm

Height

5.3 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Chemicals & medications

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

King

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

City

London

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

Never used

Canada

Part of a collection of medical technologies donated to the Canada Science and Technology Museums Corporation by the Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society. This object was on display as part ‘An Exhibit on Inhalers and Vaporizers, 1847-1968’ at CAS’s Annual Meeting in Ottawa in 2003. Given to the Canadian Anaesthetist’s Society by Mr. A Charles King in June 1953.

Function

Used as a bath for heated water to be used with an ether inhaler

Technical

“The ether inhaler invented by John Snow (1813-1858) is of interested because it incorporates the basic principles of vaporization of anesthetic gases. Within two weeks of first seeing ether administered in London in December 1846, Snow designed this forerunner of modern vaporizers. Realizing the importance of ambient temperature on the vaporization of ether, Snow at one determined how much ether vapor would be held in air at different temperatures. He wrote, “…by regulating the temperature of the air while it is exposed to the ether, we should have the means of ascertaining and adjusting the quantity of vapour that will be contained in it.” In March 1847, Snow had a prototype inhaler constructed, and in June 1847 the definitive one, exhibited here, was made. Snow also designed a chloroform inhaler.” (ref.2) The components of the inhaler are as follows: Japanned metal box, as bath for water at 50 to 60 degrees F; a vaporizing chamber containing spiral baffle attached to roof and extending to 1/16 of an inch of the floor; metal tube screwed into box for ingress of air; breathing tube (wider than trachea; and mask and one-way valve.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

On lid, proper right: "PRESENTED TO/ THE CANADIAN ANAESTHESIOLOGISTS SOCIETY/ BY/ MR. A. CHARLES KING/ JUNE 1953"/ On lid, proper left: "THIS REPLICA OF/ SNOW'S ETHER INHALER OF 1847/ WAS MADE BY JOHN HENRY HAWKES/ OF A. CHARLES KING LTD./ MAY 1950"

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

Dull metal finish

Decoration

N/A