| Reference Number | MIMM/2017-5/73 |
| Title | Freedman Inhaler in Case |
| Date | 1925-1975 |
| Creator Name | Imperial Chemical Industries, Chemical Company, 1926-2008 |
| A. C. King, Anaesthetic Apparatus Manufacturer, 1916-[] |
| Description | The cream-coloured wooden case features a brown leather strap. Upon opening, the case reveals an empty tin bottle of Trilene alongside the Freedman Inhaler apparatus made by A. C. King London (as engraved at the top).
The apparatus comprises an amber glass jar, serving as the vaporising chamber, designed to hold the liquid anaesthetic Trilene. This jar is secured within a robust twist-lock metal casing that incorporates a wick system for controlled vaporisation. A clamping screw mechanism allows the device to be firmly affixed to a bedside or similar surface, ensuring stability during use.
The metal lid, sealed with an India rubber gasket, features a refill point for anaesthetic and is engraved with "Keep level when filling". Attached to the top of the lid is a metal outlet tube, which connects to a flexible India rubber hose. This hose terminates in a second metal tube equipped with a face mask, designed to deliver the anaesthetic vapour to the patient.
The india rubber tube and mask are damaged.
The Trilene tin bottle features a blue lid and has the following writings: "ICI 250ml Trade Mark Trilene Trichloroethylene B.P. For Anaesthesia or Surgical Use. Warning: Not to be used in a closed circuit with soda lime. Imperial Chemical Industries Limited Pharmaceuticals Division Wilmslow Cheshire Made in Great Britain. Directions for opening: Remove cork closure and pierce the diaphragm. Caution: 'Trilene' or its vapour is not inflammable but it must not come into contact with hot surfaces as toxic decomposition products are thereby produced. Keep the container securely closed and protect the contents from light and air. 290149/1" and on the bottom "DU233".
The apparatus, devised by Dr. Abraham Freedman, was a pioneering device that enabled the self-administration of Trilene (trichloroethylene) for pain relief, particularly during labour. |
| Extent | 2 items |
| Dimensions | 250mm x 213mm x 212mm |
| Digital Collections | View online in our digital collections |
| Copyright | Free to use under the terms of the Creative Commons Licence Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) |
| Credit Line | Royal College of Physicians of Ireland |
| Object Name | Medicine-Bottle |
| Anaesthetic Inhaler |
| Term | Pregnancy |
| Obstetrics -- instrumentation |
| Gynaecology -- instrumentation |
| Anaesthesia, Inhalation |
| Anaesthesiology -- instrumentation |