Rendle-type inhaler, England, 1869-1910
Richard Rendle (1811-1893) invented this particular inhaler to be used with bichloride of methylene in 1867. Inside the flannel a sponge soaked with the anaesthetic was placed inside the cardboard cone and the vapours breathed in by the patient. The inhaler was also adapted to be used with a mixture of alcohol, ether and chloroform. Rendle’s design was criticised as there was no clear way to regulate the dosage of anaesthetic and it was difficult to clean. Nevertheless, the inhaler was available until 1915.
Object number:
A625372
Related Themes and Topics
Glossary:
Glossary: inhaler
A device for breathing in a drug in order to deliver it to the airways or lungs.
Glossary: chloroform
A liquid formerly used as a general anaesthetic although no longer used for this purpose as it causes liver damage and affects the heart rate. It is now used in low concentration to treat flatulence.
Glossary: ether
A volatile liquid (resulting from the action of sulphuric acid upon alcohol) formerly used as an anaesthetic. Ether was usually inhaled.