Dr. James (Jim) Robert Ronald McCrindle Collection
Category
Diagnostic & Treatment Artifacts
Classification
Respirology
Accession Number
005009003 a-d
Description
A white ceramic "Dr. Nelson's Improved Inhaler" consisting of the inhaler itself (a) which is a bottle with a round base and a neck extending up with a flared rim with string wrapped around it; there is a spout coming out of the side of the bottle; the inhaler is broken, and a piece is broken off o…
A white ceramic "Dr. Nelson's Improved Inhaler" consisting of the inhaler itself (a) which is a bottle with a round base and a neck extending up with a flared rim with string wrapped around it; there is a spout coming out of the side of the bottle; the inhaler is broken, and a piece is broken off of the side (b); there is a clear glass mouthpiece (c) which sits in the top of the bottle and a cork ring (d) which fits around the bottom of the mouthpiece.
Number Of Parts
4
Part Names
a - inhaler - Size: Length 17.0 cm x Diam. 12.5 cm
b - broken piece - Size: Length 11.3 cm x Width 4.5 cm x Depth 8.4 cm
c - mouth piece - Size: Length 10.5 cm x Diam. 4.7 cm
d - cork ring - Size: Depth 4.2 cm x Diam. 4.5 cm
Provenance
Owned and used by Dr. James (Jim) Robert Ronald McCrindle (1862-1952); he probably acquired it in the United Kingdom and brought it to Jamaica in 1904.
Dates
1880
circa 1880
Date Remarks
Website says it is circa 1880.
Material
ceramic: white
cork: brown
Inscriptions
"Dr. Nelson's // IMPROVED // INHALER // DIRECTIONS FOR USE // REMOVE MOUTHPIECE-HALF FILL - INHALER WITH BOILING WATER - DROP REMEDY ON SPONGE OF MOUTH- // PIECE - APPLY LIPS TO IT - BREATHE // FREELY IN & OUT AS IN ORDINARY FULL // RESPIRATION - WHEN ONLY THE VAPOUR // OF HOT WATER OR ANY INFUSION IS // DESIRED REMOVE THE SPONGE // FROM MOUTHPIECE" printed on the front of the inhaler - the text is split between the main piece of the bottle and the broken part.
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0007
0007-H2-3
Temporary Location
On display "Doctor's Treatment Room c1930" at Museum of Health Care 20 Feb 2016.
Condition Remarks
The ceramic bottle is broken and the cork is brittle and cracked.
The ceramic is broken (there is evidence that the whole vessel was broken and has been repaired), the cork is brittle and cracked.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Internet
JPG
Reference Comments
"Medical History Museum Guide to Records" Web site; CD #2.
Research Facts
Dr. McCrindle was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1862 but moved to Scotland in 1882 where he graduated with his degree in general medicine and surgery from the University of Glasgow in 1885; he returned to Jamaica in 1904; this collection accompanies 1989.10.1.