Hotel Dieu Hospital Dept. of Anaesthesia, Kingston Collection
Category
Diagnostic & Treatment Artifacts
Surgery
Classification
General Surgery
Surgery
Accession Number
997008018 a-b
Description
(a) Emotril trichloroethylene analgesia apparatus which consists of a cylindrical metal base with a flat top; the front of the apparatus has a cylindrical tube with an empty/full gauge at the bottom and a lifting lever at the top; the top of the apparatus also has a gauge which records temperature …
(a) Emotril trichloroethylene analgesia apparatus which consists of a cylindrical metal base with a flat top; the front of the apparatus has a cylindrical tube with an empty/full gauge at the bottom and a lifting lever at the top; the top of the apparatus also has a gauge which records temperature from 10 deg C to 37 deg C; the centre has a temperature control dial which leads by tube to the gauge; there is also a normal/weak switch and an exhaust tube with its end covered by a mesh protector; at the front of the top is an outgoing valve which would have hooked the apparatus to an anaesthesia machine; (b) painted metal carrying case for (a); this consists of a metal base with a lid hinged at the back with a fastener on each side and a leather handle on the top; the front of the case is hinged at the bottom and will fold down flat when the case is open.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - analgesia apparatus - Size: Length 20.4 cm. x Width 19.8 cm. x Depth 15.2 cm.
b - carrying case - Size: Length 21.2 cm. x Width 28.2 cm. x Depth 19.0 cm.
Provenance
Purchased by and used at the Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
(a) The temperature gauge on the apparatus reads, "EMOTRIL // MIE // 12, NEW CAVENDISH STREET. // LONDON W.I. // M.29873"; the lever reads, "LIFT TO // FILL"; other controls are labelled; (b) the top of the carrying case has two manufacturer's labels; they read, "Emotril // TRICHLOROETHYLENE ANALGESIA APPARATUS // MEDICAL & INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT LTD. // 12, NEW CAVENDISH STREET, LONDON, W. I. // PAT. APP. FOR"; and "EMOTRIL // TRICHLOROETHYLENE // ANALGESIA APPARATUS // PAT APP FOR // SER NO ["O" underlined and superscr.] 1055"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0007
0007-E2-3
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
The apparatus and case arrived very dirty and dusty; the exposed metal shows no corrosion except for the side fasteners on the case, and the handle fasteners; the case's paint is worn and chipped in several areas, especially at the bottom; the temperature gauge of the apparatus shows some wear
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Article
Website
Reference Comments
C R Stephen, W K Nowill, R Martin; "AN APPARATUS FOR TRICHLOROETHYLENE ANALGESIA." Anesthesiology 1952; 13:646–648 doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/00000542-195211000-00013
United States Environmental Protection Agency, "Final Risk Evaluation for Trichloroethylene," Last updated on November 20, 2020. https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/final-risk-evaluation-trichloroethylene.
Research Facts
At the time this apparatus was in use, trichloroethylene was used as an analgesic. It was considered very potent, but safe if used with care and caution. When at room temperature, trichloroethylene is a liquid, and boils at 87 degress Celsius. Special inhalers were needed to administer it to patients because it did not vaporize well enough on a regular absorbent anaesthesia mask. Today, it is used mainly as a solvent for cleaning, in paint removal, adhesives and sealants, lubricants and greases, and automobile care products, but the United States Environmental Protection Agency considers it hazardous to human health.