GPs Medical Bags

	South Australian Medical Heritage Society Inc Website for the Virtual Museum
Home Coming meetings Past meetings About the Society Galleries of the Virtual Museum Main Galleries Medicine Surgery Anaesthesia X-rays Hospitals,other organisations Individuals of note Small Galleries Dentistry Nursing Ethnic medicine - Aboriginal - Chinese - Mediterran	Contents of GPs Medical Bags [See also the page labelled "Surgeons Bags and Instruments"] ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The following items were photographed by Dr. Richard Bowering. They are part of his extensive collection of medical memorabilia and represent some of the contents of medical bags in the mid 20th. century. In addition to the items shown the bag contained prescription bags, bandages and dressings, tongue depressors and starter packs of various drugs for pain relief or acute medical conditions. Special containers were used to transport blood samples to the laboratory. Drug vials with tablets. These were taken orally or dissolved and injected. The vials contained common emergency drugs such as largactyl tablets (extreme left). digoxin, glycerine trinitrite . an ampoule of morphia, and before the advent of penicillin, sulphonamides. A silver nitrate stick is on the right Syringes. These were glass with a metal plunger. 10-20cc were used for blood taking, and 2 cc. For drug injection. They were heat sterilized and immersed in alcohol.the needles were not single use and were sharpened manually. An early plastic syringe is illustrated (lower left). Opthalmoscope and Auriscope. The opthalmoscope was used to view the retina and eye structures while the auriscope was used to view the ear drum. the battery powered light source could be used to view the oral cavity and tonsils . Gestation calculator, had a rotating disc and calculated the viability date, and anticipated delivery date. Pelvimeters, used to measure the external size of the pregnant, female pelvis, and other distances such as the length of scars etc. Sphygmanometer used to measure the blood pressure. An aneroid model is shown. It had a double cuff and could record pressure without a stethoscope. Insuffation bulb and nozzles; used to instill powder or fluid into wounds or body cavities Haemorrhoid injection syringe: usually used in the surgery but patients in nursing homes and patients confined to home were also treated. The syringe was filled with a sclerosing agent usually phenol in almond oil and a small volume (about 2cc) was injected into the haemorrhoid. The needles had a narrow final 1.5 cm to prevent over penetration. Metal urinary catheters: before prostatectomy became possible, acute retention of urine was treated by catheter-isation. If a rubber catheter could not pass the enlarged prostate metal catheters were used; some had obturators to maintain patency (left hand side of box). -o0o-

South Australian Medical Heritage Society Inc

Website for the Virtual Museum

Home
Coming meetings
Past meetings
About the Society

Galleries of the Virtual Museum

Main Galleries

Medicine
Surgery
Anaesthesia
X-rays
Hospitals,other organisations
Individuals of note

Small Galleries

Dentistry
Nursing

Ethnic medicine
     - Aboriginal
     - Chinese
     - Mediterran

Contents of GPs Medical Bags

[See also the page labelled "Surgeons Bags and Instruments"]

ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The following items were photographed by Dr. Richard Bowering. They are part of his extensive collection of medical memorabilia and represent some of the contents of medical bags in the mid 20th. century. In addition to the items shown the bag contained prescription bags, bandages and dressings, tongue depressors and starter packs of various drugs for pain relief or acute medical conditions. Special containers were used to transport blood samples to the laboratory.

Drug vials with tablets. These were taken orally or dissolved and injected. The vials contained common emergency drugs such as largactyl tablets (extreme left). digoxin, glycerine trinitrite . an ampoule of morphia, and before the advent of penicillin, sulphonamides. A silver nitrate stick is on the right

Syringes. These were glass with a metal plunger. 10-20cc were used for blood taking, and 2 cc. For drug injection. They were heat sterilized and immersed in alcohol.the needles were not single use and were sharpened manually. An early plastic syringe is illustrated (lower left).

Opthalmoscope and Auriscope. The opthalmoscope was used to view the retina and eye structures while the auriscope was used to view the ear drum. the battery powered light source could be used to view the oral cavity and tonsils

.

Gestation calculator, had a rotating disc and calculated the viability date, and anticipated delivery date.

Pelvimeters, used to measure the external size of the pregnant, female pelvis, and other distances such as the length of scars etc.

Sphygmanometer used to measure the blood pressure.

An aneroid model is shown. It had a double cuff and could record pressure without a stethoscope.

Insuffation bulb and nozzles; used to instill powder or fluid into wounds or body cavities

Haemorrhoid injection syringe: usually used in the surgery but patients in nursing homes and patients confined to home were also treated.

The syringe was filled with a sclerosing agent usually phenol in almond oil and a small volume (about 2cc) was injected into the haemorrhoid. The needles had a narrow final 1.5 cm to prevent over penetration.

Metal urinary catheters: before prostatectomy became possible, acute retention of urine was treated by catheter-isation. If a rubber catheter could not pass the enlarged prostate metal catheters were used; some had obturators to maintain patency (left hand side of box).

-o0o-