Hospital Equipment

These were used in the administration of chloroform, a liquid, chemical substance to induce a state of unconscious to perform surgical operation. The chloroform was dampened on a sponge and placed at the top of the cone which was placed over the patients nose and mouth or using the metal mask with a piece of cloth covering it and the drip bottle which dripped chloroform.
It was first used in about 1848 in UK, German speaking countries and America, the latter had its reservations which was perhaps due to the increased deaths. The side effects were nausea, vomiting, dizziness and in severe cases could lead to fitting, kidney , heart failure and to death.
The reservation of using chloroform did not stem it’s popularity and the increased usage was from 1865 – 1920, finally stopped in 1976.
Previously to chloroform patients were given opium, alcohol and sometimes brutally restrained, then a swift knock to the head with a mallet. Most times they were still conscious during the operations and often died through loss of blood or infection.

Ref: History of Chloroform Anesthesia -PubMed.