Midwifery bag, pigskin, with nickel plated brass fittings, complete with contents, bag by Arnold and Sons, London, 1925-1955
Until the middle of the 20th century in the UK, the majority of births still took place at home. They were usually attended by a midwife. This pigskin bag was made by Arnold and Sons in London. It contains many items a midwife required at the birth. Included are forceps, an obstetric hook, facemask, stitching needles, sterile suturing thread, syringe, an anaesthetic mask and bandages. There is also a copy of the ‘Rules of the Central Midwives Board’ (1905). This stresses midwives must keep themselves and their equipment scrupulously clean to avoid cross infection and puerperal fever. Puerperal fever often proved fatal. The inner lining of the bag is removable, presumably for washing.
Details
- Category:
- Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Contraception
- Object Number:
- 1981-1693
- Materials:
- bag, leather, pigskin and fittings, brass (nickel plated)
- Measurements:
-
overall: 190 mm x 470 mm x 260 mm,
- type:
- midwifery bag
- credit:
- Science Museum
Parts
Barnes obstetrical forceps
Schimmelbusch mask
Trilite trilene inhaler
Hypodermic syringe case with 8 glass phials of medicinal preparations
- Materials:
- glass , cork , strychnine , ergotinine , apomorphine , aluminium , brass (nickel plated) and paper (fibre product)
- Object Number:
- 1981-1693 Pt5
- type:
- hypodermic syringe case , phials and apomorphine
Curved suture needle with thread
Tube of Penicillin Calcium Sulphathiazol
Red rubber midwives' apron
3 glass droppers
- Materials:
- box, cardboard , dropper, glass and dropper, rubber
- Object Number:
- 1981-1693 Pt9
- type:
- droppers
Record hypodermic syringe 2cc
- Materials:
- box, cardboard , syringe, glass and syringe, brass (nickel plated)
- Object Number:
- 1981-1693 Pt10
- type:
- hypodermic syringes
Roll of "Mersilene" polyester ligature
Dropper bottle
Box of cotton wool
Boxed bottle of "Dettol" antiseptic cream
"Cestra" surgical mask
Boxed ethyl chloride local anaesthetic spray
- Materials:
- box, cardboard and spray, glass
- Object Number:
- 1981-1693 Pt16
- type:
- local anaesthetic sprays
Glass bottle containing 100 tablets of pethidine hydrochloride
Bottle of Hibitane obstetric cream
Box of ergometrine ampoules
- Materials:
- incomplete , ergometrine , steel , paper , cardboard and glass
- Object Number:
- 1981-1693 Pt19
- type:
- ampoules and ergometrine
Box of ergometrine ampoules
- Materials:
- incomplete , ergometrine , steel , paper , cardboard and glass
- Object Number:
- 1981-1693 Pt19/1
- type:
- ampoules and ergometrine
- Part of:
- 1981-1693 Pt19
Oval shaped cardboard carton for six 1ml. ampoules of Ergometrine Maleate
Packet of surgical needles
Scissors, chrome plated steel
Bottle of saline solution
Suture, by Ethicon
Two packets of bandages
Pigskin midwifery bag by Arnold and Sons
- Materials:
- bag, leather, pigskin and fittings, brass (nickel plated)
- Object Number:
- 1981-1693 Pt27
- type:
- midwifery bags