Health Sciences · Hospital for Sick Children
A length of hardwood dowel, pointed on one end and slightly bevelled on the other. Printed lettering on a portion of the handle identifies it as belonging to the anesthetic tray of the emergency room of the Hospital for Sick Children.
Accession Number: 2025.sk.60
Alternative Name:
Primary Materials: Wood
The following is written in blue ink on a portion of the surface: “EMERGENCY// ANAESTHETIC // TRAY”
Three additional letters in this inscription are difficult to interpret, but may read “TR T” or “TR +”
Dimensions (cm): Height = 12.5, Width = 2, Length = 2.
The ether tins of the early to mid 20th century were closed by the manufacturer using a soldered cap. A punch was required in order to open the tin before pouring the liquid onto an ether mask or decanting it into another container.
Ether is extremely flammable. It is no longer used in a medical context due to the risk of fire and explosion. This wooden punch was likely used in order to reduce the risk of metal on metal contact that might cause a fire.
This ether tin in the collection (2025.sk.31) has an opened cap (in this case covered by a rubber tube). It also has two additional holes close to tits rim that could have been produced by such a punch.
This artifact is in good cosmetic condition. It has light wear but is otherwise undamaged. A metallic deposit on the tip of the artifact is likely the result of the instrument penetrating the metal caps of ether cans.
Associated Instruments:
Manufacturer: This item was likely made locally.
Date of Manufacture: Early to mid 20th. c.
Provenance:
Additional Information and References:
Historical Notes: