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Ether Can (May & Baker)

Health Sciences · Hospital for Sick Children

A squat, cylindrical metal can with a flat base, a slightly domed top, and a cylindrical metal cap with a notch in its upper surface. The cap can be unscrewed to reveal a copper coloured element covering the opening on the threaded neck beneath. The can has a cream-coloured label around its perimeter. A metal wire is wound around a threaded section beneath the cap.

Accession Number: 2025.sk.28

Alternative Name: Baker’s Aneasthetic Ether

Primary Materials: Metal

Markings:

 61071, Written “DR”// Stamped on cap: PATENT// No. 427449

Dimensions (cm): Height = 8.3, Max Diam = ,

Function:

Diethyl ether is a volatile liquid that was used as a general anesthetic beginning in the 1840s. Its primary disadvantage was its extreme flammability.

Ether was largely replaced by newer general anesthetics around the 1960s.

Condition:

The artifact is empty. The label is intact and legible, but work and marked. Exposed metal surfaces are work and lightly oxidized.

Associated Instruments:

Manufacturer: May & Baker, Ltd., Dagenham, Essex, UK.

Date of Manufacture: Early to mid 20th c.

Provenance:

Additional Information and References:

Grace’s Guide to British Industrial History. “May and Baker“. Webpage. (Archived June 29, 2024).

Historical Notes:

Themes: