Equipment, Masks & Inhalers Penicillin inhaler (front) of 1945-1955 and Chloroform inhaler, 1871-1910

Equipment, Masks & Inhalers Penicillin inhaler (front) of 1945-1955 and Chloroform inhaler, 1871-1910. In the foreground is an inhaler for use with bronchovydrin penicillin, made by Bronchovydrin Ltd of London. In the background is a Junkers chloroform inhaler made by Krohne and Sesemann of London. Chloroform was first used as an anaesthetic by James Simpson (1811-1870) of Edinburgh, to ease the pain of childbirth. His success led to chloroform becoming preferred to ether as an anaesthetic. Although quicker acting than ether, chloroforms poisonous nature meant it was a more dangerous substance to use. Today both have been superseded by safer, more effective anaesthetics. ©SSPL/Science Museum