Item:
King Thermanester

Date of manufacture:
1936

Manufacturer:
C. J. Birtcher

Description:
The main body of this bakelite vaporiser assembly contains a water tank that might, with benefit, be filled with boiling water. The vaporising chamber is in close proximity to it and contains wire mesh. The mask is valved to permit the patient to inhale through the vaporiser and exhale to atmosphere. The sliding pointer controls the proportions of bypass air and vaporiser air. The upper transparent glass compartment is filled with liquid ether and the knurled metal knob on the top controls the rate of ether that descends, under gravity, through a drip chamber, to the vaporisation chamber. The instructions suggest that more rapid induction of anaesthesia can be achieved by unclipping the reservoir and spraying ethyl chloride on to the metal mesh.

Birtcher Medical Inc. was established in 1936, Los Angeles, USA, manufacturing mainly electromedical apparatus.

Category:
Vaporiser

Accession Nr.:
20110076
.
Discussion:

References:
Hamlin, G. W., 'The King Thermanester Vaporizer - manufactured by C.J.Birtcher'. The History of Anaesthesia Society Proceedings, Vol. 42, of the Summer Scientific Meeting, Llandrindod Wells, Wales, June 2010.