Sterilising drum belonging to Dr Francis Fisher Waddy, first anaesthetist at Northampton General Hospital. The drum contained small items of anaaesthetic equipment during their sterilisation.
Aluminium sterilising drum with syringe and cotton swab
This sterilising drum belonged to Dr Francis Fisher Waddy, the first anaesthetist appointed to Northampton General Hospital (NGH) in 1929. He used it throughout his 40-year career until retirement in 1968. Waddy used it for sterilising his surgical gloves, glove powder, dressings and instruments, particularly syringes and needles for administering spinal anaesthetics, and epidural anaesthetics. Dr Waddy (1903-1991) also anaesthetised at St. Andrews, St. Mathews, Creaton, and Manfield Orthopaedic Hospitals.
He was a founder member of the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland and was awarded the Pask Certificate for his work on post-operative recovery areas. An early adopter of curare, a poison derived from Central and South American plant extracts, to modify convulsions during electroconvulsive therapy, he also developed tooth guards to minimize damage to teeth during intubation (inserting a tube down the throat to aid breathing). Waddy published a history of NGH in 1974.
The Sterilising Drum contains surgical gloves, glove powder, syringe and spinal needle. However, when in use the drum could contain many other small pieces of anaesthetic equipment.
Number 82 of the objects selected for the A History of Northamptonshire in 100 Objects exhibition 2025.
Northampton
Contributed by Fred O’Dell, Museum and Archive, Northampton General Hospital
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NMAG
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NMAG
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NMAG
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NMAG