medical steam atomizer
Datecirca 1890
Inventory Number3835
ClassificationAtomizer
Subject
Maker
Codman & Shurtleff
1857-present
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions19.3 x 17.6 x 9.9 cm (7 5/8 x 6 15/16 x 3 7/8 in.)
Material
DescriptionThe apparatus consists of a spherical brass boiler on a cylindrical iron stand with a burner underneath. The spherical vessel has a steam valve on top and a small wood handle. Its mouth connects to a glass tube that ends in a narrow nozzle, as well as being connected to another tube that also has a narrow nozzle and faces it perpendicularly, going down to a cylindrical glass cup on a brass holder attached to the boiler stand. At some distance in front of the nozzles is another tall stand with a holder at the nozzle's height. This stand would originally hold a glass cone facing the nozzles, which then turned into a cylindrical tube with a mouthpiece at the other end.
Both stands are firmly held in place by an iron base, and originally there would be another glass cup at the bottom of the cone stand firmly held by the circular foot of that stand.
Both stands are firmly held in place by an iron base, and originally there would be another glass cup at the bottom of the cone stand firmly held by the circular foot of that stand.
Signedoverstamped on itself: CODMAN & SHURTLEFF BOSTON
Inscribedon instrument: PAT. MAR . 24 1868 PAT. MAR. 16 1889
Curatorial RemarksAll the metal parts are very corroded and there are two glass pieces missing: the glass cone/mouthpiece, and a cup that would be placed at the bottom of the tall cone stand.
FunctionThis is a device for delivering a liquid medicine in the form of an inhalable mist. The liquid medicine would be placed in the glass cup held by the boiler stand, from where it would be sucked up the tube and blasted into small droplets by a steam jet coming from the boiler. The mist would then be collected by a glass cone (now missing) that would be in front of it held by the tall stand. This glass cone turned into a tube with a mouthpiece, where the patient would be breathing the mist.
In order to collect the condensate forming at the cone, there would be a second glass cup at the foot of the cone stand.
All pieces of the device were firmly held in place so that is was relatively portable even during its operation.
This atomizer was Codman & Shurtleff's best selling product for around 20 years starting in 1860.
In order to collect the condensate forming at the cone, there would be a second glass cup at the foot of the cone stand.
All pieces of the device were firmly held in place so that is was relatively portable even during its operation.
This atomizer was Codman & Shurtleff's best selling product for around 20 years starting in 1860.
Rudolph Koenig
Date: circa 1865
Object number: 1998-1-1606
