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The respirator was first invented by Julius Jeffreys, a fellow
of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1835. It was intended to warm
inhaled air by passing it through a series of fine metal grids and
to protect invalids from inhaling cold dry air. This design was
later use by Snow in 1847 who used temperature to control the dosage
of administered ether. This late 19th century example is not signed
but is identified in the Maw catalogue (see picture) and was
referred to as the 'Incorrodible' perhaps because of the silver
plating. It is a beautifully constructed mask
made from fine silk overlying two perforated silver plated metal
sheets. It is padded around the circumference with velvet lining.
Two woven silk threads hold the mask in position behind the head and
join each side through a pair of small gold coloured rosettes. |
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