Pins & Needles
THE BLOG OF THE GEOFFREY KAYE MUSEUM OF ANAESTHETIC HISTORY
The great women of anaesthesia: Janet Lindsay Greig
This post is one in a series uncovering the stories of early women anaesthetists from Australia and New Zealand. Dr Janet Lindsay Greig was the first woman in Australia to be appointed to the position of Honorary Anaesthetist. Her story is also remarkable. Janet was...
What is an honorary curator? A personal reflection
Thirty years ago I made a trip to the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Spring Street, Melbourne with Dr Rod Westhorpe. At the time I was an anaesthetic registrar at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, approaching my final exams and the end of my...
Evipan: The dark side of anaesthesia
Dr Clara Cotaru is a Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists currently living and working in Belgium. Clara's interest in the history of anaesthesia began with an investigation of the history of advertising anaesthetic agents, which she...
Ergot and the Salem Witchcraft Trials
Rebecca Lush was a student volunteer with the Geoffrey Kaye Museum in 2015. She is currently Curator, Harry Daly Museum. As an undergraduate, Rebecca investigated the Salem Witchcraft Trials, including the possible role of ergot. She has prepared this post based on...
The great women of anaesthesia: Mary Alice Blair
This post is one in a series uncovering the stories of early women anaesthetists from Australia and New Zealand. The University of New Zealand (UNZ) was established in 1874. Although the University of Otago had opened in 1871 with a staff of three professors, UNZ was...
Where are the great women of anaesthesia?
During 2016 a number of groups visited because of “word-of-mouth” reviews. These are particularly wonderful because somebody enjoyed their visit so much they spoke highly about it to others and inspired them to visit. It’s always an extra delight to take that booking....
Acriflavine: Why is it in an anaesthetic museum?
The Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History seems an unlikely place to find a bottle of acriflavine. It is a topical antiseptic, made from coal tar, discovered in 1912 by the German scientist Paul Ehrlich. It was used to treat everything from minor burns and...
Seeking “TEVH”
Amber Evangelista worked as a volunteer at the Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History to undertake a significance statement on a Probyn Williams inhaler. Amber is currently acting Public Programs Curator at the Victoria Police Museum in Melbourne. Amongst the...
Trailblazers & Peacekeepers – An award winning exhibition
A year into the Great War, Allied eyes were drawn to the Straits of the Dardanelles; a narrow strip of water effectively separating Europe from Asia Minor. Securing the Dardanelles would open up Turkey as a reliable supply route and “…serve to secure Egypt, to induce...
What’s in the case? Cataloguing a shelf of doctors’ kits at the Geoffrey Kaye Museum
Caroline Deighton is a student with Deakin University’s Museum Studies program and a Museum Accreditation Program manager with Museums Australia (Victoria). Caroline has undertaken a cataloguing project to provide adequate information and background to existing...
Evidence-based history – Medical History Masterclass
The Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History worked with the School of Philosophical, Historical and International Studies, Faculty of Arts, Monash University, to create a full-day workshop for interested people to develop and enhance their skills in researching...
Welfare of Anaesthetists
The goal of the ANZCA oral history project is to record the memories of significant anaesthetists and pain medicine specialists who have been involved in extraordinary developments in their specialty. However, what makes the ANZCA oral history project such a...
World Anaesthesia Day – National Anaesthesia Day #NAD16
While reflecting on important dates in the history of anaesthesia, Dr Christine Ball, Honorary Curator and Monica Cronin, Curator of the Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History looked at the early days of anaesthesia practice and their impact on contemporary...
From Snake Oil to Science: Developing our latest exhibition
Every year we change out one section of the exhibition space to create a new display.
An Internship at the Geoffrey Kaye Museum
Rebecca Lush is a student with the University of Sydney’s Museum & Heritage Studies program. Rebecca undertook an internship at the Museum during November and December 2015.
Arts and Humanites at the 16th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists
The 16th World Congress of Anaesthesiologists (WCA) was held in Hong Kong at the end of August. Usually there are a few history and ethical sessions squeezed into a jam-packed program but on this occasion the organisers decided to have a full Arts and Humanities track.
Lives of the Fellows
Lives of the Fellows: 1952 is part of an ongoing project uncovering the stories of Faculty and College Fellows.
The story of Ludwig Bruck
Our research student from Deakin University uncovered an incredible story about Ludwig Brück, who designed the Bruck Inhaler.