DR NELSON’s Steam Inhaler 500ML,AvonGreen Wellness Soother for Vocal Cords, Headaches Relief and a Nasal, Sinus Decongestant – Excellent for Treating Chest Infections and Pains, Flu, Colds and Coughs

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In the Medical Times and Gazette the London Fog that killed 273 people as a result of bronchial complaints in 1873 was reported as ‘one of the most disastrous this generation has known. Unveiled at the conclusion of a meeting of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society in 1861, [ 1] ‘Dr Nelson’s Improved Inhaler’ was one of the most important milestones in the genesis of reliable treatment of respiratory ailments in the modern era. We don’t display all of our inventory online so if you have a specific requirement, let us know, and we’ll see what we can do to help! Unveiled at the conclusion of a meeting of the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society (RMCS) – now the Royal Society of Medicine – in 1861 ( Proceedings, 1861, p 399) ‘Dr Nelson’s Improved Inhaler’ was first marketed with an announcement in The Lancet in 1865 (1865a, p 152). All images are the property of the British Red Cross Museum and Archives (unless otherwise indicated), and cannot be used without permission.

The narrow tube provided resistance to inspiration and expiration, and the therapy was designed primarily as a palliative ‘mechanical’ exercise to strengthen the lungs and expand the chest ( Ramadge, 1834, p v). Siegle’s patent officer in London, George Davies, clearly objected to the infringement and stopped Adams from marketing his inhalation device.Literature, case histories, and personal accounts give little indication of how long each period of use would have lasted. A comparison with various other ‘household’ remedies for asthma and consumption in the second half of the nineteenth century confirms this. Interestingly, technologies are still employed today for respiratory muscle training in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cystic fibrosis using inspriatory/expiratory resistance devices ( Volska et al, 2003; Battaglia et al, 2009; van Winden et al, 1998). According to directions in The Lancet, hot water was to be poured into the main body of the inhaler while the medication was to be soaked on a sponge inserted below the corked opening at the top.

This was in part because of safety aspects involved: early versions of the Siegle Inhaler were criticised for their dangerous unreliability. Lemon breaks down phlegm and catarrh and manuka honey is creates a nice soothing layer on your vocal chords without sticking too much. There was indeed a relatively robust advertising and marketing campaign surrounding the Dr Nelson’s Inhaler in the 1860s and 70s across various media (from newspapers to professional journals), and this could have potentially brought the device close to accusations of commercial interests, and hence quackery. g. the Pneumostat, widely used from the 1930s but still generally housed in surgeries and pharmacies) or hand bulb nebulizers such as the Parke-Davis Glaseptic, and Abbots’ Aerohaler (1948), which is clearly comparable to modern dry powder inhalers, and ultimately the pMDI in the 1950s ( Sanders, 2007, p 79). It is very quirky; use it as a vase or we can see it in the bathroom or kitchen; it really does make a great statement piece.A comparison to the other inhalation devices mentioned in this article shows just how unusual Dr Nelson’s reticence was in this regard; Waldenburg ( 1862), Siegle ( 1864), Dewar (1868), Adams ( 1878), and indeed other physicians like Mackenzie, with his ‘Eclectic Inhaler’ (1880) all advertised their inventions with extensive user manuals and booklets, even if these were aimed either at professional colleagues or were distributed with the devices after they had been purchased. This may have been one reason why the Dr Nelson’s Inhaler was popular among patients and practitioners. As pictured and described (except 1 small piece that was missed during packing, which seller was made aware of and is on the look out for). His invention involved shooting a jet of medicated water at a metal plate, the resulting spray being inhaled by the patient.

A towel might be placed over the patient's head to enclose the inhaler and concentrate the treatment. In 1835 Solomon Maw had taken over the company, originally founded by his father George Maw in 1814, from his elder brother John Hornby, and following Solomon’s death in 1861 his son Charles ran the business in partnership with John Thompson ( Anon, 1917, p 42).See, for example: ‘Several of my patients […]’ and ‘cases have come under my notice’ ( Abbotts Smith, 1866, p 32); ‘The inhalation of oxygen has been found very useful in preparing delicate patients for surgical operations, by restoring their vital powers […]’ ( Abbotts Smith, 1869, p 27); ‘At this stage, the effects vary according to the individual’ ( ibid, p 48). Turning off the personalised advertising setting won’t stop you from seeing Etsy ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.