15-023. French, 4th quarter 19th century, unsigned, but stamped "PARIS" on the nozzle bracket. Made of nickel-plated brass and standing 9" high overall. The 4 1/4" base contains a spirit lamp with a steam boiler mounted above it. The boiler has a small nozzle coming out from the top, with another nozzle below it connected to a rubber hose to draw the carbolic acid from the small glass vessel mounted on the side of the apparatus, and a small carrying handle mounted on the other side. Mounted in front of the nozzles is a glass funnel-shaped piece used to direct the spray. The sprayer is complete and in very fine overall condition, except that the original glass vessel has been replaced with a cupping glass. The introduction of these carbolic acid sprayers into the operating room by Lister in 1871 marked the end of the long era in medicine where recovery from an operation was very uncertain. They are extremely rare in fine clean complete condition, suitable for medical museum display.
