Anaesthesia Heritage Centre

The Anaesthesia Heritage Centre contains the Association of Anaesthetists archives, museum and rare book collection. The archives date from the foundation of the association in 1932 and record its development. The museum contains objects relating to the history of anaesthesia, resuscitation and pain relief – the earliest object being a resuscitation set dating from 1774. Permanent displays include pull-out drawers and flipbooks containing biographies of key individuals and details of anaesthetic machines. There is also the temporary exhibition (until Oct 30 2012) ‘A Blessing in Disguise – Misuse of Anaesthesia’, tracing the history of anaesthesia and the ways in which anaesthetic agents including cocaine and morphine have been used and misused, medically and recreationally, over the centuries. As the Centre is small, advance booking is advised.