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Image Not Available for Hot Water Bottle
Hot Water Bottle
Image Not Available for Hot Water Bottle

Hot Water Bottle

DatePossibly 1930s
Object NameBottle
Mediummetal and bakelite
ClassificationsMedicine and Healthcare
DimensionsOverall: Height: 24.13 cm, Width: 8.89 cm, Depth: 12.7 cm
AcquisitionKenneth A Webster Nursing Collection.
LocationView by Appointment
Object numberABDMS032037
About MeWhen nurse filled hot water bottles they had to take care to protect patients from being burned. Bottles were filled from kettles in the kitchen with hot not boiling water; the bottle was encased in a woolen cover, and carried to the bedside sometimes on a kitchen tray; it was placed on the topsheet of the bed, never directly next to the patient; paralysed or unconscious patients were particularly prone to being burned (favourite choice was not to give them a bottle); bottles were also used to heat beds for patients returning from theatre, bottles were removed before patient was returned to bed.