During the beginning of the 19th century, medical instruments would sadly not be sterilised. It was Louis Pasteur who discovered in 1860 that infection could be spread by using unsterilised equipment. Later in this century, instruments would be made by different metals to enable them to be sterilised by hot water and steam. Thus saving thousands of lives

This Is a large set of midwives' medical instruments and are chromium plated enabling them to be sterilised.