Oddities in the Evolution of Syringes in Anesthesia

Many procedures in science and medicine involve the use of a syringe, and its invention is a key milestone in general and regional anesthesia history. The end of the 19th century brought major changes in syringe production. An industry that initially manually crafted syringes to individual physicians’ instructions saw the introduction of a large variety of syringes, sometimes with odd and unique modifications. For many of these unique syringes, there was no proven evidence that these modifications were effective or safe to use. This article provides examples of “odd” syringe designs for use in medicine, general anesthesia, and regional anesthesia. Some designs proved functional and have stood the test of time; others quickly disappeared and ended up in dusty collections.