Record-type hypodermic syringe, London, England, 1930-1960

Hypodermic needles came into common use in the second half of the 1800s. They were invented by Scottish doctor Alexander Wood in 1853 – although French surgeon Charles Pravaz was independently developing a similar device at the same time. Hypodermic needles like these are hollow so drugs or vaccines can be injected directly into the body. This particular example has a glass barrel with a scale printed on to the outside to measure how much was being given to the patient. It is shown here with a bottle of diphtheria vaccine (A629753/1).