This is an antique respiratory inhaler from the early 20 th century. The instructions for use are plainly written on the inhaler.

In the 1800s, they did not have the classic asthma or COPD inhalers like albuterol we are familiar with in the 21 st century which have a pressurized cartridge which, when pressed, emits the medicine. In the 1800s, hot steaming hot water vapor and any sometimes additional medicine the doctor prescribed was placed in these inhaler and the patient would breathe in these “therapeutic” vapors, not just for lung disease but for other ailments like mercury vapor for syphilis.