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CSL (Commonwealth Serum Laboratories) Collection
Image: Antivenene - Tiger Snake
Source: Museum Victoria
The Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) was founded in 1916 to provide life-saving products to a country isolated by war. The organisation is renowned for its work in the areas of penicillin, antivenoms, hormones, vaccines and blood products. In 1994, CSL Ltd was listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and has achieved considerable success in the international market for bioproducts. The museum's CSL collection includes over 500 artefacts from the period 1916 to 1984. The objects were originally collected by CSL staff and volunteers for the CSL Museum, which was once located at the CSL site at Parkville. The displayed objects highlight some of the contributions made by CSL to public health.
The first vaccine produced by CSL in 1919 was used to protect Australians from the pandemic of Spanish influenza.
By the 1930s, CSL was producing a variety of products. CSL's first medical sales representative used this case, containing 65 samples, while travelling the east coast of Australia. Products included insulin and vaccines to diphtheria, gonorrhoea and typhoid.
CSL is renowned for having rapidly implemented methods for the large-scale manufacture of penicillin following the discoveries of Howard Florey in 1939. By 1944, penicillin was available to Australians fighting in the Pacific. Australian citizens were the first in the world to have general access to penicillin.
In 1930, CSL and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute developed the first antivenom for the treatment of tiger snake bits. CSL continued to develop antivenoms to all venomous Australian snakes, as well as the Red-back Spider and Funnel-web Spider. Other antivenoms produced by CSL save against bites from at least 6 other deadly snake species as well as ticks, box jellyfish and stonefish.
In 1994, CSL Ltd was sold by the Australian Government and listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and has achieved considerable success in the international market for bioproducts and pharmaceuticals.
Items per page: 10 50 (showing 11 - 20) 402 items
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Filter Pad Holder - Earthenware, circa 1920
Earthenware filter pad holder. A circle of depth filder pad is clamped between two grooved earthenware plates. Solution to be clarified goes in one plate and comes out the other. Period ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
Microscope with Box - Watson Routine, circa 1910
Watson Routine Microscope and custom storage box circa 1910. Mechanical stage and monocular. Used by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Limited, Parkville, Victoria.
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 1 -
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Penicillin Ampoule - Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, 1944
Wooden rack containing 11 glass ampoules containing the antibiotic penicillin. Made by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Melbourne, 1944.
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
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Vaccine Bottle - Equine Staphylococcus-Streptococcus, 1938
Bottle of equine staphylococcus-streptococcus vaccine. Made by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Limited, Parkville, Victoria, c1938
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
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Penicillin Bottle - Procaine G, 014, 1958
Penicillin, bottle, procaine penicillin G with aluminium monostearate manufactured by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Parkville, 1958 from CSL
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Penicillin Bottle - Ampicillin, Austrapen Capsules, 1984
Bottle of Penicillin - Austrapen Capsules - Ampicillin. Manufactured by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Ltd, Parkville, Victoria. 1984
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
Leitz Illuminator - Microscope, pre 1914
E Leitz illuminator for use with microscope. Light is passed through a globular glass flask filled with a coloured solution. This process removes heat from the light beam, and alters th ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 1 -
Filter Candle - Sintered Glass Pyrex, circa 1950
Sintered glass filter candle - ultrafine porosity. Capable of filtering bacteria from fluids. Coarser grades are available - fine and ultrafine sintered glass could also be coated with ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 1 -
Pharmaceutical Sample Case - Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, circa 1920s
Detailer's case containing samples of human and animal vaccines, manufactured by Commonwaealth Serum Laboratories (CSL), about 1920s. Used by CSL's first medical detailer (sales rep), ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 7 -
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Vaccine Vial - Tetanus, Absorbed, 5ml, Boxed, circa 1970s
Vial of Tetanus Vaccine, Adsorbed (sic). Expires 1980. Manufactured by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Ltd, Parkville, Victoria.
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0
