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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 361 - 370) 402 items
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Dissecting Microscope & Box - Carl Zeiss, circa 1920
Carl Zeiss dissecting microscope, c1920, with custom built box. Used by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Limited, Parkville, Victoria
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Refractometer - Adam Hilger Ltd, Abbe Dipping, circa 1935
Abbe refractometer with bottle monobromonaphthalene and dispersion table brush. Measures the refractive index (RI) and thus the concentaration of liquids like serum. A drop is placed be ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
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Filter Candle - Doulton, Porcelain, circa 1900
Porcelain filter candle, invented by Pasteur's colleague Chamberland. Used for removing bacteria from fluids. Superseded by membrane filtration. Photos available showing use. Used by Co ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
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Penicillin Bottle - Austrapen Suspension, 1966
Bottle of Austrapen Suspension. Made by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Limited, Parkville, Victoria, 1966
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
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Nibs - Ink Pen, Metal, circa 1940
Metal nibs for ink pen, typical office and service desk item from Commonwealth Serum Laboratories offices. c1940, Used by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Limited, Parkville, Victo ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
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Bookstand - Wood, circa 1920
Alternative name: lecturn Bookstand widely used around CSL for propping up books for reading, taking and writing notes. They kept books safely off the lab bench tops while experiments w ...
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
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Insulin Tin - Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, circa 1950
Insulin produced by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, about 1950. Used for the treatment of Type I diabetes.
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Petri Dish - Glass, circa 1940
Petri dish used for growing cultures of cells or bacteria, Commonwealth Serum Laboratories (CSL) Limited , Parkville, Victoria.
From: Parkville, Australia Images: 0 -
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Box - Nutrient Broth Digest, 1956
Used for the culture of bacteria. Manufactured by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, Parkville
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Vial - Hydatid Fluid, circa 1960s
Used for vet diagnosis. manufactured by Commonwealth Serum Laboratories
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