Medicine may have advanced by leaps and bounds since the start of the century, but some things have remained the same.

Doctors still delve into their trusty black bags when they are making a house call.

One such item - complete with some very nasty-looking surgical instruments - has been dusted off after years in the attic and is now up for sale.

The Gladstone bag - named after the 19th century Liberal Prime Minister - William Gladstone, was used during the First and Second World Wars.

Its owner is, appropriately enough, a nurse.

The trusty black doctor's bag, used by thousands of GPs up and down the country, has become as familiar as part and parcel of a doctor's attire - just like the stethoscope and kindly mannerwhite coat.

the trusty black Gladstone bag became a vital tool of the doctor's trade.

has become a visual calling-card which is good enough to send any young child's nerves janggling.

Some of its contentsOpen the bag, and inside there are thermometers, plasters and bandages, although nowadays, with advances in surgical techniques, you'll be hard pressed to find hacksaws, clamps and chisels.

And one of these bags - complete with First and Second World War surgical instruments - is now being advertised for sale.

Nurse Mrs Marion Jackson, 58, of Windmill Avenue, Bicester, was given the bag 30 years ago as a present. The bag gives a rare insight into what things doctor's check-ups were like in days gone by when patients were treated with syringes the size of javelins and such enchanting objects as dilators, forceps and knives.

copious amounts of morphine were prescribed to dull pain.

The bag consists of metal instruments, and although dulled with age, they are in good working order.

The bag also contains other equipment such as thermometers and an array of bandages - although Mrs Jackson said some of the instruments were modern and only dated back the last 20 years or so.

After many years gathering dust in the loft, Mrs Jackson has decided to part company with the Gladstone bag for a mere £99.

She said: "The man who gave it to me was a friend of my parents, who served in the First and Second World War.

"He must have treated soldiers with the instruments. I'm afraid I don't know much about the history of the man or the bag, but it seems such a shame just to keep it in the loft. It is interesting to see what types of instruments were used years ago, although many of them are still used today." Mrs Jackson, who has been a nurse since 1958, has worked at the North Bicester Surgery for the past ten years, added: "I've had it for such a long time and I just want to give someone else the pleasure of owning it." she said.

A spokesman for Christie's said the highest price paid for a surgical instrument was in 1993 for a 19th-century German mechanical chainsaw which sold for £23,368.

Anyone interested in buying the Gladstone bag can contact Mrs Jackson on 01869 252304.

Story date: Thursday 11 February

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