monitor support 23 which is mounted to the first portion 5 of the column in a manner to be fixed with respect to the axial direction of the column alternatively the first monitor support 19 may also be connected with the first portion 5 of the column in operation the inclination of both monitors 20 and 24 is adjusted relative to the work place the anaesthetic appliance 18 together with the carriage 17 is stationarily locked on the rails 9 10 with the aid of the locking pins 15 1 16 1 and lifted upwards by means of the spindle 13 to obtain ground clearance such that the anaesthetic appliance can be pivoted around the axis of the second portion the anaesthetic appliance is connected with not shown supply lines passed through the stationary first portion of the column whenever the anaesthetic appliance shall be moved to another place the appliance receiving means is lowered into the position shown in dotted lines in fig2 then the appliance together with the carriage is moved away if desired the same or a different appliance can again be moved onto the rails at any time if the carriage of a different appliance has a different wheel distance the rails are laterally displaced relative to each other for adaptation to the respective wheel distance after reception the carriage is again lifted up into the position shown in full lines if no carriage is received the rails are folded up.