General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

CONTAINER, SYNTHETIC PLASTIC/ CAPILLARY TUBES, GLASS/ SOLID TUBES, SYNTHETIC PLASTIC

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

9.0 cm

Width

3.0 cm

Height

3.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Medical equipment

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Clay Adams

Country

United States of America

State/Province

New York

City

New York

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

New Brunswick

Period

C.1960-PRESENT

Canada

A test which did not require the purchase of expensive equipment & could be easily set up in any laboratory. This method was used in many small laboratories for several years (c.1960-1980's), especially if cost or work volume prohibited the purchase of more sophisticated machines. “This artifact is part of a collection used in l’Hôpital de l’Assomption in Grand Falls/Grand Sault, New Brunswick. The hospital was run by the Secular Institute of The Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate (OMMI), from 1952-1964. OMMI is a large organisation which ran residential schools across Canada and the Secular Institute is one arm of that larger organisation [1].The artifacts in this collection were curated by the Secular Institute (sometimes referred to as the “Oblates”), specifically Fabienne Rinfret, who was one of the original 10 nurses working at the hospital when it opened [2]. They were purchased by The Canada Science and Technology Museum in 1991, only months before OMMI made their first apology for their role in running residential schools [3]. The artifacts in this collection are common examples of medical objects, which were manufactured in many places inside and outside of Canada. What makes them unique is their context, they were used in this hospital by the “Oblate” nurses. The hospital was previously called l’Hôpital d’Emard and run by Mme. Emard, Mr. Emard (who was blind), and a few other staff [4]. The “Oblates” took over in 1952 and ran the hospital until May 31st 1964 upon the opening of Grand Falls General Hospital Incorporated, which was run by the Religieuses Hospitalières de St-Joseph. The Cataract Weekly (Grand Falls’ bilingual newspaper) reported that all 55 staff members were hired on at the new hospital and most of the equipment was transferred there as well [5]. After only a year and a half the Secular Institute had 200 members, most of whom had passed through the Mother House at l’Hospital de l’Assomption. Many members were nurses working at hospitals in New Brunswick and Québec. Others worked as teachers, housekeepers, and nurses at presbyteries [6]. From the Secular Institute’s history written in 2015, Malenfant states: “[t]he Institute did not limit itself to a particular type of works” and “[t]he intern members devoted themselves in varied works: hospitals, schools, classical colleges, dispensaries, secretariats, social services, homes for young girls, for convalescents or for the elderly, bookstores, […] etc.” [2]. There were no residential schools in New Brunswick, however, Shubenacadie Residential School ran in Nova Scotia from 1930 and 1967 [7]. From 1956-1967 it was managed by the Oblate Missionaries of Mary Immaculate [8]. There was also a segregated hospital and day school, Tobique Indian Hospital (also known as St. Ann’s Teacherage and Hospital) in Tobique, NB, which was run by the Sisters of Charity from 1928-1981 [9] [10].” [Ref 3]

Function

THE CAPILLARY TUBES WERE USED IN A TEST TO DETERMINE A PATIENT'S HEMATOCRIT VALUE. THIS VALUE WAS USEFUL IN DIAGNOSING ANEMIA. BLOOD WAS DRAWN INTO THE TUBES WHICH WERE THEN SEALED & CENTRIFUGED FOR A SPECIFIED TIME & SPEED. THE RESULT WAS DETERMINED BY A READING TAKEN FROM A SCALE (REF.2)

Technical

A FAST METHOD OF DETERMINING HEMATOCRIT VALUE WHICH COULD BE DONE WITH A FINGER PRICK AVOIDING THE NEED FOR VENIPUNCTURE IN INFANTS. THIS METHOD PROVIDED A RELIABLE RESULT UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES, & COULD BE SET UP IN SMALL LABORATORIES.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

TUBES HAVE A BLACK CALIBRATION MARK/ PRINTED ON CONTAINER 'PRE-CAL [REGISTERED TRADE MARK SYMBOL]/ MICRO-HEMATOCRIT TUBES/ HEPARANIZED/ CALIBRATED 60mm. FROM END/ LENGTH 75mm.-I.D. 0.5-0.6 mm. - 0.0. 1.3-1.4mm/ SELECTED LOW TAPER - FIRE POLISHED ENDS/ SPECIALLY CALIBRATED FOR/ ADAMS READACRIT [REGISTERED TRADE MARK SYMBOL] CENTRIFUGE/ DRAW BLOOD TO 60mm CALIBRATION MARK. SEAL/ OPPOSITE END WITH ADAMS SEAL EASE OR FLAME/ SEAL. CENTRIFUGE AND READ %HEMATOCRIT/ DIRECTLY FROM SCALE IN HEAD OF CENTRIFUGE./ 100 TUBES NO.A-2937/ CLAY-ADAMS, INC./ NEW YORK 10, N.Y./ PAT. PENDING/ MADE IN U.S.A.' [COMPANY LOGO].

Missing

NONE

Finish

CONTAINER, CLEAR SYNTHETIC PLASTIC/ CAP YELLOW PLASTIC/ CAPILLARY TUBES, CLEAR GLASS/ SOLID TUBES, BLUE PLASTIC

Decoration

N/A