General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

GLASS/ STRYCHNINE/ ARSENIC

Dimensions

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

Length

10.3 cm

Width

1.8 cm

Height

1.8 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Chemicals & medications

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Chemical

Country

Canada

State/Province

Quebec

City

Montreal

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

New Brunswick

Period

C.1930-1940'S

Canada

An example of a tonic administered for a broad spectrum of ailments prior to antibiotics & modern chemotherapy. Part of the Hôpital de l'Assomption collection of medical instruments & equipment. This material is representative of medical tech. used in a small hospital operating in an economically depressed region of cda during the first half of 20th c. “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 4]

Function

Unknown

Technical

TONICS SUCH AS THIS PRECEDED THE ERA OF ANTIBIOTICS & CHEMOTHERAPY. THEY WOULD BE ADMINISTED AS AN AID TO A WIDE VARIETY OF AILMENTS WITHOUT ANY RATIONAL BASIS FOR USE. (REF.2) STRYCHNINE WAS OFTEN USED AS A TONIC DUE TO IT'S THREE ASPECTS: BITTER TASTE, STIMULATION OF GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT & INCREASE OF VOLUNTARY MUSCLE TONE. IT WAS PRACTICE TO ADMINISTER INTRAMUSCULARLY. ARSENIC WAS DEVELOPED FOR TREATMENT OF SYPHILLIS, BUT IS NO LONGER USED TODAY (REF.2, GOODMAN)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

LABEL ON VIAL READS 'VALOR/ STRYCHNO-ARSENICAL/ Cacodylate Sodium, 0.30 gm./ Strychnine Sulfate 0.001 gm./ Liq. Sod. Chlor. Phsiol. 5cc.' [MFR'S LOGO INCORPORATED INTO THE 'L' OF 'VALOR']

Missing

NONE

Finish

CLEAR GLASS AMPOULE WITH ELONGATED NECK, PROBABLY BLOWN GLASS

Decoration

N/A