General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

11

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

CASE, PLASTIC, METAL BASE, HINGE & CLASP

Dimensions

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

Length

16.0 cm

Width

10.0 cm

Height

6.0 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

HELLIGE

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

New Brunswick

Period

C.1930-1952. MAY HAVE BEEN USED BETWEEN 1952-1968.

Canada

Example of lab equipment used c.1950-1969. Part of the Hopital de l'Assomption collection of medical instruments and equipment. This material is representative of medical technology used in a small hospital operating in an economically depressed region of Canada during the first half of the 20th century. “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

TO DETERMINE THE HEMOGLOBIN CONCENTRATION OF BLOOD. THIS TEST IS A SCREENING FOR DISEASES ASSOCIATED WITH ANEMIA AND FOR FOLLOWING THE RESPONSE AFTER TREATMENT (REF.2) THE COUNTING CHAMBER WAS USED TO COUNT RED AND WHITE CELLS USING A MICROSCOPE.

Technical

THE HELLIGE HEMOMETER USED THE "ACID HEMATIN METHOD" OF DETERMINING BLOOD HEMOGLOBIN VALUES. THIS INVOLVED VISUAL COMPARISONS WITH GLASS STANDARDS & WAS REPLACED WITH METHODS USING SPECTROPHOTOMETERS. WHEN THE LABORATORY CHANGED METHODS, THEY PROBABLY ADAPTED THIS KIT TO CONTAIN EQUIPMENT FOR CELL COUNTS AS WELL.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

CASE, EMBOSSED ON LID COMPANY LOGO 'H'/ 'HELLIGE HEMOMETER/ MADE IN U.S.A.' DECAL ON FRONT, '[FISHER] SCIENTIFIC CO. [LT]D./ FI[SHE]R/ MONTR[EAL] [CA]NADA'/ SOME COMPARTMENTS INSIDE CASE LABELLED/ 'DIRECTIONS FOR USE/ YOUR HEMOMETER GUARANTEE' PRINTED ON CASE INSIDE LID, WITH INSTRUCTIONS.

Missing

GLASS COLOUR STANDARDS/ POSSIBLY THE ORIGINAL MEASURING TUBE/ THE GLASS STIRRING ROD/ THE ACID BOTTLE MAY NOT BE THE ORIGINAL

Finish

CASE IS WINE RED COLOURED PLASTIC; BLACK METAL BASE

Decoration

CASE HAS EMBOSSED LABEL ON LID WITH ROUGH TEXTURED BACKGROUND/ A GOLD DECAL ON THE FRONT HAS BEEN PARTIALLY REMOVED