BASIN

Description: MILK GLASS BASIN. STEEL BASE AND STAND. CLOTH COVERED AND RUBBER TUBES. SPUTUM IS ATTACHED TO AN ADJUSTABLE ARM, WHICH IS AFFIXED TO THE TOP OF THE STAND. FILTERED DRAIN IS REMOVABLE. PORCELAIN BOWL. BASIN RESTS ON STAND. HEIGHT OF STAND IS ADJUSTABLE WITH TWO KNOBS. ONE KNOB IS SMALLER THAN OTHER. BASE HAS FOUR LEGS; ENDS PAINTED BLACK (SCRATCHED). SMALLER CLOTH-COVERED HOSE (WITH RED STRIPE) IS AN INTAKE HOSE. IT IS AFFIXED TO PIPE WHICH ENTERS THE BOWL FROM TOP. LARGER HOSE ATTACHED TO DRAIN; APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.

History: *UPDATE* THIS ARTIFACT WAS INCLUDED IN A 2010 PALLET RACKING SURVEY CONDUCTED BY NICOLE HEMBROFF, COLLECTIONS ASSISTANT. ON OCTOBER 21, 2010 HEMBROFF MET WITH BRYAN BEERLING (SON OF LESLIE W. BEERLING) TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION FROM HIM ABOUT THIS ARTIFACT. ACCORDING TO BRYAN BEERLING, THE SPUTUM BASIN (AS WELL AS A DENTAL CHAIR) CAME FROM THE "MEDICAL AND DENTAL BUILDING" (PREVIOUSLY LOCATED AT 437 7TH ST. SOUTH). THE LETHBRIDGE HERALD STATES THAT ON JULY 14, 1954 AN EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE "LETHBRIDGE DENTAL LABORATORIES" LOCATED IN THE "MEDICAL AND DENTAL BUILDING." THE EXPLOSION HAPPENED WHEN A BOTTLE OF WAX SOLVENT (COMPOSED OF A 50/50 SOLUTION OF KEROSENE AND ETHER) WAS DROPPED AND THE FUMES IGNITED. ONE WOMAN, EDITH SHIELDS, DIED AND FOUR OTHERS WERE BURNED. SHEILDS' DRESS CAUGHT ON FIRE AND SHE DIED FROM BURNS THAT COVERED APPROXIMATELY 85% OF HER BODY. BEERLING SAID HIS FATHER, LESLIE BEERLING, ACQUIRED THE CHAIR AS A RESULT OF THIS EXPLOSION. ONE OF THE DENTISTS, DR. ELMO FLETCHER, GAVE IT TO LESLIE BEERLING IN ORDER FOR HIM TO REFURBISH IT. SEE P19651980000 AND P19662019 FOR MORE INFORMATION. SEE PERMANENT FILE FOR MORE INFORMATION. SEE ARCHIVES 199210449001, 1994051404 to 19941051407.