Material Type

Artifact

Other Name

BLOOD SAMPLE VIAL

Date

1986

Materials

GLASS, RUBBER, PAPER

No. Pieces

3

Length

13.1

Diameter

1.6

Description

CLEAR GLASS TUBES WITH ROUNDED ENDS AND RED RUBBER STOPPERS AT OPPOSITE END. VIALS HAVE WHITE (NOW YELLOWING SLIGHTLY) PAPER LABELS WITH RED PRINT WHICH READ "VENOJECT PLAIN (SILICONE COATED) STERILE". ALONG ONE EDGE IS "LOT8402103B1 EXP 1FEB86" AND ALONG OTHER EDGE IS "TERUMO MEDICAL ELKTON, MD., 21921 LAIS". RAISED AROUND STOPPER'S EDGE IS "TERUMO VENOJECT TUBE".

Subjects

CONTAINER

MEDICAL & DENTAL T&E

Historical Association

HEALTH SERVICES

History

VIALS WERE REMOVED FROM THE MORGUE AT ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL BEFORE THE HOSPITAL WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1996. FOR MORE HISTORY OF HOSPITAL SEE P19960116001-GA. ACCORDING TO RETIRED ST. MICHAEL’S PATHOLOGY STAFF MEMBERS DR. RAY BAINBOROUGH AND HARRY HEINRICHS, THESE TUBES WERE USED TO STORE A SAMPLE OF THE AUTOPSY SUBJECT’S BLOOD, TAKEN FROM THE FEMORAL VEIN. THE SAMPLE WAS SENT TO CALGARY OR EDMONTON FOR TOXICOLOGY TESTS TO SEE IF IT CONTAINED DRUGS OR ALCOHOL. THE RESULTS COULD ASSIST THE PATHOLOGIST IN DETERMINING THE CAUSE OF DEATH. LETHBRIDGE PATHOLOGY STAFF PERFORMED ALL OF THE FORENSIC (SUICIDE, MURDER AND CAR ACCIDENT) AUTOPSIES AT ONE TIME, BUT – THE PRESENTERS CLAIMED – LETHBRIDGE NO LONGER CONDUCTS THAT TYPE OF AUTOPSY.

Catalogue Number

P19960116079

Acquisition Date

1996-01

Collection

Museum

Less detail