VIAL

Description: CLEAR GLASS, GREY RUBBER. CLEAR GLASS TUBES HAVE ROUNDED ENDS AND GREY RUBBER STOPPER IN OPPOSITE END. STOPPER HAS WIDER DIAMETER THAN TUBE. WHITE PAPER LABEL GLUED TO VIAL HAS BLACK PRINTING WHICH READS "BECTON DICKINSON STERILE VACUTAINER". ALONG SIDE IS "6470 0197 1 89". VIALS CONTAIN SMALL AMOUNT OF WHITE POWDER.

History: VIALS WERE REMOVED FROM MORGUE AT ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL BEFORE THE HOSPITAL WAS DEMOLISHED IN1996. FOR MORE HISTORY ON 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.