General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

metal, synthetic and fabric components.

Dimensions

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

Length

33.3 cm

Width

14.7 cm

Height

1.7 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Radiology

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

White Dental

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Saskatchewan

Period

Possibly used c. 1962+; not used after 2005.

Canada

Weyburn Mental Hospital in Weyburn, SK opened its doors in 1921 and closed (as the Souris Valley Hospital) in 2005. From the 1940s to 1971 it took part in controversial treatments for mental illness including lobotomy and electro shock therapy. It was also famous for its pioneering experiments with LSD in the 1950s and 60s. Dr. Humphrey Osmond, who coined the term "psychedelic" performed several experiments with patients and university students. In its heyday, the Weyburn was a well-equipped, self-sufficient health facility. Some complained that it was even better equipped than the local hospital. This x-ray machine [system component] would have been the workhorse for the institution. It was still in use after the building shut down a few years ago. It does not have direct ties to the more controversial history at Weyburn, but in colour and design, mirrored the institutional interior of Weyburn. Much of the old equipment and supplies went to developing countries when the shut-down occurred and some went to the University of Regina theatrical department. [Ref. 1]

Function

USED TO HOLD X-RAY FILM DURING EXPOSURE. INTENSIFYING SCREENS PROMOTE MORE EFFECTIVE ABSORPTION OF X-RAYS, PRODUCING A SHARPER, MORE DISTINCT IMAGE.

Technical

Accessory for durable x-ray, fluoroscopic machine used for many purposes. It was part of a new generation of fluoroscopic technology following the invention of large image intensifiers in 1953. With these photomultiplier tubes, ordinary movie cameras could capture the moving pictures of the fluoroscopic images. Contrast agents such as barium would have been used to see bodily processes in real time. {ref. 1]

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

" [logo]/ S.S. WHITE/ MODEL/ 512/ CASSETTE/ 5X12 INCHES" stamped into door. Decal on lower portion of door reads "Thi[s] Cassette Equipped With/ PAN-O-SCREENS/ USE ONLY X-RAY FILMS LISTED/ ON PAN-O-SCREEN SIDE OF/ EXPOSURE TECHNIC CHART". "DUPONT PAN-O-SCREEN QL" and "014820" printed in black on edge of screen backing front panel; "DUPONT PAN-O-SCREEN QL" and "014812" printed in black on edge of screen backing door.

Missing

None.

Finish

Silver metal frame (including access door, pulls, and latching mechanism]; black synthetic (?) front; black felt (?) seals around door; off-white screens

Decoration

N/A