Rockwood / Kingston Psychiatric Hospital / Providence Continuing Care Centre Collection
Category
Mental Health
Classification
Mental Health
Mental Health, Treatment
Accession Number
000003376 a-n
Description
A 160G Electro-shock therapy unit in brown imitation leather portable suitcase shell (a); suitcase has a plug outlet built into the left bottom corner; top/front has a leather handle and brass seals for holding it closed; interior contains black control panel with knobs, buttons and dials to contro…
A 160G Electro-shock therapy unit in brown imitation leather portable suitcase shell (a); suitcase has a plug outlet built into the left bottom corner; top/front has a leather handle and brass seals for holding it closed; interior contains black control panel with knobs, buttons and dials to control voltage and shock duration; also inside the case is a separate felt lined container which holds the power cord (b) which is made out of black rubber with a plug at one end, and a silver adapter which fits the outlet on the case; there are two electrode cords (c,d) which are made out of rubber and have an adaptor for hooking into the machine at one end, and split near the end of the other to form to cords each of which has a connect at the end for attaching the electrodes (e,f) which are small disks with a metal surface on one side, and a black plastic covering on the other and a prong which fits into the cord connectors; there is a brown rubber strap (g) with belt holes in it and two small brass buckles (h,i); there is a small glass fuse with metal ends (j); there are also two pieces of paper containing instructions (k), and product information (l), and a yellow banking envelope (m)which was being used to hold the fuse; the inside cover of the case has a product advertisement taped to it.
Number Of Parts
14
Part Names
a - machine - Length 33.0 cm x Width 33.0 cm x Depth 20.2 cm
b - power cord - Length 175.0 cm x Diam. 3.7 cm
c - electrode cord - Length 188.0 cm x Width 3.3 cm x Depth 1.3 cm
d - electrode cord - Length 177 cm x Width 3.2 cm x Depth 1.2 cm
e - electrode - Depth 2.5 cm x Diam. 5.5 cm
f - electrode - Depth 2.5 cm x Diam. 5.5 cm
g - strap - Length 100 cm x Width 3.1 cm x Depth 0.2 cm
h - buckle - Length 3.1 cm x Width 1.4 cm x Depth 1.0 cm
i - buckle - Length 3.1 cm x Width 1.4 cm x Depth 1.0 cm
j - fuse - Length 3.0 cm x Diam. 0.6 cm
k - paper - Length 25.0 cm x Width 20.2 cm
l - paper - Length 25.0 cm x Width 20.2 cm
m - envelope - Length 15.8 cm x Width 8.8 cm
Provenance
Used at KPH (Kingston Psychiatric Hospital) from 1973 until it was too old to be used any longer (around 1980); it was accessioned into the KPH Museum in Rockwood Villa in 1981 where it was accessioned under the number 1981.23.1.
Date based on telephone and address type on the papers.
Material
leatherette: brown
plastic: black, red, clear
rubber: black, grey, brown
metal: black, silver; yellow
Inscriptions
"ELECTRO SHOCK // with // SELECTIVE // AUTOMATIC // GLISSANDO" printed at the top of the advertisement in the case along with other product information and ordering information "the black panel is marked "ELECTRO SHOCK THERAPY EQUIPMENT // MODEL 160 SERIAL NO 305" printed at the top and "LECTRA LABORATORIES Inc. // NEW YORK N.Y." at the bottom "OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS // FOR // ELECTRO SHOCK THERAPY EQUIPMENT MODEL 160" printed at the top of "k" "KNOW that your LEKTRA E.C.T. Machines are functioning properly // HOW? // THE "BEXCO" E.C.T. TEST STANDARD" printed at the top of "l" "Spare // Fuse" printed in ink on the back of "m"
Permanent Location
(a-j,n) Storage Room 0007
0007-L2-2
(k-m) Storage Room 2005
2005-2-5 Box 18
Condition Remarks
The black rubber on the cords is brittle and cracking; the flap covering the storage compartment on the interior is coming off; some green corrosion on "e".
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Other
Reference Comments
Instruction papers included with artefact
Original accession record done by KPH employee Kim Wide
Research Facts
Manufacture of E.C.T. machines began in the late 1940s; this machine was designed and made by Lektra Laboratories and distributed by Burke Electric & X-Ray Co.; the buckles may not be part of the original artefact.
Exhibit History
On exhibit 100TH Anniversary of Public Health Canada, Ottawa L-2019-7 27 Nov – 2 Dec 2019
On exhibit at the Lakeshore Asylum, Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre Humber College, Toronto L-2016-6; 31 August 2016- 31 Dec 2018.