Unsealed rectangular brown cardboard Ammonia Inhalants box (a) containing 4 silken mesh wrapped cylindrical capsules (b-e) separated and supported by folded rectangular corrugated cream paper insert (f); box has 6 rectangular sides of varying size; box opens along long top flap and half circle cut …
Unsealed rectangular brown cardboard Ammonia Inhalants box (a) containing 4 silken mesh wrapped cylindrical capsules (b-e) separated and supported by folded rectangular corrugated cream paper insert (f); box has 6 rectangular sides of varying size; box opens along long top flap and half circle cut out at top of front side facilitates opening; product and company information appears on exterior of top, bottom, back, and proper right side; directions with illustrations appear on front; capsules consist of hard cylinder wrapped in soft cream fabric and silken mesh with both ends tied closed around the cylinder; part of contents in Rexall First Aid Kit (018.011.001).
Number Of Parts
6
Part Names
a – box – Length 10.4 cm Width 5.7 cm Depth 1.7 cm
b-e – capsules – Length 4.1 cm Diameter 1.0 cm
f – insert – Length 9.9 cm Width 5.0 cm Depth 1.7 cm
Similar items in other museum collections; new MSA letter logo introduced in 1967
Material
paper: brown, cream
fabric: cream, white
ink: black
Inscriptions
Printed on top and bottom of box: “MINE SAFETY // APPLIANCES CO. // EFFICIENCY // SERVICE SAFETY // PITTSBURGH PA // AMMONIA INHALANTS // (Aromatized Ammonia – Alcohol 38 %) // 10 Per Package // Cat. No. FA - 2156”; printed on front of box: “Crush inhalant // between thumb and // finger // Hold about 4 inches from nose. // As ammonia gets weaker, hold closer. // Try the strength of inhalant by placing // it under your own nose at about // one minute intervals. When too // weak, use another inhalant”; printed on back of box: “AMMONIA INHALANTS // Aromatized Ammonia : : Alcohol 38 % // Active Ingredients: Ammonia Carbonate, Stronger // Ammonia Water, Oil Lemon, Oil Lavender and Oil // Nutmeg. // 10 Per Package Containing 1/3 cc. Each. // MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES CO., // Braddock, Thomas and Meade Sts. // Pittsburgh, Pa. Made in U. S. A.”; printed on proper left side of box: “MINE SAFETY APPLIANCES CO., // Braddock, Thomas and Meade Sts. // Pittsburgh, Pa. Made in U. S. A.”; stamped on proper right side of box: “9 D 11”
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-D4-7
Permanent Location Notes
Stored inside Rexall First Aid Kit (018.011.001)
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Minor soiling and foxing all over box; minor distortion to back of box; minor soiling and foxing all over insert; minor discolouration on ends of capsules
Copy Type
original
Reference Types
Website
Website
Reference Comments
“First Aid.” Merriam-Webster, 2019. Accessed 22 June 2019.
“Aromatic Ammonia – Inhalation.” MedicineNet, 2019. Accessed 19 June 2019.
“Our History.” MSA, 2019. Accessed 18 July 2019.
“1960 – 1969 A decade of MSA in review.” MSA, 2019. Accessed 18 July 2019.
“Collections Online.” Bulkley Valley Museum, Bulkley Valley Museum Society, 2019. Accessed 19 July 2019.
Research Facts
This artifact is part of a first aid kit; First Aid is a broad term that refers to aid or treatment of the sick or injured before full medical treatment can be received; First Aid kits are designed to provide easy access to a variety of medical materials for fast treatment of minor wounds or to stabilize more serious conditions before additional treatment.
Aromatic ammonia is used to prevent and treat fainting and aid in overcoming the effects of anesthesia by encouraging the body to breath; ammonia can be taken orally in solution with water or placed on a fabric rag and inhaled; large doses or prolonged exposure to ammonia is harmful.
The Mine Safety Appliance Company was founded by John T. Ryan Sr. and George H. Deike following a tragic mining accident in 1912; with the help of Thomas Edison, they developed an electric mining lamp that helped reduce mine explosions; from there, the company expanded and developed a wide variety of safety products for a variety of applications; this Ammonia Inhalant set was likely produced before 1967 because of the absence of the “MSA” logo first introduced in 1967.