Rectangular paper box (a) covered in blue paper with a white paper label with blue watermarks of the Ingram and Bell logo over the whole label; on the label is printed in dark blue ink the contents of the box and the manufacturing information; inside the box, there is a series of paper dividers cov…
Rectangular paper box (a) covered in blue paper with a white paper label with blue watermarks of the Ingram and Bell logo over the whole label; on the label is printed in dark blue ink the contents of the box and the manufacturing information; inside the box, there is a series of paper dividers covered in a white cotton cloth, and between the dividers are six glass ampoules filled with a brown liquid, each with the contents printed on the glass in silver ink.
Number Of Parts
7
Part Names
a - box: Length 15.5 cm X Width 6.7 X Height 1.5 cm
b-g - ampoules: Length 4.8 cm X Diameter 1.0 cm
Provenance
Received from anonymous donor via Kingston General Hospital Public Affairs.
Presence of Winnipeg on label, first location in Winnipeg opened in 1927; presence of Ingram & Bell logo discontinued in late 1960s (at least up to 1968)
Material
paper: tan, blue
ink: light blue, dark blue, silver
glass: clear
liquid: brown
fabric: cream
Inscriptions
Printed on label on top of box: "12 Ampoules I. & B. AMPOULE No. 20 1 c.c. // Sterile Solution for Hypodermic Injection // Each c.c. contains // ERGOTIN // (Ext. Ergotae P.B. '14) // 3 Grs. (0.2 Gm.) LOT 531 // Ingram & Bell, Limited // Ingram & Bell Limited // Ingram & Bell Limited // TORONTO // 450303 // MONTREAL WINNIPEG CALGARY VANCOUVER"; printed on each ampoule: "1 c.c No. 20 // Sterile Solution // ERGOTIN // EXT. ERGOTAE B.P. '14 // 3 Grains // FOR INTRAMUSCULAR // INJECTION // Lot No. 531 // INGRAM & BELL, LTD."
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-A3-2
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Minor wear at edges of box; small dark stain on front of box lid flap.
Copy Type
original
Reference Types
Dictionary, catalogue, websites
Reference Comments
"Ergot" in Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 23rd edition, W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia and London, 1957.
Ingram & Bell Limited. Pharmaceutical Catalogue, 1964.
MDS Inc. “Mds Inc. Annual Information Form for the Year Ended October 31, 2002.” MDS Inc., 2003.
“Cardinal Health Canada Inc.” Canadian Business Resource, Canadian Newspaper Services International Limited, 2019. Accessed 7 August 2019.
Winnipeg Downtown Places Blogspot, "203 Kennedy Street - Ingram and Bell Block": http://winnipegdowntownplaces.blogspot.com/2012/04/203-kennedy-street-ingram-and-bell.html
Research Facts
Ergotin is used to treat menorrhagia (abnormally heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding), to control internal bleeding, and as an oxytocic (to induce labour). In addition to coming in liquid form for injection, Ingram and Bell also sold Ergotin in tablet form, coated in chocolate or coated in sugar with strychnine. Ergotin comes from the fungus ergot, which affects cereal grass. It works by contracting the arterioles and unstriped muscle fibres. It was also used to control bleeding after childbirth, treat spinal and cerebral congestion, paralysis of the bladder, and diabetes mellitus.
Ingram & Bell Limited was a medical supply company first established in Toronto in 1905; the company became a Canadian leader in the distribution of medical products; their wide selection included equipment, surgical tools, and pharmaceuticals; as the company grew, they established branches in Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver; became Ingram & Bell Inc. and 49% owned by MDS in 1986; MDS acquired 100% in 1993; became Source Medical Corporation after merger with Allegiance Healthcare Canada Inc. in 1997; acquired by Cardinal Health Canada Inc. in 2005.