University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
General Treatment
Vaccination
Classification
General Treatment
Vaccination
smallpox
Accession Number
1930.3.1 a-b
Description
Nickle-plated brass spring lancet (a) in brown leather covered wooden case (b) with interior of blue velvet; rectangular vaccinator has finger hole on one end, thumb-worked single-action and hollow needle.
Nickle-plated brass spring lancet (a) in brown leather covered wooden case (b) with interior of blue velvet; rectangular vaccinator has finger hole on one end, thumb-worked single-action and hollow needle.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a: vaccinator - Length: 6.0 cm x Width: 0.5 cm x Depth: 4.5 cm
b: box - Length: cm x Width: cm x Height: cm
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; donated by Dr. Gilbert Parker.
Stamped on vaccinator: "WHITTEMORE'S // PATENT // FEB. 21, 1866"
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-D6-5
Temporary Location
On display: "Vaccines and Immunization: Epidemics, Prevention, and Canadian Innovation"; Museum of Health Care, 29 February 2024.
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
Jan 2024: Leather has completely detached from the top of the case (b), now loose flakes that crumble easily; a long side of the top of the case has detached, and one of the short sides is coming loose; stored alongside vaccinator (a) in small plastic bag, handle with care.
Case hinge broken; operable
#2: vaccinator is in good condition, with no active corrosion; minor metal wear in the form of fingerprints on the lever and body; parts move freely; case is in fair condition; leather is dry and brittle; top lid covering is totally detached; leather well worn at top and bottom and along edges; velvet lining is slightly faded; round velvet-covered piece in bottom of case is loose; front eye hook moves freely
July 28, 2023: case is in fragile and unstable condition; leather is dry and brittle; top lid covering is totally detached; leather well worn at top and bottom and along edges with cracking and flaking allowing side walls to detach and warp; velvet lining is slightly faded; round velvet-covered piece in bottom of case is loose; front eye hook of case moves stifly around green rust; vaccinator is in good condition with only some red rust along internal surface; minor metal wear in the form of fingerprints on the lever and body; parts move freely; dark grey tarnishing on lever grip ridges; bottom of maker's mark faded and worn
In using the device, the forefinger is passed into the ring and the thumb pressed upon the lever, by which the perforator is raised, and upon reaching a point is deployed by the force of a spring, and, slightly puncturing the skin deposits the virus. Thus, in a single, easy motion, a vaccination is performed. “The pain attending its use is so slight, as rarely to awaken a sleeping child, while the operation is rendered much more certain than by other methods.”
At the time Whittemore’s vaccinator was available, just smallpox had a vaccine, with rubella, measles, mumps, polio and other dreaded diseases still running unchecked.
The tip of the vaccinator is a hollow tube for holding the vaccine or serum. It is activated by a lever on the top, which both cocks and releases the blade. These are often mistaken for bleeders.
Exhibit History
(a) only: On loan to McMaster University L-2023-3 until 27 November 2023
(a only) On exhibit “Growing Pains: the 1867 Kingston General Hospital Crisis” at Museum of Health Care, 25 June 2017.
"When Medicine Met Science," Museum of Health Care, April 29, 2003 (a) - 25 Jan 2017