Enamel-covered metal bedpan with lid, which consists of: (a) bedpan with an open top and a cylindrical spout at the front; the bedpan is rounded at the top and tapers to a square closed dovetail shape at the bottom; the base of the bedpan is flat; there is a round opening above this that is covered…
Enamel-covered metal bedpan with lid, which consists of: (a) bedpan with an open top and a cylindrical spout at the front; the bedpan is rounded at the top and tapers to a square closed dovetail shape at the bottom; the base of the bedpan is flat; there is a round opening above this that is covered with (b) a round enamel-covered metal lid with a rounded handle on the outer centre; the rest of the bedpan is closed; the enamel coating is white with a blue stripe at the edges
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - bedpan
b - lid
Provenance
Purchased and used at the Hotel Dieu Hospital, Kingston, Ontario.
Dates
1900
1930
circa 1900-1930
Material
metal: dark grey
enamel: white; blue
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0007
0007-N1-1
Condition Remarks
The bedpan and lid arrived dirty and dusty; there are several large chips in the enamel coating - especially at the edges; some corrosion is visible where the metal has been exposed
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Website
Article
Reference Comments
American Association for the History of Nursing, https://www.aahn.org/bedpans#:~:text=Porcelain%2C%20china%2C%20and%20even%20pottery,enamel%20and%20then%20stainless%20steel.&text=Today%20these%20antique%20bedpans%20are,be%20found%20in%20antique%20stores.
Cassandra Good, “The Strange Saga of George Washington’s Bedpan,” August 20th, 2015. Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/strange-saga-george-washingtons-bedpan-180956347/
Research Facts
Before the late nineteenth century, bedpans and similar objects were made of metals such as pewter, brass, and sometimes even glass. By the late nineteenth century, porcelain, china, and pottery were used. As the 20th century dawned, bedpans, urinals, basins, etc. were made of enamel and later stainless steel. In the 1960s, there was a shift towards plastics and other disposables.
The bedpan was designed for people who could not or should not rise from their beds to relieve themselves. A bedpan could be lightly heated and placed under the covers of the beds of the elderly, people who were ill, and women recovering from childbirth so that they would not have to get out of bed. They were routinely emptied by caregivers, nurses, etc.
This bedpan style is a "slipper" type, later referred to as a fracture bedpan and can be slipped under the patient. The spout is to facilitate washing it out. Fracture bedpans are smaller than standard size bedpans, and have one flat end. This bedpan style is designed specifically for patients who are bedridden and have limited movement to use a standard style bedpan.