Specification of Thomas John Ashton : surgical pneumatic apparatus.

  • Ashton, T. J. (Thomas John)
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Thomas John Ashton : surgical pneumatic apparatus. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    3 Ashtons^ Improved^ Surgical^ Pneumatic Apparatus. times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully mio-ht make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for “ An Improved Portable Pneumatic Apparatus applicable in Surgery and Medicine for all 5 Purposes as a Douche for Affusion, Irrigation, Injection, and for Enemas,” upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas John Ashton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per- 10 formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent. NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas John Ashton, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be 15 performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings'! that is to say :— This improved pneumatic apparatus is applicable for administering douches or injections for all surgical or medicinal purposes, and the principal object of 20 the Invention is to construct a portable and effective apparatus, and at the same time to prevent the injection of any air with the water or other liquid composing the douche or injection. The apparatus is composed principally of two vessels (one contained within the other), each vessel being made of an impermeable material, the inner one being flexible and compressible (india- 25 rubber by preference), and the outer one inelastic, being either made of a ligid material or of a compressible substance, such as canvas or other textile material lined with india-rubber as may be preferred. Each of these vessels is furnished with a tube provided with a stop-cock, but there is no communi¬ cation whatever between the two vessels. A small detachable or fixed syringe 30 or air pump for charging the outer vessel with compressed air is also provided. The action of the apparatus is as follows:—The inner vessel is to be filled with the watei (oi other liquid composing the douche or injection) by means of a funnel or otherwise, and the latter being removed its stop-cock is closed. Air is then compressed into the outer vessel by means of the syringe or air 35 pump until a sufficient pressure is obtained according to the force desired. Upon closing the stop-cock of the outer vessel and removing the syringe (if detachable) the apparatus is now ready for use, and upon the stop-cock of the inner vessel being opened the expansion of the compressed air in the outer vessel will compress the inner vessel and force out the water or liquid which