The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-10
WEEKLY MORTALITY.
ending

Az IMPROVED INVALID BEDSTEAD - MI
Oscar G. Cosby. who lives short distance
from Richmond city, in HcnricO county, Is
the recent inventor and patcntec OF an lnHa
lid hcdStcad, which for simplicity, strength.
and comfort is superior TO anything of tie
kind ever brought TO our notice. His Sattcn.
ton was called TO the matter and the ncceS-
Sity for something of this kind by Il tedious
and protractcd sickness which one of his
family suffered and with great promptneS>
he succeeded in arranging Il bed similar in
many respects to the subject of this notice,
although his last attempt embraces Il number
OF Valuable improvements.
Briefly, the bed consists of canvas
above the mattress arranged on rollers eX-
tending from head to foot, one on each side,
and 80 arranged as to stretch the canvas
tight and hold the patient III it; while the
mattress and its frame are suitably arranged
and provided with devices for lowering it to
allow vessel to be presented under the can
vas. The rollers are lointed near the head.
and provided with castings for raising and
lowering that portion to support the patient
in sitting or reclining posture. Gears and
crankS are employed to raise and lower the
mattress and its frame, also the head portion
of the canvas and rollers on which 1t Is
stretched, and ratchets and holding.pawls
are employed to keep them in position.
RatchctS and pawlS are also used with the
rollers for stretching the canvas, and crank
is employed for turning them so as to lacli-
tate the stretching and releasing of it.
The mattress can be easily and quickly
lowered away from the canvas, leaving the
patient thereon, so that vessel can be pre-
scntcd for his needs and for the protection of
the bed, and all labor and distress incidental
to the patient in an ordinary bed on these
occasions avoided. Moreover, the patient
can be supported on the canvas at any time
in hot weather for cooling and airing him in
bed and changing the latter.
But there is another novel and important
feature about the invention. 1t is Il foot
board, which stands at the foot of the bed
and NAV be sid backwards or forwards. rs
the case may be, in order that the patient
when sitting partly upright may rest his
feet ag;,in>, it, Besides this ioot-board, de-
signed 10 relieve one from the tircsomc po-
sition OF lying flat on the back maybe for
many months. the frame and mattress are
put together by sections. and the foot se--
| ton of the frame. which is about the dis
| tance from the loot to the knee, slides out OF
| the way by unl;tstening the hook which
| holds it in position. and enables the patient
| TO drop his feet through while the head sec
| ton is raised a> before described, thus plac'
| lug him Us il We're in chair.
| The arrangement is 50 simple that Il chllt
| may easily manage it, and yet i'll all respect:
| the most complete, and will be the most Use
| ful invention of the kind ever yet brOugh
out. Mr.. Cosby has already received large
number OF orders for his bcdstcad, which l.
most highly recommended by number 0
prominent Richmond physicians. 1t is Sait
| that the cost will be but little more than tina
of an ordinary bed>tcad.