A NEW SUBSTITUTE FOR SPONGES APPLICABLE ESPECIALLY FOR USE BY PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS AND GENERALLY IN CASES OF ILLNESS AND AS SURGICAL TISSUES"
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sampson Gamgee of Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Consulting Surgeon for an Invention of "A NEW SUBSTITUTE FOR
SPONGES APPLICABLE ESPECIALLY FOR USE BY PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS
AND GENERALLY IN CASES OF ILLNESS AND AS SURGICAL TISSUES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sampson Gamgee at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th August 1883..
SAMPSON GAMGEE of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Consulting
Surgeon "A NEW SUBSTITUTE FOR SPONGES APPLICABLE ESPECIALLY FOR USE
BY PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS AND GENERALLY IN CASES OF ILLNESS AND AS
SURGICAL TISSUES
·">
This invention has mainly for its object to provide a substitute for sponges for
hospital use and generally for use in medical and surgical cases or cases of illness
of any kind.
For this purpose I form an absorbent elastic ball or pad of alternate concentric
layers of cotton wool and elastic fibres enclosed in a bag of woven gauze or such
like open work fabric. The inner layers of fibre I make up of coarser fibre than
the outer layers. For example the centre of the ball may be of coarse cocoa nut
fibre. Around this a layer of cotton wool-then a layer of fine threads cut from
wood then again a layer of cotton wool and outside this a layer of finer wood
fibre hemp or other elastic substance and an outermost layer of cotton wool-the
whole enclosed and sewn up or otherwise secured in a bag of gauze or such like
openwork fabric. The cotton wool used should be cotton wool free from grease so
that it may readily absorb liquid.
Sponges made in this way can be made at so small a price that they may be
destroyed by burning after being once used to avoid possibility of infection.
They may also be used just in the same way as sponges they will take up a
large volume of liquid and this by squeezing may in great part be expressed from
them. They can also very advantageously be used as surgical tissues for many
niedical and surgical purposes with or without antiseptic or other medication.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Sampson Gamgee in the Patent Office on the 23rd Fobruary
1884.
SAMPSON GAMGEE of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Consulting
Surgeon "A NEW SUBSTITUTE FOR SPONGES APPLICABLE ESPECIALLY FOR USE
BY PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS AND GENERALLY IN CASES OF ILLNESS AND AS
SURGICAL TISSUES
"
This invention has mainly for its object to provide a substitute for sponges for
hospital use and generally for use in medical and surgical cases or cases of illness
of any kind, and for the preservation of Health For this purpose I form an
absorbent elastic ball or pad of alternate concentric layers of cotton wool and
elastic fibres enclosed in a bag of woven gauze or such like openwork fabric. The
inner layers of fibre I make up of coarser fibre than the outer layers. For
example the centre of the ball may be of coarse cocoa nut fibre-around this a
layer of cotton wool-then a layer of fine threads cut from wood then again a
layer of cotton wool and outside this a layer of finer wood fibre, hemp or other
elastic substance and an outermost layer of cotton wool-the whole enclosed and
sewn up or otherwise secured in a bag of, gauze or such like openwork fabric.
The cotton wool used should be cotton wool free from grease so that it may readily
absorb liquid. and be quite pure. Sponges made in this way can be made at so
small a price that they may be destroyed by burning after being once used to
avoid possibility of infection: under any and all circumstances
They may also be used just in the same way as sponges they will take up a
large volume of liquid and this by squeezing may in great part be expressed from
them. They can also very advantageously be used as surgical tissues for many
medical and surgical purposes with or without antiseptic or other medication, as
dressings, or pads for health & comfort. Having now described the naturo of my
said invention and the manner of performing the same I would have it understood
that I claim the manufacture substantially as herein before described of a substitute
for sponges applicable especially for use by physicians and surgeons and generally
in cases of illness and as surgical tissues, and for the preservation of the bodily
health.
In witness whereof I the said Sampson Gamgee have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Twenty-second day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.