Improved Inhaling Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improved Inhaling Apparatus.
I, HARRY HIBBERD BEALE, of Somerley, London Road, Reading, in the County
of Berks, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The
The improved inhaling apparatus invented by me is for the purpose of inhaling
a variety of medicinal substances in an easy and efficacious manner.
apparatus which in my sketch is drawn about the real size is made of aluminium
and consists of a long tube, H, fitted with a small moveable inner tube C to con-
tain the substance to be inhaled. Some cotton wool or pieces of sponge should
be inserted in the small tube and the drug placed or dropped therein or thereon.
Under some circumstances referred to hereafter the outer tube is to be warmed
by the flame of a spirit lamp. In such case, the small inner tube should contain
asbestos in the place of cotton wool or sponge. Both ends "D" and "E" of this
smaller tube are of wire gauze and can be detached from the small tube "0" to
allow of filling and cleansing. The small projecting parts "F" and G are for the
purpose of rendering easy the insertion and extraction of the tube. One of the
chief advantages in my instrument is that the part containing the tube "C" can
be warmed and by this means many drugs can be made to act in a much more
powerful manner than if heat be not so employed. For instance in the case of the
drug menthol which proves so useful in many chest and throat affections, and
in nasal catarrh and also in coryza or cold in the head, it may be inhaled in a far
more concentrated form by the aid of slight heat. The amount of heat must of
course be regulated by the character of the drug itself and the opinion of the
medical man who prescribes the same, for naturally some volatile drugs would
act efficiently without any raising of temperature. I may add that in cases where
the tube is heated es in manner above stated, it is advisable now and again during
the process of inhalation to very slightly warm the whole length of the tube and
thus to prevent any condensation of the drug taking place therein. It can be
readily seen how much better my plan of obtaining heat is than the old method
of placing the drug in some receptacle containing boiling water and inhaling
therefrom, thus obtaining a small quantity of the vapour of the drug and at the
same time a large proportion of watery vapour. It is hardly necessary to state
that in some complaints the inhalation of this moist vapour is by no means bene-
ficial. The vapour of the drug alone would often be far better.
My instrument being made of metal will readily allow of cleansing with warm
water or washing out with rectified spirit. It will also not be easily broken or
injured and in this respect is a great improvement on other forms of inhalers
made of glass, china or other fragile material. Other points for notice in the
sketch are the two valves "A" and "B," the former being for the passage of
the air for inspiration and the latter for the outlet of the expired air. By this
means no foul air enters the tube "C" and none of the drug is lost by reason of
a blast of the expired air passing back through it. The mask "I" is made of

page_text: a convenient form to fit over the mouth and nose of the patient. The edges of
the mask are rounded and smooth so as not to hurt the face.
Dated this 17th day of November 1897.
Improved Inhaling Apparatus.
I, HARRY HIBBERD BEALE, of Somerley, London Road, Reading, in the County
of Berks, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The improved inhaling apparatus invented by me is for the purpose of inhaling
the vapour of a variety of medicinal substances in a far more efficacious manner
than has hitherto been possible with other forms of instruments. The apparatus
which in my drawing is shown about the real size is made of plated metal and con-
sists of a long tube H furnished at one extremity with a small movable inner
tube C to contain the substance to be inhaled. At the other end is a mask I to
fit comfortably over the mouth and nose. The mask is provided with a movable
rubber covering J to prevent the metal hurting the face. The instrument is
also provided with two metal valves A and B, the former being for the passage
of the air for inspiration and the latter for the outlet of the expired air. The
valve B is protected from injury by a small movable metal cover K fitted at the
top with coarse wire gauze. By means of these valves no foul air enters the
tube H or the smaller tube C and thus none of the drug is lost by reason of a
blast of the expired air passing back through it, neither is the drug rendered
impure thereby When about to use the instrument some cotton wool or pieces
of sponge should be inserted in the small tube and the drug placed or dropped
therein or thereon. Under some circumstances heferred to hereafter the outer
tube is to be warmed by the flame of a spirit lamp. In such case the small inner
tube should contain asbestos fibre instead of the cotton wool or sponge. Both
ends of the small tube C are covered by caps D and E of coarse wire gauze. These
caps are moyable, in order to allow for the filling of the tube, or for the cleansing
thereof. The small projecting parts F and G are for the purpose of rendering
easy the insertion and extraction of the tube. One of the chief advantages in my
instrument is that the part containing the tube C can be warmed by the flame of
a spirit lamp and by this means many drugs can be made to act in a much more
powerful manner than if heat be not so employed. For instance in the case of the
drug menthol, which proves so useful in such a variety of ailments, it
may be
inhaled in a far more concentrated form by the assistance of slight heat. It is
best to use menthol in a powdered state. The amount of heat must of course be
regulated by the character of the drug itself and the opinion of the medical man
who prescribes the same, for of course some volatile drugs such as oil of
eucalyptus and pinol would act efficiently without any raising of temperature,
but if it is desired that a volatile oil should give off its vapour more quickly and
thus act in a stronger manner, the tube may be slightly warmed. In cases where
the tube is heated it is advisable now and again during the process of inhalation
to slightly warm the whole length of the tube and thus prevent any condensation
of the drug taking place therein. When using heat it is best for the patient to
be seated at a table so that the spirit lamp may be in a place of security, and be
conveniently at hand. If the patient be unable to rise, it would be advisable
to leave the heating of the tube entirely in the hands of another person. The

page_text: instrument having been charged with the prescribed drug, and the spirit lamp
lighted the lower portion of the outer tube should be gently warmed by waving
it to and fro over the flame, and the whole of the outer tube should also be slightly
warmed. Inhalation should then commence, and the heat be employed again
when occasion requires during the process.
This plan of obtaining heat is far better than the old method of placing the
drug in some vessel containing boiling water and inhaling therefrom, thus obtain-
ing a small quantity of the vapour of the drug and at the same time a large pro-
portion of watery vapour. It is hardly necessary to state that in some complaints
the inhalation of this moist vapour is by no means beneficial. The vapour of
the medicament alone would be far better. In all cases whether heat be employed
or not, the time to be spent in inhalation must be a matter for medical opinion.
My instrument will prove of much value in treating cases of throat and lung
affections, nasal catarrh, coryza, or cold in the head and other similar complaints.
Its chief advantages therefore are as follows:
1. That my instrument can be used with or without the aid of heat. The
flame of a spirit lamp is best suited for this purpose. If heat be employed an
immense amount of vapour may be caused to be given off from the prescribed
drug, and in far greater quantity and strength than is possible in the case of other
instruments.
2. No boiling water is required to convey the vapour of the drug.
3. The instrument being made of metal is not liable to injury like other
inhalers made of china, glass or other fragile material.
4. The valves being made of metal, will always be in good condition. Rubber
valves very often refuse to work properly in consequence of becoming hard and
from other causes.
5. Absolute cleanliness is insured in my instrument, because hot water may
be employed to thoroughly purify it, and here again is shown the benefit of having
metal valves, for if made of rubber they could not stand the heat. When
cleansing the instrument with hot water, the movable rubber covering over the
edge of the mask should be detached, for the rubber itself should only be washed
in tepid water, with some disinfectant added thereto if desired.
Rectified spirit is also a very good thing with which to wash out my instrument
but this again should not be used for the rubber over the edge of the mask.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
That I have invented a metal inhaling apparatus, to which heat may be applied
by the flame of a spirit lamp for preference, and by this means, the vapour of the
drug employed may be driven off in a very concentrated form the more heat
used the stronger the vapour. The vapour from boiling water is not required
in my instrument.
Dated this Twenty-first day of July One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-eight.
HARRY HIBBERD BEALE.