An Improved Antiseptic Artificial Ear Drum.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left. 16th Oct.. 1884-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Antiseptic Artificial Ear Drum.
I JOHN WARD COUSINS M.D. of "Riversdale" Kent Road Southsea in the County
of Hants do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved antiseptic artificial ear drum for improving
Ithe hearing power in many aural diseases.
These ear drums according to my present invention are formed hollow somewhat of
the shape of a hat with high crown and rim with or without a projection or handle on
one side and are constructed of compressed cotton wool with an aromatic oil (for
instance pumuline pine eucalyptus and such like oils) and saturated with a solution of
boracic acid and a compound ether containing a little plastic collodion.
The material so prepared is then formed into shape by cutting drying pressing and
stamping or otherwise.
Dated this 16th day of January 1889
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Antiseptic Artificial Ear Drum.
I, JOHN WARD COUSINS, M.D., of "Riversdale" Kent Road, Southsea, in the
County of Hants, 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 :-
My invention consists of an improved antiseptic artificial ear drum or ear protector
which is of service for improving the hearing power in cases of deafness caused by
perforation of the drum of the eur or other aural diseases or as a constant antiseptic in
foetid suppuration, though they are well adapted for the use of other than deaf persons
as a protection against cold or wind.
The ear drums according to my invention are formed hollow or somewhat in the
shape of a hat with a high crown and rim and with or without a projecting strip on
one side, a drum such as described being shown in the drawing forming part of this
specification. The material of which they are composed may be cotton wool or suitable
fibrous substance. In manufacturing such drums I preferably proceed as follows:
A mass of cotton wool after being first macerated in a hot boracic acid solution and
dried is laid in a sheet of about one sixteenth of an inch thick on a tray and then
saturated with a mixture of collodion (2 parts) alcohol (1 part) and ether (1 part), a
little wax having been previously dissolved in the ether. The excess moisture is
squeezed out and the sheet is then compressed in some suitable machine so that a firm
(though absorbent) sheet is produced. On removal from the press the sheet is allowed
to dry and the drums of the shape shown with or without the tab or projection are
stamped therefrom by means of suitable punches and dies.
The alcohol used is previously mixed with an antiseptic such as a preparation of the
pinus pumilio or eucalyptus or both, and if desired with a small quantity of a pink or
scarlet dye which will impart a flesh coloured tint to the finished article. If preferred
a solid powder dye may be suspended in the antiseptic substance, and these may be
dropped on to the drum after the latter is made, though I do not consider this manner
so desirable.
In place of immersing the cotton wool in the solution of collodion alcohol and ether,
a solution of alum may be employed but the resulting article is fluffy and less
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page_text: To introduce the drum it should be placed on the blunt point of a probe or small
rod and gently pushed far into the ear. The tab will be found a convenient means of
removing saine, or it can be readily removed with a pair of tweezers.
I do not desire to confine myself to the particular shape or process of manufacture
described but
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
An artificial ear drum or protector of substantially the shape shown composed of
compressed cotton wool or fibre saturated with suitable antiseptic substances substan-
tially as described.--
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Applicant's Agent.