IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLYING HEAT OR COLD TO THE HUMAN BODY, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR. OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR, SUCH APPARATUS, BEING APPLICABLE AS PESSARIES OR DILATORS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Robertson, of Glasgow, in the County
of Lanark, North Britain, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPLYING HEAT OR COLD TO THE HUMAN BODY, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR
Scaled the 25th August 1871, and dated the 15th March 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Robertson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 15th March 1871..
I, ALEXANDER ROBERTSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark,
5. North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLYING HEAT OR COLD TO THE HUMAN BODY, AND IN THE.
APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR, SUCH APPARATUS, BEING APPLICABLE AS
PESSARIES OR DILATORS," to be as follows,. that is to. say :-
This Invention, which relates to improvements in applying heat or
cold to the human body, has for its object the production of a regulated

page_text: and equable or nearly equable temperature at any part of the body
desired, also to enable that to be effected with a mininium disturbance
to the patient. The apparatus for effecting the foregoing objects,
consists of bags of various shapes made of vulcanized cloth, vulcanized
india-rubber, or other waterproof fabric, and divided into two or more
compartments. The bags are provided with two or more openings,
having pipes attached thereto, through one or more of which water of
the desired temperature is forced or admitted from a reservoir, or is
poured in from a vessel by the hand, and which passing through the
bag brings it to the temperature desired, after which it is discharged
through the other pipe or pipes. By means of this Invention a constant
or intermittent flow through the apparatus can be maintained.
This Invention also includes the use of the bags hercin-before referred
to without inlet or outlet pipes attached, or with only one such pipe,
as the bags constructed with compartments as hercin-beforo described
are of less capacity and weight than the bags at present used, and are
therefore more casily borne by the patient.
In place of applying the apparatus herein-before referred to circot
to the human body they may be used to raise or maintain the tem-
perature of any intervening poultice, fomentation, or other application,.
and they may also be employed for passing into the "vagina," uterus,
rectum,, or other parts of the human body requiring dilation or support.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Robertson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 15th September 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
ROBERTSON, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, send
greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Fatent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the
35th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Robertson, Her special
license that I, the said Alexander Robertson, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Robertson,

page_text: my exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLYING HEAT OR COLD TO THE HUMAN BODY, AND IN THE
APPARATUS OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREFOR, SUCH APPARATUS BEING APPLICABLE
AS PESSARIES OR DILATORS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Alexander Robertson, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
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 Alexander Robertson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
My said Invention which relates to improvements in applying heat
or cold to the human body has for its object the production of a regu
lated and equable or nearly equable temperature at any part of the body
desired, also to enable that to be effected with a minimum disturbance
to the patient.
The apparatus for effecting the foregoing objects consists of bags of
various shapes made of vulcanized india-rubber, vulcanized cloth, or
other waterproof fabric, and divided into two or more compartments.
The bags are provided with two or more openings having pipes attached
thereto, through one or more of which water of the desired temperature
is forced or admitted from a reservoir, or is poured in from a vessel by
the hand, or is injected by a syringe, and which passing through the
bag brings it to the temperature desired, after which it is discharged
through the other pipe or pipes. By means of this Invention a constant
or intermittent flow through the apparatus can be maintained.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system; mode, or manner

page_text: in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, that is to say:—
Upon the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended my Invention is
illustrated under several forms applicable to various parts of the human
body. An apparatus for applying to the chest, stomach, or other
rounder portion of the human body, such as the thigh or arm, is
shewn distended at Figure 1, the side thereof marked A being in
horizontal section, and that marked B being in plan whilst Figure 2
is a transverse section of the same upon the line A, B, Figure 1.
The apparatus illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 consists of a bag a of
vulcanized india-rubber or other waterproof material arranged in com-
partments numbered respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, through which
water of the required temperature is caused to flow by being admitted
to the inlet end thereof through a pipe b attached thereto and passing
from the outlet end through another pipe e similarly attached, both
pipes being of any length required. Under the arrangement shewn the
water may be poured by hand at intervals into the bag a through the
inlet pipe and retained therein for any required length of time by
means of caps or stoppers d, which are screwed on to the ends of the
inlet pipe band the outlet pipe c respectively, or it may be so arranged
that a continuous flow of water is maintained through the apparatus,
in which case the cap or stopper d is removed from the inlet pipe b and
one end of a pipe or tube is affixed thereto with its opposite end in
communication with a tank or vessel containing water, whilst the cap
or stopper d is also removed from the outlet pipe c, and one end of
another pipe or tube if required is attached thereto, the opposite end of
which may be provided with a tap through which the water is allowed
to flow from the bag a in any required quantity which the tap may be
obviously adjusted to regulate. The direction in which the water flows
is clearly indicated by the arrows on Figure 1. In constructing the
apparatus shewn at Figures 1 and 2, the bag a is cemented or otherwise
fixed in the manner shewn to a rectangular sheet e, or the sheet e may
be of other form of vulcanized cloth, vulcanized india-rubber, or other
fabric by preference but not necessarily waterproof, the back of which
may or may not be covered with a layer of flannel or other suitable
material, whilst upon the opposite side thereof a covering f¹ of flannel
or other suitable material is placed stretching over the top of the bag a
and secured at each side by stitching or otherwise to the margin of the

page_text: sheet e, and the pipes b and c as well as the metallic fittings may also.
be covered with flannel or other suitable material where likely to come
in contact with the skin of the patient. In place of employing the
screwed caps and joints d, d, às shewn at Figure 1, it is preferred to
employ pipes fitted with taps as shewn at Figure 1ª.
At Figure 3 of the Drawings hereunto appended that side marked A
is a vertical section, and that marked b is an elevation, whilst the
similarly marked sides at Figure 4 are respectively a transverse section
when distended on the line C, D, Figure 3, and a plan shewing my said
apparatus arranged in the form adapted for a spinal bag and which
consists of two compartments E and F which are parallel or nearly so to
each other and at a short distance apart, being retained in that position
by means of a series of braces a attached to each at intervals. To the
end of the compartment E an inlet pipe is attached, whilst to the end
of the other compartment F an outlet pipe c is similarly attached, and
these inlet and outlet pipes b and c respectively may be of any length
required, and may or may not be arranged for being detached from the
bag by means of the screw coupling shewn at d and e, Figure 3. At
opposite sides of this spinal bag a series of loops ƒ are situated for
attaching bands or straps for securing the bag to the body of a patient.
The flow of water is maintained through the apparatus in a manner
similar to that herein-before described with reference to Figures 1 and 2
and therefore need not be again specified, or in place of arranging the
spinal bag exactly as herein-before described the two compartments E'
and F may be closely cemented together along their inner edge instead
of being merely connected by braces at intervals, as shewn at Figures 3
and 4, or it may consist of more than two compartments, being in that
case constructed like the bag represented at Figures 1 and 2.
From Figure 5 to Figure 9 inclusive another adaptation of my
Invention is illustrated in the character of a vaginal or uterine bag,
pessary, or dilator, of which when distended that side of Figure 5
marked 1 shews a half vertical section, and the other side, marked 2,.
a half front elevation, whilst Figures 6 and 7 shew respectively trans-
verse sections upon the lines E, F, and G, H, Figure 5. Figure 8 is a
front view of the vaginal or uterine bag, pessary, or dilator when not
distended, whilst Figure 9 is a transverse section illustrative of the form.
into which it is folded when being inserted into the vagina, and as it is
to some extent similar to the spinal bag herein-before set forth, being

page_text: modified in dimensions and form to suit the contour of the vagina I
only specify those points wherein it differs therefrom. Upon the face
of the bag E a pocket g is formed, into which one end of an instrument
is placed when the bag is folded, as shewn at Figure 9, for the purpose
of insertion, and to the sides and ends of the bag E a set of loops / are
attached, by means of which a piece of lint or other fabric saturated or
coated with any required fluid or substance may be secured to the bag E
and applied thercon to a patient. The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe c
of the vaginal or uterine bag, pessary, or dilator E, may be of any
required length, being preferably provided with taps i, for the purpose.
of regulating the flow of the water; when required the fluid may be
injected through the inlet pipe by means of a syringe.
From Figure 10 to Figure 12, inclusive of the Drawings hereunto
appended, my Invention is illustrated in form for being applied to the
head of a patient, Figure 10 being a back view of a human head,
whereon a bag is shewn in transverse section at the side, marked A,
and in elevation at the side marked B. Figure 11 is a plan of
the said bag, whilst Figure 12 is a view of the head in profile with
the bag shewn thereon, which is formed with compartments a, into
which water at the required temperature is admitted through an inlet
pipe b, and flowing onwards through the several compartments in the
direction indicated by the arrows in Figure 11, passes out through the
outlet pipe c. In the cap shewn at Figures 10 to 12, six compartments
are represented, but the cap may be constructed with two, three, four,
or other number of compartments.
1
In common with all the foregoing forms of the apparatus constituting
my Invention it may be arranged to allow a regular flow of water through
the compartments a of the head bag, or it may be filled at intervals as
found most convenient or conducive to the requirements of the patient.
In lieu of forming the head bag as before described, it may also be
made in a way similar to the chest bag shewn on the accompanying
Shect of Drawings, that is, in a series of compartments extending back-
wards and forwards over the head, these compartments being shorter
at the sides than in the centre from brow to occiput. These com-
partments are cemented to waterproof cloth or other fabric, and this
fabric when the cap is in use lics on the scalp. The compartments are
covered on the outside by cloth, flannel, or other suitable material,
which is sewed or otherwise connected to the waterproof or other fabric

page_text: which lies upon the scalp. This cap, like the others, is provided with
inlet and outlet pipes. The cap so made is secured to the head by means
of bands or straps, which are tied under the chin.
At Figure 13 of the Drawings, that side marked A is a vertical section
and the side marked B is an elevation of an arrangement of my appa-
ratus adapted for application to the throat or neck, and which consists
of a vulcanized india-rubber or other waterproof bag a, arranged in
compartments numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 respectively, and similar to
those herein-before described in reference to the chest bag illustrated
at Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings. Water is admitted to the throat
bag a by the inlet pipe 6, and after circulating through all the compart-
ments of the bag a, as indicated by the arrows is discharged by the
outlet pipe c, both of which pipes b and c are provided with taps or
cocks d and d¹ respectively, in order to regulate the quantity of water
flowing into and out of the bag a. The throat bag a, as in the case of
the chest bag, is cemented or otherwise fixed to a sheet e of vulcanized
india-rubber, vulcanized cloth, or other fabric, and which is provided at
one end with straps or bands f, and at the other end with buckles
for holding it in position on the throat or neck of the patient; or the
sheet e may be furnished with buttons, clasps, or other suitáble means
for effecting that end.
It is to be understood that my Invention may be applied in manner
similar to the several adaptations herein-before set forth to other parts
of the human body, the bags being shaped to suit other parts, I having
specified and shewn on my Drawings such apparatus as applied to some
parts of the human body only. Besides being arranged parallel to cach
other the compartments may be put into the form of coils, or in a more
or less circular form, and in place of communicating at one end only
they may communicate at both ends.
And it is to be further understood that in place of employing the
screwed cap and joints on the inlet and outlet pipes, as shewn at Figures
1 and 3 respectively, there may be employed in all the forms of my
apparatus, taps, or cocks, as shewn in connection with the chest bag in
Figure 1ª, to the vaginal or uterine bag at Figure 5, and to the throat
bag in Figure 13, as in using such taps or cocks there is less liability
of losing any part of the apparatus or of injuring it than attaches to
the caps and joints shown at Figures 1 and 3 respectively, which have
sometimes to be detached.

page_text: In place of applying the apparatus hercin-before referred to direct
to the human body it may be used to raise or maintain the temperature
of any intervening poultice, fomentation, or other application.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the
several forms of the apparatus under which the same is put into practice,
I wish to observe in conclusion that I am aware spinal bags have here-
tofore been used, arranged in compartments for holding ice or hot or
cold fluids, such, for example, as the spinal bag set forth in the Specifi-
cation filed under Letters Patent, No. 504, A.D., 1864, granted to John
Chapman, for "Spine Bags to be employed in Controlling the Circulation
of the Blood by the Combined or Independent Application of Icc, or
Iced Water, and Warm Water or other Fluid to the Region of the Spinal
Cord;" but in Chapman's said spinal bag no provision was made for
producing a constant or intermittent flow of water through the apparatus
during the time it was applied to the patient, what therefore I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the arrange-
ment or construction of apparatus in compartments and provided with
inlet and outlet pipes for producing a constant or intermittent flow
of water through the said apparatus, substantially as hercin-before
described and illustrated upon the appended Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Robertson, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of September
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.