An Improved Hot Air Bath.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1894-Accepted, 7th July, 1894
An Improved Hot Air Bath.
I, KARL LUDWIG SANDROWSKI, of 114 II Friedrichstrasse, Berlin, Germany,..
Specialist in Skin Diseases, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
The conditions of life of the human body are based on the collective effects of the
chemical reactions occurring therein and which are called tissue changes. These
are the important factors which are conducive to health and to the well being of
the body.
All the substances introduced into the body and serving to feed and support the
same, are assimilated or separated by reason of the said tissue changes. Thus
water and carbonic acid are chiefly given off through the perspiration of the lungs.
and skin. To accelerate these separations during the growth of diseases it is
necessary to allow a high temperature and a dry heat to act upon the body, in
order, that, by the great perspiration so caused, injurious substances can be
removed. This exudation gives, from a physiological as well as from a chemical
point of view, the most necessary and important materials for the future diagnosis
and treatment of the case.
My invention has for its object to overcome the defects arising from one part of
the body under treatment being subjected to a more intense heat than the rest,.
and, thereby, rendering the necessary temperature unbearable to the patient and
preventing a cure.
The apparatus constituting my invention is constructed in accordance with the
physical laws governing the distribution of heat, and it is designed to uniformly
heat to the required temperature the whole of that part of the body of the patient.
which is to be acted upon.
On the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention, Fig. 1 is a.
perspective view, and Fig. 2 a vertical section of the apparatus.
The apparatus consists of a metal casing or box a which is enclosed in a wooden
shell or covering in order to diminish radiation of heat and to give a pleasant.
appearance. The box, which may be of any desired and suitable shape, has, at its
underside, a metallic bottom c above which is arranged a corrugated sheet metal
bottond. The space between these two bottoms c, d is used as a heat generating
chamber. The heated air from the generating chamber passes up between the outer
walls of the box and the inner parallel walls e and enters at the top of the large
upper chamber f.
Upon the corrugated metal sheet d is laid an insulating plate p made of asbestos,.
the object of which is to retard the outflow of the hot air and to prevent its direct.
action on certain parts of the body.
In order that the temperature of the chamber may be readily ascertained, a.
thermometer t is fitted in its upper part.
When this dry air apparatus is required for physiological purposes a glass.
cylinder m is fitted to the lid of the casing. This cylinder is divided into two
parts g, by a horizontal partition i. As shown the lower part h is provided with
a flange n which extends around its inner circumference and forms a gutter. The
contents of the gutter can, at any time, be drawn off by the stop cock o.
In working with the apparatus that part of the body requiring to be acted upon
is enclosed within it and the bottom c is then heated by means of a spirit lamp or
gas burner. The heat generated is communicated to the air in the space between
the bottoms c, d, and, as a result, it ascends, between the inner and outer walls of

page_text: the casing, and enters at the top of the inner chamber (see arrows). The hot air
evaporates the diseased substance or germs exuding from the body in the form of
perspiration, and this vapour, as it ascends in the glass cylinder m, is cooled and
deposited on its surface. This deposit collects in the gutter n and can be drawn
off through the cock o in order to be subjected to further tests or experiments.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner it is to be performed, I declare that what I consider
novel and desire to claim is :-
1. An hygienic dry-air apparatus for treating diseased parts of the human body
having a chamber formed by the bottom-c and false bottom d, the hot air from said
chamber passing up-between the inner and outer walls of the apparatus and entering
the perspiring chamber from above, an insulating plate being also provided to
prevent one part of the body acted on being subjected to a greater heat than the
other parts, substantially as hereinbefore set forth with reference to the drawings
annexed.
2. In an apparatus of the class hereinbefore set forth, the method whereby the
body, or a part of it, can be made to perspire at a certain temperature, the
perspiration being evaporated and then condensed and collected for further
investigation or experiment, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 6th day of June 1894.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.