An Improved Surgical Appliance applicable to the Support of the Ankle and Sole of the Human Foot.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1894-Accepted, 4th Aug.,
1894
COMPLETE SIDUIFICATION.
An Improved Surgical Appliance applicable to the Support of the
Ankle and Sole of the Human Foot.
I, JAMES SAUNDERS MARSHALL (trading as Dowie and Marshall), Bootmaker,
of 455 Strand, London, 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 object of this invention is to provide a support for weak ankles, and flat or
unarched feet, possessing the character of a bracing bandage, which will readily
admit of adjustment to suit the foot to which it is applied.
My surgical appliance is designed to give a better support than the ordinary
stiffeners, surgical soles, or instep pads, commonly used for this purpose, as, while
the stiffener is but a vertical wall against which the projecting points of the ankle
bones, and the projecting point of the scaphoid bone of the instep, lean, the
bandage will cling round and about every part of the bones, ligaments, and tendons
of the ankle and instep, thereby putting such gentle pressure upon the enclosed.
parts of the foot, as may be deemed desirable.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews my improved surgical appliance or
bandage, laid out flat.
Fig. 2 shews the bandage as applied to the human foot, the inside of the right
foot being represented.
Fig. 3 is a front or end view of the bandage strapped up to the shape it would
assume on the foot; and
Fig. 4 is a similar view of the bandage attached to a boot, the strap being loose,.
the better to shew the mode of attaching the bandage to the boot.
A, Fig. 1, is a wrapper or envelope of soft buckskin, lined with chamois leather,
and intended to surround the foot and ankle, as shewn at Fig. 2. Attached to the
central part of this wrapper, is a divided pad B B, which is designed to fill the
hollow of the foot. That portion of the wrapper which, when in place, overlies
the ankle bone, is provided with two stiffening pieces C. C, which are intended to
provide a lateral support to the foot. Attached to the back edges of the wrapper A,
are straps D D', which, passing round the back of the ankle of the wearer, are
severally threaded through slits cut in the wrapper or envelope A, and brought to
the front. The strap D has fitted to its end a buckle, and the strap D', when the
wrapper is applied to the foot, is drawn through the buckle, and tightly held in
place. In addition to these straps, I provide a lacing E, which passing through
eyelet holes near the upper edge of the wrapper or envelope, serves to draw the
same tightly over the instep, and press the divided pad B into the hollow of
the foot.
To give ease to the foot, I may find it desirable to insert in the leather wrapper A,
elastic pieces F F, which will yield to the elastic action of the foot, and yet
maintain the requisite pressure of the wrapper upon it.
In applying my invention, I prefer to use it in connection with a boot made to
receive the surgical appliance, but it is not essential that a specially prepared boot
should be used.
Fig. 4 shews the arrangement which I have designed for fitting the wrapper to a
boot. In this example it will be seen that the boot is furnished with three
loops G G G. The loop at the back of the boot is longer than those made on
either side thereof, as it is intended to receive the two straps D D', which cross
each other in passing round to the side loops, and thence to the front of the
foot.

page_text: In fitting the wrapper to the boot, the straps are first led in opposite directions
through the back loop; they are then passed severally through the rearmost slit in
the wrapper; then severally through the side loops of the boot, & lastly, through
the slits of the wrapper in front of the stiffening pieces C. C.
The ends are then ready for connection when the foot is inserted into the
envelope..
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 :-
1. The surgical appliance above described, consisting of a wrapper or envelope
fitted with a pad for filling the hollow of the foot, and having vertical supports for
the ankle, such envelope or wrapper being adjustable in respect of its pressure
upon the foot, by the means and for the purpose set forth..
2. The means above described for temporarily attaching my improved surgical
appliance to a boot, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.
Dataduhin 4th dor of 1.1 1004
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.