IMPROVE- MENTS IN OBSTETRIC APPARATUS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ebenezer Diver, M.D., M.R.C.S., of Caterham
Valley, in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OBSTETRIC APPARATUS."
Sealed the 15th May 1874, and dated the 28th November 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ebenezer Diver at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th November 1873.
I, EBENEZER DIVER, M.D., M.R.C.S., of Caterham Valley, in the
County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OBSTETRIC APPARATUS," to be as follows:-
:-
The object of this Invention is to give assistance to women in labour.
For this purpose I employ a pad, which is applied to the back of the
patient and there secured, and with this two stirrups for the feet are also
employed. The stirrups are arranged to run upon a cord, which is con-
nected with the back pad, so that any pressure exerted by the feet is
communicated through the pad to the back of the wearer. Between the
stirrups there is a handle, which is also free to run upon the cord, so

page_text: that the hands can be employed to pull in opposition to the feet, and
at the same time the pad is pressed against the back, as already
explained.
I prefer also to employ to employ a front pad immediately over the
womb. The front and back pads are bound together by a running 5
cord, which becomes tightened as strain is applied to it by pressure of
the feet in the stirrups.
The apparatus thus allows the muscles of both the extremities to be
exerted, and thereby affords relief to the patient, both directly from the
exertion, and indirectly by causing, such exertion to result in pressure 10
upon the body in localities where pressure is required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Ebenezer Diver in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th May 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EBENEZER
DIVER, M.D., M.R.C.S., of Caterham Valley, in the County of Surrey,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Ebenezer Diver, Her special
license that I, the said Ebenezer Diver, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Ebenezer Diver, my executors,
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 OBSTETRIC
APPARATUS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Ebenezer Diver, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the

page_text: other similar loops a³, a³, attached to the piece a, so that by pulling the
cord tight the two bands a and b are drawn together, and then the pad a¹
is pressed firmly against the spine in the region above the hips, whilst
an equal pressure but more widely distributed is applied over the abdo-
minal region. The cord c is rove through metallic eyes d¹, d³, let into
two leather velvet lined stirrups d, d, and also through the hollow wooden
handle e, which is between the stirrups. The stirrups d, d, may be pro-
vided with sandle-like.soles.
The handle e may be held by the patient either directly or by the
cord e¹ attached to it, and relief to the sufferings of the patient is
obtained by the exercise of the muscles of the upper in opposition to
those of the lower extremities. By the same exertion of the muscles
the back pad a¹ is caused to be pressed on the spine, and at the same
time a general pressure tending to expel the child from the womb is
exerted upon the abdomen.
In some cases it may be preferred to fasten the end of the cord c to
the head of the bed on which the patient lies, and then the muscles of
the lower extremities will be exerted against this fixed resistance.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do
not confine myself to the exact details described, but I claim, the com-
bination of a back pad with stirrups in such manner that pressure
exerted by the feet is communicated through the pad to the back of the
wearer, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ebenezer Diver, have hereunto set
Jos of Mor in the rear of
wearer, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ebenezer Diver, have hereunto set 25
my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.