HYDRO- PATHIC GARMENTS TO BE USED FOR ACTING UPON THE SKIN AND BRINGING IT INTO PROPER WORKING ORDER
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT, to Thomas Hastings Dale, of No. 4, Havelock
Villas, Beverley Road, Stepney, Hull, for the Invention of " HYDRO-
PATHIC GARMENTS TO BE USED FOR ACTING UPON THE SKIN AND BRINGING
IT INTO PROPER WORKING ORDER."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Hastings Dale
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th September 1875.
I, THOMAS HASTINGS DALE, of No. 4, Havelock Villas, Beverley
Road, Stepney, Hull, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "HYDROPATHIC GARMENTS TO BE USED FOR ACTING UPON THE SKIN AND
BRINGING IT INTO PROPER WORKING ORDER," to be as follows :-
This Invention has for its object to construct hydropathic garments to
be used for application to the skin of the animal and brute creation to
upon the system in such a manner as to cause the ducts of the skin
act

page_text: to be freed from all impure secretions, and to give an uniform circulation
of the blood throughout the whole of the body.
At the present time in what are known as hydropathic establishments
patients are commonly wrapped in wet sheets, and surrounded with
blankets to induce perspiration and remove secretions from the skin; this
however entails a considerable amount of labor, and the aid of an assistant
to apply the sheets and blankets, and again to remove them after they
have been applied for a sufficient length of time. To obviate these
-inconveniences-I-construct a hydropathic dress which any one may, if
required, readily apply to himself, and remove without the aid of an
assistant. The dress is constructed of a waterproof fabric lined with felt
or such like material; it is divided into several separate garments, cach
of which is formed to fit somewhat closely to the part of the body to
which it is intended to be applied.
The manner in which the dress is divided into separate divisions or
garments may be considerably varied. One garment may be formed
like a jacket, to come down to or below the waist; a second garment
like a pair of drawers coming up to the waist, and with the leg pieces
descending near to or below the knec:
For enclosing the lower part of the legs leggings may be provided,
and for the feet boot-shaped garments extending above the ankle;
gloves may also be provided for enclosing the hands. Before tho
garments are used they are to be moistened with water, and then put
on. Each garment is provided with numerous fastenings along the
edges of the several parts, which come together, so that when the
garments are being worn they may be kept fitting closely together, and
impede all-escape of vapour.
I prefer to use use rows of hooks on either side of the junction of the
garments, so that_they_may_be_quickly-connected-together-by-laces or
rows of buttons, or elastic gussets, or straps, or other such like fas-
tenings,-which-can-conveniently and quickly be connected together,
may be used. It-is-not-necessary that all of the garments should be
applied at the same time; they may in some cases be used separately,
as for example, the boots and leggings in cases of gout, rheumatism, or
such like.

page_text: The dress when used in the manner above described will have the
same effect as a Turkish bath, the heat of the body being sufficient
without other heat.
The dress is also applicable for being worn in cold climates to maintain
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Hastings Dale in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th March 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, Thomas
HASTINGS DALE, of No. 4, Havelock Villas, Beverley Road, Stepney,
Hull, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent; bearing date the Ninth day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said. Thomas Hastings Dale, Her special license
that I, the said Thomas Hastings Dale, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Hastings Dale, 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 of
HYDROPATHIC, GARMENTS TO BE USED FOR ACTING UPON THE SKIN AND BRINGING
IT INTO PROPER WORKING ORDER," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Thomas Hastings Dale, 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

page_text: The material from which each of the garments is formed consists of
stout waterproof sheeting lined with a thick felt, the lining being
secured by means of sewing to the waterproof exterior.
At the edges of each of the garments the edges of the outer water-
proof fabric and the lining of felt are embraced and held together by a
binding or edging of leather, which is sewn on to them; at each seam
also the outer fabric and lining are sewn together. It will also be seen
from the Drawings that in each of the garments, wherever the garment
-is-made-to-fasten-together,-a-tongue-a-is-provided-to-come-in-rear-of-the-
junction and lines of fastenings, and so prevent any open spaces being
left where the garments meet together.
The kind of fastenings used may be greatly varied. I prefer however
to employ fastenings secured to the fabric of the garments in the same
manner as eyelets, but formed with hooks for laces to catch over in the
same way that laced boots are commonly secured.
Figure 6 shews a knee-cap suitable for being used for inflammatory
and rheumatic affections.
Figure 7 shews an abdominal belt, which may be used in cases of
inflammation of the bowels; and Figure 8, one of a pair of boots par-
ticularly adapted for gout.
Figures 9 shew a legging to be applied to the knees and legs of
horses. At the knee is secured a pad 6 of sponge, in order that the
knee may not be rubbed, or any impediment offered to the free move-
ment of the joint; in other respects the legging is made in the same
way as the garments above described.
. In a similar manner pads of all forms may be constructed for
veterinary purposes, as, for example, loin pads, and pads for the chest
and throat.

page_text: sheeting and the interior of felt, and the two being combined together
by means of stitching.
Third. The construction of the garments herein-before described and
shewn in the Drawings annexed, such garments being composed of felt
combined with waterproof sheeting by means of stitching.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Hastings Dale, have herc-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of March, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
THOMAS HASTINGS DALE. (L.S.)
Signed and sealed by the said Thomas
Hastings Dale, in the presence of
JOHN ASHBRIDGE,
Clerk to the Town Clerk of Hull.
SOPHIA MARTIN,
Laundress,
Hull.