FACILITATING HUMAN PARTURITION
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN BLAND of Radnor House Bolton Gardens West South Kensington in
the County of Middlesex Commercial traveller do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for FACILITATING HUMAN PARTURITION to be as follows:-
:
The principles which govern the construction of this contrivance are (1) The
increase in temperature of the medium by which the lower part of the body of the
woman in labour is surrounded; and (2) The reduction, or entire removal, of
the pressure of the atmosphere from the same part on the approach of a "pain."
་
Have a rectangular wooden box, of sufficient strength to resist the pressure of
the atmosphere, three feet square and five feet long. One end of the box to be the
lid, to be attached to one side by hinges, and to be provided inside with sunk
bolts, or other fastenings, so placed that when open it could be made into one rigid,
straight piece with the side to which it is attached. In operation the box will lie
on the side to which the lid is attached. When it is in this position, let the lid end
be called the "upper" end, and the other end the "lower" end.
Six inches from the upper end, let the whole of the top of the box be cut
through; this cut extending two feet nine inches down both sides, and from this
point horizontally through both sides and the lower end, cutting the box into two
parts. Then let one part be called the "Cover" and the other the "Bed."
The woman to lie on this Bed during parturition, with her head towards the
The object to be gained by
upper end; and the Cover to be placed over her.
having the lid of the box formed into one straight piece with the bottom of the
Bed, is that the womans head may be easily arranged to be on a corresponding
level with her body.
Three inches from the upper end of the inside of the box, attach a jacket to be
made of leather or some preparation of India rubber. The jacket to be fastened
airtightly to the four sides of the box; and to be so shaped that it can be tied
airtightly below the womans breasts; and to be made so long, that she can, when
the jacket is so tied, turn easily from one side to the other.
The whole of the Bed inside the box, to be covered with a hot water cushion,
which is to be attached to the Bed by moveable fastenings. The object being
to raise the temperature to a few degrees above that prevailing in the interior of
the womb; in practice the cushion will be charged with a certain quantity of hot
water at a stated temperature

page_text: !
Two tubes each an inch in diameter to be passed through the right side of the
Bed into the cushion. One tube to be provided with a pump for the purpose of
filling the cushion with water, and the other with a tap by which to empty it.
In the ordinary way the water might be poured in; but as sometimes it might be
necessary to change the water whilst the woman was lying on the Bed with the
Cover over her, the pump must be of sufficient force to overcome the pressure
caused by the weight of the woman. The pump and the tap to be made moveable,
and to be so fitted that either could be applied to either tube.
The cushion to be so arranged that any liquid passing from the woman should
drain down the centre, towards the lower end; where there would be a tube
through the end of the Bed. This tube to be an inch in diameter, and to be
provided with a moveable tap.
The Cover to be made to fit the Bed airtightly, and to be provided with two
strong sunk handles on each side, so that it may be lifted easily. The Cover
to be provided with fastenings so that it could not be displaced by the woman
struggling and with a lock so that it might be sent by rail without an attendant.
It would also be padded on the inside so that the woman should not injure herself
in possible struggles. One pane of glass to be placed in the top of the Cover, and
another in the left side, so that the progress of the case could be watched. This
glass to be of sufficient thickness to resist the pressure of the atmosphere, and to be
inserted from the outside, to lessen the danger of its being forced in. A thermo-
meter to be placed inside the top of the Cover near the pane of glass, so that the
temperature may be watched.
Two round holes each an inch in diameter to be inade through the right side of
the Cover. To one hole, six inches from the margin where the Cover meets the
Bed, and near the middle of the side, would be attached an air pump, so that the
air could be exhausted on the approach of a "pain." The second hole a few inches
to the right or left of the first, would be used for the readmission of air after the
birth, or for the purpose of charging the interior of the box with gas or vapour if
it were found desirable. Both holes to be so made that the fittings would be
interchangeable.
The three tubes through the side and end of the Bed, to end flush with the
outside; and, in common with the two holes in the Cover, to be provided with
air-tight, sunk, screw stoppers the whole of which to be interchangeable.
To protect the glass panes from damage when travelling, they should be placed
half an inch below the surface of the Cover. For the pane in the top, two grooves
to be cut one on each side of the pane at right angles from the right side of the
Cover, but not extending completely across; to receive a sliding shutter three
eights of an inch thick; leaving an eighth of an inch between the shutter and the
glass. This shutter to be secured in position by a metal peg passing per-
pendicularly through the right side of the Cover, so that it could only be moved
when the box was open. The pane in the left side to be protected by a similar
shutter, opening by the margin of the Cover, so that it could not be moved when
the box was closed. Similarly the surface of the wood surrounding the external
mouths of the three tubes in the Bed and the two holes in the Cover, to be cut
away to the depth of three eighths of an inch; this superficial cutting to be
continued with all of them to the margin, All these cuttings to be fitted with
small sliding,shutters, which could only be moved when the box was open.
The lid to be provided with a lock of the same pattern as that which secures the
Cover, to the Bed, so that one key may open both.

page_text: JOHN BLAND 95 Sinclair Road Kensington in the county of Middlesex Com-
mercial Traveller 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 to be achieved by this machine, is to facilitate parturition in childbirth
by (1) Increasing the temperature of the medium by which the lower part of the body
of the woman in labour is surrounded; and (2) by the reduction, or entire removal
of the pressure of the atmosphere from the same part, on the approach of a "pain."
Have a rectangular wooden box measuring three feet, by three feet, by five feet;
the box to be of sufficient strength to resist the pressure of the atmosphere, when
the air has been exhausted from the inside. One end of the box to be the lid, to
be attached to one side by hinges, and to be provided inside, with sunk bolts or
other fastenings so placed, that when open, it could be made into one rigid straight
piece, with the side to which it is attached. In operation the box will lie on the
side to which the lid is attached. When it is in this position, let the lid end be
called the "Upper" end, and the other end the "Lower" end. Six inches from
the upper end, let the top of the box be cut through; this cut extending two feet
nine inches down each side, and from this point, horizontally through both sides
and the lower end, cutting the box into two parts. Then let one part be called
the "Cover" and the other the "Bed." The woman to lie on this bed during
parturition, with her head toward the upper end; and the cover to be placed over
her. The object to be gained by having the lid of the box formed into one straight
piece with the bottom of the bed is, that the womans head may be easily arranged
to be on a corresponding level with her body.
Three inches from the upper end of the inside of the box, attach a jacket to be
made of leather. The jacket to be fastened air tightly to the four sides of the box,
and to be so shaped, that it can be tied airtightly below the womans breasts; and
to be made so long, that she can, when the jacket is so lied, turn easily from one
side to the other.
,
The whole of the bed inside the box to be covered with a hot water cushion,
which is to be attached to the bed by moveable fastenings. The object being to
raise the temperature inside the box to a few degrees above that prevailing in the
interior of the womb, in practice the cushion will be charged with hot water at a
stated temperature. Two tubes, each an inch in diameter, to be passed through the
right side of the bed into the cushion. One tube to be provided with a pump for
the purpose of filling the cushion with water, and the other with a tap by which
to empty it.. In the ordinary way the water might be poured in; but as sometimes
it might be necessary to change the water whilst the woman was lying on the bed
with the cover over her, the pump must be of sufficient force to overcome the
pressure caused by the weight of the woman. The pump and the tap to be made
moveable, and to be so fitted, that either could be applied to either tube.
The cushion to be so arranged, that any liquid passing from the woman, should
drain down the centre towards the lower end, where there would be a tube through
the end of the bed. This tube to be an inch in diameter, and to be provided with
a moveable tap,

page_text: The cover to be made to fit the bed airtightly, and to be provided with two
strong sunk handles on each side, so that it may be lifted easily. The cover to be
provided with fastenings, so that it could not be displaced by the woman struggling;
and with a lock so that it might be sent by rail without an attendant. It would
also be padded on the inside, so that the woman should not injure herself in possible
struggles. One pane of glass to be placed in the top of the cover, and another in
the left side, so that the progress of the case could be watched. This glass to be of
sufficient strength to resist the pressure of the atmosphere; and to be inserted
from the outside, to lessen the danger of its being forced in. A thermometer and
a pressure guage to be placed inside the top of the cover near the pane of glass, so
that the temperature and the air pressure may be regulated.
Two round holes, each an inch in diameter, to be made through the right side of
the cover.
To one hole, six inches from the margin where the cover meets the bed,
and near the middle of the side, would be attached an air pump so that the pressure
of the air could be reduced on the approach of a pain. The second hole, a few
inches to the right or left of the first, would be used for the readmission of air after
the birth or for the purpose of charging the interior of the box with gas or
vapour, if it were found desirable. Both holes to be so made that the fittings
would be interchangeable.
The three tubes through the side and end of the bed, to end flush with the
outside; and, in common with the two holes in the cover, to be provided with
airtight, sunk, screw stoppers, the whole of which to be interchangeable.
To protect the panes of glass from damage when travelling, they should be placed
half an inch below the surface of the cover. For the pane in the top, two grooves
to be cut, one on each side of the pane, at right angles with the edge of the right
side of the cover, but not extending completely across, to receive a sliding shutter
three eighths of an inch thick; leaving an eighth of an inch between the shutter
and the glass. This shutter to be secured in position by a metal peg passing
perpendicularly through the right side of the cover, so that it could only be moved
when the box was open. The pane of glass in the left side, to be protected by a
similar shutter, opening by the margin of the cover, so that it could not be moved
when the box was closed. Similarly, the surface of the wood surrounding the
external mouths of the three tubes in the bed, and the two holes in the cover, to
be cut away to the depth of three eighths of an inch; this superficial cutting to be
continued with all of them to the margin. All these cuttings to be fitted with
small sliding shutters, which could only be moved when the box was open. The
lid to be provided with a lock of the same pattern, as that which secures the cover
to the bed, so that one key may open both of them.
It is obvious that the box need not be made of wood, it need not be rectangular;
and it may be of any other dimensions than those specified, should they be found
more convenient. The jacket may be made of any other material than leather;
so that it is soft, pliable, and impervious to air. And the tubes through the sides
of the bed and the cover, may be of any sizes other than that specified, should any
other size or sizes be found better adapted to secure the end in view.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
The hereinbefore described Human Parturition machine as a whole.