Froduction of Fabrics and Body-garments Possessing Therapeutic Properties.
Year: 1899

page_text: - NOV DIVA AL SPECIFICATION.
The Froduction of Fabrics and Body-garments Possessing
Therapeutic Properties.
I, Doctor OSCAR TROPLOWITZ, of 44, Edelstedterweg, Hamburg, Germany, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It has been heretofore customary when mercury is employed for therapeutic
purposes to make it up in the form of an ointment or soap which is applied to
the body so that the mercury is absorbed into the system. This is objectionable
for many reasons and even when such ointment or soap is thoroughly rubbed
in the curative effect is not great since the vaporization of the fluid metal is
checked owing to the action of the material with which it is incorporated.
The object of the present application is to provide a fabric impregnated with
mercury from which a body garment in the form of a vest may be permanently
worn by the invalid may be produced.
In the accompanying drawings a (Figure 1) represents the garment to be worn
on the chest provided with ribbons & which pass over the shoulders and through
the eyes c and secured in such a manner that the garment always fits tightly.
Figure 2 illustrates a modification of the appliance or garment which in this
case is made in two parts, one covering the breast and the other the back of
the patient, d being tapes or ribbons by which the garment is secured in
position.
The foundation of the garment may be of leather, paper, cretonne, flannel,
fustian or other similar and sufficiently absorbent material, which is impregnated
with the fluid metal in the following manner:-The mercury is mixed with
fat, resin, soap, coutchouc or with compounds of these substances or of other
material serving the same purpose and diluted by means of a suitable liquid
medium, and the fabric is then caused to absorb the resulting liquid. Thus
after the evaporation of the said medium, a fabric is obtained containing mercury
and possessing a uniform colour and a thoroughly dry and clean surface, which
is neither fatty nor sticky and consequently eminently suitable to be made into
a garment to be worn next the skin.
Such a fabric may be produced for example, by diluting an intimate mixture
of say, 90 parts of mercury and 10 parts of "adeps lanae," with benzino and
mpregnating fustian or flannel with the resulting liquid.
In wearing this garment the mercury passes off in vapor owing to the heat
of the human body as will be well understood. The patient will not experience
he slightest inconvenience in wearing such a garment since the material thus
mpregnated will not adhere to the skin like a plaister does or make the skin
reasy like an ointment, but on the contrary will remain perfectly dry. As the
arment may be worn permanently, its curative effect will be considered of the
tmost importance.
Dated this 4th da
1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.

page_text: The Production of Fabrics and Body-garments Possessing
Therapeutic Properties.
I, Doctor OSCAR TROPLOWITZ, of 44, Edelstedterweg, Hamburg, Germany, 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:-
In employing mercury for therapeutic purposes it has been heretofore customary
to make it up into the form of an ointment or soap which is applied to the
body so that the mercury may be absorbed into the system. This method is
objectionable for many reasons such as its want of cleanliness, whilst even when
such ointment or soap is rubbed in most thoroughly the curative effect is not
commensurate with the inconvenience attending its application, since the vapori-
zation of the mercury is retarded owing to each separate minute globule of the
fluid metal being covered with a coating of the material with which it is
associated.
The object of the present invention is to produce a fabric impregnated with
mercury from which a body garment in the form of a vest to be permanently
worn by the patient may be made.
In the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification a (Figure 1) re-
presents such a garment designed to be worn in contact with the chest, said
garment being provided with loops or ribbons & which pass over the shoulders,
through the eyes c, and are secured in such manner that the garment will fit
tightly without liability of becoming disarranged.
Figure 2 illustrates a modification of the appliance or garment which in this
case is made in two parts, one covering the chest and the other the back of the
patient, being tapes or ribbons by which the garment is secured in position.
The foundation of the garment may be leather,. paper, eretonne, flannel, fustian,
or other similar and sufficiently absorbent material, and it is impregnated with
the mercury in the following manner; The mercury is intimately mixed with
fat, resin, soap, caoutchouc or with compounds of these substances or of other
material serving the same purpose and the compound thus produced having been
attenuated by means of a suitable liquid medium or vehicle, the fabric is caused
to absorb the resulting magma. After the evaporation of the said liquid medium,
the fabric will be found to be uniformly impregnated with mercury and .to
possess a uniform colour and a thoroughly dry and clean surface, which is neither
greasy nor tacky" and consequently eminently suitable for making into a
garment to be worn next the skin.
"
Such a fabric may be produced for example, by diluting an intimate mixture
of say, 90 parts of mercury and 10 parts of adeps lanae," with benzine and
impregnating fustian or flannel with the resulting liquid.
When the garment is worn the mercury vaporized by the heat of the body is
absorbed by the latter as will be well understood, without the patient experiencing
the slightest inconvenience, since the impregnated material will not adhere to
the skin as would a plaister nor make the skin greasy as would an ointment,
but on the contrary will remain perfectly dry. As the garment may be worn
permanently it will afford a curative effect of the utmost importance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The herein described process of preparing a fabric to be used for theraventic

page_text: purposes which consists in impregnating the fabric with a mercurial mixture
prepared as described and attenuated by means of a suitable vehicle, substantially
as specified.
2. A body garment for therapeutic purposes to be worn next the skin made
of a fabric uniformly impregnated with a mercurial mixture prepared substantially
as described and provided with suitable fastening devices.
Dated this 19th day of December 1899.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.