an apparatus for Inhaling Ammonium Chloride
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1887
Complete Left, 13th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 17th Feb., 1888
CHARLES STUART STANFORD WEBSTER Malvern House, Redland Bristol, Professional
Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The
This invention is for an apparatus for Inhaling Ammonium Chloride.
apparatus consists of two U tubes fitted with hollow perforated stoppers which also
serve as stop cocks. The U tubes lead into a T shaped tube one end of which dips
under water contained in a wash-bottle. One of the tubes is filled with the strongest
aqueous ammonia: the other with pieces of pumice-stone soaked in hydrochloric acid
of sp. gr. 1-117. The wash-bottle is fitted with a cork pierced with two holes through
one of which the above-named T shaped tube passes. The other is fitted with a short
piece of glass tube, one end of which terminates just below the cork. The other end
is connected with a flexible rubber tube and mouthpiece.
In using the apparatus the stoppers in the tube containing hydrochloric acid are
turned so that one limb communicates with the air, the other with the above
mentioned piece. In the tube containing the ammonia, communication is made
between the tube and the T piece, the other stopper remaining closed.
On aspirating through the mouthpiece, air is drawn through the hydrochloric acid
tube and carries with it hydrochloric acid gas.
From the other tube ammonia gas is given off. On reaching the T piece the gases
combine and form ammonium chloride.
The advantages of this apparatus are (1) the formation of ammonium chloride
containing no excess of either constituent (2) the prevention of any escape or loss of
chemicals. These advantages are not possessed by any of the forms of apparatus
now in use.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Apparatus for Inhaling Ammonium Chloride.
I, CHARLES STUART STANFORD WEBSTER, of Malvern House, Redland, Bristol, 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 (reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters and
figures marked thereon), that is to say :-
My Invention relates to an improved apparatus for inhaling ammonium chloride,
and will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying drawing, which
represents a perspective view of the apparatus.
My improved apparatus consists of two U-shaped tubes (or bottles) fitted with
hollow stoppers a, a, b, b¹, three of which a, b, b', also form stop-cocks, the fourth a,
simply serving as a stopper, and which, if desired, may be solid. These stop-cocks
are furnished, at one of their ends, with coloured knobs or buttons to indicate according
to their position, whether the cocks are open or closed. The U tubes lead into a
T-shaped tube C, the limb c of which is provided with a valve d, the purpose of
which is hereinafter mentioned, and which dips into water contained in a wash
bottle D.
The tube A is half filled with aqueous ammonia, preferably of a specific gravity
of .880, the other tube B is filled with pieces of pumice stone soaked in hydrochloric
acid of a specific gravity of 1.1175. The size of these pieces of pumice stone is
essential, for if very small pumice stone is used it retards the passage of air and thus
increases the vacuum produced in the apparatus on inhaling, and an increase of
vacuum draws off too much ammonia gas. If the pumice stone is very large then
the air enters too freely and consequently there is not enough ammonia gas drawn
off to neutralize the acid. It is therefore preferred to use pieces of pumice stone
which will pass through a sieve of 7 inch mesh, but would be retained by a sieve of
inch mesh.
The wash bottle D is fitted with a cork or rubber stopper e pierced with two holes,
through one of which the limb c, of the T tube containing the valve, passes, and
through the other of which a short glass tube f, passes, one end of said tube
terminating just below the stopper. The outer end of this tube f, is connected to a
flexible rubber tube g, fitted with a mouth piece g¹.
The valve hereinbefore mentioned, which has for its object to prevent the patient
blowing the water from the wash bottle into the tubes A and B, is what is known as
a float valve; it consists of a pear-shaped bulb ground at the top and working up
and down in the lower portion of the tube c, which tube, at a suitable distance in its
length, is contracted as shewn, and is ground so as to form a seat for the valve. This
tube is partly closed at bottom, and is perforated below the valve seat in order to
allow the combined gases, as inhaled, to escape into the water whence the vapour is
drawn off through the glass tube f, and rubber tube g, by the act of inhalation.
During each aspiration the valve falls to the bottom of the tube, thus allowing the

page_text: gases to escape as before mentioned. The ammonia gas is thus drawn off without
the intervention of air, until meeting the hydrochloric acid gas and air at the junction
of the T piece, and a neutral vapour of ammonium chloride obtained. In all other
inhaling apparatus of this class air tubes are provided in each bottle, so that it is
impossible to obtain a neutral vapour.
In using the apparatus, the stop cock 6' in the hydrochloric acid tube B, and the
stop-cock a' in the ammonia tube A, are turned with their buttons or knobs towards
the wash bottle, thus establishing communication therewith through the orifices p, p', in
the cocks, and p", p" in the limbs of the T-piece. The stop cock b, in the limb b*,
of the tube B, is then turned in the same direction thus establishing communication
with the air through the orifices in the said stop-cock, and the orifice s¹ in 6*. The
stopper a remains closed.
On inhaling or aspirating at the mouth piece g¹, air is drawn through the hydro-
chloric acid tube B, and carries with it hydrochloric acid gas. From the tube A
ammonia gas is, at the same time, given off, but no air is mixed with it until it meets
the hydrochloric acid gas at the junction of the T-piece where the gases then combine
and form ammonium chloride.
The gases then pass down the tube c, escape through the perforations into the wash
bottle, and pass up through the tube, in the form of ammonium chloride vapour,
into the rubber tube g, and thence into the mouth of the patient.
The water in the wash bottle when treated with test papers will be found to be quite
neutral.
The apparatus is applicable for the inhalation of other substances, and these may
be placed in the water in the wash bottle and carried off by means of the ammonium
chloride vapour.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same may be performed, I wish it to be understood that I
lay no claim to the use of three separate bottles, for the acid, the ammonia, and the
water, as I am aware that prior to 1867 this arrangement was devised by Lewin, of
Berlin, but what I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :—
1. The construction of the improved apparatus for inhaling ammonium chloride,
whereby the ammonia gas is drawn off without the intervention of air, and a neutral
vipour thus obtained, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The application of the stop-cocks to the acid and ammonia tubes, or bottles, as
and for the purposes described.
3. The employment and arrangement of the valve within the limb of the T tube,
as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 13th day of January 1888.