Improvements relating to the Administration of Medicines.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Administration of Medicines.
I CARL SPRICK, Jnr., of Löbauerstrasse 24, Dresden, N., in the Empire of
Germany, Electrician 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 :-
Directly introducing medicines into the blood through the pores is only possible
in very few cases as most medicines can only be imparted to the blood by inter-
mediation of the digestive organism of the body whereby in many cases (for
instance in using iron, salycilic acid etc.) the digestive apparatus of the body is
impaired for a louger or shorter time.
It would consequently be of great advantage for the patient if certain medicines
could be directly introduced into the blood without the mediation of the digestive
organs. The recovering process would thereby not only be materially accelerated,
but the patient would also be preserved against the pernicious effects resulting
from the indirect introduction of medicines into the body by the medium of the
digestive organism.
The object of this invention is an improved method and apparatus by the aid of
which it is rendered possible to introduce medicine into the blood externally
through the medium of the pores of the skin.
This improved method consists in rubbing the surface of the parts of the body
into which the medicine is to be introduced under the co-operation of electricity and
bringing the skin into a state of high excitation and irritability, in which state the
pores widen and open considerably and the blood is driven to the surface.
During the production of this state and after obtaining the same, the medicine being
made fluid, is by the aid of the same apparatus which produced the above mentioned
state of irritation of the skin, delicately distributed over the excited skin surface so
that the medicine is thus sucked up by the pores and transferred to the blood.
The apparatus used for this purpose is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the annexed
drawing,
Fig. 1 representing a cross section and Fig. 2 a plan in partial section.
This apparatus substantially consists of a slightly hollowed plate a made of
material which will not conduct electricity and of a spongy porous plate which
will let through liquids and electricity.
These plates a and bare suitably connected with each other so that between
them is formed a slight hollow space for the purpose of holding the liquid medicine
which can be introduced through an opening e provided in the plate a so that this
liquid is capable of penetrating the plate 6 from above in a downward direction,
and the hollow space also serves to receive the electric conductor.
This latter consists preferably of a metallic strand c which in the hollow space is
separated into its component threads which latter are spread over the surface of
the plate in order that the latter may be able to distribute the electricity all over
the surface of the plate b.
The plate may in addition, in order to produce an intense distribution of
electricity over its surface, also be provided above and below with a perforated or
carved elastic metal cover. In the latter case there must be used above the metal
cover at the underside of the plate a rubbing or massage layer g which is made
porous.
The form of the apparatus shown in the annexed drawing may be varied.
The handling of the apparatus during the process is as follows:-
Through the orifice e in the plate a the previously liquified medicine to be
LIL
h Love lates
A
and

page_text: When arrived there the liquid slowly penetrates the plate b; thereupon the
apparatus is, by aid of the conducting wire c, brought in connection with a source
of electricity. This done, the part of the body in which the medicine is to be
introduced into the blood is rubbed or massaged by this apparatus (or by two such
if desired) until the skin is brought into an irritated state suitable for receiving the
medicine. The medicine, passing through the porous spongy plate b and finding
its way to the pores penetrates the blood.
To obtain the electric current to the body (without using two apparatus) the
part of the body in question may also be connected with the electric source by any
other suitable arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is―
1. Improved method of directly introducing medicine into the blood through the
pores of the skin by producing a highly excited and irritable state of the skin by
rubbing (massage) under the co-operation of an electric current effected in such a
way that the apparatus used to produce this excited state may serve likewise to
impart the medicine to the excited skin surface, substantially as described.
2. Improved apparatus for producing an excited (irritated) state of the skin on a
part of the body, consisting of a non conducting electric plate a and a porous,
elastic and spongy plate so constructed that the plate b can be penetrated by
liquid and an electric current led from the plate a into and through the plate b
substantially as described.
3. The plate 6 covered with an elastic perforated or carved metal layer fon both
sides while on the under side above the metal layer fa flannel or other coating g
is provided substantially as described.
R. HADDAN,
Of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.