Improvements in Surgical and other Curative Appuances.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in Surgical and other Curative Appuances.
We WILLIAM WHITAKER of 41 Fairfax Street Hall Lane Bradford in the
County of York Merchant and SAMUEL LODGE of Windrush House Bradford in
the said County of York Surgeon do hereby declare the nature of our invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SURGICAL AND OTHER CURATIVE APPLIANCES
to be as
follows:-
"
These improvements relate first to the preparation treatment and application
of a highly absorbent and antiseptic surgical dressing material applicable to a
variety of surgical and curative purposes to be called Lodge's antiseptic surgical
dressing.
The material we employ for these purposes is what is generally known as fibre
from the Rhea plant or China grass (vegetable silk) of which there are a great
variety or species known by different botanical names the fibre obtained from the
plant called Bahmeria Nivea being the most absorbent and advantageous for the
above purposes.
Non porous materials when applied to wounds and other bodily ailments are
found to possess curative properties apart from any chemical treatment.
Rhea fibre or China grass has been extensively used for manufacturing purposes
special machinery having been designed for bleaching preparing and spinning the
same for combing spinning and weaving and we find the "noils" resulting from
the operation of combing are very suitable for the purposes of our invention by
applying the same (in the state in which it is delivered from the combing or carding
machine) as an absorbent in obstetric and surgical operations.
These "noils" may be made up into pads bandages or other appliances suitable
for use according to the nature of the case to which the same is to be applied.
33
The longer fibre or "Bliver may also be used for like purposes in cases where
it is found to be most advantageous and the same may be woven from thick or fine
strands or threads into cloth or woven fabric suitable for being used in surgical
operations or curative treatment. Such fabrics may be made up into
other suitable forms required for surgical and curative treatment,
or

page_text: We find it advantageous to use the above descriptions of fibre in an unbleached
state as it is more absorbent and cheaper.
For curative purposes the fibrous materials above referred to may be treated or
impregnated with various chemical and antiseptic agents such as corrosive sublimate
salicylic and carbolic acids and other chemicals in accordance with the requirements
of any particular case and the fibrous materials or fabrics of the same so trented
or impregnated may be dried for use or curative agents may be applied in the form
of solutions absorbed by the fibrous materials.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Surgical and other Curative Appliances.
We WILLIAM WHITAKER of 41 Fairfax Street Hall Lane Bradford in the
County of York Merchant, and SAMUEL LODGE of Windrush House Bradford in
the said County of York Surgeon 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 :-
These improvements relate first to the preparation treatment and application
of a highly absorbent antiseptic surgical dressing material applicable to a variety
of surgical and curative purposes to be called "Lodges antiseptic surgical dressing."
The material, we employ for these purposes is what is generally known as the
fibre from the Rhea plant or Ramie or China grass plant (vegetable silk) of which
there are a great variety or species known by different botanical names.
fibre obtained from the plant called Bæchmeria Nivea being the most absorbent
and advantageous for the above purposes.
The
These fibrous or non porous materials when applied to wounds and other bodily
ailments are found to possess curative properties, apart from chemical addition or
treatment.
"
The Rhea or Ramie or China Grass fibre has been extensively used for manu-
facturing purposes special machinery having been designed for the bleaching-
preparing and combing-as also for the spinning into yarns of the same, and we
find the
noils" resulting from the operation of combing are very suitable for the
purposes of our invention by applying the same (in the state in which it is
delivered from the combing or carding machine) as an absorbent in all “ obstetric "
and surgical operations.
"
These "noils can also be spun into yarns and woven into cloth suitable for
bandages and for pads and other appliances suitable for use according to the nature
of the case to which the same is to be applied.
The longer fibre or "sliver" may also be used for like purposes in cases where
it is found to be most advantageous and the same may be spun into fine or coarse
yarns and woven or otherwise made into cloth or suitable fabrics for being used in
surgical operations or curative treatment. Such fabrics may be made up into
bandages or other suitable forms required for surgical and curative treatment.
We find it advantageous to use the foregoing description of fibre in an unbleached
state as it is more absorbent and cheaper.
For curative purposes the fibrous materials above referred to may be treated or
impregnated with various chemical and antiseptic agents such as corrosive sub-
limate, salicylic, carbolic acid, or any other chemicals in accordance with the
requirements of any particular case and the fibrous materials or fabrics of the
same so treated or impregnated may be dried for use-or as curative agents may
be applied in the form of solutions absorbed by the fibrous materials.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
1. The use and application of the fibrous materials herein referred to either
treated and impregnated with chemicals or in their pure state for surgical dressings
or other medical appliances substantially as and for the purposes herein before
described.
2. The improved preparation and manufacture of the fibrous materials named
into surgical dressings or other medical appliances substantially as herein before
described.
3. The improved manufacture of cloth or fabrics by spinning weaving or other-
wise suitable for making bandages pads or other like appliances for medical and
surgical purposes substantially as herein before described.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Agents for the Patentees.