New and Improved Means or Apparatus for the Production and Administration of Chloride of Ammonium by Inhalation.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A. New and Improved Means or Apparatus for the Production and
Administration of Chloride of Ammonium by Inhalation.
JOHN ALEXANDER FORRET, 26 Brougham Place, Edinburgh, Chemist and
Druggist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a means or apparatus for the production of neutral
chloride of ammonium in vapour or fumes, and also for the administration: by
inhalation of said vapour to the mucous membrane of the nose, throat and adjacent
parts in man.
For this purpose I employ a tube of glass or other suitable material: This tube
is indented or constricted at any convenient part for the purpose hereinafter
mentioned. A piece of sponge or other suitable absorbent material' is placed in
the tubes on one side of this constriction. A piece of pumice-stone, pipe-clay or
other suitable material is placed in the tube on other side of said constriction:
The pumice-stone may be in the form of a rod, cylinder or spiral, or fluted,
corrugated or otherwise modified so as to exhibit a large surface. One ends of
the pumice-stone rests on the constriction already referred to, and is thus prevented.
from coming into contact with the sponge on the other side of said constriction¹;.
while to the other end of the pumice-stone is attached a wire of platinum or other
metal. A piece of sponge is placed in the tube, above the pumice-stone, and is
prevented from: coming into contact with the pumice-stone, by means of the
platinum wire referred to. This end of the tube is closed by means of a cork or
plug carrying externally a small tube of glass, vulcanite, or other suitable material;.
the aperture of which is continued through the cork or plug, and is thus in com-*
munication with the tube containing the two sponges and pumice-stone..
The apparatus is used in the following manier:
The cork or plug is removed and the sponge directly underneath it, taken out
and moistened with water. The pumice-stone is next removed; dipped into strong
hydrocliloric acid, and replaced in tlie tube. The moistened sponge is replaced on
the top of the punice-stone and the cork re-inserted: A small quantity of
solution of ammonium hydroxide-commonly called caustic aminonia or solution of
ammonia is dropped on to the other sponge and the apparatus is ready for use.
By placing in the mouth, the tube attached to the cork or plug, and inhaling.air
through the apparatus, a portion of the caustic ammonia is drawn through the
tube; and in passing the pumice-stone comes into contact with a portion of the
hydrochloric acid with which it chemically' combines; forming: ammonium chloride
or chloride of ammonium; in the form of fumes or vapour. This vapour passes
througli-the moistened sponge and comes into contact with the mucous membrane
of the passages hereinbefore referred to: The purpose of the moistened, sponge,
through which the chloride of ammonium passes before leaving the apparatus is to
absorb and retain any excess of citlier hydrochloric acid or caustic ammonia; and:
thus ensure the inhalation of ammonium chloride: free: from excess of either of its
constituents.
Instead of the tube attached to the cork being. placed in the mouth; the cork
may be inserted in the other end of the tube and the ammonium chloride formed
and ejected by sending a current of air through the apparatus by any suitable:
means..
The fumessissuing from the tube: may then be inhaled through the mouth; or
nose or both.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Means or Apparatus for the Production and
Administration of Chloride of Ammonium by Inhalation.
JOHN ALEXANDER FORRET, of 26 Brougham Place, Edinburgh in the
County of Midlothian, Chemist and Druggist, 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:-
'My invention consists of a means or apparatus for the production of neutral
chloride of ammonium in vapour or fumes; and also for the administration by
inhalation of said vapour to the mucous membrane of the nose, throat and adjacent
parts in man.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have hereto appended
a drawing in section, reference to the different parts of which is hereinafter made
by means of letters.
A B is a tube of glass or other suitable material of any convenient length and
diameter, indented or constricted at any convenient part as shown at C. That part
of A, B which is marked D, is filled with a piece of sponge or other suitable
absorbent material. E is a piece of pumice stone, pipe-clay, asbestos or other
suitable material in the form of a rod, cylinder or spiral; or it may be fluted,
corrugated or otherwise modified so as to exhibit a large surface. One end of E
rests on the constriction herein before referred to, and is thus prevented from coming
into contact with the sponge at D; while to the other end of E is attached a
platinum wire K. That part of A, B marked F is filled with a piece of sponge or
other suitable absorbent material. This sponge presses upon the platinum wire
attached to E, thus serving to keep E in position, and at the same time the sponge
is prevented from coming into actual contact with E. The end of the tube
marked A is closed by means of a plug or cork G carrying externally a small
tube H, which may be either curved or straight, the aperture of which is con-
tinued through the plug and is thus in communication with the interior of A. B.
The apparatus is charged for use in the following manner :-
The plug G is removed, and the sponge at F taken out, and moistened with
water; E is removed, dipped into hydrochloric acid for a few seconds and returned,
and the moistened sponge and the plug G replaced. The sponge at D is removed
& moistened with solution of ammonium hydroxide-commonly called liquor of
ammonia-and replaced.
The apparatus is used in the following manner :-
By placing the tube H in the mouth and inhaling air through the tube, a
portion of the ammonia is drawn from the sponge at D, and in passing E, comes
into contact with a portion of the hydrochloric acid, and chemically combines with
it, forming chloride of ammonium in vapour or fumes. This vapour passes through
the moistened sponge at F, and by inhalation comes into contact with the mucous
membrane of the parts herein before referred to. The moisture in the sponge at F
absorbs and retains any excess of either acid or alkali, and thus ensures the
production of neutral chloride of ammonium, that is, free from excess of either of
its constituents.
Instead of the chloride of ammonium being inhaled by means of the tube H,
the plug G carrying H may be inserted in the end marked B, and the chloride, of
aramonium formed, and ejected by sending a current of air through the apparatus
by means of a bellows of india-rubber attached to H, or by any other suitable
means. The chloride of ammonium fumes. as they issue from the tube at A may
then be inhaled by the mouth, or nose, or both.
Any other medicament, such as menthol or any essential oil which it may be
desired to employ in combination with chloride of ammonium, may be placed on
either or both of the sponges, and inhaled along with the chloride of ammonium.

page_text: 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
1. A chloride of ammonium inhaler constructed, arranged and operating sub-
stantially as herein before described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
2. In a chloride of ammonium inhaler, the production of neutral chloride of
ammonium in a tube by means of suitable materials for holding the acid and
alkali, as also water for the absorption of excess of either acid or alkali from the
vapour produced.
3. In a chloride of ammonium inhaler, a method of applying chloride of
ammonium in vapour, alone or combined with other medicaments, to the mucous
membrane of the nose, throat and adjacent parts, either by direct inhalation, or by
passing a current of air through the inhaler, as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 25th day of November 1892
J. A. FORRET.