AN. IMPROVED SPLINT FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hides, of No. 47, Mortimer Street, Cavendish
Square, in the County of Middlesex, Surgeon, for the Invention of "AN.
IMPROVED SPLINT FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES "
Sealed the 4th May 1866, and dated the 7th November 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hides at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th November 1865.
I, HENRY HIDES, of No. 47, Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square, in the
County of Middlesex, Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED SPLINT FOR SURGICAL PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
This improved splint is intended to be used for the reduction of fractures
and sprains, and for other similar surgical purposes, and consists of a combi-
nation of materials which when applied to the limb are in a plastic state, so
that they can readily be moulded to the required form, but will harden in
about half an hour. The material of which the splint is composed is felt,
upon which is cemented a layer or lining of chamois leather. This material
may be kept in sheets of any convenient size, and may be easily cut to the
proper form and dimensions when required for use. When the splint is to be
applied, after having cut the material to the required form, the felt side is to
be saturated (by means of a brush or otherwise) with the hardening solution,
which is composed of the ingredients hereafter named, and in about the fol-
lowing proportions, namely, borax six grains, gum benzoin two scruples, and

page_text: gum sandrac or juniper five and a half ounces, dissolved in about one pint of
methylated spirit. The splint being now in a plastic state is fitted to
the limb with the leather side inwards, and being plastic it will readily
adapt and mould itself thereto. The bandages are then applied in the usual
way, and in about half an hour (more or less, according to the temperature,)
the splint will have become perfectly hard.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Henry Hides in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
May 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HENRY
HIDES, of No. 47, Mortimer Street, Cavendish Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Surgeon, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the 29th year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Henry Hides, Her special license that I, the said Henry Hides, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Henry
Hides, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SPLINT FOR SUR-
GICAL PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Henry
Hides, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of them, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Henry Hides, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
in writing, that is to say :-
This improved splint is intended to be used for the reduction of fractures
and sprains, and for other similar surgical purposes, and consists of a combi-

page_text: nation of materials which when applied to the limb are in a plastic state, so
that they can readily be moulded to the required form, but will harden in
about half an hour.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "An Improved
Splint for Surgical Purposes," I will proceed to describe the manner in which
the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect, which
will be readily understood from the following explanation thereof.
The material of which the splint is composed is felt, upon which is cemented
a layer or lining of chamois leather. This material may be kept in sheets of
any convenient size, and may be easily cut to the proper form and dimen-
sions when required for use. I may here remark that in some instances I
find it preferable to use a lining of silk in place of chamois leather. When
the splint is to be applied, after having cut the material to the required form,
the felt side is to be saturated (by means of a brush or otherwise) with the
hardening solution, which is composed of the ingredients hereafter named, and
in about the following proportions, namely, borax 6 grains, gum benz in
2 scruples, and gum sandrac or juniper 5 ounces dissolved in about one pint
of methylated spirit. The splint being now in a plastic state is fitted to the
limb with the leather side inwards, and being plastic it will readily adapt and
mould itself thereto. The bandages are then applied in the usual
way, and
in about half an hour (more or less, according to the temperature,) the splint
will have become perfectly hard.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"An Improved Splint for Surgical Purposes," together with the manner in
which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical effect,
I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention the use for such
purposes of a compound material consisting of chamois leather, or si.k and
felt cemented together in combination with the hardening solution, composed
and applied substantially as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Hides, bave hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
HENRY HIDES. (L.S.)