IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF. FABRICS FOR SURGICAL AND MEDICAL DRESSINGS AND THE MANUFACTURE OF SURGICAL UDI TALTIC ANT
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sampson Gamgee of 22 Broad Street Birmingham in
the County of Warwick for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF. FABRICS FOR SURGICAL AND MEDICAL DRESSINGS AND THE
MANUFACTURE OF SURGICAL UDI TALTIC
ANTTY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sampson Gamgee at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st June 1883.
:
SAMPSON GAMGEE of 22 Broad Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS FOR SURGICAL AND MEDICAL
DRESSINGS AND THE MANUFACTURE OF SURGICAL SPLINTS AND SUPPORTS "
This Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of fabrics
for surgical and medical dressings and in the manufacture of surgical splints and
supports.
I produce a fabric for surgical and medical dressings from thoroughly bleached
cotton. I feed the fibre which by the thorough bleaching has been rendered very
absorbent on to a series of carding engines and I accumulate the batts or fleeces
from these engines upon a travelling apron which leads the accumulated fibre
between two muslin fabrics. These fabrics which are of an open nature thoroughly
bleached and freed from dressing are drawn off from rolls and are passed with the
carded cotton between them between pressing rollers by which the sheet is
consolidated and it is then wound into a roll.
In place of employing a series of carding engines the fleece from a single engine
may be accumulated to the desired thickness upon a roller, then divided and
stripped from the roller and consolidated between two muslin tissues.
The method first described is to be preferred.
The compound fabric may conveniently be made of different thicknesscs-say
thin, medium and thick and varying from four ounces in weight to ten ounces
in weight to the square yard.
This absorbent cotton-wool tissue is calculated to prove of very great service in

page_text: medical and surgical practice. The perfect smoothness and elasticity specially fit
it for application to inflamed parts; while its perfectly even surface specially
adapts it to be a medium for equable pressure. It never becomes knotty or lumpy
like ordinary cotton-wool, and its powerful absorbing and antiseptic properties
prevent the retention and decomposition of skin and wound secretions.
Another part of the invention relates to splints and surgical supports.
I have ascertained that the absorbent wool tissue above described becomes
immediately impregnated with a liquid mixture of plaster of Paris, on being
dipped into it.
I apply this fact to the manufacture of splints and supports as follows:-
I surround a form to which the splint or support is to be moulded, or it may
be an actual hand or limb with a layer of absorbent wool tissue, and, outside
this I mould another layer of the same tissue, previously soaked in plaster of Paris
cream.
This cream is made by sprinkling in water perfectly fresh and powdered plaster
of Paris. I stir with a metal spoon, and continue sprinkling the powder until
the liquid acquires the consistence of rich cream, or thin batter. The tissue, on
being pressed into the liquid, very quickly becomes completely saturated. It
requires to be lightly squeezed, to expel redundent cream, and is then fit to be
smoothly applied over the layer of dry tissue, with which the part has previously
been covered. Bandaging with a white, soft, absorbent roller, the plaster covering
is moulded accurately and without constriction, It rapidly dries and hardens,
but this process may be hastened by unrolling the bandage, carefully removing
the mould, and holding it for a few minutes before the fire. It can then be
re-applied, and it will be found that, while the outer shell is hard, the inner lining
retains all the softness and elasticity of the original tissue. The splints may be
cut to any shape, adapted to any surfaces and almost instantly solidified. Given
a case of fracture of the pelvis, spine, or ribs, a layer of the dry absorbent tissue
having been rolled round the patient, one or two more layers bandaged outside it,
after having been previously soaked in plaster cream, result in the construction of
a solid shell, within which fragments are held motionless and harmless.
By cutting strips of the tissue, and soaking them in plaster cream, any joint may
be immobilized by a plaster and bandage brace, or lattice work.
If desired, gum arabic, starch, or dextrine may be added to the plaster
cream;
Skill in making the moulds may be readily acquired by anyone cutting pieces
of the tissue, soaking them in plaster cream and moulding them with the hands
upon a form. However unequal the surface, a perfect mould can be taken; it
quickly solidifies, and can be readily taken off. One effect resulting from
impregnation of the gauze and cotton fibre with plaster is that the resulting
mould is not brittle, but on the contrary so tough, that it is almost impossible
to break or tear it. Since the moulds and splints can be made and removed in
sections, the usual difficulty in opening and removing a plaster of Paris case is
entirely obviated.
An excellent result is obtained when a mixture of dextrine and plaster of Paris
is employed say in the proportion of 3 parts of dextrine to 8 parts of plaster and
12 parts of water. The mixture is made as already described except that the
solution of dextrine is employed in the place of water. The tissue having been
dipped in the compound and applied in the manner explained above rapidly sets
and so very light strong and flexible splints and supports may be produced.
These splints and supports can be afterwards softened if desired by immersing
them in hot water, they can then be bent to another form which they will
retain on cooling. Gum arabic or starch can be used in place of dextrine but
less advantageously and other like materials may be employed as a substitute for
plaster of Paris.
My compound fabric or tissue may also very advantageously be used in
combination with paraffin in the manufacture of splints and supports.

page_text: The fabric or tissue is dipped in melted paraffin removed and slightly pressed
to remove excess and applied to the form or part. Cold water may be poured over
to hasten the hardening.
Splints and supports may also be made from paraffin saturated fabric previously
prepared, and again softened by heat when required for use.
Strips of thin deal veneer, in parallel lines or intersecting lattice-work fashion,
between two layers of paraffined absorbent tissue, make an exceedingly strong
splintage. This material may be cut to any size with an ordinary pair of scissors,
moulded to any shape after exposure to slight heat, and rapidly solidified on being
sponged with cold water. Incorporated, as the paraffin is, with the cotton and
gauze, the resulting tissue is not in the least brittle; Nor indeed are the moulds
made with the plaster of Paris cream.
The paraffin and plaster splintage may be perforated to facilitate drainage, and
that made with paraffin has the further advantage of being especially well adapted
for the application of pressure.
Besides its well known, intrinsic, antiseptic properties, paraffin readily takes up
borax and other anti-putrescent agents.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Sampson Gamgee in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
1st December 1883.
SAMPSON GAMGEE of 22 Broad Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FABRICS FOR SURGICAL AND MEDICAL
DRESSINGS AND THE MANUFACTURE OF SURGICAL SPLINTS AND SUPPORTS
"
This invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of fabrics
for surgical and medical dressings and in the manufacture of surgical splints and
supports.
I produce a fabric for surgical and medical dressings from thoroughly bleached
cotton by enclosing a sheet of this fibre between two layers of thoroughly bleached
muslin freed from dressing.
The compound fabric may conveniently be made of different thicknesses-say
thin, medium and thick, and varying from four ounces in weight to teň ounces in
weight to the square yard. or more or less.
This absorbent cotton wool tissue is calculated to prove of very great service in
medical and surgical practice. The perfect smoothness and elasticity specially fit
it for application to inflamed parts while its perfectly even surface specially adapts
it to be a medium for equable pressure. It never becomes knotty or lumpy like
ordinary cotton wool and its powerful absorbing and antiseptic properties prevent
the retention and decomposition of skin and wound secretions.
Another part of the invention relates to splints and surgical supports.
I have ascertained that the absorbent wool tissue above described becomes
immediately impregnated with a liquid mixture of plaster of Paris on being dipped
into it.
I apply this fact to the manufacture of splints and supports as follows:-I
surround a form to which the splint or support is to be moulded or it may be an
actual hand or limb with a layer of absorbent wool tissue and outside this I mould
another layer of the same tissue previously soaked in plaster of Paris cream.
This cream is inade by sprinkling in water perfectly fresh and powdered plaster
of Paris. I stir with a metal spoon and continue sprinkling the powder until the
liquid acquires the consistence of rich cream or thin batter. The tissue on being
pressed into the liquid very quickly becomes completely saturated. It requires to
be lightly squeezed to expel redundant cream and is then fit to be smoothly applied
over the layer of dry tissue with which the part has previously been covered.
Bandaging with a white soft absorbent roller the plaster covering is moulded
accurately and without constriction. It rapidly dries and hardens but this process
may be hastened by unrolling the bandage carefully removing the mould and
holding it for a few minutes before the fire. It can then be reapplied and it will
be found that while the outer shell is hard the inner lining retains all the softness
and elasticity of the original tissue. The splints may be cut to any shape adapted
to any surfaces and almost instantly solidified. Given a case of fracture of the
pelvis, spine or ribs, a layer of the dry absorbent tissue having been rolled round
the patient one or two more layers bandaged outside it after having been previously
soaked in plaster cream result in the construction of a solid shell with which
fragments are held motionless and harmless.
By cutting strips of the tissue and soaking them in plaster cream any joint may
be immobilized by a plaster and bandage brace or lattice work.
If desired, gum arabic, starch or dextrine may be added to the plaster cream.
Skill in making the moulds may be readily acquired by any one cutting pieces
of the tissue, soaking them in plaster cream and moulding them with the hands
upon a form. However unequal the surface a perfect mould can be taken; it
quickly solidifies and can be readily taken off. One effect resulting from impreg-
nation of the gauze and cotton fibre with plaster is that the resulting mould is not

page_text: brittle but on the contrary so tough that it is almost impossible to break or
tear it. Since the moulds and splints can be made and removed in sections the
usual difficulty in opening and removing a plaster of Paris case is entirely
obviated.
An excellent result is obtained when a mixture of dextrine and plaster of Paris
is employed say in the proportion of 3 parts of dextrine to 8 parts of plaster and
12 parts of water. The mixture is made as already described except that the
solution of dextrine is employed in the place of water. The tissue having been
dipped in the compound and applied in the manner explained above rapidly sets
and so very light strong and flexible splints and supports may be produced. These
splints and supports can be afterwards softened if desired by immersing them in
hot water, they can then be bent to another form which they will retain on
cooling. Gum arabic or starch can be used in place of dextrine but less advan-
tageously and other like materials may be employed as a substitute for plaster
of Paris.
My compound fabric or tissue may also very advantageously be used in
combination with paraffin in the manufacture of splints and supports.
The fabric or tissue is dipped in melted paraffin removed and slightly pressed to
remove excess and applied to the form or part. Cold water may be poured over to
hasten the hardening.
Splints and supports may also be made from paraffin saturated fabric previously
prepared and again softened by heat when required for use.
Strips of thin deal veneer in parallel lines or intersecting lattice work fashion
between two layers of paraffined absorbent tissue make an exceedingly strong
splintage. This material may be cut to any size with an ordinary pair of scissors
moulded to any shape after exposure to slight heat and rapidly solidified on being
sponged with cold water. Incorporated as the paraffin is with the cotton and gauze
the resulting tissue is not in the least brittle; nor indeed are the moulds made with
the plaster of Paris cream.
The paraffin and plaster splintage may be perforated to facilitate drainage and
that made with paraffin has the further advantage of being especially well adapted
for the application of pressure.
Besides its well known intrinsic antiseptic properties paraffin readily takes up
borax and other anti-putrescent agents.
Having thus described the nature of my said invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim :-
First My improved compound fabric consisting of thoroughly bleached absorbent
cotton compressed between two thoroughly bleached muslin fabrics free from
stiffening substantially as described.
Third The manufacture of surgical splints and supports from my compound
fabric saturated with plaster of Paris or other material and moulded on a form upon
which it sets and hardens substantially as described.
Fourth My compound fabric saturated with glucose gum arabic or starch (mixed
preferably with plaster of Paris) and the manufacture of surgical splints or supports
therefrom substantially as described.
Fifth My compound fabric saturated with paraffin and the manufacture of
surgical splints or supports therefrom substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said Sampson Gamgee have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Thirtieth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
SAMPSON GAMGEE (LS.)