CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE RELIEF OF HERNIA, WHICH INSTRUMENTS I CALL SALMON'S NEW ROYAL PATENT ARTIFICIAL ABDOMENS
Year: 1811

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
SALMON, of Woburn, in the County of Bedford, Surveyor, send greeting..
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourth day of March,
in the fifty-first year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said Robert
Salmon, my exors, adññiors, and assigns, His especial licence, full power,
sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Robert Salmon, my exors, adñiors,
and assigns, should and lawfully might, during the term of years therein
expressed, make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the
Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS FOR
THE RELIEF OF HERNIA, WHICH INSTRUMENTS I CALL SALMON'S NEW ROYAL PATENT
ARTIFICIAL ABDOMENS;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso obliging me, the said Robert Salmon, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, to cause a particular description of the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be enrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within two calendar
months after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Robert Salmon, do hereby declare that my said Invention comprises as
follows:-
First, the application of a new principle to be applied in the retaining of
inguinal and umbilical hernia.

page_text: Secondly, the formation of certain plates, pads, or cushions to be impelled
on the human body, embracing this new principle, which said plates, pads, or
cushions, however impelled, constitute a principal part of my Invention.
Thirdly, the formation, combination, and application of different sorts of
springs, and other requisite parts, to produce the required effect, the applica-
tion of which principle, or plates, pads, or cushions, or formation or com-
bination of the springs, or all or any of the parts thereof, are my Invention, and
constitute my New Royal Patent Artificial Abdomen.
Previously to explaining the principle of my Invention, I shall first premise
that the great object in relieving hernia is to do it in such manner that the sper-
matic vessels be not injured, and in such way that the muscles may be so treated
as to be most likely to recover their lost tone and strength, and thereby, if pos-
sible, produce the radical cure. Contrary to this end, in all trusses hitherto in use
for inguinal hernia, the pad or cushion opposed to the abdominal aperture is of
convex shape, and somewhat spherical or rotund, and these are applied directly
with their apex resting on and in the aperture, and on the spermatic vessels
proceeding therefrom. Now, in a rational way of considering the complaint,
and this part of the human body, this shape of the pad and way of application
is inconsistent with the requisite effect; for it is manifest that every convex
surface impelled on to a soft yielding body must in some degree act as a wedge
or plug tending to distend and separate the parts of such body. Again, it is
equally manifest that if the rotundity of the pad applied to inguinal hernia be
more curved than the curvature of the upper edge of the os-pubis, then the
inferior part of the apex, resting directly on the spermatic vessels, will press
most intensely these vessels on to the os-pubis, thereby unsteadily oppressing
and distending these vessels and the surrounding muscles, and frequently
occasioning more mischief than the application is intended to relieve. To
remedy these imperfections and facilitate the probability of radical cure, my
new principle does apply; and altho' I do apply that principle to all sorts of
hernia, yet it is most easy of demonstration in inguinal hernia, to which only I
shall refer claiming, nevertheless, the exclusive right of applying it to all the
varieties in the complaint.
First, then, my new principal is to relieve every sort of hernia without
any direct violence or distention of the herniary apperture, and without
unsteadily resting on or oppressing the sphermatic vessels in inguinal hernia;
but contrarywise so to apply machinic force as to close and support the
aperture and its contents, and at same time and collect, retain steadily, and
shield from any violent pressure the vessels themselves.
Secondly, in the formation of the plate, pad, or cushions, embracing my new

page_text: principle, many trifling variations in shape may be made, and the different
sizes of persons require so many different sizes of plates as to render it
impossible to specify all; I nevertheless claim all the variations, acting according
to the before-described principles, and following description and figures hereto
annexed.
Fig. 1, front view of the plate of an artificial abdomen as applied to the
herniary apperture on the right side of a common-sized person. A, the inner
side of the right thigh projecting forward from the flexible part of the abdo-
men; B, the superior or inner herniary aperture entering into the cavity of
the abdomen; C, the direction of the herniary canal and spermatic vessels as
they descend towards the scrotumn; D, lower part of the plate resting on the
lower intersection of the abdominal muscles, and laying a little over the upper
edge of the os-pubis; E, upper part of the plate resting on the flexible part of
the abdomen; F, connecting or middle part of the plate resting on the interior
edge of the apperture; in the centre of this the impelling force is applied and
connected by joint, so as to leave the plate at liberty to adjest itself to tho
changes in the position of the body; G, dotted line, shewing the upper edge of.
the os-pubis; I, flexible part of the abdomen. Fig. 2, vertical section of the
same, in which the same letters explain the same parts. Fig. 3, horizontal.
section of the lower edge of the plate D, resting on the abdomen and os-pubis,
and collecting, embracing, and protecting the muscles and spermatic vessels.
Now having premised that all rotund or convex surfaces impelled on soft
yielding bodies must, as a wedge, cause a separation of the parts by somo
'reasoning applied to the before-described figures, it is manifest that the parts
of the plate D and F will rest and press on the surrounding part of the abdo-
minal ring, forming a ligature to prevent the descent of the hernia, and that
some time collapsing and closing the muscles, and in directly stopping of thic
apperture; and as the lower part is hollowed out, as shewn in Fig. 3, the
spermatic vessels will be retained and shielded from violent pressure against
the os-pubis. For umbilical hernia the application of my principle is shewn
and explained in Fig. 9.
Thirdly, in order to give the requisite pressure to my abdomens, I have
constructed and do apply particular sorts of springs, plates, &c., as in Figs.
4, 6, 8, and 9, are fully described, and which said springs, plates, &c., I
believe to be new, and claim the exclusive right of applying for herniary.
support.
And further, I do occasionally apply my patent self-adjusting truss springs
for giving the requisite pressure, as shewn in Figs. 5 and 7, or I do directly,
apply the said springs as shewn in Fig. 10, and altho' the different parts of.

page_text: these instruments may require varying, according to the size of the persons
and nature of the complaint, so as to render it impossible herein to describe
every variation, and the different parts may be composed of different materials,
yet I claim the right of making all the variations in size and combination of
materials, the purport and nature of my Invention being as before and herein-
after is described. and fully explained, references to the Figures herein-after
shewn.
Fig. 4, a simple inguinal artificial abdomen. A, plate lined with a cushion to
rest on the flexible part of the abdomen and give direction to the frame or
carriage piece B; B, metal frame or carriage piece connected with and bearing
at its upper and on the plate A, and by joint resting on the plate and cushion
C; C, self-adjusting plate covered with soft materials to rest on the abdomi-
nal muscles; D, projecting horn-like spring, loosely connected by a screw and
resting on the frame B; the extreme ends of this spring, when at liberty, spring
forward from the front of the body and project therefrom like horns; E, straps
of leather or other material connected with the springs; these, by tightening
round the body, cause the pressure of the spring on B, from which it is transfered
to the plate A and enshion C, the bearing on B being so regulated that the
greatest part of the force is transferred to C, and thence on the abdominal ring.
Fig. 5, a simple inguinal artificial abdomen, with patent self-adjusting truss
spring. A, B, C, the same as in Fig. 4; D, patent self-adjusting truss spring
to fit round the body and communicate force instead of the projecting spring
described in Fig. 4; E, back cushion and plate to rest on the os-sacram.
Fig. 6, a compound inguinal artificial abdomen with projecting spring. A,
plate and cushion, as before; B, metal frame or carriage piece; C, two self-
adjusting cushions, placed at such distance from each other as to rest on each
abdominal ring; D, projecting spring to press on the frame B, as described in
Fig. 4 E, straps to bring the spring to act as described in Fig. 4.
Fig. 7, a compound inguinal artificial abdomen with patent self-adjusting:
truss spring. A, B, C, the same as last above described; D, patent self-
adjusting truss spring to give pressure on B; E, back cushion to rest on the
Os-sacram.
Fig. 8, simple umbilical artificial abdomen. A, plate and cushion to rest.
on the navel rupture; B, projecting spring resting on a round button in the.
centre of the plate A, and screwed thereto with a loose joint, so as to leave the
plate at liberty to adjust itself on its bearing; C, straps round the body and
draw in the springs, thereby given the requisite pressure on the plate A, and
consequently on the navel.

page_text: Fig. 9, compound umbilical artificial abdomen. A, plate and cushion
to rest on the navel; B, outer rim to rest on the surrounding part of the
abdomen, connected by hinge with the plate A; C, metal bearers, one end
connected and resting on the plate A, and the other end resting on the rim B;
D, upper bearing, resting with its ends on C at such point that it communicates
the greatest portion of its pressure on the plate A, and the remainder on the
rim B; E, spring, as before; F, straps to go round the body, by tightening of
which the spring is drawn to fit the body, and at same time to press on the
upper bearer D, from whence the pressure is transferred to the under bearer
C, and by them distributed between the plate A and outer rim B, thereby
expending the force of the spring partly on the navel and partly on the
surrounding part of the abdomen; by this distribution of the pressure securing
the surrounding parts, as well as the navel, and clasping the abdomen of
rotund persons so as to prevent the removal of the instrument, and the
unpleasant sensation sometimes experienced by pressing the navel only.
Fig. 10, patent artificial abdominal plate, applied directly to my self-adjusting
truss spring.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Salmon, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Third day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eleven.
Inrolled the Third day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and cleven.