IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ADMINISTERING INJECTIONS AND DOUCHES TO THE HUMAN BODY
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Barker, of New Bond Street, in
the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR ADMINISTERING INJECTIONS AND DOUCHES TO THE HUMAN
BODY."
Sealed the 3rd April. 1866, and dated the 5th October 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Barker
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
5th October 1865.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT BARKER, of New Bond Street, in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "In-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ADMINISTERING INJECTIONS AND DOUCHES TO THE
HUMAN BODY," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of portable
apparatus for the purpose of administering injections, enemas, and douches to
various parts of the human body.
The apparatus consists of a flexible tube of india-rubber or other suitable
material, having an ivory or bone injecting or inserting tube at its extremity.
The flexible tube is provided at a convenient distance from the injecting piece
with a pump composed of an india-rubber receptacle, fitted to the flexible
tube by means of metal flanges, within which non-return or clack valves are

page_text: set. Towards the other end of the tube a nozzle is attached, having a milled-
edged flange to enable the operator to turn it; below this flange is a hollow
stopper having a projection or clutch on its periphery, below which the tube
continues, and is terminated by a hollow metallic inlet tube. The last portion
of the flexible tube, flange, and stopper is to be applied to a flexible water-
proof bag containing the liquid to be used as an injection, enema, or douche.
This bag is provided at the mouth with a metallic neck, into which the
stopper fits, the tube descending to the bottom of the bag. The metallic
neck has a horizontal slot or groove cut therein for the projecting clutch to
turn in, and so secure the tube to the bag, when by compressing the pump
with the hand the operator is enabled to draw the liquid from the bag and
force it through the bone or ivory injecting tube to the body of the patient.
The materials named may be varied as may be found desirable. There is no
novelty in the pump and upper portion of the injecting tube, but the novelty
of the Invention consists in the-application of the lower flanged portion of the
tube to the flexible bag as described, whereby a specified and definite quantity
of fluid may be injected as required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Robert Barker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 5th April 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT BARKER, of New Bond Street, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign,, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Robert Barker, Her special licence that. I, the said William
Robert Barker, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said William Robert Barker, my executors, administrators, and
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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR ADMINISTERING INJECTIONS AND DOUCHES
TO THE HUMAN BODY," apon. the condition (amongst others) that I, the said

page_text: William Robert Barker, my executors for administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands. and seals, 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 William Robert Barker, 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:-,
This Invention relates, to improvements in the construction of portable
apparatus for the purpose of administering injections, enemas, and douches to:
various parts of the human body. The apparatus consists of a flexible tube
of india-rubber or other suitable material, having an ivory or bone or elastic
injecting or inserting tube at its extremity. The flexible tube is provided at.
a convenient distance from the injecting piece with a pump composed of an
india-rubber receptacle fitted to the flexible tube by means of metal flanges,
within which non-return or clack valves are set. Towards the other end of the
tube a nozzle is attached, having a milled-edged flange to enable the operator.
to turn it; below this flange is a hollow stopper having a projection or..clutch
on its periphery, below which the tube continues and is terminated by a hollow
metallic inlet tube. The last portion of the flexible tube, flange, and stopper
is to be applied to a flexible waterproof bag containing the liquid to be used;
as an injection, enema, or douche. This bag is provided at the mouth with a
metallic neck, into which the stopper fits, the tube descending to the bottom
of the bag. The metallic neck has a horizontal slot or groove cut therein for
the projecting clutch to turn in, and so secure the tube to the bag, when by
compressing the pump with the hand the operator is enabled to draw the
liquid from the bag and force it through the bone or other injecting
tube to the body of the patient. The materials named may be varied
as. may be found desirable. There is no novelty in the pump and upper
portion of the injecting tube, but the novelty of the Invention consists in
the application of the lower flanged portion of the tube to the flexible bag as
described, whereby.a specified and definite quantity of fluid may be injected as
required...
".
:
.
.:
The Drawing annexed, Fig. 1, represents.the apparatus ready for use; a is .
the injecting or inserting tube attached to the end of the flexible tube b, which. :
communicates with the india-rubber syringe or pump c; the bottom of the
syringe is attached to a milled-edged nozzle d, which is passed into the metallic..

page_text: neck e. of the reservoir. f, is fastened therein by means of a projection.on
the nozzle turning in a slot in the neck after the manner of a bayonet.fastening.
At the end of the nozzle a flexible tube 9, shewn in dotted lines, is fixed and
passes down to the bottom of the. flexible reservoir. This apparatus offers}
many advantages over all those. in general employment, not only as regards
portability, but in efficiency of action and the greatest possible convenience:
in use. The quantity of.fluid required for. an ordinary injection can be con-
tained in the flexible bag, but should a larger amount be desired, the use of
the reservoir may be dispensed with, the india-rubber entrance tube being
placed in the vessel of liquid. The amount of liquid employed can be varied.
to any extent at pleasure. The apparatus is equally applicable. for the
administration of enemas and vaginal injections.
I
For domestic use it is peculiarly adapted. It occupies but little space, and
from its extreme compressibility it may be packed away in a portmanteau or
travelling bag, being enclosed in a small waterproof covering resembling a
sponge bag, and when the reservoir is filled with fluid it can be carried in the:
pocket. The apparatus may be fitted with a longer tube such as the accoucheur
requires for injection of the womb in cases of flooding after delivery. It is
also adapted to india-rubber bags for effecting dilatation of the os uteri;. and.
of course would be equally available for a water pessary or for a bag for.
plugging the vagina in order to check hæmorrhage before delivery. The
apparatus can easily be cleaned by passing a little warin water through it;
there is no liability of it getting out of repair, nor are there any joints at which:
leakage can take place.
Fig. 2 represents the bag or reservoir detached from the tube, pump, or
syringe in order that it may be used as an eye douche; h is an eye douche
cup made of india-rubber or other material attached to the tube, which may
be elastic, or of metal or glass, the top of the tube being provided with a rose
or perforated dome. The bag may also be used detached as an ear douche,. or
for syringing the throat, or for an enema. .
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner. in
which the same is to be performed, I would remark in conclusion that I.
do not limit myself to the precise details and configuration of parts expressed.
and shewn, nor to the materials of which the apparatus may be made, as the
same may obviously be varied or modified without departing from the
principle of the Invention. I am aware that the syringe and injecting tube
are not new; but what 'I claim and desire to be secured to me by the
herein in part recited Letters Patent is, the application of the bag or
reservoir with its internal tube to the pump or syringe and injecting tube, and

page_text: also the use of such bag or reservoir detached from the pump, substantially as
and for the various purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Barker, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.
W. R. BARKER. (L.S.)