A NEW APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING POWDERS INTO NATURAL OR PATHOLOGICAL CAVITIES IN THE HUMAN BODY
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adolphe Marie Albin Laforgue, of No. 5, Ruc
des Quatre Vents, Caen, in the Empire of France, Medical Doctor,
for the Invention of "A NEW APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING POWDERS INTO
NATURAL OR PATHOLOGICAL CAVITIES IN THE HUMAN BODY."
Sealed the 19th February 1869, and dated the 4th September 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adolphe Marie Albin
Laforgue at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his.
Petition, on the 4th September 1868.
I, ADOLPHE MARIE ALBIN LAFORGUE, of No. 5, Rue des. Quatre
Vents, Caen, in the Empire of France, Medical Doctor, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "A NEW APPARATUS FOR INTRODUCING
POWDERS INTO NATURAL OR PATHOLOGICAL CAVITIES IN THE HUMAN BODY," to be
as follows that is to on.

page_text: The apparatus consists of a handle made of cardboard, metal, india-
rubber, or other suitable material. It is made hollow or solid, rigid or
flexible, varying in size and length, and having at its upper extremity
a bag made of goldbeater's skin, of a textile material, of india-rubber, or
other thin flexible material, which is made by preference of a cylindro-
conical form, and I construct it of two valves separated by a plane passing
through the axis. I connect the two valves by a seam made with two
fine wires or threads joining at the top. The two parts or valves of the
bag are each furnished with a strap or cord suitably fixed to the top of
the said valve, the lower part of the bag being fixed to the handle. The
extremites of the straps and of the wires are attached to another wire
or cord passing into the interior of the handle if it is hollow, or into
exterior grooves if it is solid. The bag is filled with medicinal powder
through an exterior hole made in the handle and communicating with
the interior of the bag, and it is caused to pass into the required cavity
by means of the handle. It is then only necessary to draw a ring or
knob at the end of the wire and the sewn threads or wires will slide in
the holes made for their passage and the valves are set free. The straps
from the top being drawn by the wire or thread will open the bag,
folding back exteriorly on each side the membrane of which the valves
are made, leaving the powder at the part required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Adolphe Marie Albin Laforgue in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 3rd March 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ADOLPHE 2
MARIE ALBIN LAFORGUE, of No. 5, Rue des Quatre Vents, Caen, in the
Empire of France, Medical Doctor, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of September, in the year
of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-second 3
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Adolphe Marie Albin Laforgue, Her special
licence that I, the said Adolphe Marie Albin Laforgue, my executors,

page_text: handle if it is hollow, or into exterior grooves if it is solid. The bag is
filled with medicinal powder through an exterior hole made in the
handle and communicating with the interior of the bag, and it is caused
to pass into the required cavity by means of the handle. It is then only
necessary to draw a ring or nob at the end of the wire and the seam
threads or wires will slide in the holes made for their passage and the
valves are set free. The straps from the top being drawn by the wire
or thread will open the bag, folding back exteriorly on each side the
membrane or other material of which the valves are made, leaving the
powder at the part required.
Having thus stated the nature of my Invention I will proceed to
describe the best way I am acquainted with for carrying the same into
effect by reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which Figures 1,
2, and 3 show the bag, which by preference is of a conico-cylindrical
form, and made of goldbeater's skin; any other suitably flexible skin
or material may be employed for its manufacture, and consisting of two
valves. Each valve A is united to the other by very fine double
wire B, B; it is also furnished with a double ribbon or strap B', which
is glued or pasted thereto. The bag being thus made is turned to place
the seam inside, and when in the position shewn by Figure 3 its edges
are glued to the opening C, C, of the hollow handle, Figure 4, which I
make by preference of cardboard, although it may also be made of wood,
bone, india-rubber, or other suitable material. The upper part of the
.handle is shewn in section at Figure 5; it is divided into two parts by
the partition or diaphragm O. A is the opening for charging the interior
of the bag. The openings B, B, Figure 4, serve for the passage of the
ribbons or straps C, C, Figure 3; these ribbons or straps are turned
over, and are attached to the ring A of a metallic rod, Figure 8, which
is furnished at its other extremity with a larger ring B, and which
lodges in the interior of the handle. The wires with which the bag is
sewn are also fixed to the part A of the rod, Figure 8, so that by pulling
the ring B the wires forming the seam may be completely drawn and
the bag be undone before the ribbons or straps fixed to the top of the
two valves of the bag are moved, and the bag divided in two. The bag
may be goffered or steeped in a fatty matter, such as a mixture of wax
and oil, to give it consistency. Instead of the wire shewn at Figure 8,
acord, Figure 9, may be used. A small ferrule, Figures 6 and 7, may

page_text: be fixed to the bottom of the handle, as shewn at D, Figure 10, to
fasten it.
Figures 10, 11, and 12 shew three instruments complete of different
sizes. Figure 14. shews it packed up in a cornet of paper; Figure 15
shews it with a cylindrical handle, and with a cord instead of a rod.
The construction may be modified, as shewn at Figures 16, 17, and 18.
In these cases I employ a strong skin or fabric sewn except at the
conical part, as shewn at Figuro 18. The handle is provided with a
knob A, Figure 17, and with small holes for fixing the ferrule at a
suitable height. An india-rubber spring is fixed to the bag, as shewn at
Figure 16, and the wires of the seam are attached to a ring; the india-
rubber is then stretched over the handle, as shown at B, Figure 18.
After the bag has been filled and the instrument has been inserted into
the required place the ring C is drawn, the seam opens, and the
handle moved by the india-rubber enters the bag and forces out the
powder.
Figures 19 and 20 shew apparatus of a curved form constructed as
first herein-before described. When required for uso the bag is filled
with powder through the opening B of the handle, Figure 10, which is
afterwards closed with wadding; I then introduce the apparatus into
the cavity. The ring E, Figure 10, is drawn, and by means of its rod
or cord draws the wires and uncovers the bag, the ribbons or straps turn
it over right and left and cause a part of the valves to enter the handle.
The apparatus then assumes the form shewn at Figure 11, and the
powder is lodged at the part required.
By introducing the instrument charged with a medicinal powder, or a
powder impregnated with medicinal substances, the powder may be
deposited in any of the cavities of the body, either natural or artificial,
my object being to construct it principally for affections of the womb
and of the neck of the womb in women, who are thus enabled to treat
themselves without other assistance.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details of construction; but what I claim is, the
construction of a bag with a moveable seam susceptible of being intro-
duced full of powder at the end of a suitable handle and opened at any
suitable point, so as to permit of it depositing at such part the powder

page_text: it contains, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adolphe Marie Albin Laforgue,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day
of February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and sixty-nine.
.