An Improved Vaginal Douche.
Year: 1894

page_text: An Improved Vaginal Douche.
1, ROBERT HARDING RAINS residing at 57 Caledonian Road, London, N.,
Surgeon do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It consists of a specially constructed pipe and accessories for the effectual
cleansing of the vagina after child-birth etc.
The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which
A =
The pipe or nozzle-having an elliptical or round section and numerous
large apertures on each side. (Preferably of vulcanite.)
B
C
D:
=
=
An inflated cushion-preferably of india-rubber.
Metal or vulcanite tube for out-flow of fluid.
= Metal or vulcanite tube for in-flow of fluid.
=
E Clamp. (Applied to india-rubber tube which fits on to C and conducts
away waste water.)
The tube D to which the injecting syringe is to be attached runs along the
interior of the pipe (as indicated by the dotted line) and terminates at the
aperture A 2.
(The drawings are the actual size but various sizes may be made.)
The pipe A is made large in order to moderately stretch the vaginal walls and
its peculiar shape-widening towards its extremity-is intended to ensure self
retention in the vagina.
The cushion B is intended to prevent the escape of fluid in other manner than as
provided for by the perforations in the pipe A.
The instrument may be used in two ways:-(1st) as an ordinary syringe-in
which case the clamp E is not required, or (2nd) to flush the vaginal cavity.
This is done by first clamping the tube C and pressing the pad B gently against
the vulva then injecting a moderate quantity of fluid so as to thoroughly distend the
vagina. When the clamp is removed the fluid, blood clots etc. are immediately
ejected through the apertures provided and along the waste pipe C, chiefly by the
muscular action of the vaginal walls.
Dated this 30th day of October 1894.
ROBERT HARDING RAINS, M.R.C.S.
An Improved Vaginal Douche.
1, ROBERT HARDING RAINS, residing at 57, Caledonian Road, London, N.,
Surgeon do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to
the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My invention consists of a specially constructed pipe and accessories for the.
effectual cleansing of the vagina after child-birth also in certain diseased conditions
of the uterus and its appendages attended by the formation of pus and other
discharges and the accumulation of the same in the vagina.
'

page_text: The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of the instrument.
I
Fig. 2 a section of the pipe taken on the line a¹, a¹.
Fig. 3 a similar section of the pipe taken at x, x.
A is the pipe or nozzle which may have an elliptical or round section but from
present experiments appears to answer best when made in the form as shown in
Figs. 2 and 3. The said pipe may be made of metal, glass, vulcanite, or many
other substances, but I am now having same made of xylonite, which I prefer on
account of its lightness, transparency and non-fragile qualities.
B is an inflated ring cushion-preferably of india-rubber-and slides on A.
Ca metal, vulcanite, glass or india-rubber tube (preferably the latter), of
suitable length for the outflow of fluid. This tube fits over a raised collar on the
end of the pipe A as shown at the unlettered dotted line.
Da small tube of india-rubber, or any of the above named substances, about
fourteen inches in length, has a fine roll at one end where it passes through
the pipe A at the aperture A². Said roll being outside the pipe A serves to fix
this end of the tube and prevents its slipping inside. From this point it passes
along the interior of A (as shown in dotted lines) and through its wall at the
elliptical aperture A³. Or instead of passing through at this point the said
tube D may pierce the wall of the pipe A at any point between the cushion B
and the line ¹, r¹. Or I may block this end of the pipe A by a diaphragm
having two holes of unequal size.. Through the smaller of the two the tube D
would pass (instead of piercing the wall of A) and to the larger a waste pipe
may be fitted.
Into the free end of the tube D the nozzle of the injecting syringe is to be
inserted or the same may be connected with a reservoir fixed at a suitable height,
but I prefer the syringe.
In my Provisional Specification. I have shown a clamp (marked "E" on the
drawing filed therewith) but I now find it better when required to occlude the
waste or outflow tube C to do so by digital pressure.
The pipe A is perforated as shown at A2, A3 and A4, (the margins of the
apertures being well bevelled) and it is made large in order to moderately stretch
the vaginal walls or open out the vaginal folds of mucous membrane. Its peculiar
shape widening towards its extremity is intended to ensure self retention in the
vagina. This difference in size of the two extremities will be most apparent by
comparing the sections (Figs. 2 and 3). It will also be seen that the pipe A is
curved longitudinally so as to conform to the pelvic axis and thereby facilitate
introduction and obviate any discomfort. The lumen of A. is continuous with that
of the waste pipe C.
This instrument may also be used for washing out the uterus but for. this
purpose it is necessary to have a special tube which may, however, be a
prolongation of D slightly modified towards its uterine extremity. No claim is
here intended to be made to such special tube, it is merely intended to draw
attention to the fact that such tube may be made and used in conjunction with the
apparatus as herein depicted and described.
This apparatus entirely obviates the use of a draw-sheet and may be used by the
patient herself. It readily takes into four parts when necessary to clean and may
be used with any ordinary syringe. The method of using same is generally as
follows: The patient lying in the usual obstetric position is brought near to the
edge of the bed and the vaginal pipe (A) introduced, the bulb of the syringe-the
free end of which dips in the antiseptic fluid-having been previously filled, and
the nozzle connected with the pipe D, is then operated in the usual manner, the
cushion B being gently pressed against the vulva.
If it be desired to flush out the vaginal cavity this is done by clamping the waste
pipe C with the finger and thumb whilst the bulb of the syringe is compressed two
or three times. Upon setting free the waste pipe the muscular action of the
vaginal walls is at once brought into use to expel the injected fluid (and with it

page_text: any blood clots or discharge) from the vaginal cavity through the numerous large
apertures in the pipe A and thence along the outflow pipe C to any convenient
receptacle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for washing out the vagina (or uterus) after parturition, or
otherwise, the special pipe of the form and construction substantially as herein
described and for the purposes set forth.
2. In apparatus for washing out the vagina (or uterus) after parturition, or
otherwise, the combination of a vaginal pipe as above described and claimed with
an inflated cushion and injecting tube substantially as described and shown.
3. My improved douche for wasbing out the vagina (or uterus) after parturition,
or otherwise, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of July 1895.
ROBERT HARDING RAINS, M.R.C.S.