AN IMPROVED TRUSS FOR HERNIA
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Wood, of York City, Surgical Instrument
Maker, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED TRUSS FOR HERNIA."
Sealed the 13th October 1859, and dated the 30th July 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Wood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th July 1859.
I, JOSEPH WOOD, of York City, Surgical Instrument Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED TRUSS FOR
HERNIA," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to keep up permanently a firm, and as far as
possible unshifting pressure on both abdominal rings, whether there be a single
or double hernia, in order, first, that in single cases, protection and support may
be given to the sound side, and so prevent the occurrence of a rupture there,
which is always to be feared, and at the same time to effect a firmer pressure
on the ruptured side than is usually done by the ordinary means; and,
secondly, that in double cases, the pressure on each side, as far as is attainable,
may be equalised, and always kept applied to the same place, to the comfort
and curative benefit of of the wearer. To effect this end I construct a double
truss as it were upon a single back, that is to say, I attach a suitably formed
pad or cushion to the inner face of each extremity of a plate or back made of
metal or of any other suitable material, and of such shape and size as will
allow of its being comfortably worn, and of its extending across the pubic

page_text: region from one abdominal ring to the other inclusive. The construction and
position of these pads or cushions, as well as the distance between them, are
suitably regulated to meet the case of the wearer.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th January 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
WOOD, of York City, Surgical Instrument Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Joseph Wood, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph
Wood, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Joseph Wood, 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 "AN IMPROVED
TRUSS FOR HERNIA," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Joseph Wood, my executors or 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 Joseph Wood, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
The object of this Invention is to make pressure on both abdominal rings,
at the same time keeping up effectually all protrusion where rupture exists,
and preventing the rupture taking place when that has not already occurred.
This Invention consists in forming a plate of metal, or of any other suitable
material, of such shape and size as will allow of its being comfortably worn
and extending across the pubic region, and having a suitable pad or cushion at

page_text: each extremity. The pads or cushions are thus made to bear on the abdominal
rings at the same time, and the whole is kept in position by a suitable belt
and straps.
By modifications this Invention is made applicable to inguinal, scrotal, and
femoral hernia.
And in order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawing hereunto
annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a front view of a truss constructed according to my Invention.
a, a, is a plate of metal covered with leather, and having a projection or
cushion at each extremity; this plate is shown separately at Figure 2, and a
plan thereof with the cushions is shown at Figure 3. a', a¹, are studs on
the plate a, to receive the attachments to the belt b, b, which are buckled or
otherwise fastened at their ends. By these buckles the perforated straps d, d,
attached to the ends of the waist belt e are held; f,f, are elastic bands,
which are fastened at one end to the studs a², a', on the plate a, and at their
other ends to the studs e, e, on the waist belt e; these bands f,f, pass
between the legs of the person wearing the truss. Hence it will be seen
that a truss is produced for hernia in such manner that the pads or cushions
on the plate a press at the same time on the abdominal rings, requiring only
a belt (of elastic or non-elastic material) and under straps to keep it in
its place. The form and size of the plate a and the pads thereon will require
to be somewhat varied according to the position and nature of the rupture.
What I claim is the combination herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Wood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of January, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
JOSEPH WOOD. (LS.)