MATHEMATIC PRINCIPLED SAFE AND EASY TRUSSES FOR THE RELIEF AND CURE OF RUPTURES
Year: 1806

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
SALMON, of Woburn, in the County of Bedford, Surveyor, do send greeting.
WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third, by His
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Second day of October, in the
forty-sixth year of His reign, did give and grant unto me, the said Robert
Salmon, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, His especial licence that I, the said
Robert Salmon, my exors, admors, and assigns, during the term of years
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention
of "MATHEMATIC PRINCIPLED SAFE AND EASY TRUSSES FOR THE RELIEF AND
CURE OF RUPTURES;" in which 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 inrolled in
His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within one calendar month next and
immediately 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 the nature of my Invention, and
manner of executing and applying my Mathematic Principled Safe and Easy
Trusses is as follows:-
First, explaining that, having from observations and mature consideration
deduced that the formation of the human body will in each individual, in all

page_text: its parts, bear a certain geometrical proportion the one part to the other; also that
the seat of complaint, in the generality of hernias or ruptures, is also relatively
determinable by such proportions. and that, to uphold and keep in place the
parts having a tendency to protrude, certain different degree of pressure is
occasionally required on such part, and that such pressure should be in its
quantum of force and inclination thereof in certain determinate, defineable,
and unalterable direction when applied. Hence it follows that to construct a
proper truss some mathematic principle should apply; and it being requisite
that in all cases the force applied must be such as not only to keep up the
part when the patient is in quiet easy position and situation, but it must be
also sufficiently powerful to resist the increased force of the part from various
accidental and occasional exertions, situations, and circumstances. From
these premises it may be further deduced that the truss should be so con-
structed as of itself to throw additional force on the part when by accident or
It is also
design the exertions and situations before alluded to do occur.
leducable that the truss should not touch or bear on any part but the rupture;
and as all springs hitherto used do bear on various and many parts in the cir-
cumference of the body, a considerable portion of their contracting force must
be uselessly expended; and such springs, being also firmly united to the pad,
ilo, by any accidental removal of the spring, also displace the pad, thereby
cccasioning disagreeable and dangerous consequences. Hence it is desirable
that the spring be so connected that whatever change or position it takes in its
circumference, the two extremes should uniformly press on the diseased part
without removing the pad applied. On these principles my Invention rests,
and that the whole is obtained, the annexed Drawing and following description
will sufficiently explain.
A, a spring made by geometric rules from the size of the body, measured so
that when extended and applied it shall exactly fit, and exert a certain requisite
and determinate force on the front pad H, and from thence on the rupture. The
force of pressure, as also the size of the body it is meant to fit, is stamped on a
brass or other metal plate at the front end of the spring; the length and extended
shape of this spring to be such that when applied just on the hip it shall not
press on any part of the body, but rest entirely with its whole contracting force
exerting itself on the pads H and L, and when so fixed the wearer may readily
pass his fingers all round between his body and the spring, whereby any
bearing on the hip is completely prevented, and the spring left at liberty
to raise or fall and exert its force only where it is required.
In the Drawing hereto annexed the spring only is shewn;
is also to make cases to the spring of silk, leather, or any other fit material, so
but my
Invention

page_text: as to render it more clean and pleasant to the body of the wearer. These
cases are made to slip on or off in an instant, so that persons may change them
as often as they please; also these cases, from the principle of the truss,
require no stuffing, but are perfectly simple and as easy to make as apply.
Before describing the next parts, it is right to explain that the force of these
'my springs may in the simplest manner be either encreased or decreased. To
explain which, let it be supposed that the spring A in itself will exert a force
of seven pounds on the rupture when applied thereto. B, an additional spring
occasionally to be applied on the back of A, and thercon bound by a small slip
of leather. This additional spring may be supposed to exert a force of two
pounds; hence, by such simple addition the truss is made to compress with a
force of nine pounds. C, another additional spring of four pounds' force,
which may be applied instead of B, thereby making the truss to the power of
eleven pounds. Thus, by this simple means, at a trifling expence, the patient
is enabled to vary the degree of force on the hernial aperture, the convenience.
and utility of which, by all experienced persons, cannot fail but bo striking, for
the patient not only has the means of gradually increasing the force to his case,
but should time or change in constitution amend his complaint he may
gradually reduce the application, and thereby more probably obtain the
radical cure. D, D, D, three screw holes (or more if required) in the front
end of the spring, in either of which may be scrowed the male part of the
universal joint E, having on its top a strap pin G. By the use of theso
different holes the patient has the power of lengthening or shortening the
spring to a certain extent, so as exactly to fit him, and, however lengthened or
shortened, the pin to which the strap fixes is always over the joint in the pad
plate. E, the male part of an universal joint, being applicable to either of the
holes D, D, D; by means of this part the force of the spring is conveyed to
such part of the pad plate F as is requisite, and distributed properly on the
ruptured part. F, plate of iron or other metal or material, of shape as the
case may require, so constructed as in a certain point to receive the force of
the spring. In this plate is a part sunk to receive E, and making thereto the
female part of the universal joint. G, pin to receive the strap, moveable
with E. H, pad, being made of leather or any fit material, and stuffed with
horsehair, wool, or other stuffing; and being so made and applied to the
plate F it may be instantly dismounted, and the stuffing took out, and made as
easy as when new. The cases of this stuffing may be washed and replaced, or
persons may, at a trifling expence, have a change of the same. I, I, I, holes in
the back end of the spring corresponding with D, D, D, in the front end. K,
pad plate, with button and pin to apply in either of tho holes I, I, I, aud when

page_text: applied acting as an universal joint, with the back end of the spring, and
having on the top of the button a pin to put the strap on. L, back pad
of same construction and properties as the front pad. M, strap applied on the
back piu, and applicable to the pin G.
Having thus described the truss, it must be manifest that when applied the
whole force of the spring will be on the rupture, and opposite support
on the body, and that the force of the spring is by the universal joints
conveyed to the pads, thereby regularly forcing them to bear uniformly
on the part they are constructed to rest on, and that notwithstanding any
change in the position of the circumference of the spring; the spring
also, being free from the body, may be raised or lowered instantaneously
at pleasure of the patient, and worn either below the hip or just above,
which last position will be found best; as so placed the patient may rise
his thigh to any elevation without touching tho spring. In the appli-
cation it is meant the spring should always spend its whole force on the
pads, one constantly pressing towards each other. Tho front pad plate and
pad is of such shape and figure that its lower part always presses on the
top edge of the pelvis, and retains the rupture. The upper part of the pad is
at same time in a small proportion resting on a flexible part of the abdomen, a
little above the pelvis; and from this peculiar resting, and being so kept
by the universal joint forming a self-regulating force on the pad, a most
desirable effect is produced, and the necessity of guarding against exertions by
an extra strong spring is avoided, for in all actions tending to depress the
contained parts of the abdomen, the effect will be first and most forcibly
impelled on the upper part of the pad, which immediately is forced somewhat
outwards, thereby at same moment inclining inwards the lower and effective
part of the pad.
Thus I have generally described my Invention, not confining myself
exactly to the shape of the Drawing or description thereto, but claiming
every mode of exercising and applying my principles to the formation of
trusses, by making then determinate in their force and easy in their appli-
cation; in claiming all the various means of making universal and other joints
between the spring and the pad, making pad plates and pads which shall find
their due bearing on the body by the compression of the spring only, and
being unalterable from any change in the situation of the spring. On my
principles I do execute tho springs, pads, and every other part of all and
any of the various materials fit for the purpose. I also propose to mako
trusses of distinct and different shape from the figure subjoined. In somo
cases it may be required to extend one end of the spring further than the

page_text: other. In some cases where scrotal hernias are situated on the one side, the
spring may be made to go round and apply on the opposite side, and in all
cases my trusses will indifferently apply either to the left or right side.
Further, it is requisite to state, that although in the Drawing I have shewn a
truss applicable to the same side of the body as the complaint is on, and
requiring a strap to keep the pads in place, yet I do declare that my most
approved trusses require no such strap or any strap whatever, but being
differently made and placed on the side opposite to the complaint, such truss
will firmly keep in its place without any strap, and, being so applied, will still
retain all the properties before described. But notwithstanding this difference,
the description and Plate fully refer to the principle and nature of my truss,
only that in these last described the strap is omitted and the spring of
different lengths to what it is when applied to the same side of the body. And
I hereby particularly claim the Invention of applying trusses of every sort
to the contrary side of the body, and also of making them perfectly efficient
without any strap at all, either round the hip, thigh, or other part of the body,
and this purpose I can in the most perfect way effect by the springs placed on
either sides, or in double complaints, when placed on both sides; and altho"
I have described a truss for inguinal hernia only, yet I do apply the same
principles and construction for umbilical, fomorial, or any other kind of
hernia.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Salmon, have hereunto set my