CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF CARRYING, BEDDING, AND BATHING THE INJURED, ILL, OR INVALID PERSONS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Barthelemy Louis François Xavier Fléchelle,
Gentleman, of Paris, in the French Empire, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF CARRYING, BEDDING, AND
BATHING THE INJURED, ILL, OR INVALID PERSONS."
Sealed the 27th January 1854, and dated the 4th August 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Barthelemy Louis
François Xavier Fléchelle at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th August 1853.
I, BARTHELEMY LOUIS FRANÇOIS XAVIER FLECHELLE, Gentleman, of
Paris, in the French Empire, do hereby declare that the nature of my
Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF CARRYING,
BEDDING, AND BATHING THE INJURED, ILL, OR INVALID PERSONS," to be as
follows:--
My improvements consists of a litter for carrying wounded or sick
persons, which consists of an iron frame capable of folding in the
center of its length, and also jointed so as to be capable of being
separated into two parts in the direction of its breadth; it has at
each corner a handle by which it is carried, and which, when the letter

page_text: On this frame is
is placed on the ground, turn down and form legs.
placed a mattress, also capable of being divided into two parts longitu-
dinally. From this litter the patient is transferred to a bed suitable
for performing operations, if necessary, which is so arranged as to allow
a part to slide out from the center of the bed so as to permit the
operator to advance towards the center of the bed when necessary;
this bed is also arranged so as to be capable of being set at any
required inclination. Should it be necessary to administer a bath to
the patient he is slid from the litter on to a strained web, which by
means of a pair of winches, one at each end, is lowered into the bath
underneath.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Barthelemy Louis François Xavier Fléchelle in
the Great Seal Patent Office, on the 3rd February 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
BARTHELEMY LOUIS FRANÇOIS XAVIER FLECHELLE, Gentleman, of Paris,
in the French Empire, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of August, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the seven-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Barthelemy Louis Francois Xavier
Fléchelle, Her special licence that I, the said Barthelemy Louis Fran-
çois Xavier Fléchelle, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Barthelemy Louis Francois Xavier Fléchelle,
my exccutors, 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
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF CARRYING, BEDDING, AND
BATHING THE INJURED, ILL, OR INVALID PERSONS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Barthelemy Louis François Xavier

page_text: Fléchelle, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 Barthelemy Louis Francois
Xavier Fléchelle, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof
(that is to say):
The first part of my Invention consists of a litter for carrying
wounded or sick persons, which is constructed of an iron frame capable
of folding in the centre of its length, and also jointed so as to be
capable of being folded or separated into two parts in the direction
of its breadth; it has at each corner a handle by which it is carried,
and which, when the litter is placed on the ground, turn down and
form legs. On this frame is placed a mattrass, also capable of being
divided into two parts longitudinally.
Figure 1, of the annexed Drawing represents the litter when folded;
and Figure 2, represents the same litter when opened for use; Figure 3,
is a plan view; and Figure 4, shows the manner in which the litter
can be divided longitudinally. It is composed of two similar parts or
frames a, a, b, b, which can be connected together or separated at plea-
sure. The feet c, are jointed to the frame, and can be converted into
handles for carrying the litter for detaching the supports d. Springs f
are provided at the hinges so as to avoid all shock in carrying. At
the head of the litter is a frame e, to support the back and head, which
can be set to any required angle. Two pieces g, g, are provided, one
on each side of the litter, and which turn on centres at the head end,
so that they can be raised into the position shown in Figure 2, when
required to support a curtain. A band i, holds together the two parts
of the litter, which are pin-jointed the one to the other at j, j, and are
each covered with a linen fabric. Figures 6, 7, and 8, represent the
mattress and pillow to be used with the litter. The mattress is com-
posed of two parts s, and w, which are connected together by a flap and

page_text: buttons at t. The pillow y, is similarly constructed. In the use of
this litter the sick person can be transferred from the litter to a bed
without being in any way disturbed. The litter is placed on the bed,
and together with the mattress is divided into two parts in the centre,
one of which is removed on each side, and the sick person is gently
slid on to the bed. It also has the advantage of occupying less space
than an ordinary litter when out of use.
The second part of the Invention consists of a bed suitable for per-
forming medical or surgical operations, and which is so arranged as to
allow a part to slide out from the centre so as to permit the operator
to advance towards the centre of the bed when necessary. The bed
is also arranged so as to be capable of being set at any required
inclination.
Figure 5, shows a perspective view of this apparatus, which receives
a mattress divided into two parts, as is the case with the litter before
described. The sides k, of the bed hinge at z, which, when the cross
pieces, is removed, permit the two parts, at the end of the bed to be
separated from one another; then the operator in drawing out the
slide, can advance into the middle of the bed, and there perform any
necessary operation. The bed turns on the centre o, so that it can be
adjusted to any inclination by means of the handle p, and a pinion
working into the carved rack 9; when the required inclination is ob-
tained it is made fast by a pin passing through the arm r. 1, 1, are
the rests for the hands of the person operated on. m, m', and n, n³,
are rests for the hands and fect respectively.
It will be seen that the divided mattress permits the changing of the
sheets, &c. without removing the patient from the bed.
The third part of my Invention consists in the arrangement of a
bath for sick persons. The patient is slid from the litter or in any
other manner placed on to a strained web, which by means of a pair
of winches, one at each end, is lowered into the bath underneath. A
perspective view of this arrangement is shewn at Figure 9. The sick
person is placed on the surface f', which may be of woollen or other
fabric strained on a wooden frame, and in which are holes g'; this sur-
face is suspended at the ends by pieces of fabric e', which, when the

page_text: handles d', are turned, unroll from the rollers c¹, which are carried by
the supports b', and lower the patient into the water contained in the
bath a', underneath.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not con-
fine myself to the exact details described; but what I claim is, the
peculiar arrangement of litter, bed, bath, and mattress herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Barthelemy Louis Francois Xavier
Fléchelle, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth
day of January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four.
5
B. L. F. X. BY FLECHELLE. (L.S.)
Witness,
Cte DU VIGIER,
Rue du Froudeure, 6, (Paris).