Remedy for Asthma and other Affections of the Throat, Chest, and Lungs.
Year: 1885

page_text: Remedy for Asthma and other Affections of the Throat, Chest,
and Lungs.
I JOHN GIRDWOOD of Woodburn in the County of the Town of Carrickfergus,
in Ireland, Linen Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for a
REMEDY FOR ASTHMA AND OTHER AFFECTIONS OF THE THROAT, CHEST AND LUNGS
to be as follows:-
My invention consists in a combination of ground Stramonium leaves and
powdered saltpetre with ground cascarilla bark, ground Indian Hemp Seed and
sifted white sugar, in certain proportions, the ingredients being made quite dry
before intermixture.
When the intermixture is completed I moisten the product with boiling water
and afterwards heat it slowly, in a shallow pan or dish, until all the moisture is
driven off, after which I grind or otherwise reduce it to a fine powder and preserve
it in a substantially air tight box, case or bottle.
The person afflicted with asthma or any kindred affection of the throat, chest or
lungs is placed in a closed chamber or room in which a small quantity of the
powder is burned upon a plate and the inhalation of the smoke or vapour produced
by its reduction gives immediate relief and restores the patient.
A pleasant odour may be imparted to the smoke or vapour by the addition to
the powder of a small quantity of lavender leaves or other aromatic herb.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1885.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Remedy for Asthma and other Affections of the Throat, Chest,
and Lungs.
I JOHN GIRDWOOD of Woodburn in the County of the town of Carrickfergus
in Ireland Linen Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
REMEDY FOR ASTHMA AND OTHER AFFECTIONS OF THE THROAT, CHEST AND
LUNGS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention consists in the use of a combination of ground Stramonium leaves
and powdered Saltpetre with ground Cascarilla bark, ground Indian Hempseed
and sifted White Sugar cach reduced to an impalpable powder and all intimately
intermixed in certain proportions, that is to say-four pounds in weight of
Stramonium leaves, two pounds in weight of Saltpetre, one pound in weight
of Cascarilla bark, one pound in weight of White Sugar, and an ounce in weight
of Indian Hempseed.
When a narcotic ingredient would be injurious or offensive to the person
afflicted with any of the affections to which this remedy is applicable I may omit
the ground Indian Hempseed above mentioned from the combination I have
described. I may, also, add to the ingredients above enumerated the powder of
Mullein leaves and roots, say, half a pound in weight of each, especially where
it is necessary or desirable to allay an acute attack and augment the soothing
effects of the treatment; or I may dispense with part of the Stramonium leaves,
not exceeding one half of the quantity I have specified, and substitute therefor an
equal weight of powdered Mullein leaves and roots in equal quantities.
The ingredients above specified, being made quite dry, are, in that condition,
intimately intermixed and, when the intermixture is completed I moisten the
product with about four quarts of boiling water, barely bringing it to the con-
sistency of a fluid, and I afterwards heat it slowly in a shallow pan or dish until
all moisture is driven off. The ingredients thus combined and dried produce a
hard substance which I thereupon grind or otherwise reduce to a fine powder and
preserve in a substantially air-tight box, case or bottle.
The person to be subjected to treatment with my remedy is placed in a closed
chamber or room in which a teaspoonful or more of the powdered mixture is set
fire to and burned upon a plate and the inhalation of the smoke or vapour pro-
duced by its reduction gives immediate relief and restores the patient.
The quantity of the powdered mixture to be used depends upon the size of the
chamber or room to which the patient is confined and the acuteness or stubborn,
nature of the malady.
A pleasant odour may be imparted to the smoke or vapour by the addition,
to the ingredients already specified, of a small quantity of powdered lavender
leaves or other aromatic herb.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The use of cascarilla bark in combination with mineral and other vegetable
substances prepared, compounded and employed substantially in the manner and
for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned and described.
2. The use of the several vegetable and mineral substances hereinbefore specified
prepared, combined, compounded and employed substantially in the manner and for
the purposes herein before mentioned and described.
3. The treatment of asthma and other kindred affections by the application of
the fumes of the several vegetable and mineral substances hereinbefore specified
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned and
described.
4. The combination and application of the substances employed by me for the
remedy of asthma and other kindred affections substantially in the proportions and
in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned and described.
Dated this 91 1 of 100-