Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Sept., 1887
Specification Accepted, 11th Nov., 1887
I, THOMAS FRANCIS EDGEWORTH, of 11, Victoria Road, Cotham, in the city and
county of Bristol, 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 :-
This invention, which relates to that class of inhalers yielding chloride of ammonium
as the vapour for inhalation, consists in the use of two vessels one of which contains
hydro-chloric acid and the other a proportion of liquid ammonia in solution in water,
or in a saturated solution of chloride of ammonium or other liquid of a stable chemical
nature.
Communication between the vessels is afforded by a tube the ends of which extend
into the vessels to the required distance in each.
The vessel containing the hyhrochloric acid is furnished with a tube open at both
ends, the lower end being immersed in the liquid and the other end open to the
atmosphere.
The suction tube is in communication with the vessel containing the liquid ammonia
in solution, as aforesaid, and by the suction due to inhalation the fumes from the
hydrochloric acid are drawn into the second vessel and, ascending through the liquid
contained therein, take up only such a proportion of the ammonia in solution as
produces ammonium chloride.
Referring to the accompanying drawing the Fig. thereon represents a front view of
an ammonium chloride inhaler arranged in accordance with this invention.
In the vessel A is contained hydrochloric acid and in the vessel B is contained a
proportion of liquid ammonia in solution in water or other simple or compound liquid
of a suitable stable chemical nature. In practice, I find a proportion of about one
sixtieth of strong liquid ammonia gives a satisfactory result.
The vessel A is in communication with the vessel B by means of the tube C. That
part of the tube C which is extended through the stopper of the vessel A terminates
above the level of the hydrochloric acid. The other end of the tube C is immersed in
the liquid contained in the vessel B, as shown.
The tube D is the suction tube. By the action of inhalation air is drawn into the
vessel A through the tube E and is conducted thereby to the lower part of the vessel

page_text: and into the hydrochloric acid. Charged with the fumes from the hydrochloric acid
it then passes over through the tube C into the liquid contained in the vessel B from
which it takes up only as much ammonia as produces a neutral chloride of ammonium
for inhalation by the patient.
F is a tube whereby the supply of ammonia is renewed, as required, in the
vessel B.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
In an ammonium chloride inhaler the use of hydrochloric acid-contained in one
vessel and liquid ammonia in solution in a suitable proportion of water or other
simple or compound liquid of a stable chemical nature contained in a second vessel-
the said vessels being in communication with each other and the arrangement being
such that air charged with hydrochloric acid fumes is drawn from the first vessel into
the liquid in the second vessel and thence withdrawn and inhaled through a suitable
tube, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 13th day of September A.D. 1887.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.