AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF RECTAL DISEASES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF
RECTAL DISEASES." A communication from abroad by William Duke
Ludlow, of the City and State of New York, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 22nd April 1874.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT
OF RECTAL DISEASES," a communication, to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to a simple apparatus for the treatment of
piles and other rectal diseases by the application of a dry cold surface to
the rectum and adjacent parts, the required coldness of the applied

page_text: surface being produced and maintained by the circulation of a cold
fluid.
The said Invention is carried into practise as follows:-I construct a
pointed taper tube which is closed at its extremity or point, and which
is suitably formed for introduction into the rectum; its neck has a screw
thread whereby it is easily connected with any suitable syringe or other
apparatus for forcing water or other fluid into the said tube; it also has
a small aperture through which the fluid escapes. This taper tube is
preferably made of metal which has superior conducting properties.
The said tube is sufficiently small at its extremity to be readily 1
introduced into the rectum, and its base is enlarged so that when
inserted it is brought directly into contact with the parts exterior to the
anal aperture, which parts are frequently the seat of burning sensations
and require the cooling and soothing application of the tube.
A small pipe or coupler may occupy the position of the said small 1
aperture for the attachment of an india-rubber tube which is useful in
conveying the fluid from the taper tube in the case of bed-ridden
patients; or the said taper tube may be open at its base for the more
free discharge of the water where the same is supplied from a hydrant.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd October 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert
Lake, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time

page_text: 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 APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF RECTAL DISEASES," a com-
munication to me from abroad by William Duke Ludlow, of the City
and State of New York, United States of America, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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 William Robert Lake, 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, reference being had to the accom.
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification :-.
The said Invention relates to a simple apparatus for the treatment of
piles and other rectal diseases by the application of a dry cold surface
to the rectum and adjacent parts, the required coldness of the applied
surface being produced and maintained by the circulation of a cold
fluid.
The said Invention is carried into practise as shewn in the accom-
panying Drawing.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the said improved apparatus ;
Figure 2 is an end view of the same.
I construct a pointed taper tube A which is closed at its extremity a
and which is suitably formed for introduction into the rectum; the said
apparatus has a screw thread and is otherwise so constructed at its neck B
as to be easily connected with any suitable syringe or other apparatus
for forcing water or other fluid into the said tube A; D is an aperture
through which the fluid escapes from the said tube A. This tube A is
preferably made of a metal which has superior conducting properties. The
said tube is sufficiently small at its extremity a to be readily introduced
into the rectum, while its base c is enlarged so that when inserted it is

page_text: brought directly into contact with the parts exterior to the anal aperture,
which parts are frequently the seat of burning sensations and require
cooling and soothing, and which are cooled and soothed by the application
of the said tube.
A small pipe or coupler may occupy the position of the said small
aperture D for the attachment of an india-rubber tube for conveying the
fluid from the taper tube A in the case of bed-ridden patients; or the
said taper tube A when supplied with water from a hydrant or the like
may be opened at its base for the more free discharge of the water.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and shewn how the same is to be
carried into practise, I wish it understood that this Invention does not
include or relate to devices somewhat similar in shape and made of
metal, ebonite, or equivalent materials, for the reception of ice or
ointment, or for the purpose of injecting fluids into the vagina or rectum,
or india-rubber bags for the application of ice or cold water; but the
said Invention relates solely to and I claim, a metallic taper tube closed
at its smaller end, enlarged at the other end, and provided with
apertures for the ingress and egress of fluids, as herein described and for
the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four
Witness,
JAS. EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W. ROBT. LAKE.
(L.S.)