AN IMPROVED APPLIANCE FOR THE BETTER ALLEVIATION OF THE INCON- VENIENCE, PAIN, AND DANGER TO WHICH THOSE ARE SUBJECT WHO SUFFER FROM HERNIA
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Merrick, of No. 12, Sherborne Villas, Alma Road,
in the Parish of Clifton, in the City of Bristol, Gentleman, for the Invention
of "AN IMPROVED APPLIANCE FOR THE BETTER ALLEVIATION OF THE INCON-
VENIENCE, PAIN, AND DANGER TO WHICH THOSE ARE SUBJECT WHO SUFFER
FROM HERNIA "
Sealed the 13th May 1879, and dated the 11th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Merrick at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1879.
WILLIAM MERRICK, of No. 12, Sherborne Villas, Alma Road, in the Parish of
Clifton, in the City of Bristol, Gentleman. "AN IMPROVED APPLIANCE FOR THE
BETTER ALLEVIATION OF THE INCONVENIENCE, PAIN, AND DANGER TO WHICH
THOSE ARE SUBJECT WHO SUFFER FROM HERNIA."
According to this Invention I make a belt of swansdown, calico, or equally soft
material about four inches in width for the inner surface and strengthened upon
the outer surface with a band of holland of half inch less width than the inner one,
this encircles the waist of the patient just above the hips and is fastened in front
by strong tapes. The belt thus secured keeps all parts of the truss in position,
supports the loins, prevents the rupture from rising by pressure, carries the
suspender, and receives the ends of the front and back straps, the braces and buttons
being strongly placed near the hip part of the belt for this purpose.
To this belt is attached a suspended carrier with pockets on the inside to carry
air or other pads for either or both sides with straps for fastening to the front part
and to the back part of the belt to keep the carrier in its best position for supporting
the scrotum, and the pads to press upon the ruptured part with uniform effect and
comfort, a slit being in the top edge of the carrier with strap and button.
The whole of these are carried by soft and strong straps which pass over the
shoulder to the belt before and behind by an elastic web which prevents the
removal of any part of the truss from the position it is designed for.
The elastic web of three inches length by one and half width well secured into
two leather ends with button hole in each of them to form the connecting link
between the shoulder straps in front with the belt, and which with the elasticity

page_text: from the parts of the body over which the straps pass give the most perfect freedom
to the patient and support to the ruptured part that is attainable, securing at once
an efficient support and a curative pressure similar to the delicate firmness of the
human hand; an erect carriage in walking benefits the application.
It is more desirable than inconvenient in riding, and every position incidental
to sitting, working, or reclining, can be assumed without unnatural effort or
disclosure of surgical appliances.
As this truss should be worn next the skin it is composed of such materials as
will not produce abrasion of it nor receive injury itself by washing when desirable.
Strength being also necessary the union of a soft with a strong fabric makes an
application of comfort and strength unknown in any other form of truss, while the
position of some of its parts upon elastic parts of the body and of others upon the
carrying parts of the body gives efficiency in a more natural and comfortable
manner than is attainable by steel springs and hard pads which gall the
person without adequately assisting to assuage the distress and inconvenience of
hernia.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Merrick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th
September 1879..
WILLIAM MERRICK, of No. 12, Sherborne Villas, Alma Road, in the Parish of
Clifton, in the City of Bristol, Gentleman. "AN IMPROVED APPLIANCE FOR THE
BETTER ALLEVIATION OF THE INCONVENIENCE, PAIN, AND DANGER TO WHICH
THOSE ARE SUBJECT WHO SUFFER FROM HERNIA."
The object of this Invention is the manufacture of an efficient and comfortable
truss which may be worn next the skin. The materials of which the truss is made
being of such a character as will not produce abrasion of the skin of the wearer nor
the truss itself be injured by washing (when desirable), such as garments worn next
the skin generally require. The combination of a soft with a strong fabric gives
flexibility, strength, and comfort, unknown in any other form of truss, and the
utilization of the elastic web and also the carrying parts of the body give a more
natural support and effective pressure to the rupture than is attainable by steel.
springs and hard pads which gall the patient and increase his distress. It is
intended to make the truss of various materials as to value, but the combination of
a soft with a strong material will be present in all forms of it, so as to secure the
advantages named above. The description given below of the truss composed of
the simplest materials gives also the manner in which the more expensive materials
(silk, etc.,) will be combined, the difference existing only in the value of materials
used and not in the general form of truss produced, this varying in size with that
of the patients who use them.
The Invention consists of a belt of swansdown, calico, or any equally soft material
as in Figure 1 of the annexed Drawings, said belt being about 3 inches wide
upon its inner surface, and strengthened upon its outer surface with a band of
web, holland, or other strong fabric fully half inch narrower than the inner
surface.
This belt A encircles the body of the patient just above the hips and is fastened
in front by ties of strong tapes B, B, and thus comfortably secured keeps all parts
of the truss in position, suspends the carrier C with its pockets D, D, and elastic
pads in such a natural manner as not only to assist the scrotum and abdomen in
their painful support of the rupture, but relieves them of their burden by carrying
it for them. The belt A also receives the ends of the front and back straps, F, F,
G, G, elastic links H, H, buttons or studs J being strongly secured near the hips
for this purpose.
The carrier C is made of similar materials to those above described, and in the
form shown in Figure 2 with pockets on the inside as in Figure 3 to carry the
air or other elastic pads E (Figures 4 and 5), for either or for both sides, with
straps F, F, for fastening to the front part of belt, and G, G, for fastening to the back
part of it (Figures 6 and 7) so as to keep the carrier C in its best position for
supporting the rupture and maintaining a uniform pressure upon it comfortably and
effectively. For the inguinal form of hernia provision is made for the freedom of
natural parts (Figure 11), while the rupture is confined to its position by a gentle
pressure which prevents its enlargement. By a slight modification this truss can
be adapted for any form of umbilical, inguinal, and scrotal hernia in males, as well
as the different forms of rupture in females. The slit (with its button and strap K,
Figures 2 and 3), is convenient for necessary purposes.
The belts and the parts attached are carried by soft yet strong straps L, L, which
pass over the shoulders of the wearer to the front and back parts of the belt
(Figures 6 and 7), and are united near the hips by the elastic link H, H, which
while allowing a free movement of the body keeps the truss firmly in the position
it is designed to occupy. Figure 8 is a side view of the braces L, L, and front and
back straps P, Q, showing the position they occupy on the wearer and their attach-
ment to the belt A, the braces being secured by the stud button J. In Figure 9 I

page_text: have shown the brace ends and straps attached to the belt by separate studs which
I prefer to use instead of buttons sewn to the belt. A very important part of the
truss is the link H, composed of an elastic web about three inches long by one and
a half inches wide, Figure 10, well secured to leather or other suitable ends M, M,
each end having a hole for the button or stud. This forms the connecting link
between the shoulder brace in front with the belt and the straps of the carrier: The
elasticity of this link and that derivable from the parts over which the straps G; G;
pass, give all the freedom required for the most perfect and natural action of the
patient, and the varying strain upon the truss, securing thereby an efficient support
and curative pressure similar to the delicate firmness of the human hand, which is
only attainable by the form and material of this truss, the use of which will confirm
the following statement, viz., once put in its proper position it requires no re-adjust-
An erect carriage in standing or walking only adds to its efficiency. It is
more desirable than inconvenient in riding.
ment.
Every position incidental to working, sitting, or reclining can be assumed without
unnatural effort or a disclosure of the truss by the bulky fulness, usually apparent
in such cases. N is an umbilical pad within a pocket formed in the belt A. In the
scrotal form of hernia instead of an addition to the already distended parts (by large
water or other pads combined with an extra strong girdle of steel spring which
ordinarily thrust the hernia and other parts out of place) the whole of the affected
parts are kept in their natural position by this truss while the source of the benefit
is entirely concealed. In the morning it should be the first thing put upon and at
night the last thing taken off the person, but it can be worn comfortably during
sleep if preferred or necessary. The elastic link does not need washing.
The important features in this Invention are, novelty in design and construction
of an efficient and comfortable truss to be worn next the skin, so as to prevent its
painful distension by ruptures of various forms, but by supporting and gently yet
firmly confining them without abrasion of the skin by an adaptibility and com
bination in form and material which gives safety and comfort in advanced, and
acts as a curative agent in recent cases.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim the combination of the belt, the
brace, the carrier and its pockets, the elastic links, and the straps, and all acting in
the manner and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Merrick, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thou-
sand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM MERRICK. (L.S:)