IMPROVEMENTS IN SPLINTS TO BE USED IN THE TREAT- OF FRACTURED, ENLARGED, OR DISLOCATED JOINTS OR LIMBS, OR DEFORMED JOINTS OR LIMBS, OR IN THE TREATMENT OF VARICOSE VEINS, OR ANY DISEASE WHERE A SURGICAL SPLINT MAY BE DESIRABLE
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick John Cheesbrough, of the Office for Patents,
MENT
15, Water Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPLINTS TO BE USED IN THE TREAT-
OF FRACTURED, ENLARGED, OR DISLOCATED JOINTS OR LIMBS, OR
DEFORMED JOINTS OR LIMBS, OR IN THE TREATMENT OF VARICOSE VEINS, OR
ANY DISEASE WHERE A SURGICAL SPLINT MAY BE DESIRABLE." A communi-
cation from abroad by David Ahl, of Newville, in the County of Cumberland,
State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick John Cheesbrough
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1877.
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH, of the Office for Patents, 15, Water Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SPLINTS TO BE USED IN THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURED, ENLARGED, OR DIS-
LOCATED JOINTS OR LIMBS, OR DEFORMED JOINTS OR LIMBS, OR IN THE TREATMENT
OF VARICOSE VEINS, OR ANY DISEASE WHERE A SURGICAL SPLINT MAY BE
DESIRABLE." [A communication from abroad by David Ahl, of Newville, in the
County of Cumberland, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.]
The object of this Invention is to produce and have ready for use artificial fibrous
splints, duly formed in the proper shape to suit the fractured or injured part, of
average size and form of limb or joint, for the use of surgeons in treating fractured,
dislocated, enlarged, or deformed limbs.or joints, or varicose veins, which shall be
plastic when hot, flexible and elastic when cold, thoroughly porous to admit of the
necessary respiration, and at the same time possess the necessary stiffness to properly
support the fractured limb or joint under treatment.
The Invention consists of surgeon's splints ready for use, composed of felted cloth,
treated as follows:-
First. The cloth is cut in the desired shape and size to make the different size
and form of splints. It is then saturated with a solution composed of shellac and
alcohol. It is then dried, and perforated with pointed needles, the perforation being
Price Gd1

page_text: made with pointed needles to prevent the fabric from being cut in perforating it.
The fabric is then put in a bath of sulphuric acid and water, strong enough to Bet
and harden the shellac, by which it is slightly contracted, and the perforations
made by the needles slightly enlarged, thus making the cloth more porous. The
blank of the unformed splint is then washed in clean water, after which it is
immersed in water made boiling hot, by which it is made plastic, and while in this
condition it is pressed or worked into the shape of the part or limb to which it is to
be applied by means of forms or moulds made to correspond in form and size to the
several parts of the various limbs or joints liable to be treated, a separate splint
being made for the different parts of the various limbs or joints, and also a separate
mould or form for each size and form of splints.
In making the splints to be used for. the treatment of an adult, the size of the
various moulds and splints are made to correspond to tlie size and form of the limbs
and joints of a man of the average size, taking into account the swelling due to the
inflamation of the fractured or injured part, by which the several splints com-
posing a set for an adult can be applied to men of different size; for the splint being
made plastic by dipping it into boiling water can be enlarged or contracted enough
in its application and modified enough in its form to suit limbs and joints of different
men not differing too much in size and shape; the difference in the size and shape
of the limbs of men of ordinary size not being so great but that the splints of
average size can be adapted to most of them on account of its plastic nature when
hot and its flexibility when cold.
The solution of shellac and alcohol with which the blank splints are to be
saturated should consist of about one gallon of alcohol to. four pounds of shellac, and
the fabric should be kept in the solution until it is thoroughly saturated. It should
then be taken out and dried, and afterwards perforated by means of a board fitted
with a series of pointed needles.
The bath of sulphuric acid and water in which it is to be immersed after being
perforated should consist of about one pound of the acid to about thirty gallons of
water; the proportions of these solutions may of course be somewhat varied, and
different gums, alkalis, and acids.inay be used, but the above-mentioned give good
results. This Invention is not confined to these particular ingredients or propor-
tions, for there are other ingredients which are well known that can be used or
substituted.
Any known gum solution in alcohol or alkali, or any known acid bath that will
produce the desired result, will come within the scope of this Invention."
This Invention essentially consists in surgeons' splints, flexible, elastic, fibrous,
plastic, and porous, duly cut, pressed, or worked into stiff tangible forms, ready-to
be applied and to suit and to adopt themselves in the hands of the surgeon to the
several limbs, bones, joints, or, parts, and the efficiency or integrity of which shall
be unaffected by the application of cold or warm water or medicated dressing..
י.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Frederick John Cheesbrough. in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 20th November 1877.
FREDERICK JOHN CHEESBROUGH, of the Office for Patents, 15, Water Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SPLINTS TO BE USED IN THE TREATMENT OF FRACTURED, ENLARGED, OR DIS-
LOCATED JOINTS OR LIMBS, OR DEFORMED JOINTS OR LIMBS, OR IN THE TREATMENT
OF VARICOSE VEINS, OR ANY DESEASE WHERE A SURGICAL SPLINT MAY BE
DESIRABLE." A communication from abroad by David Ahl, of Newville; in the
County of Cumberland, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
The object of this Invention is to produce and have ready for use artificial fibrous
splints, duly formed in the proper shape, to suit the fractured, or injured part of
average size and form of limb or joint, for the use of surgeons in treating fractured,
dislocated, enlarged, or deformed limbs or joints, or varicose veins, which shall be
plastic when hot, flexible and elastic when cold, thoroughly porous to admit of the
necessary respiration, and at the same time possess the necessary stiffness to properly.
support the fractured limb or joint under treatment.
This Invention consists of surgeons' splints ready for use, composed of felted cloth,
treated as follows:-
First. The cloth is cut in the desired shape and size to make the different size
and form of splints. It is then saturated with a solution composed of shellac and
alcohol. It is then dried, and perforated with pointed needles, the perforation being
made with pointed needles to prevent the fabric from being cut in perforating it.
The fabric is then put in a bath of sulphuric acid and water, strong enough to set
and harden the shellac, by which it is slightly contracted, and the perforations made
by the needles slightly enlarged, thus making the cloth more porous.
The blank of
the unformed splint is then washed in clean water, after which it is immersed in
water made boiling hot, by which it is made plastic, and while in this condition it
is pressed or worked into the shape of the part or limb to which it is to be applied
by means of forms or moulds made to correspond in form and size to the several
parts of the various limbs or joints liable to be treated, a separate splint being made
for the different part of the various limbs or joints, and also a separate mold or
form for each size and form of splints.
In making the splints to be used for the treatment of an adult, the size of the
various moulds and splints are made to correspond to the size and form of the limbs.
and joints of a man of the average size, taking into account the swelling due to the
inflamation of the fractured or injured part, by which the several splints composing
a set for an adult can be applied to men of different size; for the splint being
made plastic by dipping it into boiling water can be enlarged or contracted enough
in its application and modified enough in its form to suit limbs and joints of
different men not differing too much in size and shape; the difference in the size
and shape of the limbs of men of ordinary size not being so great but that the splints:
of average size can be adapted to most of them on account of its plastic nature when
hot and its flexibility when cold.
The solution of shellac and alcohol with which the blank splints are to be saturated
should consist of about one gallon of alcohol to four pounds of shellac, and the fabric
should be kept in solution until it is thoroughly saturated. It should then be taken
out and dried, and afterwards perforated by means of a board fitted with a series of
pointed kneedles.
-
The bath of sulphuric acid and water in which it is to be immersed after being
perforated should consist of about one pound of acid to about thirty gallons of
water; the proportions of these solutions may of course be somewhat varied, and
different gums, alkalis, and acids may be used, but the above-mentioned give good
results, This Invention is not confined to these particular ingredients or propor-

page_text: tions, for there are other ingredients which are well known that can be used or
substituted..
Any, known gum solution in alcohol or alkali, or any known acid bath that will
produce the desired result, will come within the scope of this Invention.
This Invention essentially consists in surgeons' splints, flexible, elastic, fibrous,
plastic, and porous, duly cut, pressed; and worked into stiff tangible forms ready to
be applied and to suit and to adopt themselves in the hands of the surgeon to the
several limbs, bones, joints, or parts, and the efficiency or integrity of which shall;
be unaffected by the application of cold or warm water or medicated dressing.
In the Drawings are shown some of the principal splints, the number and form
of which however may be increased and changed to suit the exigency of the.
surgeon.
.
Figure 1 represents the lower maxilliary splint; it embraces the entire chin, and
forms a complete support to the fractured part, while at the same time it allows by
its flexibility sufficient motion to open the mouth slightly to take food and drink.
It should be retained by what is known as Barton's bandage."
"
Figure 2 represents the inferior fore arm splint for the una; and Figure 3 the '
superior fore arm splint for the radius; these two splints are intended for all.
fractures of the fore arm, and also for sprains and dislocations at the wrist joint,
complicated or not with fracture. Very often actual fracture of the head of the
radius or ulna are diagnosed as sprains, and result in semi-anchylosis; these cases,
even when of several months duration, can be treated with complete success with
these splints. They are also well adapted to treating " Barton's fracture," requiring
no pads or compresses, and being less likely to be followed by stiffness of the joint;:
they may be used either in combination or alone. As the radius and ulna are
more liable to fracture than any other bones ready made splints are very:
convenient.
Figure 4 represents the elbow splint; it is for fractures and dislocations of the
radius, ulna, and humerus at or near the elbow joint. In combination with the
inferior and superior fore arm splints it is adapted to all fractures of the ulna and
radius at the middle, or upper third, or compound comminuted fractures of the
same bones. Where both radius and ulna are fractured, bring the parts into contact,
then apply the splints shown by Figures 2, 3, and 4, and bandage over all from the
hand to the shoulder. If the fracture is comminuted, cut the part or parts out of
the splints corresponding to the points of comminution and bandage around them.
The wounds can easily be dressed without disturbing the splints or bandages. As
the swelling is reduced, tighten the bandages, as the splints accomodate themselves
to the reduction. The elbow splint is an obtuse angle to prevent the lapping of the
soft parts, and as being most natural to sling.
-
Figure 5 represents the shoulder splint. Any fracture of the humerus can be
successfully treated by a combination of the shoulder and elbow splints. The shoulder
splint fits over the exterior face of the shoulder, and it is to be used with a short
slightly curved piece to be applied to the opposite surface.
:
Figure 6 represents the anterior tibia splint; it is intended for fractures of the
tibia proper, and especially for fractures either simple or compound in the vicinity:
of the ankle joint. It reaches from the knee joint to the instep, and embraces the:
ankle joint perfectly. Fractures of the malleoli will be readily treated by combina-
tion of this and the following pieces.
There are two splints of this kind to each set.
"Figure 7 represents the posterior fibula splint; it is suited to treating fractures of
the fibula proper, and also in the vicinity of the ankle joints, either simple, com-1
pound, or comminuted.
'
Figures 6 and 7 are combined to form a complete apparatus for treating bad
compound fractures of the tibia and fibula, either of the upper, middle, or lower-
thirds, and at the ankle joints..
There are two splints to each set, one for the left and one for the right limb.
Figure 8 represents the anterior knee joint splint; it is adapted to treat fractures

page_text: of tibia, fibula, and femur near the joint, and also in connection with the anterior
and posterior tibia and fibula splints to treat all fractures of those bones.
There are two splints to each set, one for the right and one for the left knee
joint.
Figure 9 represents the posterior knee joint splint; this splint in connection with
the anterior knee joint splint treats fractures of the tibia, fibula, and femur near the
knee joint, and also the upper third of tibia and fibula, and the lower third of the
femur, and also in connection with the anterior and posterior tibia splints treats all
fractures of those bones.
There are two splints to each set, one for the right and one for the left limb. These
splints can be used for the tibia and fibula also when fractured above the middle of
the shaft..
Figures 8 and 9 are used also for fracture of the patella, and are well adapted to
keep it in position.
Figure 10 represents a club foot splint for children; it is intended to treat the
foot cither before or after operation, which it does very successfully..
Figure 11 represents a splint intended to treat a fracture of the femur, and with
the anterior knee joint splint and posterior knee joint splint to treat fracture of the
lower third of the femur, and fractures implicating the knee joint and hip joint.
It will also treat fracture of the shaft of the tibia and fibula.
Figure 12 represents a lateral-half-boot splint for treating fractures of the tibia or
fibula laterally, and where the fracture is comminuted laterally, and where the ankle
joint is fractured, comminuted, or dislocated.
It will of course be understood that the size of the splints must be varied for
children and very large or very small adults. Those shown are intended for men
of ordinary size, and the Drawings illustrate them about one-third size.
Having now described the nature and object of this Invention, what I claim as
the Invention communicated to me by my foreign correspondent is, surgeons' splints,
flexible, elastic, fibrous, plastic, and porous, duly cut, pressed, or worked into stiff
tangible forms, ready to be applied and to suit and to adopt themselves in the hands
of the surgeon to the several limbs, bones, joints, or parts, and the efficiency or
integrity of which shall be unaffected by the application of cold or warm water or
medicated dressing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick John Cheesbrough, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
FREDERICK JOHN (L.S.) CHEESBROUGH.