IMPROVEMENTS IN SURGICAL APPENDAGES TO CONSIST OF A CORSET AND ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER COMBINED ALSO TO SERVE AS A TRUSS IN CASES OF UMBILICAL AND VENTRAL HERNIA
Year: 1867

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Pebardy
Thomas Pebardy at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 25th June
.1867.
J, THOMAS PEBARDY, of 30, Saint Paul's Road, in the Parish of St. Pancras,
in the County of Middlesex, Surgical Bandage and Instrument Maker, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SURGICAL APPENDAGES TO CONSIST OF A CORSET AND ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER COMBINED
ALSO TO SERVE AS A TRUSS IN CASES OF UMBILICAL AND VENTRAL HERNIA," to be
as follows
The upper part of the appendage is made of some resisting texture coutil,
sateen, silk, or any suitable material, of such length and depth as may be
found best adapted to the size of the body and to meet the requirements of
the case.
In this portion of the appendage gores of the same or other
material are inserted to form the bosom; these gores are continued by a
strip of the same fabric of such length and width as may be considered
suitable; on each side of this strip continued from the aforesaid gores,
elastic web or webs are inserted, so placed as to stretch in a slanting direction;
these also are of such length and width as may be necessary.; at the lower
portion of these webs there are bands or belts made of materials similar to
those before mentioned; to these bands elastic web or webs are attached, shaped

page_text: to take the abdomen, and to prevent any drawing in of that part of the body.
Below these webs forming the abdomen there is another band of a firm
material containing runnings of cotton or other substance for the purpose of
stiffening and adding to its strength. This band may be made of any length
or width considered desirable. The whole of the above-described parts have
a strip or strips of non-elastic material passing directly downwards from the
top to the lower portion of the appendage between the bosom gores, joining
the band last mentioned, and to which the above-mentioned pieces are attached.
This strip or these strips may be closed or made to open with any kind of
fastening preferred.. For the purpose of stiffening there are in the aforesaid
strips rows of stitching in which may be inserted flexible material of the
kind considered most suitable. The whole of the above description applies
to the front of the body. At the termination of the elastic insertions directing
towards the sides they are met by a band of the same texture as that
denominated resisting material." This band is shaped so as to descend
from or near the arm-pit to the lower part of the support in a sloping manner,
so that it passes on the front of the hip and also directly over the hip making
a forked piece. Inserted between these forked pieces gores of elastic web
are placed of such length and width as may be suitable to the size of the
hips. The continuation of the upper part of the support from the arm piece
towards the back is formed to the extent required of resisting material, below
which the elastics are continued as in front, being placed nearly in a line with
them. Proceeding towards the lower part of the support at the termination
of the elastics it is formed of non-elastic material. On each side of the
elastic gore of the hips there are straps of similar materials to that of the
other part of the support (non-elastic), one being attached at the back and one
in front of the hips, having a. row of holes worked or otherwise to lace or to
buckle at the will of maker, the level edges of each strap meeting in the
centre of the strip, which descends from the arni-pit and which is understood
to be the forked piece. These straps may be used as a check to the elasticity
of the hips, keeping the expansion at that part under the control of the wearer.
The piece or band in front at the lower part is continued to the centre of the
strip known as the forked piece, and may be made to lace, or buckle, or fastened
in any manner wished, the object being to raise the burden of the stomach or
abdomen, which is more likely to be effected by equalising and diffusing the
raising power over the entire body. The fastening at the back may be of any
kind preferred, but I think a series of holes placed closely together with
laces the most useful, as then the means of regulation to the desired extent
will be obtained. The inner portion of the back next the fastening or lace

page_text: holes has rows of diagonal stitchings to admit of whalebone or other material
which will well support the muscles of the back without injury to the vertebræ.
With the addition of shoulder straps fixed to obtain perfect sustaining power
the bulk of the abdomen must to a great extent be removed from that part
and placed as it were on the shoulders. When in addition to the purposes
already stated it is wished to use the appendage as a truss for all kinds of
bernia occurring in the portion of the body which it covers it will be necessary
to add a plate or pad adapted to the peculiarities of the rupture. This plate
or pad may be made of silver, or metal plated, or of tin, iron, or any suitable
substance, this plate or pad must be inserted in the appendage over the part
where it is required, and must be well secured at the edges all round. It may be
secured in addition by light straps passing over the top of the plate or pad on the
outside of the appendage, which would also give additional pressure over the seat
of the hernia. When the plate or pad is inserted in the manner described the
appendage placed in its proper position and the laces well drawn at the back,
the appendage will yield only in the parts, which the plate or pad does not
cover, and in consequence it will apply direct and greater pressure on the part
where it is most needed. The whole appendage having a tendency to exert
its influence and bearing upwards it will have a most beneficial effect in cases
of rupture. Moreover, in addition to the uses enumerated above, the appendage
will meet a great want amongst women during the period of pregnancy and
when suffering from ovarian diseases, as any amount of pressure or freedom
can be given with equal facility..