IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF SURGICAL SUPPORTS SPLINTS OR SPINAL OR OTHER BED RESTS TO SERVE ALSO AS A LITTER OR AMBULANCE FOR WOUNDED AND SICK PATIENTS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hides of Uxbridge Road Surbiton in the
"
County of Surrey M.R.C.S. and L.S.A. for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF SURGICAL SUPPORTS SPLINTS
OR SPINAL OR OTHER BED RESTS TO SERVE ALSO AS A LITTER OR AMBULANCE
FOR WOUNDED AND SICK PATIENTS Communicated to him from abroad by
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hides at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th July 1882.
HENRY HIDES of Uxbridge Road Surbiton in the County of Surrey M.R.C.S.
and L.S.A. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF SURGICAL
SUPPORTS SPLINTS OR SPINAL OR OTHER BED RESTS TO SERVE ALSO AS A LITTER
"3
OR AMBULANCE FOR WOUNDED AND SICK PATIENTS A communication to me
from abroad by Edgar Porteus of Antwerp in the Kingdom of Belgium.
This invention has for its object the production of a moulded or otherwise
shaped ambulance support or bed rest moulded to the human form by the applica-
tion of prepared felt pulped or other fibrous materials metal wood cane or other
materials suitable for making surgical splints or supporting surfaces the same
being applicable as an ambulance or bed rest or other conveyance or spinal support
for sick wounded or other patients and in the application of springs made of any
suitable elastic material to surgical or other stretchers or ambulances or bed rests.
For this purpose according to the first part of these improvements splints or
supporting surfaces are made from sheets of fibrous material composed of woollen
or other fibres felted pulped or otherwise formed into sheets of a thickness and
shape suited to the particular case to which it is to be applied
For some purposes a small proportion of what is known as slag wool powdered
glass or other suitable mineral substance is combined with the fibrous material to
impart rigidity thereto.

page_text: The fibrous sheets employed to form splints supports or bed rests for a patient's
body in accordance with these improvements are advantageously first immersed
and thoroughly saturated in a bath of hot water (containing a suitable quantity of
salicylic acid) of about 210° Fahrenheit or otherwise treated. The sheet is then
formed into the desired shape for a splint ambulance surgical support or bed rest in
suitable moulds of plaster of Paris or otherwise and is afterwards thoroughly dried
in an oven or heated stove and is saturated and treated with a solution of gums
and perforated as described in the specifications of Letters Patent granted to me
and dated respectively 7th November 1865 N° 2871 and 16th September 1880
N° 3755
Ambulance sheets thus moulded formed or shaped to the desired form for sup-
porting the whole or part of the body of a patient, according to another part of
these improvements are supported by bands of elastic or partly elastic materials
connected to the ambulance poles or otherwise by which means the patient can be
carried without suffering from the motion of the ambulance
When the ambulance is mounted upon wheels the moulded ambulance sheet
containing the patient may be suspended by the elastic bands or springs within
the body of the vehicle or otherwise fitted thereto. Surgical supports or ambulances
of this character may be made of sheets of zinc or other material perforated or
otherwise and moulded or shaped in dies by pressure to the desired form and lined
or otherwise with suitable material to receive the body of a patient. Or they may
be made of wood cane or other suitable material capable of being pressed moulded
or formed into the desired shape for an ambulance.
For some purposes ambulances of this character may be made by casting in
metal or moulded from plastic materials and if desired they may be made of any of
the above materials or metal in two or more parts so as to be conveniently packed
or readily removed from under a patient when necessary. The upper or lower parts
forming a back or spinal rest or leg rests as required or the upper part may be fitted
on a frame similar to an ordinary bed rest with clastic or other springs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Hides in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th January
1883.
HENRY HIDES of Uxbridge Road Surbiton in the County of Surrey M.R.C.S.
and L.S.A. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF SURGICAL
SUPPORTS SPLINTS OR SPINAL OR OTHER BED RESTS TO SERVE ALSO AS A LITTER
OR AMBULANCE FOR WOUNDED AND SICK PATIENTS A Communication to me
from abroad by Edgar Porteus of Antwerp in the Kingdom of Belgium
"
This Invention has for its object the production of a moulded or otherwise
shaped ambulance support or bed rest moulded to the human form by the applica-
cation of prepared felt pulped or other fibrous materials metal wood cane or
other materials suitable for making surgical splints or supporting surfaces the same
being applicable as an ambulance or bed rest or other conveyance or spinal support
for sick wounded or other patients and in the application of springs made of any
suitable elastic material to surgical or other stretchers or ambulances or bed rests.
For this purpose according to the first part of these improvements splints or
supporting surfaces are made from sheets of fibrous material composed of woollen
or other fibres felted pulped or otherwise formed into sheets of a thickness and
shape suited to the particular case to which it is to be applied.
For some purposes a small proportion of what is known as slang wool powdered
glass or other suitable mineral substance is combined with the fibrous material to
impart rigidity thereto.
The fibrous sheets employed to form splints supports or bed rests for a patient's
body in accordance with these improvements are advantageously first immersed
and thoroughly saturated in a bath of hot water (containing a suitable quantity of
salicylic acid) of about 210° Fahrenheit or otherwise treated. The sheet is then
formed into the desired shape for a splint ambulance surgical support or bed rest in
suitable moulds of plaster of Paris or otherwise and is afterwards thoroughly dried
in an oven or heated stove and is saturated and treated with a solution of gums
and perforated as described in the Specifications of Letters Patent granted to me
and dated respectively 7th November 1865 N° 2871 and 16th September 1880
N° 3755.
Ambulance sheets thus moulded formed or shaped to the desired form for sup-
porting the whole or part of the body of a patient, according to another part of
these improvements are supported by bands of elastic or partly elastic materials
connected to the ambulance poles or otherwise by which means the patient can be
carried without suffering from the motion of the ambulance.
Figure 1 of the drawings hereto annexed shews a plan (half back and half front
view) of an ambulance or litter moulded to the form of and for supporting the
human body and Figure 2 shews a perspective view of a stretcher suitable for
suspending the litter or ambulance upon. a, a, being elastic springs with hooks to
receive the eyes b attached to the bands shown in Figure 1. By this means a
patient can be supported and borne with a minimum of suffering in removal.
The elastic springs a, a, consist of a band of india rubber contracted in the centre
by a metal ring a¹. Rings with hollow rims or heart shaped forms may be inserted
in the ends of the springs a to prevent friction upon the india rubber.
The stretcher may if desired be mounted upon wheels at each end.
When the ambulance is mounted upon wheels the moulded ambulance sheet
containing the patient may be suspended by the elastic bands or springs within
the body of the vehicle or otherwise fitted thereto. Surgical supports or ambulances

page_text: of this character may be made of sheets of zinc or other material perforated or
otherwise and moulded or shaped in dies by pressure to the desired form and lined
or otherwise with suitable material to receive the body of a patient. Or they may
be made of wood cane or other suitable material capable of being pressed moulded
or formed into the desired shape for an ambulance.
For some purposes ambulances of this character may be made by casting in metal
or moulded from plastic materials and if desired they may be made of any of the
above materials or metal in two or more parts so as to be conveniently packed or
readily removed from under a patient when necessary. The upper or lower parts
forming a back or spinal rest or leg rests as required or the upper part may
be
fitted on a frame similar to an ordinary bed rest with elastic or other springs.
Having thus described the nature of the invention communicated to me from
abroad and the manner of performing or carrying the same into practice I would
remark that I make no claim to any of the parts separately which are well known
and in common use But what I claim under the above in part recited Letters
Patent is
First. The improved construction of surgical supports splints spinal or other bed
rests (to serve as a litter or ambulance for wounded or sick patients) by moulding
the same from prepared felt or other suitable fibrous or other materials treated and
moulded substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described
and represented in the drawings hereto annexed.
Second I claim the improved method of suspending or mounting of a litter or
ambulance upon elastic springs such as a substantially in the manner and for the
purpose herein before described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Hides have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twenty fourth day of January in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
HENRY HIDES (L.S.)