IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION FOR PREVENTING OR CURING A STOOPING OF THE HEAD OR OF THE BODY
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jean Francois Isidore Caplin, of Strawberry
Hill, near Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Orthora-
chidist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jean Francois
Isidore Caplin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with his Petition, on the 15th December 1852.
I, JEAN FRANCOIS ISIDORE CAPLIN, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING
OR CURING A STOOPING OF THE HEAD OR OF THE BODY," to be as follows:-
This apparatus is composed of two plates, united with and shaped
so as to fit the neck. On each side is a small upright supporting a
cross lever, the extremities of which come, on the one hand, under
the chin, the others corresponding to the nape of the neck, where it
is connected with the second part of the instrument, made also of

page_text: two plates, pressing on the scapulae, and fitted round the shoulders.
This part is connected and regulated at pleasure by means of straps
and buckles, clasps or laces, and is fastened to a waist band. The
result of such an adaptation is to supply the want of muscular
power in the muscles of the neck and back by means acting in
harmony with the muscular system. The whole may be covered
with any fancy material.
This instrument is composed of two different parts; the upper is
entirely new, the second one is an improvement on the scapula con-
tractors, already known as my contrivance. The instrument may,
according to the case, be employed separately; viz. for the neck only,
when that part is the only one affected, or for the shoulders when
the stooping of the body is not complicated with the poking of the
head.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, filed by the said Jean Francois Isidore Caplin in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th June 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JEAN FRANCOIS ISIDORE CAPLIN, of Strawberry Hill, near Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Orthorachidist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of December, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Jean Francois Isidore Caplin, Her special license
that I, the said Jean François Isidore Caplin, my exccutors, ad-
ministrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Jean Francois
Isidore Caplin, my executors, adininistrators, and assigns, should at
any time 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

page_text: Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING OR CURING
A STOOPING OF THE HEAD OR OF THE BODY,"upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Jean Francois Isidore Caplin, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and
ascertain the nature of the said Invention and Improvements, and in
what manner the same were 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 Jean Francois Isidore Caplin,
do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention and Improvements,
and in what manner the same are to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement, and
accompanying Drawings (that is to say):
This apparatus is composed of two distinct parts, which, accord-
ing as the case may require, are to be used either in connection, or
separately when one part only is wanted. The deformities it is
intended to cure being the result of a deficiency or loss of equili-
brium of the muscular system, the object of the instrument is to
supply the body with an extra support, which although artificial will
produce the desired effect, inasmuch as it will permit the retraction
of the muscles elongated and weakened, serving, at the same time as
a monitor, to remind the wearer not to indulge in the bad position
of the neck or body by which the evil is brought on or increased.
This adaptation differs from those which have been used for the
same purpose, in this respect, that the collars and backboards
formerly employed, being made of hard material, without elasticity,
occasioned a constant pressure on the muscles, by which atrophy
was produced, diminishing therefore more and more the power of
the muscles, and serving merely as props to maintain the body in a
certain position, without restoring the deficiency of the parts
affected; whilst this new adaptation, of which the principle of con-
struction and its appliances are my own Invention, is acting in such
way that not only does it support the body, but at the same time it
induces an extra exertion of the muscles, by which their power is

page_text: increased, and consequently the cure ultimately perforined. The
instrument is composed partly of metal, to afford support, and of
spring and elastic fabric, the strength of which is calculated to act
in accordance with the anatomical construction of the skeleton, and
the physiological laws of the vital organism.
The splenius elevator of the scapula, scalenus, and trapezius muscles
of the neck, being those by which the head is kept in its proper and
natural position, whilst the trapezius rhombodeus, lattissimus dorsi,
longissimus dorsi, sacro lombaris, are those by which the trunk
is kept erect, the shoulders thrown backward, the scapula approxi-
mated to the spine, the spine straightened, the ribs elevated, the
capacity of the chest increased, and the respiratory muscles brought
into action; it is evident that such a contrivance, by which the action
of those muscles may be promoted and duly regulated, cannot fail
to prove of the utmost benefit. In entering into these details, my
object is to point out the importance of the scientific adaptation of
principle, so as to cause it to be well understood that contrivances
which are not founded on rational principles are more dangerous
than useful, and are likely to produce the contrary effects to those
for which they were intended; accounting therefore for the failure of
those instruments which, from time to time, have been brought forth
by people unacquainted with the structure of the human body.
In order that my Invention may be fully understood, I will refer
to the figures of the Drawing accompanying this my Specifica-
tion. Figure 1, is a view of the upper portion of the apparatus
only, and may be employed by itself, as above mentioned, for an
affection of the neck only. Figure 2, is a view of a modification of
Figure 1, intended particularly for gentlemen, it being made in
the form of an ordinary stock. Figure 3, is a view of the two
portions of the apparatus combined, applicable, therefore, to cases in
which the poking of the head is accompanied by a stooping of the
body. In Figure 1, a, are pieces of metal, shaped so as to fit round
the neck from the upper portion of the sternum to the nape of the
neck, and backward. These are connected by a piece of steel b,

page_text: acting as a spring, so as to admit of the plates a, being opened at
back, in order to apply the instrument. To the plates a, arc
rivetted small uprights c, acting as supports for levers d, which
turn upon centres thereon. To these levers are attached plates e,
formed so as to extend under the chin. To the other extremities
of the levers d, are adapted pieces of elastic fabric f, the lower
ends of which are connected to the brace, garment, or belt, as
the case may require. These clastic parts will therefore regulate the
power exerted upon the levers d; thus affording the means of
keeping the head erect to any degree that may be required, without
danger of hurting the wearer.
The above described apparatus is
shewn in its bare form in the Drawing. It will be evident, however,
that it may be covered with any fancy material, according to desire.
The modification shewn in Figure 2, differs only in shape; the neck
piece a, and levers b, being substantially the same. The elastic f
may be passed beneath the waistcoat, and connected to a loop
provided for the purpose, or it may be attached to the brace of the
2nd part of the instrument hereafter to be described. In Figure
3, the two parts are shewn combined; the several portions of the
upper part are marked with letters corresponding to those of
Figure 1, and will not therefore need further description. 9, are
pieces fitting over the scapula, and connected to pieces of elastic
fabric h, which pass over the shoulders. They are also provided
with other elastic pieces i, intended to pass under the arms, and
connected to sliders j, so as to move up and down on the tongue k;
this arrangement is shewn separated. On one side of Figure 3, 1, 1,
are pieces of elastic material, uniting the parts g, g, and crossing in
the direction of the muscles, by which arrangements the shoulders
are brought back, affording, therefore, as before explained, an extra
support to the back and spine, and causing the chest to expand.
The lower parts of the pieces 9, 9, are provided with tongues m, to
be connected to the garment; they are adapted to buttons or swivels
so as to accommodate themselves to the requisite inclination. The
upper part of the apparatus, described by reference to Figure 1, is

page_text: adapted to that just described, by connecting the elastic f, to the
pieces g, as shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jean Francois Isidore Caplin,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day
of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-three.
J. CAPLIN, M.D. (L.s.)