improvements in Inhalers for the Administration of Chloroform and other Anæsthetics.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Ju'y, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
improvements in Inhalers for the Administration of Chloroform and
other Anæsthetics.
We CHARLES WILLIAM KROHNE and HENRY FREDERICK SESEMANN both of
8 Duke Street Manchester Square London Surgical Instrument Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
Our invention relates to improvements in inhalers for the administration of
chloroform and other anaesthetics, and consists chiefly of a device or respiration
indicator applicable to all kinds of inhalers, and capable of indicating the nature
frequency and character of the respirations of persons or animals subjected to the
influence of anaesthetics, so that owing to the respiration being thus under constant
observation all danger of syncope, coma or other failure of the hearts action due to a
prolonged influence of the drug administered is removed as immediately any abnormal
sign is indicated by certain premonitory symptons affecting the respiration or by a
slowering or entire stoppage of the latter, the apparatus can be forthwith withdrawn
from the person's or animal's mouth and artificial respiration or other recuperative
means resorted to in time to avoid accident.
It is a well known fact, that physicians have for years endeavoured to minimise by
every conceivable appliance or process, the danger arising from the use of anaesthetics
and of chloroform in particular, but their efforts have hitherto proved fruitless owing
to their not having been able to keep the respiration of the patient under constant
observation so as to apply remedial measures in time, that is to say before death
supervenes.
And in order that our invention may be more fully understood, we have shown the
same in the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side view of an inhaler provided with our improved device showing the
mouth piece in section.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of our device applied to a special form of inhaler.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the latter.
Fig. 5 is a view of the upper part of the device.
Fig. 6 is a section of the cap or cover which is used to protect the device from
injury.
Our improved device consists of a truncated cone C, the upper and conical part o of
which is provided at its base with two symetrical slots one of which the slots is only
shown on the drawing. This conical part e terminates into the cylindrical part P
the upper end of which forms a rim r projecting above the former. This cylindrical
part which is inserted within the opening of the mouthpiece or bag M carries a
pipe passing through the latter, and through which the anaesthetic is passed and
inhaled, this pipe being fixed in the application shown in Fig. 1 to one of the side
ribs a a¹ of the said mouth piece which is perforated at the top to allow for the
entrance of the anaesthetic into the mouth piece or bag M.
These ribs are secured to the frame of the mouth piece as clearly shown in Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 shows the cylindrical part P, fixed directly to the neck of an improved inhaler
of peculiar shape, which we prefer to the ordinary form as shown in Fig. 1. Our
improved device consists further of a ring R fitting over the conical part c and resting
upon the rim T. Two screws n n' projecting through the slots ss enable the ring
to be turned to and fro for the purpose of adjustement as hereinafter more fully
referred to.
This ring is furnished with a slot i in which moves a small holder / carrying a

page_text: feather F, and swivelled to the small tubes t partly countersunk in the said ring.
The cap shown in Fig. 6 serves to cover the device when not required for use.
Instead of a feather we may likewise use any other light substance, material or
fabric. The inhaling apparatus being placed over the patient's mouth and chloroform
vapor for instance being admitted through the pipe p, the respirations and expirations
of the said patient will cause the feather F, to move to and fro and in a manner and
speed corresponding to the way in which the respiration is carried on. As this feather
which rests on the apex of the tapered part c is very sensitive, accurate indications
will be constantly obtainable as to the nature frequency and character of such
respiration. Should the head of the patient fall to one side, the ring R can be turned
in the other direction so that the feather may always remain straight in front of the
operator administering the anaesthetic. The opening of the tapered part c allows of the
admixture of a sufficient amount of air with the chloroform. My improved device
can be likewise applied to a suitable bag for the purpose of administering anaesthetics
to animals such as horses, cattle sheep etc., and will be found particularly useful to
avoid pain in castrating and other operations. Our improved respiration indicator
may be made of any suitable material such as metal, horn, ivory, calluloid, vulcanite,
and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1) The improved device or respiration indicator arranged constructed, and operating
substantially, as and for the purpose described.
(2) In respiration indicators such as above claimed, and used for the administration
of anaesthetics, the combination of a truncated cone C, with a ring R and a swivelled
feather F, substantially as and for the purpose described.
(3) In combination with the improved device or respiration indicator above claimed
the mouth piece M of special form shown in Fig. 3 substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Doted this 8th dow of July 1890
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.