IMPROVEMENTS IN HYGIENIC PILLOWS AND BEDDING "
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Theophil Baeschlin, director of tho Fabrique
Internationale d'objets de pansement, of Montpellier, France for an Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYGIENIC PILLOWS AND BEDDING
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION loft by the said Henry Theophil Bacschlin
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January 1883.
4
HENRY THEOPHIL. BAESCHLIN Director of the Fabrique Internationale d'objets
de pansement of Montpellier France "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYGIENIC PILLOWS AND
BEDDING
Cushions and bods made according to this invention differ from others now in
use in that they are able to absorb on their whole upper surface any liquid coming
in contact therewith and to retain such liquid without letting it pass out through
the under side.
In constructing these cushions or beds I employ hygroscopic cotton lint (such as
that of v Brun) deprived of its fatty constituent parts, or hygroscopic jute,
hygroscopic tow or other fibrous material naturally hygroscopic or rendered
so artificially, and either in a chemically pure state or impregnated with a substance
having an antiseptic action. The material is by carding made into flakes or cakes
of light thickness and cut into tablets to the size and form required for the cushion
or bed. I place such a layer on a tablet of same size consisting of a carded fibrous
material not or hardly at all bygroscopic in order to preserve the elasticity of the
cushion or bed also in its wet state until it is done with and replaced by a new one,
to cause an even distribution of the absorbed liquid in the upper hygroscopic layer,
and to keep the liquid from penetrating too suddenly to an impervious layer or
part of the cushion which will be described presently; this consists of single or
double paper or fabric which in some way is made impervious to liquid or of a
naturally impervious material such as India rubber or gutta percha and on this are
placed the two aforesaid layers of material. Lastly I place the whole in a cover or

page_text: "
"pillow case of one or more layers of hygroscopic fabric which may be either
chemically pure or impregnated with antiseptic materials.
Obviously these cushions or beds are used with the impervious side downwards.
These appliances are to be used by surgeons in cases of surgical operations and
when changing bandages; by accoucheurs, midwives, and women in childbed before
or after the child birth, by families travelling with little children, and by women
during menstruation
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Theophil Baeschlin in the Great Soal Patent Office on the
11th July 1883.
HENRY, THEOPHIL BAESCHLIN, Director of the Fabrique Internationale d'objots
de pansement of Montpellier, France. "IMPROVEMENTS IN HYGIENIC PILLOWS AND
BEDDING
"
Cushions and beds made according to this Invention differ from others now in
use by that they are able to absorb on their whole upper surface any liquid coming
in contact therewith and to retain such liquid without letting it pass out through
the under side.
In constructing these cushions or beds I employ hygroscopic cotton lint (such as
that of von Bruns) deprived of its fatty constituent parts, or hygroscopic jute,
hygroscopic tow or other fibrous material, naturally hygroscopic or rendered so
artifically, and either in a chemically pure state or impregnated with a substanco
having an antiseptic action. The material is by carding made into flakes or cakes
of like thickness and cut into tablets to the sizo and form required for the cushion
or bod. I place such a layer on a tablet of same size consisting of a carded fibrous
material, not or hardly at all hygroscopic in order to preserve the elasticity of the
cushion or bed also in its wet state until it is done with and replaced by a new one,
to cause an even distribution of the absorbed liquid in the upper hygroscopic layer,
and to keep the liquid from penetrating downwards too suddenly to an impervious
layer or part of the cushion which will be described presently; for some kinds of
cushions or beds I omit the non-hygroscopic or only partly bygroscopic layer, or
place it between two hygroscopic layers. The aforesaid tablets are placed on a layer
which consists of single or double paper or fabric which in some way is made
impervious to liquid, or of a naturally impervious material such as India-rubber or
gutta percha and on this are placed the two aforesaid layers of material. Lastly I
place the whole in a cover or "pillow-case" of one or more layers of hygroscopic
fabric which may be either chemically pure or impregnated with antiseptic materials.
Obviously these cushions or beds are used with the impervious side downwards.
These appliances are to be used by surgeons in cases of surgical operation and when
changing bandages, and for kataplasms; for mustard poultices and hydrotherapeutic
compresses or bandages, by accoucheurs, midwives and women in childbed, before

page_text: or after the childbirth, by families travelling with little children, and by women
during menstruation, also as bedding for patients in cases of serious illness.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown one of the above described hygienic
absorbent pillows. a is the upper quite pervious layer, b the moderately hygroscopic
layer, and c the piece of impervious paper, India rubber or the like. The whole is
enclosed in a pillow case d of open pervious textile fabric for keeping the several
layers in place.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declaro that I claim :-
Hygienic absorbent pillows and bedding consisting of the combination of pervious
materials of the kind described, with less pervious and impervious superposed
layors, all held together by an outer covering of open pervious material, sub-
stantially as described.
In Witness whereof I the said Henry Theophil, Baeschlin have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twenty second day of June in the year of our Lord, One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
HANDY THEOPHIL RAUSCHLIN 1.01
HENDY MOCODEIL DAFSCHLIN (LS)