IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VAPOURS FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Bending, of 439, Oxford Street, in the
County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VAPOURS FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 2nd July 1872, and dated the 30th April 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Bending at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th April 1872.
I, JAMES BENDING, of 439, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VAFOURS FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to apparatus for producing a combination of air
and moist vapour for inhalation into the human body, the combined air
and vapour being impregnated by coming into contact with a chemically
prepared medium for curing or releiving deseases.
The apparatus consists of a vessel of suitable form, into the lid on
upper part of which a perforated or gauze cup or cylinder is placed for
containing leaves of plants, sponge, or other material impregnated with

page_text: chemical ingredients or other body which can be acted upon by the
steam or vapour generated in the main vessel from heat derived from a
gas or other flame. The upper part of the vessel has an outlet tube for
the impregnated steam or vapour; it is provided with a perforated disc or
wire gauze and a flap valve bearing upon a scating on the inner end of
an air pipe or tube, through which atmospheric air is free to enter to
mingle with the vapour when it is being drawn into the mouth through
the main tube. The air tubo and also the main tube are provided with
taps to shut off communication with the vessel as desired.
I propose to place a safety valve or a steam whistle upon the dome 1
or cover of the main vessel to indicate the inward pressure. The filling
of the vessel is governed by a properly closed tap or nozzle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Bending in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th October 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, James
BENDING, of 439, Oxford Street, in the County of Middlesex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said James Bending, Her special
licence that I, the said James Bending, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said James Bending, my executors,
administrators, 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 Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING VAPOURS FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said James Bending, my exe-
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain

page_text: the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was 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 James Bending, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings here-
unto annexed, that is to say:
This Invention relates to apparatus for producing a combination of air
and moist vapour for inhalation into the human body, the combined air
and vapour being impregnated by coming into contact with a chemically
prepared medium for curing or relieving diseases.
The apparatus consists of a vessel of suitable form, into the lid or
upper part of which a perforated or gauze cup or cylinder is placed for
containing leaves of plants, sponge, or other material, impregnated with
chemical ingredients or other body which can be acted upon by the
steam or vapour generated in the main vessel from heat derived from a
gas or other flame. The upper part of the vessel has an outlet tube for
the impregnated steam or vapour; it is provided with a perforated disc
or wire gauze and a flap valve bearing upon a scating on the inner end
of an air pipe or tube, through which atmospheric air is free to enter to
mingle with the vapour when it is being drawn into the mouth through
the main tube. The air tube and also the main tube are provided with
taps to shut off communication with the vessel as desired.
I propose to place a safety valve or a steam whistle upon the dome or
cover of the main vessel to indicate the inward pressure. The filling of
the vessel is governed by a properly closed tap or nozzle.
The Invention will be clearly understood by the annexed Sheet of
Drawings and by the following description thereof, the same letters of
reference being used in the respective Figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the apparatus, a being the exterior case
of tin or other metal with a contracted neck b, the top edge or rim c of
which is formed with an inner flange for supporting a perforated cup d
in which herbs, leaves of plants, sponge, or other material, impregnated
with, say, vinegar or chemical ingredients; e is a branch of conical shape.

page_text: secured to the upper part of the vessel a; in the hollow of this conical
branch I place sponge, asbestos, or other medium if desired, to prevent
the direct passage of steam into the mouth of the patient or invalid when
he draws through the mouth piece f, the tube 9 of which is provided
with a tap h to shut off the communication while the steam is being
raised by the heat of a gas jet or other flame applied to the curved bottom
of the vessel a. I also provide this tube with a ball and socket joint i
to enable the apparatus to be used by a patient or invalid while in a
recumbent position; j is a tap in an air tube k, whose inner end passes
across the vessel and terminates in the cone e, the face of it being
furnished with a flap valve l, shown in Figures 1 and 2, so that in drawing
the steam into the tube ga quantity of atmospheric air is drawn through
with it. The cap or cover m has a pillar or hand hold m² for screwing it
on and off by, and this forms an indicator of an excessive pressure of
steam within the vessel, the pillar m³ being hollow and cut to act as a
whistle.
The water or other liquid to be used is placed into the vessel through
the opening n and then the plug p is screwed on to close the opening;
the herbs or other materials are then placed in the cup or receiver d and
the two taps h and j closed; the cover is then screwed on and a flame?
applied to the under part of the vessel whereby steam is generated. The
heating of the vessel causes the herbs or other material to take up
moisture and to become saturated, so that the liquid after a time, so to
speak, is a decoction or an infusion, containing more or less medicinal
properties for the relief of asthma and other pulmonary complaints and
diseases. The vessel has on one portion a glass tube q to indicate the
height of the liquid in the vessel, and also a thermometer, as in Figure 2,
to indicate the degree of heat. By this means the use of the apparatus
is entirely free from any objection, and can be attended to by the patient
himself, he regulating the opening and closing of the taps, the strength:
of the flame, and consequently, by watching the thermometer, the
exact heat at which he should inhale the steam and air through the
mouth piece.
I have spoken of water as the liquid employed in the vessel, and I
intend thereby to include not only pure water but perfumed or chemically
prepared liquids, or vinegar, so that on the herbs or the leaves of plants
in the perforated cup becoming saturated the desired tasto is imparted to
the air in its passage.

page_text: If herbs or leaves of plants are employed I in some cases use a false
bottom & in the cup to facilitate their removal when all the goodness has
been withdrawn from them, but this is not essential, as on the cup being
removed and turned upside down they will fall out in the usual way. If
I do use the false bottom I attach bent-ended wires t, t, to it, to enable
it to be lifted easily.
The plug of the filling-in aperture may have a perforated cap r
or screen upon or in it, see Figures 1 and 3, so that a perfumed or a
deodorizing agent can be spread into an apartment, the strength of
which agent can be regulated by the flame or by the sizes of the
perforations in the plug as desired.
The cup d is perforated more or less the whole of its length ver-
tically, so that should there be a necessity for the herbs, leaves, or
other body placed in it to be actually immersed in the liquid, the
quantity and consequently the height of the liquid can be increased to
any extent.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,—
Firstly. The apparatus constructed as herein-before described and
shown, in which moist vapours and air can be produced in combination
for the purposes set forth.
Secondly. I claim the general arrangement and combination of
appliances, substantially as shown and described, for facilitating the
holding and the heating of liquids and other bodies for impregnating
atmospheric air to he inhaled into the human body for curing or
relieving pulmonary and other diseases.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Bending, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of October One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-two.