AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ADMINISTERING ANAESTHETICS AND DIFFUSING PERFUMES AND DISINFECTANTS
Year: 1882

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co., Patent Agents Southampton Buildings, London for an invention of
"
AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ADMINISTERING ANAESTHETICS
AND DIFFUSING PERFUMES AND DISINFECTANTS." A communication from
abroad by Sherman Cooper of Westfield, New Jersey, Physician, and Edward
Dennis of Sing Sing, New York, Civil Officer, both in the United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st March 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR ADMINISTERING ANAESTHETICS AND DIFFUSING PERFUMES AND DISINFECTANTS
"
[A communication from abroad by Sherman Cooper of Westfield, New Jersey,
Physician, and Edward Dennis of Sing Sing, New York, Civil Officer, both in the
United States of America.]
This invention relates chiefly to an improved process or method of absorbing
and administering anaesthetics, such as chloroform, ether, and the like, and to
apparatus therefor. The said invention consists in absorbing the anaesthetic by
means of a suitable absorbent packing, such as magnesia, for instance, confined in
a closed receiver, and then discharging such anaesthetic in the form of a dry gas
by forcing air through the absorbent packing; also in suitable appliances whereby
the distribution of the absorbed material can be practically accomplished by air-
pressure, all as hereinafter described.
In carrying this invention into practice I make use of an absorbent material
such for instance as magnesia, which I saturate or otherwise provide, with the
matter to be distributed. This matter I place in a close vessel or receptacle of
approved construction and connect such vessel or receptacle with an air-forcing
Price 6d1

page_text: '
apparatus in such manner that air may be driven into the receptacle and escape
therefrom through this saturated absorbent whereby it takes up and is loaded
with the matter with which such absorbent is provided and the air thereby is
charged or impregnated with the absorbent matter in the form of a dry gas, such
gas being conducted from the vessel to the place of use by any suitable device or
devices.
In this manner anaesthetics may be administered and perfumes and disinfectants
distributed. In the administration of anaesthetics this process has the following
advantages viz..
By the use of an absorbent material in a close vessel, a large quantity of
anaesthetics, as for instance, chloroform or ether can be concentrated so as to
obtain the benefit of its strength, to thereby facilitate the putting of a person
under its influence very quickly, and without any waste of material by evaporation
as is the case when the anaesthetic is administered in the liquid state by means of
cloths or sponges saturated therewith.
Another advantage is that the administration of an anaesthetic in the form of a
dry gas prevents the person or clothing of the Patient from being injured or
damaged by direct contact of a liquid anaesthetic, as is often the case when the
cloth or sponge is supplied with more than it can take up
Anaesthetics, when administered in the liquid form, generally produce nausea
resulting in vomiting which is extremely dangerous in many cases, especially so
during the performance of any operation involving the stomach and bowels, or
after there has been any such operation; when administered by this improved
method however, nausea is rarely produced and this element of danger is almost
entirely removed.
Furthermore by this method of administering anaesthetics, a due proportion of
atmospheric air is mixed therewith, the resulting advantage of which is the
lessening of the liability to fatal results and the rapidity of recovery from the
effects of its administration. Finally, from absorbing an anaesthetic and confining
it in this condition within a close vessel or receptacle evaporation is greatly
retarded, if not entirely prevented when not in use whereby a very considerable
economy in material is effected, and it has been found in practice that this economy
amounts to quite fifty per cent
According to my invention I also provide an apparatus admirably adapted for
administering anaesthetics This apparatus is constructed as follows that is to say
I provide a cylindrical shell closed at one end and having a charging opening at
the other end. This opening is provided with a cap at the lower end of which an
outwardly extending flange is arranged. This cap is connected with the shell by
a coupling having an inwardly extending flange to engage the flange on the cap,.
and interiorally screw-threaded to engage a screw thread on the exterior of the
shell at its opening. By interposing a compressable gasket between the cap and
the edge of the shell, and screwing down the ring upon the shell a perfectly tight
joint may be made between the shell and cap. The cap is provided with an
interior depending tube and with a channel, and a two-way plug is arranged to
turn in said cap so as to simultaneously open or close the tube and channel. The
tube terminates above the plug in a perforated knob, and the channel is open from
the interior of the cap through a terininal knob. Another tube depends from the
first named tube and extends nearly to the bottom of the shell. A foraminous
partition is arranged in the bottom of the shell, and the second tube.extends
through this partition. A fibrous dise is laid upon the partition, and upon this
disc, within the shell, is superposed a packing or filling of pulverulent material,
which may be magnesia, but other powder or fibrous material may be used. Above
this packing is arranged fibrous material and above it is arranged a foraminous
partition The disc and material serve to prevent the packing, when it is
pulverulent, from sifting; the partition rests upon a shoulder made somewhat
above the bottom of the shell, whereby a chamber is provided below the packing,
such chamber being in open communication with the tubes. I provide a bulb or

page_text: other air-forcing device connected with the first tube, as by a rubber tube stretched
over the knob; an inhaler is connected with the channel as by a rubber tube
stretched over the knob.
This apparatus can be utilized for distributing perfumes or disinfectants in the
form of dry gases, and in order to distribute such gas in jets so as to diffuse it, a
rose can be substituted for the inhaler.
I also construct an apparatus as follows; I provide a cylindrical shell closed at
one end and having a charging opening at the other end. This opening is provided
with a cap having an inwardly extending flange. This cap is interiorly screw
threaded at its lower end to engage with an exterior screw thread cut in the upper
end of the shell. An india-rubber or other soft gasket is interposed between the
flange of the cap and the edge of the shell to make a tight joint. The top of the
cap is provided with a knob having a channel way cut in it to lead into an air-
chamber. A bulb or other air forcing device, is connected to the shell as by a
rubber tube stretched over the knob. A. foraminous partition is arranged in the
top of the shell between the top edge of the shell and the flange of the cap; below
this a fibrous disc is placed, and below this within the shell a packing or filling of
pulverulent material such as magnesia, for instance, is confined between this
aforesaid disc and a fibrous disc arranged in the bottom of the shell and resting
upon a foraminous partition. The lower end of the shell is also exteriorally
screw-threaded and provided with a cap interiorally screw-threaded having an
inwardly extending flange between which and the bottom of the shell a rubber or
other soft gasket is interposed to make a tight joint the foraminous partition
resting upon this gasket. An air-chamber is arranged in the cap and this cap is
provided with a knob having a channel-way cut into it leading into the air-
chamber, it being intended to connect an inhaler there-with by a rubber tube or
like connection attached to the knob. Beads or projections are formed on the
shell so that when the apparatus is not in use and is placed in brackets or rests,
these beads or projections will prevent it from slipping either one way or the
other.
In order to open and close the apparatus at will I may employ plugs or
stop-cocks which can be operated to open and close the channel-ways of the
knobs.
I may employ a large cylinder having an india rubber tube connected with the
inlet opening and a screw coupling connected to the outlet opening. The con-
struction of this apparatus is the same as that of the apparatus last described.
It is intended to be used for dentists and hospital purposes where it is necessary
to have a large volume of the desired anaesthetic charged and ready for use and
when so used it is intended to attach the tube to an air forcing device and to
attach an inhaler by any suitable connection to the coupling.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th September 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "AN IMPROVED METHOD OF AND APPARATUS
FOR ADMINISTERING ANESTHETICS AND DIFFUSING PERFUMES AND DISINFECTANTS
"
A communication from abroad by Sherman Cooper, of Westfield, New Jersey,
Physician and Edward Dennis, of Sing Sing, New York, Civil Officer, both in the
United States of America.
This invention relates chiefly to an improved process or method of absorbing
and administering anaesthetics, such as chloroform, ether and the like, and to
apparatus therefor, the said invention consists partly in absorbing the anesthetic
by means of a suitable absorbent packing, such as magnesia, confined in a closed
receiver, and then discharging such anesthetic in the form of a dry gas, by forcing
air through the absorbent packing; and also in suitable appliances whereby the
distribution of the absorbed material can be practically accomplished by air pressure,
all as hereinafter described.
In carrying this invention into practice I make use of an absorbent material
such for instance as magnesia, which I saturate or otherwise provide with the
matter to be distributed. This matter I place in a closed vessel or receptacle of
approved construction, and connect such vessel or receptacle with an air-forcing
apparatus in such manner that air may be driven into the receptacle and escape
therefrom through the saturated absorbent, whereby it takes up and is charged or
impregnated with the absorbed matter in the form of a dry gas, such gas being
conducted from the vessel to the place of use by any suitable means.
In this manner anæsthetics may be administered, and perfumes and disinfectants
distributed. In the administration of anaesthetics this process has the following
advantages, that is to say :-
By the use of an absorbent material in a closed vessel, a large quantity of an
anæsthetic as for instance, chloroform or ether can be concentrated, so as to obtain
the full benefit of its strength, thereby facilitating the operation of putting a patient
under its influence, and without any waste of material by evaporation, as is the
case when the anaesthetics is administered in the liquid state, by means of cloths
or sponges saturated therewith.
Another advantage is, that the administration of an anæsthetic in the form of
a dry gas prevents the person or clothing of the patient from being injured or
damaged, by the direct contact of a liquid anesthetic, as is often the case when the
cloth or sponge is supplied with more than it can take up.
Anæsthetics, when administered in the liquid form, generally produce nausea,
resulting in vomiting which is extremely dangerous in many cases, especially so
during the performance of any operation involving the stomach and bowels, or
after there has been any such operation; when administered by this improved
method, however, nausea is rarely produced, and this element of danger is almost
entirely removed. Also by this method of administering anæsthetics, a due pro-
portion of atmospheric air is mixed therewith, the resulting advantage of which
is the lessening of the liability to fatal results, and the rapidity of recovery from
the effects of administration. By absorbing an anesthetic and confining it in this
condition within a close vessel or receptacle, evaporation is greatly retarded, if not
entirely prevented when the apparatus is not in use, whereby a very considerable
saving in material is effected, and it has been found in practice that this economy
amounts to quite fifty per cent.

page_text: An apparatus admirably adapted for administering anæsthetics according to this
invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of one form of the apparatus, the air force
pump or bellows, and the discharge funnel being shown in elevation.
Figure 2 is an clevation partly in section of a modification of this invention.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a larger form of apparatus.
•
A is a cylindrical shell closed at one end, and having a charging opening at the
other end; the said opening is provided with a cap B, at the lower end of which
an external flange is arranged. This cap is connected with the shell A, by a ring C
having an inwardly extending flange to engage with the flange on the cap, and an.
internal screw-thread to engage with an external screw-thread at the opening
of the shell A. By interposing a compressible gasket D between the cap and the
edge of the shell, and screwing down the ring C upon the shell, a perfectly tight
joint may be made between the shell and cap. The cap B is provided with an
internal depending tube E, and with a channel F, and a two-way plug G is
arranged to turn in the said cap to simultaneously open or close the tube E and
channel F. The tube E extends above the plug in a projection H, and the channel F;
extends from the interior of the said cap through a projection I. A tube J is
attached to the depending tube E, and extends nearly to the bottom of the shell A.
A perforated partition K is arranged near the bottom of the shell A and the tube J.
extends through the said partition. A fibrous disc L is laid upon the partition K,.
and upon this disc within the shell A is placed a packing or filling M of pulverulent
material, which may be magnesia, but other suitable powder or fibrous material.
may be used.
Above this packing is arranged fibrous material 'N and above it is..
arranged a perforated partition O. The fibrous disc L, and the material N, serve
to prevent the packing M, when it is pulverulent, from sifting; the partition K
rests upon a shoulder made somewhat above the bottom of the shell, whereby a.
chamber T is provided below the packing, such chamber being in open communi-
cation with the tubes J and E. A bulb or other air forcing device is connected
with the tube E, by an india rubber tube Q or the like attached to the projection H,
an inhaler R is connected with the channel F by an india rubber tube S, or the
like, attached to the projection I.
In operation the packing M having been saturated with the desired anæsthetic,.
the plug G is turned to open the tube E and channel F, air is then forced into the
apparatus and descends through tubes E and J into the air chamber T, the, pressure
under which the air is forced therein drives it upwards through the saturated
packing, whereby it is charged or impregnated with the anesthetic and escapes thus
charged or impregnated through the channel F in the form of a dry gas, and is
utilized by means of the inhaler R.
This apparatus can be utilized for distributing perfumes or disinfectants in the
form of dry gases, and in order to distribute such gas in jets so as to diffuse it, a
rose can be substituted for the inhaler R.
In a modified form of this invention as shown at Figure 2 I provide a cylindrical
shell a closed at one end and having a charging opening at the other end. This
opening is provided with a cap b having an inwardly extending flange c, the said
cap is provided with an internal screw thread at its lower end to engage with an
external screw thread cut upon the upper side of the shell a. An india-rubber or
other soft gasket & is interposed between the flange c and the end of the shell a to
make a tight joint. The top of the said cap is provided with a projection e, having
a channel way cut in it to lead into the air chamber f. A bulb or other air forcing
device g, is connected to the shell a by means of a rubber tube-h or the like
attached to the projection e. A perforated partition is arranged upon the shell a
between the top end thereof and the flange C of the cap b; below this a fibrous
disc is placed, the packing or filling K of pulverulent material such as magnesia
or other suitable substance is confined between the disc j and a fibrous disc b,
arranged in the bottom of the shell and resting upon a perforated partition m.
The lower end of the shell is also externally screw threaded and provided with a

page_text: cap n internally screw threaded, and having an inwardly extending flange o
between which and the bottom of the said shell an india-rubber or other soft
gasket is interposed, to make a tight joint, the perforated partition m resting
upon this gasket. The cap n forms internally an air chamber q and the said cap
is provided with a projection r having a channel way through it leading into the
air chamber q it being intended to connect an inhaler therewith by a rubber tube
or the like attached to the projection 7. Beads or projections x, x, are formed
upon the shell a, so that when the apparatus is not in-use and is placed in the
brackets or rests A¹ A', these beads or projections will prevent it from slipping either
one way or the other.
In operation, the packing K having been saturated with the desired material, air
is forced into the apparatus and descends through the partitions discs and saturated
packing, becoming charged or impregnated with the material, the charged or loaded
air being applied by means of the inhaler.
In order to open and close the apparatus at will I may employ plugs or stop
cocks which can be operated to open and close the channel ways of the projections?
and e.
In Figure 3 a large cylinder is shown having an india, rubber tube T connected
with the inlet and a screw coupling S connected to the outlet. The construction
of this apparatus is the same as that shown in Figure 2, It is intended to be used
by dentists and for hospital purposes, where it is necessary to have a large
volume of the desired anæsthetic ready for use, and when so used it is intended to
attach the tube T to an air forcing device, and to attach an inhaler by any suitable
connection to the coupling S.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondents and the manner of performing the same I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. The improved method of administering anæsthetics, which consist in
enclosing material saturated with the anaesthetic in a closed vessel so as to prevent
waste or the escape thereof, then opening such vessel containing the anaesthetic for
the admission of air, and finally forcing the air by external mechanical means
through such anesthetic whereby the air is laden with the said anaesthetic and is
forcibly expelled in the form of a dry gas at the point of application, substantially
as described.
Second. The improved apparatus for administering anesthetics in the form of a
dry gas, consisting of an air-tight vessel provided with inlet and outlet openings
which are controlled by one or more valves or plugs, absorbent packing confined
in the said vessel, means for forcibly driving a current of air through the said
packing, and means for conveying such forced current to the point of application,
substantially as shown and described.
'
In witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Thirtieth day of September in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.