Apparatus for the Mechanical Treatment of Diseases of the Rectum.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Apparatus for the Mechanical Treatment of Diseases of the Rectum.
I, Dr. OTTO SCHMIDT, Physician of Hohenstaufenring 17, at Cologne on the
Rhine in the Province of Rhineland and Kingdom of Prussia, Germany 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 :-
The apparatus hitherto applied for the cure or alleviation of diseases of the
rectum, i.e. that known under the name of "hautel pessar" do not at all answer
their purpose, since in consequence of their construction can only act on some of
the swellings within reach of the exterior sphincters; more especially the apparatus
jret mentiin no wise fulfils the requirements, which must be expected from a
mechanically acting apparatus for treating piles, because it is not developed from
the fundamental idea of forming an artificial vein-valve.
My apparatus, represented in Figs. 1 to 3 of the annexed drawing in three
different forms is constructed with regard to the above mentioned conditions and
in consequence of this answers all demands, that can be made to it in the most"
perfect manner.
The apparatus may consist of any material and forms a hollow body, formed'
in its upper part a in the shape of a club and running to a point at the bottom and
terminating at the lower end in a funnel-shaped enlargement b. The club-shaped
part a has several rows of holes c. The funnel-shaped opening is closed by an
elastic cap d, which is either as shown in Fig. 1 stretched over the lower opening
or is fixed to a special cover e (Figs. 2 and 3) which can be screwed on. This
cover in the form of the apparatus as in Fig. 2, is simply screwed on to the
funnel b; in Fig. 3 however the funnel is lengthened into a cylinder, which is'
screw-threaded in the inside and into which the cover e can be screwed.
We shall now explain the nature and use of this instrument.
The veins of the rectum are all without valves and the chief artery, into which
they empty themselves, has also no valve.
Thus, since the hemorrhoidal veins in most of the positions, which the body
assumes, are in the most dependent position, the pressure of a high column of
blood rests on the sides of these veins, without as is the case with the other veins,
the column of blood being divided by valves interposed and the pressure against
the sides of the veins being proportionately diminished.
Therefore any rational treatment-and such a one can only be mechanical-must
have as its chief object to find a substitute for the missing valves.
While in the treatment of the enlargement of the veins, e.g. of the legs, this is
done by the veins being made to press against hard support, the bone, by a
pressure mostly elastic acting from outwards (caoutchouc) applied at suitable spots
in the place of the missing or as is here the case of the valves that are incapable of
acting, in the enlargement of the veins of the rectum we must do exactly the
opposite and artificially create the firm support, while the elastic pressure can be
exercised by the sphincters of the anus, which in a position of rest are very
elastic.
If a good effect is to be obtained it is necessary, that this firm support exactly
suits the conditions of the two sphincters, that therefore above all things, since
the elasticity of the two muscles is a totally different one, a stronger pressure
be put on the inner weaker muscle, in other words, that, siuce the muscles act

page_text: 2) In the appliance as in Claim 1) instead of the simple cap d, the cover e to
screw on and with clastic centre part."
3) In the appliance as in Claim 1) the cylindrical continuation of the funnel and
the cover e with elastic bottom to screw into said continuation.
Dated this 28th day of March 1896.
For DR. UTTO SCHMIDT,
Bernh. Brockhues.