AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPLIANCE. FOR TREATING AND CURING DEAFNESS AND NOISES IN THE HEAD
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Robert Hoghton, of No. 2, Onslow Villas,
Richmond, in the County of Surrey, Surgeon Aurist, for the Inven-
tion of "AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPLIANCE. FOR TREATING AND
CURING DEAFNESS AND NOISES IN THE HEAD."
Sealed the 6th January 1874, and dated the 7th July 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Robert
Hoghton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 7th July 1873.
I, FRANCIS ROBERT HOGHTON, of No. 2, Onslow Villas, Richmond,
in the County of Surrey, Surgeon Aurist, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPLIANCE FOR
TREATING AND CURING DEAFNESS AND NOISES IN THE HEAD," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar instrument or appliance which I
term an "Electro-galvanic Sound Conductor" for treating and curing
deafness and noises in the head.
The said instrument or appliance consists essentially of two short and
tapered tubes, one of which is composed of copper and the other of zinc..

page_text: The zinc tube is inserted concentrically within the outer or copper tube
or vice versa, and a space is left between the two tubes, which space is
to be filled with an acid or other suitable solution, as an exciting fluid
for generating an electro-galvanic action in the instrument or appliance.
A concave disc or shield is secured to the outer end of the outer tube
for the purpose of preventing the instrument (which is intended to be
inserted into the ear so as to communicate with the membrane of the
drum) from entering too far therein.
The advantages of this instrument are that it occupies but little space,
its construction and action is simple and efficient, and most effectual in
its results, not only conveying sound to the drum; but also keeping up a
continual galvanic and curative action.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Francis Robert Hoghton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th January 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FRANCIS
ROBERT HOGHTON, of No. 2, Onslow Villas, Richmond, in the County
of Surrey, Surgeon Aurist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of July, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the 37th
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Francis Robert Hoghton, Her special
license that I, the said Francis Robert Hoghton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Francis Robert
Hoghton, my executors, administrators, or 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 "AN IMPROVED INSTRUMENT OR APPLIANCE FOR TREATING AND CURING
DEAFNESS AND NOISES IN THE HEAD," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Francis Robert Hoghton, my executors or adminis-

page_text: trators, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
particularly describe and ascertain 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 Francis Robert Hoghton, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say:-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar instrument or appliance which
I term an "Electro-galvanic Sound Conductor" for treating and curing
deafness and noises in the head.
The said instrument or appliance consists essentially of two short and
tapered tubes, one of which is composed of copper and the other of zinc.
The zinc tube is inserted concentrically within the outer or copper tube
or vice versa, and a space is left between the two tubes, which space is to
be filled with an acid or other suitable solution, as an exerting fluid for
generating an electro-galvanic action in the instrument or appliance.
A concave disc or shield is secured to the outer end of the outer tube
for the purpose of preventing the instrument, which is intended to be
inserted into the ear so as to communicate with the membrane of the
drum, from entering too far therein.
The advantages of this instrument is that it occupies but little space,
its construction and action is simple and efficient, and most effectual in
its results, not only conveying sound to the drum, but also keeping up a
continual galvanic and curative action.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that
purpose shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheet of
Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a front elevation of my improved
instrument. Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same· Figure 3 is
9

page_text: detail of the tubes showing the inner tube drawn out a little way from
the outer tube, and shewing the relative positions of the tubes before
they are soldered together at their ends; and Figure 4 shows the mode
of applying the said instrument.
a is a disc or shield of copper or other suitable material, and of a
concave form, which is secured to the outer tube 6 to prevent the instru-
ment from penetrating too far into the ear; c is the inner tube which
leads to the membrane of the drum of the ear and conveys the sound.
One of these tubes should be of copper and the other of zinc or equivalent
metals. The annular space d enclosed between the two tubes b and c
is closed at both ends, and a small opening is left at e, Figure 1, com-
municating with this space, through which the acid solution or other
exerting liquid is introduced into the said space, this hole being after-
wards plugged up in any convenient manner. The said instrument
having been charged with acid solution or any suitable exerting liquid
capable of producing galvanic action is inserted into the ear as shown
in Figure 4, and operates as an excellent sound conveyer and galvanic
stimulant to the ear.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the combina-
tion of two concentric tubes of copper and zinc, or other equivalent
metal, respectively having an intervening space for the reception of acid
solution or other exerting liquid, when constructed and applied substan-
tially in the manner and for the purpose herein-before described and
illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Robert Hoghton, have
to this my Specification set my hand and seal, the Seventh day
of January One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
FRANCIS ROBERT HOGHTON. (L.S.)