Improvements in Trusses, SPLINTS, AND OTHER SURGICAL APPLIANCES EMPLOYED FOR AFFORDING SUPPORT TO THE HUMAN BODY OR LIMBS
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Darlow, of 435, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, for the Invention of “Improvements in Trusses, SPLINTS,
AND OTHER SURGICAL APPLIANCES EMPLOYED FOR AFFORDING SUPPORT TO
THE HUMAN BODY OR LIMBS."
Sealed the 25th September 1874, and dated the 31st March 1874.
:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Darlow at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 31st March 1874.
I, WILLIAM DARLOW, of 435, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TRUSSES, SPLINTS, AND OTHER SURGICAL APPLIANCES EMPLOYED FOR AFFORDING
SUPPORT TO THE HUMAN BODY OR LIMBS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the application of magnetism pure and
simple to or in magnetising the metallic parts of every description of
hernial truss and other surgical supports and appliances in which there is
or may be inserted steel or other magnetisable material or motal
employed in the construction of such trusses, supports, or appliances

page_text: in order to impart curative or healing properties thereto by magneti-
zation.
The application of my Invention to a truss or other surgical support
or appliance does not depend upon or relate to its form or construction
so long as it can be magnetised, and by such action bring to bear the
healing curative properties of such magnetism on the henial, umbilical,
or other rupture.
Also in bringing magnetic properties to bear on the dorsal region and
abdominal plexus for the cure of incipient rupture, or for reducing
obstinate forms of hernia, and at the same time imparting strength to
the organs surrounding this part of the system.
Also by acting on the abdomen most beneficially when the patient
suffers from great bowel weakness, or where low spinal weakness exists,
and which up to this time has not been treated cither by truss or
bandage. The application of galvanism for such purposes has been
attempted but has failed in consequence of the difficulty attending its
application. No means have as yet been attempted except the
mechanical aid afforded by such contrivances, but by my improve.
ments I bring to bear curative power as well as mechanical aid.
My improvements are also applicable to splints, pads, and other
surgical supports or appliances, for whatever purpose they may be
applied to the human body or limbs.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Darlow in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 30th September 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
DARLOW, of 435, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first. day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand cight hundred and seventy-four, in tho
thirty-seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, give and grant unto me, the said William Darlow,
Her special license that I, the said William Darlow, my exccutors,

page_text: administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Darlow, 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 TRUSSES, SPLINTS, AND OTHER SURGICAL
APPLIANCES EMPLOYED FOR AFFORDING SUPPORT TO THE HUMAN BODY OR LIMBS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Darlow,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 William Darlow, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, to be as follows :—
This Invention relates to the application of magnetism pure and
simple to or in magnetizing the metallic parts of every description of hernial
and other trusses and other surgical supports and appliances in which.
there is or may be inserted steel or other magnetizable material or metal:
employed in the construction of such trusses, supports, or appliances,
in order to impart curative or healing properties thereto by magneti
zation,
The application of my Invention to a truss or other surgical support or
appliance does not depend upon or relate to its form or construction so
long as it can be magnetized, and by such action bring to bear the healing.
curative properties of such magnetism on the hernial, umbilical, or other
rupture.
Also in bringing magnetic properties to bear on the dorsal region and
abdominal plexus for the cure of incipient rupture, or for reducing
obstinate forms of hernia, and at the same time imparting strength to
the organs surrounding this part of the system.
Also by acting on the abdomen most benefically when the patient
suffers from great bowel weakness or where low spinal weakness exists,

page_text: and which up to this time has not been. treated either by truss or
bandage. The application of galvanism for such purposes has been
attempted but has failed in consequence of tho difficulty attending its
application. No means have as yet been attempted except the
mechanical aid afforded by such contrivances, but by my improve- 5
ments I bring to bear curative power as well as mechanical aid.
My improvements are also applicable to splints, pads, and other
surgical supports or appliances for whatever purpose they may be
applied to the human body or limbs.
In carrying out the first part of my improvements I magnetize all or 1
a part of the steel or magnatizable matter in an ordinary truss, thus
polarizing the truss and making it a magnet or magnets in itself in
accordance with my Invention.
In carrying out another part of my improvements I place on or affix
magnets to a truss so as to act independently of or in conjunction with 1
the said truss or surgical appliance to which it is affixed in accordance
with my Invention.
3
In carrying out another part of my improvements I magnetize all
steel or magnetizable matter in truss pads, and thus localise and focus
the magnetic force directly on the rupture to which it is applied for 2
the purpose of facilitating the healing of the ruptured parts in accord-
ance with my Invention.
In carrying out another part of my improvements I make non-con-
ducting truss pads magnetic by mixing magnetic oxide of iron, steel, or
other magnetizable matter with india-rubber and vulcanize it, or by 2
mixing the magnetizable matter with china or other clay, and moulding
it into the shapes required, after which it is baked in the ordinary way
and then magnetized in accordance with my Invention. Or I imbed
small strips or pieces of steel, cut, cast, or made by other means, into any
shape in vulcanite, china, or enamel so that the magnetizable matter may 3
be magnetized either before or after being put into the truss or other
surgical pads if required.
may
In carrying out another part of my improvements I enamel iron or
steel made in the form of a truss or truss pad, so that the pad itself
be non-conducting (and yet be capable of being strongly magnetized if 3.
required). The pad may be flat, concave, or convex, to suit the part to

page_text: which it is applied. The truss may be made of thin sheet or other iron
or steel cut, welded, or cast into the desired forms, then enamelled by any
of the ordinary methods of enamelling, and afterwards magnetized,
thus dispensing with the ordinary modes of padding, and combining
lightness and durability with the magnetic.power.
Having thus described the nature of my improvements and the manner
of performing or carrying the same into practice, what I claim is, the
application of magnetism to hernial and other trusses, and other surgical
supports and appliances by magnetizing the iron, steel, or other mag-
netizable material employed in the construction of such surgical
appliances, substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Darlow, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
WILLIAM DARLOW. (L.S.)
34, Southampton Buildings,
Chancery Lane,
London,
W.C.