Improvements in Speculums.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 15th Apr., 1887.
Improvements in Speculums.
1, JOSEPH WILLIAMS MCCALL, of the Town of Huntingdon, in the county of Carroll,
in the State of Tennessee, and United States of America, Physician and Surgeon, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPECULUMS," and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to that Class of Specula formed with a slot in the side extending
the length of the tube and provided with a slide fitted to the slot; and my invention
consists in securing in the forward or closed end of the tube a mirror, and, further, in
forming the slide concave in cross-section or depressed from the direction of the
line of circumference of the hody of the tube.
These novel features or clements are hereinafter described, and specifically pointed
out in the claims.
I have clearly illustrated my improved speculum in the accompanying drawings,
wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete instrument with the slide
partially withdrawn and the mirror disclosed in the end of the tube. Fig. 2 is a
longitudinal sectional view; and Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section, taken through the
liner of Fig. 2.
The letter A represents the body of the instrument formed with a flaring rim, a, of
sufficient extent or dimensions to hold up the superabundant external soft. parts found
in fleshy subjects, and prevent these paris from projecting over the edges of the
instrument and obstructing the internal reflections. This form also obviates the
presence of an assistant to hold these possible obstructions out of the way while
the principal is operating.
The tube or body of the instrument, from the base of the rim, is preferably made
a regular cylinder in shape, terminating in a closed conical-shaped end, e, as shown,
the end on one side being slightly depressed or concaved, as shown at d, in Fig. 1, in
order that the transverse formation of the depressed slide and this part of the end may
be of the same shape. The tube or body of the instrument is slotted from its rim to
the farthest end of the incline in the end of the tube, and in the tube against the
incline is secured a mirror, B. This mirror is preferably set in position at an angle

page_text: of about fifty-five degrees to the body of the instrument. The purposes of the mirror
are to light up the interior of the instrument and to enable the operator by the
reflection in the mirror io more readily sec, examine, and treat the posterior aspect or
surface of any tumor, enlargement, fistula, ulceration, polypus, or any other diseased
tissue presented in the slot of the instrument. This mirror also presents the least
possible friction for the diseased parts presented in the slot to gently travel up out of
the slot while withdrawing the instrument.
In the slot is accurately fitted a slide, C, which covers the whole space opened by
the slot. The slide C is formed in cross-section, slightly concaved or depressed from
edge to edge from the line of circumference of the body of the cylinder, in order that
the speculum may be introduced or the slide withdrawn without the resultant pain and
irritation usually caused by a slide having its surface on a line with or above the line
of circumference of the body of the instrument.
To the slide is secured a handle, e, and to the body of the instrument is fixed
another one, substantially as shown. These handles may be rigidly fixed to their
respective parts, or they may be hinged thereto, the latter plan making the instrument
more convenient to pack, and does not in the least lessen its utility in operating.
I prefer to have the form of the body a regular cylinder, since an instrument of
such shape is retained in position after insertion without liability to expulsion by the
action of the muscles, and it is not necessary to press it forward to retain it in position,
as is necessary in some cases with instruments of conical shape. I am aware that
cylindrical tubular specula have heretofore been made with a slotted side provided
with a slide fitted therein and the end of the tube inclined and closed.
My improvements consist in forming the slide depressed from the line of circum-
ference or concave in cross-section, and in securing against the inclined end of the
tube a mirror, for the purposes stated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is
1. In combination with a cylindrical tubular speculum with slotted side and closed
end, a slide extending the length of the slot and having its outer surface depressed
from the line of circumference of the tube, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. In combination, the cylindrical tubular speculum with slotted side and closed
end, having the depression d, the mirror secured in an inclined position in the front
end of the tube, and the slide fitted to the slot in the tube and having its outer surface
depressed in cross-section from the line of circumference of the tube, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
Datad this 11th day of March 1887
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.