THE RELIEF OF INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM PUL- MONARY AFFECTIONS OR DISEASES OF THE CHEST
Year: 1852

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Collis Browne, Assistant Surgeon to the
Forces at Fort Pitt, Chatham, in the County of Kent, for the
Invention for "THE RELIEF OF INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM PUL-
MONARY AFFECTIONS OR DISEASES OF THE CHEST."
Sealed the 5th January 1853, and dated the 28th October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Collis Browne
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 28th October 1852.
I, JOHN COLLIS BROWNE, Assistant Surgeon to the Forces at Fort
Pitt, Chatham, in the County of Kent, do hereby, declare the nature of
the said Invention for "THE RELIEF OF INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM
PULMONARY AFFECTIONS OR DISEASES OF THE CHEST" to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of constructing a waistcoat, or such like
garment, lined or cased with flannel or other fibrous fabric to be worn
next the person, such garment being double and composed of air-tight
fabric or material, so that it may be inflated; but as the simply making
it double would have the effect of its being one large inflated bag, it is

page_text: divided interiorly into numerous compartments or cells communicating
with each other, whereby, when inflated, the thickness thro' any part of
the garment will be comparatively small. It is also provided with a
valve for the purpose of inflation or otherwise, as may be required.
It possesses the property at same time of life preserver in occasions of
sudilen immersion in water.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Collis Browne in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 28th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN COLLIS BROWNE, Assistant Surgeon to the Forces at Fort Pitt,
Chatham, in the County of Kent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of October,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said John Collis Browne, Her especial license that
I, the said John Collis Browne, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Collis Browne, my exe-
cutors, 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 "THE RELIEF
OF INDIVIDUALS SUFFERING FROM PULMONARY AFFECTIONS OR DISEASES OF
THE CHEST," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
Collis Browne, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 John Collis Browne, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner tho

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
This Invention consists of constructing a waistcoat, or such like
garment, lined or cased with flannel or other fibrous fabric to be worn
next the person, such garment being double and composed of air-tight
fabric or material, so that it may be inflated; but as the simply making
it double would have the effect of its being one large inflated bag, it is
divided internally into numerous compartments or cells communicating
with each other, whereby, when inflated, the thickness through any part
of the garment will be comparatively small. It is also provided with a
valve for the purpose of inflation or otherwise, as may be required. It
possesses the property at the same time of life preserver on occasions of
sudden immersions in the, water.
And in order that my said Invention may be more fully understood,
and readily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means
pursued by me. I employ for the purpose of my Invention cotton,
silk, linen, or other fabric, rendered waterproof, as is well understood,
and I have the same cut into the shape and size suitable for covering
the chest of the person, and this portion of the garment is made
double, and the edges are closed and cemented, as is well understood
in making up articles of water and air proof fabrics; and the interior,
when requisite, is also to be closed and cemented together at intervals,
and, by preference, both vertically and horizontally, with a view to
divide the interior into many small compartments or cells which com-
municate with each other, and I introduce a tube with a valve for
inflating this garment, such as is now used in air-tight articles. The
garment when inflated will, in appearance, be similar to a quilted or
fluted garment when cemented as described, and it is to be formed with
arm boles and an opening for the neck, somewhat after the fashion of a
vest, but having a division at the side or back, or other part, in order
to facilitate the putting on of the garment; and the same may be
attached by buttons, strings, straps, or elastic bands, or otherwise, for
the purpose of fixing it to the person; and in making up this garment
I prefer that it should be lined with flannel or other woollen fabric to
come next the person, but this is not essential.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, I would remark that it will be
evident that the pulmonary organs when such a garment is worn will
not be subject to sudden chills by reason of the non-conducting property
of the air contained in the double garment; and I would state that the
apparatus or garment may be made to vary in form.
What I claim is, the application of double water and air tight fabrics,
such as herein described, in the manufacture of garments suitably
formed for covering the chest, for the purpose of retaining air as a
medium for equalising the temperature surrounding or appertaining to
the body.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Collis Browne, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of April,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-three.
Witness,
JOHN COLLIS BROWNE, Phy., (LS.)
Staff Assist. Surgeon to the Forces.
HENRY CARR LUCAS,
Staff Asst. Surgeon.
WILLIAM BROWNE,
Asst. Staff Surgeon.