IMPROVEMENTS IN SURGICAL APPENDAGES TO CONSIST OF A CORSET AND ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER COMBINED, ALSO TO SERVE AS A TRUSS IN CASES OF UMBILICAL AND VENTRAL HERNIA
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Pebardy, of No. 22, Greville Street, Hatton
Garden, Surgical Bandage and Instrument Maker, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SURGICAL APPENDAGES TO CONSIST OF A CORSET AND
ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER COMBINED, ALSO TO SERVE AS A TRUSS IN CASES OF
UMBILICAL AND VENTRAL HERNIA."
Sealed the 9th June 1868, and dated the 13th December 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Pebardy at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
18th December 1867.
I, THOMAS PEBARDY, of No. 22, Greville Street, Hatton Garden, Surgical
Bandage and Instrument Maker, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SURGICAL APPENDAGES TO CONSIST OF A CORSET
AND ABDOMINAL SUPPORTER COMBINED, ALSO TO SERVE AS A TRUSS IN CASES OF
UMBILICAL AND VENTRAL HERNIA," to be as follows:-
The upper part of the appendage is made of some resisting texture, coutil;
sateen, silk, or any suitable material of such length and depth as may be found

page_text: best adapted to the size of the body and to meet the requirements of the case.
In this portion of the appendage gores of the same or other material are
inserted to form the bosom; these gores are continued by a strip of the same
fabric of such length and width as may be considered suitable; on each side
of this strip, continued from the aforesaid gores, elastic web or webs are inserted
so placed as to stretch in a slanting direction; these also are of such length and
width as may be necessary. At the lower portion of these webs there aro
bands or belts made of materials similar to those before mentioned; to theso
bands elastic web or webs are attached shaped to take the abdomen and to
prevent any drawing in of that part of the body. Below these webs forming
the abdomen there is another band of a firm material containing runnings of
cotton or other substance for the purpose of stiffening and adding to its
strength; this band may be made of any length or width considered desirable.
The whole of the above-described parts have a strip or strips of non-elastic
material passing directly downwards from the top to the lower portion of the
appendage between the bosom gores joining the band last mentioned, and to
which the above mentioned pieces are attached; this strip or these strips may
be closed or made to open with any kind of fastening preferred. For the
purpose of stiffening there are in the aforesaid strips rows of stitching in
which may be inserted flexible material of the kind considered most suitable.
The whole of the abovo description applies to the front of the body. At the
termination of the elastic insertions directing towards the sides they are met by
a band of the same texture as that denominated "resisting material;" this
band is shaped so as to descend from or near the arm-pit to the lower part of
the support in a sloping manner, so that it passes on the front of the hip and
also directly over the hip making a forked pieco; inserted between these forked
pieces gores of elastic web are placed of such length and width as may be
suitable to the size of the hips. The continuation of the upper part of the
support from the arm piece towards the back is formed to the extent required
of resisting material, below which the clastics aro comtinued as in front being
placed nearly in a line with them; proceeding towards the lower part of the
support at the termination of the elastics it is formed of non-elastic material.
On each side of the elastic gores of tho hips there are straps of similar material
to that of the other part of the support (non-elastic), one being attached at the
back and ono in front of the hips having a row of holes worked or otherwisc
to lace or to buckle at the will of tho maker, the level edges of each strap
meeting in the centre of the strip which descends from the arm-pit and which
is understood to be the forked piece. These straps may be used as a check

page_text: to the elasticity of the hips, keeping the expansion at that part under. the-
control of the weaver. The piece or band in front at the lower part is continued
to the centre of the strip known as the forked piece and may be made to lace
or buckle or fasten in any manner wished, the object being to raise the
burden of the stomach or abdomen, which is moro likely to bo effected by
equalizing and diffusing the raising power over the entire body. The fastening
at the back may be of any kind preferred, but I think a series of holes placed.
closely together with laces the most useful, as then the means of regulation to.
the desired extent will be obtained. The inner portion of the back next the
fastening or lace holes has rows of diagonal stitchings to admit of whalebone or
other material which will well support the muscles of the back. without injury.
to the vertibra. With the addition of shoulder straps fixed to obtain perfect
sustaining power the bulk of the abdomen must to a great extent be removed.
from that part and placed as it were on the shoulders..
When in addition to the purposes already stated it is wished to use the
appendage as a truss for all kinds of hernia occurring in the portion of the body
which it covers it will be necessary to add a plate or pad adapted to the
peculiarities of the rupture; this plate or pad may be made of silver, or metal
plated, or of tin, iron, or any suitable substance; this plate or pad must be
inserted in the appendage over the part where it is required and must be well:
secured at the edges all round. It may be secured in addition by light straps.
passing over the top of the plate or pad on the outside of the appendage, which
would also give additional pressure over the seat of the hernia. When the plate
or pad is inserted in the manner described, the appendage placed in its proper.
position, and the laces well drawn at the back, the appendage will yield only.
in the parts which the plate or pad does not cover, and in consequence it will
apply direct and greater pressure on the part where it is most needed.
The whole appendage having a tendency to exert its influence and bearing
upwards it will have a most beneficial effect in cases of rupture. Moreover in
addition to the uses enumerated above the appendage will meet a great want
amongst women during the period of pregnancy and when suffering from
ovarian diseases, as any amount of pressure or freedom can be given with equal
facility.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Thomas Pebardy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
June 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
PEBARDY, of No. 22, Greville Street, Hatton Garden, Surgical Bandage and
Instrument Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Thomas Pebardy, Her special licence that I, the said Thomas
Pebardy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others ns
1, the said Thomas Pebardy, 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 SURGICAL APPENDAGES TO CONSIST OF A CORSET AND ABDOMINAL
SUPPORTER COMBINED, ALSO TO SERVE AS A TRUSS IN CASES OF UMBILICAL AND
VENTRAL HERNIA," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas
Pebardy, my exccutors 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 Thomas Pebardy, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to bo particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
The upper part of the appendage is made of some resisting texture, coutil,
sateon, silk, or any suitable material of such length and depth as may bo
found best adapted to the size of the body and to meet the requirements of
the case.
In this portion of the appendage gores of the same or other
material are inserted to form the bosom; these gores are continued by a strip
of the same fabric of such length and width as may be considered suitable;
on each side of this strip, continued from the aforesaid gores, elastic web or

page_text: webs are inserted so placed as to stretch in a slanting direction; theso also
are of such length and width as may be necessary. At the lower portion of
these webs there are bands or belts made of materials similar to those before-
mentioned; to these bands elastic web or webs are attached shaped to take
the abdomen and to prevent any drawing in of that part of the body. Below
these webs forming the abdomen there is another band of a firm material
containing runnings of cotton or other substance for the purpose of stiffening
and adding to its strength; this band may be made of any length or width
considered desirable. The whole of the above-described parts have a strip or
strips of non-elastic material passing directly downwards from the top to the
lower portion of the appendage between the bosom gores joining the band
last mentioned, and to which the above-mentioned pieces are attached; this
strip or these strips may be closed or made to open with any kind of fastening
preferred. For the purpose of stiffening there are in the aforesaid strips rows
of stitching in which may be inserted flexible material of the kind considered
most suitable. The whole of the above description applies to the front of the
body. At the termination of the elastic insertions directing towards the sides
they are met by a band of the same texture as that denominated "resisting
material; this band is shaped so as to descend from or near the arm-pit to
the lower part of the support in a sloping manner, so that it passes on the
front of the hip and also directly over the bip, making a forked piece; in-
serted between these forked pieces gores of elastic web are placed of such
length and width as may be suitable to the size of the hips. The continuation
of the upper part of the snpport from the arm piece towards the back is
formed to the extent required of resisting material, below which the elastics
are continued as in front being placed nearly in a line with them; proceeding
towards the lower part of the support at the termination of the elastics it is
formed of non-elastic material. On each side of the elastic gores of the hips
there are straps of similar material to that of the other part of the support (non-..
elastic), one being attached at the back and one in front of the hips, having
a row of holes worked or otherwise to lace or to buckle at the will of maker,
the level edges of each strap meeting in the centre of the strip which descends
from the arm-pit and which is understood to be the forked piece. These straps
may be used as a check to the elasticity of the hips, keeping the expansion at
that part under the control of the wearer. The piece or band in front at the
lower part is continued to the centre of the strip known as the forked piece,
and may be made to lace or buckle or be fastened in any manner wished, the
object being to raise the burden of the stomach or abdomen, which is more

page_text: likely to be effected by equalizing and diffusing the raising power over the
entiro body. The fastening at the back may be of any kind preferred, but I
think a series of holes placed closely together with laces the most useful, as
then the means of regulation to the desired extent will be obtained. The inner
portion of the back next the fastening or lace holes has rows of diagonal
stitchings to admit of whalebone or other material, which will well support the
muscles of the back without injury to the vertebra. With the addition of
shoulder straps fixed to obtain perfect sustaining power the bulk of the
abdomen must to a great extent be removed from that part and placed as it
wero on the shoulders.
When in addition to the purposes already stated it is wished to use
the appendage as a truss for all kinds of hernia occurring in the portion
of the body which it covers it will be necessary to add a plate or pad
adapted to the peculiarities of the rupture; this plate or pad may be made of
silver, or metal plated, or of tin, iron, or any suitable substance; this plate or
pad must be inserted in the appendago over the part where it is required and
must be well secured at the edges all round. It may be secured in addition by
tight straps passing over the top of the plate or pad on the outside of the
appendage, which would also give additional pressure over the seat of the
hernia. When the plate or pad is inserted in the manner described, the
appendage placed in its proper position, and the laces well drawn at the back,
the appendage will yield only in the parts which the plate or pad does not
cover, and in consequence it will apply direct and greater pressure on the part
where it is most needed.
The whole appendage having a tendency to exert its influence and bearing
upwards it will have a most beneficial effect in cases of rupture. Moreover in
addition to the uses enumerated abovo the appendage will meet a great want
amongst women during the period of pregnancy and when suffering from
ovarian diseases, as any amount of pressure or freedom can be given with
equal facility.
The manner in which I prefer in carrying out this Invention to construct a
corset and abdominal supporter combined is shown in the Drawing hereunto
annexed, Figure 1 being a front view, and Figuro 2 a side view of the com-
bined corset and abdominal supporter.
The parts marked a are made of silk or other inelastic texture, whilst the
parts marked bare of india-rubber fabric or other clastic fabric, these pieces
of fabric being capable of extension in the direction of the lines ruled on the
Drawing. The parts, marked care for containing ribs of whalebone or other

page_text: like material, and the parts marked dare bands or straps which are connected
to one another by lacing or by buckles, as shown in the Drawing.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that what I claim is, the
constructing surgical appendages in the manner herein described, by which an
appendage is formed which serves not only as a corset but also as an abdo-
minal supporter, and also when required as a truss; it also prevents any
constriction of the chest, abdomen, and other parts of the body by the novel
arrangement of elastic fabrics throughout the appendage.
In witness whereof I, the said Thomas Pebardy, havo hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
THOMAS PEBARDY. (L.S.)