IMPROVEMENTS IN INHALING APPARATUS
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, Doctor of Laws, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN INHALING APPARATUS." -A com-
munication from abroad by Clifton David Hunter, of Marlborough,
Massachusetts, United States of America.
'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Haseltine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 28th June 1873, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton Buildings,
London, Doctor of Laws, send greeting.

page_text: unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal Letters
Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that it has
been communicated to me from abroad by Clifton David Hunter, of
Marlborough, Massachusetts, United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing making
part of this Specification :-
1
Vapor inhalers as heretofore constructed are objectionable for the
reason that the act of blowing or breathing down the exhaust or
inhaling tube will cause the liquid in the main receptacle to rise in the
inlet tube and flow into the acid vessel, thus destroying the power of the
acid and necessitating the emptying and re-supplying of the main 1
receptacle and the acid vessel.
The first part of this Invention has for its purpose to overcome this
difficulty, and consists in the application of a valve to the exhaust tube
or passage or to the inlet tube, which valve will instantly close should
any person inadvertently breathe or blow into the exhaust tube, thus a
preventing the rising of the liquid in the main receptacle into the inlet
tube and mixing with the contents of the acid vessel, the valve also
prevents the evaporation of the volatile portion of the liquid in the main
receptacle. The acid vessel has heretofore been connected with the
inlet tube and placed either inside or outside of the main receptacle, and
was consequently extremely liable to be injured or broken.
The second part of this Invention consists in placing the acid vessel
within a cavity or recess within the stopper of the main receptacle,
whereby the danger of breaking the acid vessel is avoided.
The third part of the said Invention consists in providing the stopper
of the main receptacle with a groove or recess for the reception of the
upper portion of the inlet tube when forced down, whereby it is pro-
tected from injury.. The inlet tube is so constructed and arranged that
when disconnected from the acid vessel and swung around, its end when

page_text: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the said improved apparatus ready
for use; Figure 2 is a vertical section through the same.
,
:
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the said apparatus ready to be
packed for travelling, the protecting band being thrown to one side;'
Figure 4 is a view showing the said protecting band in place; Figure 5
is a sectional view of details.
Figure 6 is a view of a nasal tube herein-after described.
Figure 7 is a section through an apparatus, constructed in accordanco
with the said Invention, and having a valve applied to the lower end of
its inlet tube.
Figure 8 represents a modification of the said Invention.
A is the main receptacle for containing the medicated liquid; B is a
stopper of rubber or other suitable material provided with a passage a
for the reception of the exhaust or inhaling tube C, through which the
vapor is inhaled; b is the inlet tube which passes through the stopper,
and extends nearly down to the bottom of the main receptacle, the

page_text: upper end of this tube being bent, as seen in Figure 2, to receive the
fumes of the muriatic acid in the vessel 'c placed in a cavity in the
stopper B; the depth of the said cavity is such that only the upper edge
of this vessel will project above the upper surface of the stopper, thus,
as the air is exhausted from the receptacle A by the act of inhaling, the
fumes of the acid are drawn down the inlet tube b, and passing through
the medicated liquid containing a small quantity of concentrated aqua
ammonia combine therewith and form the vapor to be inhaled. To the
lower end of the exhaust passage à is fitted a metallic casing q con-
taining a valve d which opens upwardly to allow of the passage of the
vapor to be inhaled, but will instantly close and shut off communication
should any one blow or breathe into the exhaust tube, thus preventing
any pressure of air upon the surface of the medicated liquid and its
consequent rise up the inlet tube into the acid vessel c; this mixture of
the acid and medicated liquid destroys the power of generating vapor,
and necessitates the emptying of the apparatus and a new supply of the
medicated liquid and acid which is frequently required in inhalers as
heretofore constructed, and which is a great objection to their use. The
valve also prevents the evaporation of the volatile portion of the
medicated liquid which would occur if no valve were employed.
By embedding the acid receptacle within the stopper, as above
described, it is effectually protected from breakage, which is not the case
where it is placed inside or outside the main receptacle away from the
stopper. When it is desired to pack the inhaler in a trunk or valise for
travelling, it is not necessary to discharge the medicated liquid and the
acid, but merely to raise the inlet tube b and disconnect it from the acid
vessel, which must then be tightly closed by a stopper e, Figure 3.
The inlet tube is now turned around until its end is over the exhaust
passage a (from which the exhaust tube has been previously removed),
when it is forced down, as seen in Figure 5, the portion 10 resting in a
groove h formed in the stopper B, and the end ffitting into and tightly
closing the exhaust passage a. The escape of any of the medicated
liquid from the main receptacle A through the inlet tube 6 or exhaust
passage a is thus effectually prevented and the inhaler charged ready
for use, can consequently be packed in a trunk or valise without liability
to leakage. It will be seen that the groove h allows the portion 10 of
the inlet tube to be forced down flush, or nearly so, with the upper

page_text: surface of the stopper B, whereby it is protected from injury. When
the parts are in the position seen in Figure 3, a band i of india-rubber
or other suitable material (one end of which is permanently attached to -
one side of the stopper B) is stretched over the stopper e of the acid
vessel and the inlet tube, and secured to the opposite side of the stopper B
by a hook or catch k, as seen in Figure 4. This band serves to hold the
stopper of the acid vessel in place, and protect it and the inlet tube
when packed for travelling. The long tube C, Figure 1, may be
replaced by the nasal tube D, Figure 6, when it is desired to inhale the
vapor through the nose.
In Figure 7 the inlet tube 6 is represented as provided at its lower end
with a valve m opening downward, so that any upward pressure on its
under concave surface will instantly close it and thus prevent the
entrance of any liquid. I am thus enabled by the use of this valve
to effectually prevent the rising of the liquid in the inlet tube and
its entering the acid vessel, which might occur when the stopper B
was inserted into the mouth of the main receptacle, owing to the com-
pression of the air within the latter. It is evident that the valve m
may be used instead of the valve d as it will also prevent the rising of
the liquid in the inlet tube should any person inadvertently breathe or
blow into the exhaust tube. It is preferable however to retain the
valve d as it prevents the evaporation of the volatile portion of the
liquid in the main receptacle which would occur if the valve m only
were employed. I do not confine myself to the use of a valve m of tho
particular construction shewn, as any other suitable valve may be used
instead, and although I prefer to use both of the valves d and m yet
either one can be used without the other if desired.
Figure 8 represents a modification of this Invention, in which neither
of the valves d or m is employed. In this case the exhaust tube is of
somewhat different construction from that above described; its vertical
portion 11 above the stopper is provided at its top with a horizontal
branch 12, at one end of which is a valve P opening outward, while to
its opposite end is secured the mouth-piece 13 through which the vapor
is inhaled, and during this operation the valve P is tightly closed by the
pressure of the external air as a vacuum is created within the branch 12.
Should however any person breathe or blow into the tube 13 the valve P

page_text: Sixth. In combination with the main receptacle stopper exhaust tube
and inlet tube of an inhaler, a valve so constructed and applied as to
open outwardly on blowing into the exhaust tube, whereby the air is
allowed to escape and is kept from exerting a pressure upon the liquid
in the main receptacle, as and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
0 Witness,
JAMES EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.s.)