Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 20th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 13th Apr., 1888
I, THOMAS NUGENT, of Albert Villa, Pembroke Road, Walthamstow, Essex,
Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
When the Epileptic patient is put to bed he, or she, has a belt, or a pair of Womens'
Stays, as usually worn, round his body.
On each side of this belt or stays, a small loop is sewn on, then a cord, or strong
tape is passed through each of these two loops. One end of this cord is fastened to
the side of the bedstead, on the ono side, (the patient lying on his back,) and the other
end of the cord is fastened to the side of the bedstead, on the other side. This cord
must be drawn tight enough to prevent the possibility of the patient's turning himself
over, and embedding face, mouth, and nose, in the pillow; but at the same time, it
must be loose enough to allow of the patient turning himself about, first on one
side a little, and then a little on the other side.
To enable the Epileptic patient to walk about without danger of falling down. In
a garden or Recreation ground, I place a number of upright posts, as far distant
from each other as convenient. I fasten either an iron rod, or rope from one post to
the next one, horizontally. The patient has a belt round his body, just under the
armpits, to which is attached a cord, with a hook at the end of it, to be hooked on to
the iron rod, or cord above.
By these means the patient is enabled to walk from post to post, and cannot fall,
down, on the ground. Then to enable the patient to go right on, beyond these two
posts he is provided with a light stick or cane, by which he can shift the hook from
one side of the post to the other side of it, and so continue to proceed.
THOMAS NUGENT,
Schoolmaster.

page_text: '
of Persons in Epileptic Fits.
I THOMAS NUGENT of No. 1 Colenso Road, Clapton Park, E. Schoolmaster, and
Teacher of Languages, and late of Albert Villa, Pembroke Road, Walthamstow, do
hereby declaro the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
When the Epileptic patient is put to bed, he has a belt, or a pair of stays, such as
are usually worn by woman, round his body. On each side of this belt or stays, a
small loop is sewn on, then a cord, or strong tape, is passed through each of these
two loops, or there may be one string, fastened on to each loop. One end of this cord
is fastened to one side of the bedstead, (the patient lying on his back the while) and
the other end of the cord is fastened to the opposite side of the bedstead. This cord
must be drawn tight enough to prevent tho possibility of the patient turning himself
over, and embedding face, nose, and mouth, in the pillow, while struggling in a fit;
but at the same time it must be loose enough to allow of the patient turning himself
about, first on this side, and then on that.
To enable the Epileptic patient to walk about in a garden or recreation ground,
without falling down, I place an iron rod, or wooden pole, or the like, from one end
of the ground to the other, or as far as required, fixing both ends firmly, either to the
wall, or the posts, this rod if not long enough in one piece, may ho joined to any
number of similar pieces, being joined end to end, as the rails ou our Rail-roads are
joined. Tho whole length of the rod must be supported by a sufficient number of
pillars. The patient has a strap round is body, just under his armpits, to which is
attached a cord, with a hook at the end of it, to be hooked on to the Iron rod
above.
By these means the patient is enabled to walk about, backwards and forwards, from
one end of the ground to the other, without the least danger of falling down. In
Lunatic Asylums, this plan would be infinitely better, and more soothing to a violent
madman, than confining him in the prison-like "Padded room."
In Hospitals, and Infirmaries, it might be applied to convalescents, too weak to be
left to walk about without support.
: 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
(1st) (While in Bed) the Belt or stays, with the loops, and the cord or strong tape
to be passed through the loops.
(2nd) (During the day) the Iron rod, or wooden pole, with the pillars to support
it, and the strap round the body of the patient, and the hook attached to the
same.