Improvements in Apparatus for Administering Medicated Vapour for the Cure of Lung and Throat Diseases.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Administering Medicated Vapour
for the Cure of Lung and Throat Diseases.
A communication by JOHN NIXON, M.D., of Farmland, in the County of
Randolph and State of Indiana, United States of America, Physician.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street,, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for administering medicated
vapour for the cure of lung and throat diseases.
The object of the improvement is to provide, for the treatment of lung and
throat diseases, an apparatus by the means of which the patient may be surrounded
with, and compelled to breathe, a medicated atmosphere, the quality and pressure
of which may be under the control of the operator.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention; in which :-
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the apparatus ;
Figure 2 represents a vertical section of the vapour chamber; and
Figure 3 represents a vertical section of the vapour-generator and its
connections.
In these drawings—
A, represents an enclosed structure forming the vapour-chamber and having
one open side for the entrance of the patient, which open side is closed by a
removable door (not shown) during the treatment, so as to form a practically
air-tight room in which the patient is enclosed.
Arranged a short distance below the top of chamber A is a horizontal
partition B. Resting upon partition B and projecting through the top of
chamber A is a metallic vessel C, which is filled with prepared wool D or like
absorbent material; the purpose being to hold a liquid medicine in such form as
to be conveniently vaporised.
Extending from vessel C in the space between partition B and the top of the
chamber, is a series of pipes E, which project through partition B and downward
along the interior sides of the chamber; said projecting pipes being perforated so
as to discharge into the chamber.
The open ends of pipes E, on each side respectively, enter a drip-pipe F,
by means of which any fluids formed therein may be collected in cups G G.
Arranged at one side of chamber A is a boiler H, the upper part of which is
connected with vessel C by means of the steam-pipe I, which is provided with a
stop-valve J and drip-cock L. Arranged on opposite sides of boiler H are a pair
of reservoirs M and N. Each reservoir is connected at the bottom with the
interior of the boiler by a pipe O, and is connected at the top with the steam-
pipe I by a pipe P; all of said pipes being provided with suitable stop-
valves.
Connected with chamber A by a pipe R is an air pump S, by means of which
the air in chamber A, when the chamber is closed, may be attenuated to any
desired degree.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows:-
Preparatory to placing the patient in the chamber A, boiler B is partly filled
with water, reservoirs M and N are filled, respectively, with different medicines, in

page_text: a liquid form, which it is desired to administer, either jointly or separately,
and the absorbent filling of vessel C is likewise saturated with liquid medicine.
Medicine is now admitted to the boiler from one or both of the reser-
voirs M and N, until the water in the boiler has been medicated to the desired
.degree.
Heat being applied to the boiler, the medicated water therein is vaporised
until a slight pressure has been attained. The patient is now placed in chamber A,
and the chamber closed. By means of the air-pump, the air is partly exhausted
from chamber A, thus compelling the patient to breathe deeply. Valve J is now
opened, and the vapour from boiler H passes to vessel C, where it is still further
charged with medicine, and then passes, through pipes E, to the interior of
chamber A, where it is distributed through the perforations in the sides of the
pipes E. An artificial atmosphere is thus created which penetrates to the farthest
recesses of the lungs, and applies the medicine directly to the diseased surfaces.
By means of reservoirs M and N, the boiler, and vessel C, a great variety of
'combinations of medicines may be used according to the varying conditions of the
patient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a medicated-vapour apparatus, the combination of the closed chamber, the
vessel mounted in the top of said chamber and provided with an absorbent filling,
the steam-supply pipe connected with said vessel, the distributing pipes extending
from said vessel beneath the top and along the sides of said chamber, and the
drip-pipe arranged to receive the ends of said distributing-pipes, all arranged to
co-operate substantially as set forth.
2. In a medicated-vapour apparatus, the combination of the closed chamber,
the boiler, the steam-pipe connecting said chamber and boiler, the pair of reser-
voirs arranged adjacent to said boiler, suitable pipes connecting the lower ends
of the reservoirs with the interior of the boiler, pipes connecting the upper
ends of the reservoirs with said steam-pipe, and suitable stop-valves arranged
in said pipes between the reservoirs and the boiler, and between the reservoirs
and the steam-pipe; all arranged to co-operate substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. In a medicated-vapour apparatus, the combination, with the closed chamber,
the air-pump connected therewith, the vessel mounted in the top of the chamber
provided with an absorbent filling, and connected with the interior of the chamber
by a series of distributing pipes, the steam-pipe connecting the boiler and said
vessel, the boiler, and the medicine-reservoirs connected with said boiler, all
arranged to co-operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 4th day of June 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.