US14440A - Heunial truss - Google Patents

Description

' ICE.

JOHN BROILES, OF NEW MARKET, ALABAMA.-

I-IERNIAL TRUSS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 14,440, dated March 18, 1856.

To ail whom fit may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN BRoILEs, of the county of Madison, in the State of Alabama, have invented a new Improvement to prevent the bowels from descending through the inguinal or crural canals, or, in other words, for the relief of inguinal or crural hernia; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and eXact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in the peculiar form of the block of wood, together with the preparation of the steel ribbon to which said block of wood is fastened,

both of which peculiarities combined, most effectually prevents the entrance of the bowels or omentum into the inguinal crural canals, without producing painful pressure, or in the least incommoding the patient to whom it may be applied, but on the contrary said truss can be worn constantly, day and night, of which I am a witness, having worn one for eighteen months, being afiicted with inguinal hernia for thirteen years, and having tried and used many trusses, I could find none that gave me relief until compelled by necessity invented the one now under consideration, which truss has never been off my body since it was put on, a period of eighteen months; I can lift heavy lifts, chop with an aXe, ma-ul rails, or do any work necessary on the farm, or swim with it on in water, with perfect ease and comfort to myself; I will further state that I am but a plain farmer.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I take a piece of steel and draw it out on the anvil in lengths Varying from eight to twenty one inches to suit the size of the patients body, three eighths of an inch wide, and one sixteenth of an inch thick, at both ends of the steel ribbon, which is hammered wider, a hole is punched, one to t a screw, and the other a leather strop. The steel ribbon is then heated to a uniform red heat and bent on the horn of the anvil in a half circle about one third its length, the ends not being parallel. The steel is again heated to a uniform red heat, and seized with tongs at each end, the left hand seizing the end not bent, and holding it perfectly steady in one position, while the right hand seizes the other, or bent end, twists the steel toward the body of the operator. This is to fit the right side of the body, for the left side the steel is seized and held in the same position as above described, but the right hand is carried from the body of the operator. The steel thus bent and twisted is again heated to a uniform red heat and the lower edge is flared out to lit the body, the block end or circle end, which is the shortest, is flared out on its upper edge for about two inches, the strop or straight end is slightly curved upward on its edge to adapt itself to the superior portion of the sacrum, while the block end is curved downward and outward on its upper edge, so that it may accurately fit the surface of the abdomen, and when adjusted is securely fixed by the strap and buckle. The steel ribbon in this situation is again heated to a uniform red heat and covered up in charcoal dust, where it is suffered to remain until perfectly cool. The steel ribbon is now let into a piece of wood of peculiar form and securely screwed on. This piece of wood is pear shaped, with a slice taken ofl:l commencing at the outer edge of the base or large end and continued to about two thirds its length to the small or stem end forming a broad plane surface which is applied next to the body of the patient. The steel ribbon is more fully secured to the block of wood by being wrapped with wire. The whole surface of th-e block is -then covered with thin sheet lead, about one inch from the small end of the block, an on its outed or conveX surface a small metallic button nail is secured to which the strap from the other end of the steel is either buttoned or buckled, the steel ribbon is then filed I smooth and its edges rounded, it is then covered all over with soft leather its whole distance.

The operation of this trussis as follows: IVhen made to suit the size of the patient, it is adjusted by first returning the bowels or omentum into the abdomen, seeing that the canals are perfectly free from intestines. The block end is then accurately placed over the canal, its lower edge reaching to the end of the hernial sack, and the strap being brought around the body and buttoned or buckled to the bottom placed on the block. If it fits too tight seize the block with the hand and bend out; if too loose press the block in, as there is no temcombination with a pear shaped pad having a slice taken off commencing at the outer Vhat I claim as my invention, and deedge of the base and continued to about two sire to secure by Letters Patent, sthirds its length toward the seam, thus l5 per in the steel, this can be easily done, and l 5 The peculiar adaptation of the steel rib- I forming' a broad plane surface, to be apwhen so placed it will remain permanent-1y.

bon to the body of the patient by making plied to the body of the patient. its lower edO'e flared out t-he block or circle end ared otut on its up7per edge for about JOHN BROILES' two inches, the strap end slightly curved /Vit-nesses: 10 upward, and the block end curved down- M. K. TAYLOR, f

ward, and outward on its upper edge, in WV. B. TABER.

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