- OFRTAYLOR. APPARATUS FOR REDUCING SPINAL GURVATURB S. No. 32,015. i Patented Apr. 9, 1861.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

CHARLES F. TAYLOR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS FOR REDUCING SPINAL CURVATURE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 32,015, dated April 9, 1861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. TAYLOR, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented cer tain Improvements in Apparatus for Reducing Spinal curvatures, the construction and operation of which I have described in the following specification and illustrated in its accompanying drawings with suflicient clearness to enable competent and skilful workmen in the arts to which it pertains or is most nearly allied to make and use my invention.

My said invention consists in a device by which the weight of the body may be supported by the hands upon two points of support the relative heights of which may be gradually changed, while at the same time the body is also supported laterally by a fixed bearing opposite to, and on the outside side of the curvature as hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a side elevation of the apparatus, the changed position of the parts being represented by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a plan of the handles on which the weight of the body is supported, this figure being designed to show the construction of this part of the apparatus more in detail. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, the side which is at the left hand in Fig. 1, being presented to the observer in Fig. 3.

In the construction of this apparatus, the grooved post 1 is permanently attached to the floor, and a jointed upright 2, which is fitted to slide in said post is provided with a pawl 3, which fits into notches in the post, and by which the elevation of the upright 2 can be regulated to suit the height of the patient. The construction and operation of this pawl are very clearly illustrated in the drawings, and do not require extended de scription. The upright 2 is jointed at 4 by a hinge which allows the top to be drawn over as shown in dotted lines, it being usually kept in the upright position by the spring 5.

The pad 6 is placed above the joint at 4 to support the side and back of the patient, and opposite the curvature, and a sort of bracket shown in detail in Fig. 2, and provided with handles 7, and 8, furnishes the means to enable the patient to suspend himself by his hands, this bracket being capable of adjustment to suit the height of the person by means of the notches in the upright as shown in the drawings. The cord or strap 9, is attached to the top of the upright, and with the pedal 10, furnishes the means of drawing the upper part of the upright into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. l. The elevation of the hands of the patient when taking hold of the handles is nearly or quite equal, the parts being in a normal position, and as the parts are forced into the position shown in dotted lines, by the at tendant applying pressure upon the pedal 10, the hand farthest from the upright is made to occupy a higher position than the other. This position is very well illustrated in the drawings by dotted lines, the position of the person being also shown and the action on the curvature indicated. By this means, a lateral flexion of the spine is secured so as to open the joints in the hollow side-of the curvature, the side of the person corresponding with the outer side of the curvature being placed against the pad 6, which is placed at such an elevation as to come opposite the curve. This pad is also reversably attached to the upright to allow it to be turned around to give support to the back when the other side of the patient is from the nature of the case placed next the apparatus. The effect thus produced upon the spinal column is very powerful and efficient in its results.

Having thus fully described my said invention I claim- The combination of the vibrating upright or support 2, pad 6, and handles 7, and 8, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.

CHAS. F. TAYLOR. Witnesses:

THOS. P. How, WM. H. RIBLET.