Specification of Richard Archibald Brooman : abdominal supporters.

  • Brooman, Richard Archibald.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Richard Archibald Brooman : abdominal supporters. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Broomans Improvements in Abdominal Supporters. calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear. NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Richard Archibald Broom an, hereby declare the nature of the Invention 5 communicated to me as aforesaid, and in what manner the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascertained in and by the present Specifi¬ cation thereof, reference being had to the Drawings annexed, that is to say:— Figure 1 is a perspective view of an abdominal supporter, constructed ]0 according to the said Invention. Figure II. is a view, showing the application of the pads to the back of the subject. Figure III. is a view exhibiting the application of the front pad to the abdomen. Figures IV. and V. are explana¬ tory Diagrams. Figure V. is a view of a modification of the front pad by which the instrument is also made to act as a truss for the reduction and cure ] 5 of hernia or rupture. The chief defect of all instruments of this class hitherto in use has been that pressure has been made on the centre of the abdomen or linea alba; this is that membraneous support drawn nearly tight which extends from near the end of the sternum or breast bone downwards to the os-pubis. Pressure upon this membrane has been found in practice to drag it go downward, and thus to diminish the capacity of the chest, while a lifting and lateral pressure on the lower part of each side of the abdomen will materially aid in enlarging the chest. It has also been extremely desirable to avoid any pressure on the spine, as this induces diseases of that column, or on the curva¬ ture of the ribs, as thus they would be forced inwards on the large organs of <25 the trunk, and produce effects which may be daily witnessed from the use of improper instruments, or on the os-sacrum, or the suture between that and the os-illium, which would induce diseases of those parts. The improved construction is as follows :—The front pad (a) is about six or seven inches in length, and about four in depth. Its upper edge is nearly 30 straight, its lateral edges are inclined inwards and downwards, following the course of the groin, thence turning towards the centre, they cover the abdominal rings, and thence rise in an arched form, so that at the centre of the lower side the pad passes over the os-pubis, which it covers like a yoke. It is made of a strong plate of suitable metal properly padded and covered. To 35 each end of this pad there is attached an arm (b, b1,) which rises upward and outward upon the body passing over the os-illium, and around the lower part of the waist to the back, thence descending (as shown in Figure II.) down¬ ward and inward to a distance, making the length of the arm to that point, if