Specification of Joseph Amesbury : apparatus for the relief or correction of disorders of the human spine, chest, or limbs.

  • Joseph Amesbury
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Joseph Amesbury : apparatus for the relief or correction of disorders of the human spine, chest, or limbs. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Amesbmys Apparatus for Relieving Weakness, $c. of the Spine, Cte£, $c. intention of the operator and condition of the patient. The inclined plane above described, with its cushions, pulleys, lines, weights, &c., is used to assist in removing unnatural curvatures in the spine, both during exercise and rest. It can be used to produce extension or traction upon the spine, either when 5 the body is in exercise or when it is at rest in the manner already mentioned, and while it is operating upon the spine it also has a tendency, in cases where . the chest is likewise deformed, to separate the ribs which are lying too close together, and to bring those ribs which are too far separated nearer together, which last-mentioned effects are aided by the occasional use of weight 10 judiciously employed according to the state of the deformity and the part in which it exists, and having respect also to the physical strength of the patient. These effects are also to be further aided by the hands of the operator, which may be made to act upon parts where more mechanical forces cannot be brought safely into action. When the patient is exercising upon the plane the 15 muscles or moving powers of the body are brought into action, but especially the muscles of the trunk and neck, the exercise being performed in that position most favorable for strengthening the muscles of the back and of the back of the neck, and also for diminishing the curvatures by traction, not exceeding what the parts are able to bear without injury, whilst the body is so 20 placed that the superincumbent weight is removed from the spine. However advantageous the means above described are found to be, they are nevertheless inadequate to enable the surgeon to combat with the different varieties of these very complicated cases. It is not only desirable that the distorted parts should be brought into their natural positions, but it is also most important 25 that they should be retained in those positions in whatever posture the body may be placed. If this be not accomplished, the bones will be either prevented from acquiring their natural bearings one upon another, which happens when the body is kept in the horizontal posture, or they will be thrust out of place by the superincumbent weight. To provide for these difficulties, and to 30 enable the patient to take exercise upon the feet without retarding his re¬ covery, I make use of the following portable apparatus, which completely answers these purposes, and also places the bones of the trunk very much under the command of the surgeon, and thereby enables him to carry on the curative measures in whatever posture the body might be placed, and 35 whether the person be exercising on the plane, or in the open air, or elsewhere. This portable curative apparatus consists of two plates or standards of hard¬ ened and tempered steel, inflexible sideways, but capable of yielding in back and front to the motions of the body of the patient. Ihese plates or standards may be also composed of two or more pieces variously bent and connected to
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