Specification of John Balbirnie : inhaling apparatus.

  • John Balbirnie
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of John Balbirnie : inhaling apparatus. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Provisional Balbirnie’s Improved Inhaling Apparatus. air, or gases for the treatment of affections of the lungs, bronchial tubes, wind pipe, throat, nostrils, and mouth, or other affections of the respiratory mucous membrane caused by severity of climate or otherwise. The apparatus consists of a jar or other vessel provided with one or 5 more necks or utlets and inlets through which water and the medicated material are inserted, which are required to be inhaled in the form of vapour, as well as connecting tubes inside and outside through wdiich the air and vapours or gases find entrance and exit. The interior tubes may be of glass or any other suitable material connected on the out- 10 side wTith the india-rubber tube or tubes of any other suitable flexible material. The entrance tube is provided with either a common pair of bellows or with one or more compressible balls, vessels, or reservoirs, which when compressed force air through the water contained in the jar or vessel continuing to a mouth piece or outlet, whereby the vapour may 15 he inhaled directly either with or without the contact of the mouth of the patient, or whereby the vapour may be caused to permeate the room of a patient or surround his couch, chair, or bed. In any case the effect of the instrument is to relieve the patient, to fill his lungs with the vapour, medicated air, or gases, and this without the necessity of any 20 labored inspiratory effort on his part, which is the drawback to all other inhaling instruments. In conjunction with or in addition to the col¬ lapsible or compressible flexible balls which cause the propulsion of air through the water in the vessel I propose in certain cases to apply a tube in communication with a retort heated by a spirit lamp or other 25 equivalent means, in which retort the medicated preparations are placed and the vapour therefrom generated as well as steam, if necessary, which is then forced through the water (previously medicated or not, as may be desirable). The water in the jar or vessel is to be about half filled, the temperature varying from boiling downwards ; and in order to retain or 30 preserve the temperature the vessel may be placed or immersed in a basin of hot or boiling water. By these improved arrangements it is obvious that immense advantages will accrue to the patient since perfect inhalation may be effected where the patient is not strong enough to draw the vapour or medicated air or steam by inhaling with the common 35 inhalers ; or it may be used to disseminate the vapours in the vicinity of the patient by extraneous aid; and moreover a tube may be conveyed