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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    1Salbirnie’s Improved Inhaling Apparatus. the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:— This Invention relates to a new or improved construction of apparatus applicable for the purpose of inhaling vapours, medicated air, or gases 5 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, as well as for the purpose of introducing into the circulation and tissues of the body medicines for the cure of other diseases, in cases especially where it 10 is an object to save the stomach the imitation drugs often tend to produce. The apparatus consists of a jar or other vessel provided with one or more necks or outlets and inlets through which water and the medicated material are inserted, which are required to be inhaled in the form of 15- vapour, as well as connecting tubes inside and outside through which 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 outside with 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 a 20 force pump, or with one or more compressible balls, vessels, or reservoirs, which when worked or compressed force air through the water contained in the jar or vessel, continuing to a mouth piece or outlet, whereby the vapour may be inhaled directly either with or without the contact of the mouth of the patient, or whereby the vapour may be caused to permeate 25 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, ox gases, and this without the necessity of any laboured inspiratory effort on his part, which is the drawback to all other inhaling instruments. In conjunction with or in addition 30 to the bellows, or the force pump, or the collapsible 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 equivalent means, in which retort the medicated preparations are placed and the vapour therefrom 35 generated as well as steam, if necessary, which is then forced through