Specification of Alfred Markwick : manufacture of epithems for medical and surgical purposes.

  • Markwick, Alfred, 1822?-1881.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Alfred Markwick : manufacture of epithems for medical and surgical purposes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/6 (page 3)
    Markwide s Improvements in the Manufacture of JEpithems. rendered impermeable, as before explained when using sponge without fibres. Or, in place of the porous preparations above explained, fibrous matters alone be used, in which case wool or other felting fibres are employed either alone or in combination with non-felting fibres, such as cotton, silk waste, or others, 5 so that the non-felting matters will not be too much for the felting ones, as is well understood. The object is to get a surface slightly matted or felted together which shall be as porous and open as possible, and to this product I apply a surface of india rubber, gutta percha, or other impermeable matter, as above explained, and portions of such fabrics so prepared in sheets (having the 10 one side porous, and the other side impermeable to fluid) are to be cut out, and by strings or bandages of any required size and shape, they are to be attached to the part of the body to be treated, the epithems so made being first charged with lotion or other fluid or matter, according to the requirement of the particular case. In some cases only warmth is required to be obtained 15 in a particular locality, such for instance as the chest, in which cases the use of fibres with an impermeable surface, as above explained, may be resorted to, and then, if not for temporary use, I prefer to cover the back of the epithem w ith silk or other such fabric, and in those cases where it is desired that the epithem so manufactured should be permeable to the perspiration of the body, 20 then I puncture the same with numerous holes ; and perforated epithems are also useful in cases where the lotions or liquids used are required to evaporate freely. Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I would wish it to be understood that I do 25 not confine myself to the details herein described, so long as the peculiar character of the Invention be retained. But what I claim is,— First, the mode of manufacturing epithems by employing sponge with suitable impermeable back surface, as herein described. Secondly, I claim the mode of manufacturing epithems by employing 30 sponge combined with fibrous materials, with suitable impermeable back surface, as herein described. And, Thirdly, I claim the mode of manufacturing epithems, by employing fibrous materials, so as to produce a porous surface with suitable impermeable back surface, as above described. 35 In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Markwick, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-six. ALFRED (l.s.) MARKWICK.