Specification of Henry Newson : trusses.

  • Newson, Henry.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Henry Newson : trusses. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Newsons Improvements in Trusses. japanned, varnished, plated, or in any other manner protected from rust or injury. By constructing a truss in the way which I have described for a person afflicted with inguinal or femoral hernia I am enabled to make the spring pass 5 round the side of the body opposite to the ruptured side, and so obtain such a length of spring as to make the action of the instrument easy and comfortable to the wearer, and in a great majority of cases, at least, I am also enabled in making such trusses to dispense with the application of any band or cord to retain them in their places. This mode of Constructing my trusses also 10 enables me in making a truss for a case of hernia of the description I have just mentioned, and some others, to make each leg of the spring of the same length or nearly so, and thus to cause the pad or disk which is to be worn on. the back to sustain the counterpressure to be placed upon a part of the back which is immediately behind or opposite to although a little higher up than the 15 place at which the front pad or disk presses upon the part of the body to be supported, or nearly so, for the purpose of causing the pressure applied to the part to be supported or protected to be given in the proper direction. In every case in which a pad is to be applied to the back I take care, if prac¬ ticable, to place the pad upon a part a little to one side of the spine, so as to SO prevent the injurious effects which might be produced by a pressure upon that part of the body. In making the spring of a truss to fit any particular part of the body it is most important to bend it into such a form as to cause it to lie as close to the body as conveniently may be without impeding the action of the spring, and, 25 as far as practicable, to cause the spring to pass round such part of the body as will not only enable the wearer to have the benefit of the free and easy action of a long spring, but it will also enable the wearer to dispense with the application of any band or cord for keeping the truss in its place. It is also most important to bear in mind, that the leg of the spring, to one end of which 30 is attached the pad or disk to be applied to the part to be supported, should be bent in such a way that that leg, or the greater part of it at least, may be free from any pressure against the body which can impede the action of the spring upon the pad or disk. Although I believe that in a vast majority of cases, my trusses will not need bands, straps, or cords to keep them in their places, 35 yet if such bands, straps, or cords should in any cases be found to be con¬ venient or necessary, they may be attached to them at the backs of the pads or disks, or in any other convenient way, and in like manner as such bands, straps, or cords are usually attached to trusses worn for the same or similar purposes.