Specification of Pierre Jacques Ferier : vapour and hot-air baths.

  • Ferier, Pierre Jacques.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Pierre Jacques Ferier : vapour and hot-air baths. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Feriers Improvements in the Construction of Vapour and Hot-air Baths. envelope tlie whole apparatus as well as the body of the patient. The vapoui which is generated in the annular space F, F, passes through the holes d into the interior of the tube 3, 3, and thence up through the pipe H (the throttle valve i being kept open) into the ball /, whence it is distributed by the pipes K, K, upon the parts of the body to which those pipes are directed. The 5 same passage H and pipes K, K, serve as the chimney and passages to carry off the heated air rising up from the flue G, G, G, so that the heated air mixes and escapes with the vapour, and thus contributes to keep up the temperature of such vapour after it has quitted the generation F, independently of the effect of such heated air upon the heating surfaces of the said generator. A 10 part of the vapour generated in the generator will pass away through the pipe 0 into the perforated footstool M, and rise up through the holes e9 so as to envelope and bathe the feet of the patient; and a portion of such vapour so introduced into the footstool will ascend through the pipe P, which may be directed by the patient, so as to pour the stream of vapour issuing there- 15 from upon any part of his legs; the pipe P also has the effect of carrying off the hot vapour from the footstool M fast enough to prevent the said footstool from acquiring and giving out to the feet of the patient too great a heat. It must be observed that although the pipes K, K, and P are fitted on their respective nozzles closely, they are not fastened thereto, but are 20 fitted so that they can be turned round freely thereon, in order to give the patient the power of governing the direction of the flow of vapour therefrom. The nozzle l is not in general intended to be used in the apparatus when it is applied in the manner above described, and is therefore shewn in the Drawing covered by a cap ; but, if necessary, a third tube such as K may be fitted on 25 the nozzle l to apply a third stream of vapour to the body of the patient. The throttle valve i gives to a certain extent the means, if required, of regulating the quantity of vapour drawn off from the generator by the different distributing pipes, so as neither to allow the vapour to accumulate to too great a density in the generator, nor to be drawn off faster than it can be generated 30 by the quantity of heat applied. When the bath has been in operation long enough, the lamp is easily extinguished by shutting the throttle valve entirely, for then the vapour formed, having no other exit, rushes down through the flue G upon the flame of the lamp and extinguishes it. The shape and length of the pipes K aie (as shewn by the Figures) such as that their curved ends 35 all project out beyond the edges of the seat of a chair and turn upwards in a direction towards the sides of the body of the person sitting on such chair. e .nape of the bottom of the generator F should be, in order to obtain the