Specification of Richard Edward Hodges and William Brockedon : surgical instruments.

  • Hodges, Richard Edward.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of Richard Edward Hodges and William Brockedon : surgical instruments. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Hodges JBrockedon s Improvements in Surgical Instruments. may be again readily withdrawn by first extending the india-rubber tube in length so as again to bring it to the condition, Figure 1. Figures 3 and 4 show another form of instrument suitable for a horse or other animal. In this instrument there are four tubes or it may be substances 5 of india-rubber, and the parts e and b in this case are joined together, and may have a passage through for drawing off fluid. The object of having four or more expanding parts of india-rubber is, that they may be extended in succession with comparatively little force, and this is desirable where the instrument is of large size. In using this instrument the parts are to be 10 brought into the position, Figure 3, and then introduced into the passage or orifice; the india-rubber is then to be allowed slowly to expand in succession, and when the instrument is to be withdrawn the india-rubber is to be caused to contract in diameter and extended in length. We would remark, in respect to this instrument, that its details may be varied so long as its peculiar 15 character be retained and india-rubber so used, 'that it shall be of small diameter when introduced into a passage or orifice, and expanded in diameter when within the passage or orifice. Another improvement consists in constructing and using instruments of india-rubber to plug up gun-shot and other wounds. The most convenient 20 form for these instruments is tubular, though solid plugs may be employed. For this purpose I prefer to use tubes of india-rubber with a short cord or string fixed to each end, and such as readily to enable a person to extend the india-rubber in length, and consequently to decrease the same in diameter. In using such an instrument, supposing there to be a gun-shot wound, the 25 string or cord at one end of the instrument would be first passed through, and then by pulling out the india-rubber in length it would be brought to such a diameter as readily to be drawn through the wound, when the india-rubber would be allowed to expand (by slackening the pull on the strings or cords) when it would most effectually plug the wound. 30 We will now describe the second part of our Invention, which consists of constructing instruments for assisting excretions by means of partially- exhausted receivers or vessels. Such vessels may be made of any material which can be fitted for the purpose, but that which we prefer is gutta percha, because it is firm enough to resist external pressure when subjected to the 35 degree of exhaustion necessary for effecting the object of the Invention, yet capable of being moulded to the form required so as to become air-tight, and yet fit against the person without painful pressure. When a convenient form as a recipient had been made, the aperture is to be applied to the patient, it having been previously immersed in warm water, by which it will have become