Specification of George Dewdney : protector for the chest, throat, &c.

  • Dewdney, George.
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of George Dewdney : protector for the chest, throat, &c. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    5/8 (page 3)
    Dewdney's Improved Protector for the Chest, Throat, fc. from Cold. The object of this Invention is to provide a means of generating local heat at such parts of the body as are specially susceptible of cold, and thereby to prevent or remove the tendency to bronchitis, soreness of the chest, lumbago, and other like affections. For this purpose I construct protectors, by connecting 5 together two, three, or more layers of silk in such a manner as will permit of their sliding or slipping over each other when worn by the patient, and thus of generating and maintaining a gentle heat, which will be communicated to the part of the body covered by the protector. In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn two forms of protector, which 10 will suffice to explain the modifications of which my Invention is susceptible. Fig. 1 represents a lady’s chest protector, constructed to be worn with a low dress; and Fig. 2 represents it as applied to the person. It consists of a base <z, a, of stout silk, provided with armlets for keeping it in position when worn. Overlying this base a are several layers of silk b, which are temporarily 15 attached thereto by means of buttons and button-holes, or they may be sewn thereto, if thought desirable, by a row of stitches running along their upper edge. The advantage of the temporary attachment is, that the thickness of the protector may be varied at pleasure; and thus, when no longer required for sanatory use, the protector, instead of being suddenly thrown aside (which 20 might subject the patient to a renewed attack of cold), may be removed layer by layer at different and distant periods, by which means the diminution of local warmth will be rendered so gradual as to be scarcely, if at all, appreciable. The layers of silk b may be two, three, or more in number, according to requirement, and being free to slide over each other, as explained, the move- 25 ments of the wearer will give motion to the layers, and cause their surfaces to rub against each other, and thus create considerable frictional heat or electricity which will he imparted to the body. Fig. 3 represents a gentleman’s chest and throat protector. In this example the layers of silk b, b, are sewn to a band a, which passes round the neck of the 30 patient, and is secured by a button or otherwise. Above the band is a sort of frill c, composed of several thicknesses of silk, and intended to form a loose covering for the throat. The action of this protector will be the same as that first described. If thought desirable it may be made with detachable layers of silk b, and it also admits of being made without the addition of the frill c. 35 A covering simply for the throat may be made on the principle of attaching leaves or layers of silk loosely together; and so also may protectors, constructed and acting upon the principle above explained, be applied to the lumbar region, or other parts of the body which may require protection or additional