Specification of John Sullivan : apparatus for administering pills.

  • Sullivan, John.
Date:
1872
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Specification of John Sullivan : apparatus for administering pills. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Provisional Sullivan's Improvements in Apparatus for Administering Pills. The nature of this Invention relates to a device having for its object an easy and certain administration of pills to the patient, and it consists in the novel and peculiar construction of the same, which I will now proceed to describe. In the Drawing A represents a vessel provided with a handle B and 5 spout C, in the general form of a teapot, but much smaller in size. The spout is flatted towards its extremity, to which is soldered, if it be made of metal, a downwardly inclined nozzle D, the shorter diameter of which should not exceed four-twentieths of an inch, for reasons which will be presently explained. To the end of the nozzle a horizontal 10 mouth piece E is secured, which is intersected at the top near the nozzle by an inclined pill chute E. The difficulty of administering pills and powders to all children and very many adults is well known, to overcome which is the object of this Invention, which is used in the following manner:—The vessel is 15 partially filled with tea, milk, or other palatable fluid. The attendant, taking it by the handle in one hand, with the pill in the other, presents the mouth piece to the mouth of the patient, tilts the vessel so that the patient can drink the fluid, dropping the pill down the chute, which is immediately swallowed by the patient with the fluid. If several pills 20 are to be given they should be dropped in the chute at intervals, so that a swallow of the fluid may intervene, thus rendering their administration certain and without the knowledge of the patient. Powders may be given in like manner; nauseous powders may be made into pills and given as before described. 25 The object in flattening the mouth of the nozzle to the diameter given, is that it shall form a trap so that the pill cannot accidentally pass into the vessel. A perforated strainer in the nozzle might accomplish the same purpose, but it would diminish the flow of the fluid and impair the efficiency of the device. A strainer may be placed at the bottom of 30 the spout, as shewn, to prevent tea leaves, &c., from passing out. This device may be made of any kind of metal, glass, china, earthen¬ ware, or of any other suitable material, and may be varied in form to suit the taste.