1851 Great Exhibition: Official Catalogue: Class X.: Charles Toogood Downing
634. DOWNING, CHARLES TOOGOOD, M. D., 42 Great Russell Street — Inventor.
The aneuralgicon, an apparatus used for the application of warm medicated vapour, in the treatment of tic donloureux, and other neuralgic affections.
The aneuralgicon is extremely simple in construction, and consists, essentially, of three parts: a cylinder, for igniting the vegetable matter; bellows, for maintaining a current of air through the burning material; and tubes and cones fur directing the stream of vapour.
The cylinder is a silver vessel, of a cylindrical shape, about two inches in length, and one inch in diameter. It has a metallic plate at the lower part, perforated with many holes, on which the burning materials lie. Beneath this is an opening for the admission of air, and a socket into which an ivory handle is made to screw. The dome- shaped lid fitting accurately to the top of the vessel, allows the vapour to escape through an orifice and tube at the summit.
The bellows consist of two plates of mahogany, of an oval shape, and about eight or nine inches in length. These are joined together by thin leather, maintained in its proper position by ribs at suitable distances. A strong spring is fixed in the interior, to keep the plates apart, and react against the pressure of the hand. A socket to hold the ivory handle of the cylinder is fixed upon the upper plate. In order to apply the vapour the cones are attached to the cylinder. For different parts of the body cones of various sizes have been constructed. These are tubes shaped like extinguishers, covered with leather, and lined with sheet lead. By this arrangement they retain the shape given them by the hand.
[This apparatus consists of a receptacle for medicinal substances which are kindled, and an air bellows which impels a stream of air through the mass into a tube, by which it is directed upon the painful part. It has been said to give relief in the cases mentioned.—R. E.]