Dr. Clark's Spinal Apparatus
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
September 3, 2019 8:35pm CST
This device looks pretty scary to me.
A strap is placed under the chin to hold the user's head up. There are hoops for the patient to place their arms through. Their wrists are then cuffed onto the arms of the chair. The device itself looks like an old baby carriage or pram.
There looks to be a spring above the head that is possibly meant to allow natural movement of the head.
This is one of the first wheelchair's on the market. While I think this was an okay idea, there doesn't seem to be anything to stabilize the legs. I believe this was made more for spinal issues than for any other issue.
Dr Clark's Spinal Apparatus, 1878. Source on picture itself.
3 people like this
3 responses
@RasmaSandra (97912)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Sep 19
I don't like to look at books like that but in those days they had to do the best they possibly could.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
4 Sep 19
Some of their inventions were very clever, even if they weren't all that practical.
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
4 Sep 19
Slightly scary looking, but yes pretty awesome.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
4 Sep 19
@Zelmarq A standing chair prison, yes. I can imagine it would be very uncomfortable for the neck after awhile.
@Letranknight2015 (52665)
• Philippines
4 Sep 19
You really admire those people and their inventions, way pass it's time if only it was modified by modern medicine.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
4 Sep 19
I think they did pretty well for their time. Modern science has definitely prevailed though.
