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Mrs French Sheldon’s palanquin Wood engraving 1891 L0023277 Wellcome Images
Produced for an explorer rather than a patient, this custom-made cane and bamboo covered litter was designed by Henry Wellcome for May French Sheldon’s expedition to Africa.
Wheel-chair maker
The invention of the bath chair at the end of the eighteenth century is attributed to John Dawson, who described himself as a ‘wheel-chair’ maker. Designed to carry patients to the therapeutic waters in Bath, the wheeled-chair could be steered by its occupant, but still required an attendant to push it.
‘Warm trolleys’ for transporting persons saved from drowning Engraving from Observations on Apparent Death from Drowning, 1815