“…2 Merlin’s chair was designed for use by the elderly or the infirm and incorporated hand–cranks, wheels with gears and an adjustable back and footrest. According to Kirby:his gouty chair is certainly a masterpiece, it is easily and readily convertible into a sofa, an easy chair and by the addition of two small iron handles easily put upon the elbow, the patient can run the vehicle anywhere at pleasure … 11 Figure 8.Merlin’s large wheel chair, the ancestor of the modern hospital wheelchair, 1814. Wellcome Museum for the History of Medicine.…”
Section: John Joseph Merlin (1735–1803) and His Invalid Wheelchair (Figures 1 2 And 8)mentioning
Wheelchairs are a major advance in enabling independence for people with walking difficulties. The first self-propelled wheelchair has been attributed to John Joseph Merlin, the 'ingenious mechanick', in the early 19th century and his 'gouty chair' is exhibited at Kenwood House. Research would suggest that comparable chairs existed in France as early as 1751 and the French Revolutionary, Georges Couthon, used one to get around Paris. A later design, also attributed to Merlin, the invalid wheelchair, features large wheels with outer hoops for the occupant to grasp and this is the true ancestor of the modern wheelchair.
“…2 Merlin’s chair was designed for use by the elderly or the infirm and incorporated hand–cranks, wheels with gears and an adjustable back and footrest. According to Kirby:his gouty chair is certainly a masterpiece, it is easily and readily convertible into a sofa, an easy chair and by the addition of two small iron handles easily put upon the elbow, the patient can run the vehicle anywhere at pleasure … 11 Figure 8.Merlin’s large wheel chair, the ancestor of the modern hospital wheelchair, 1814. Wellcome Museum for the History of Medicine.…”
Section: John Joseph Merlin (1735–1803) and His Invalid Wheelchair (Figures 1 2 And 8)mentioning
Wheelchairs are a major advance in enabling independence for people with walking difficulties. The first self-propelled wheelchair has been attributed to John Joseph Merlin, the 'ingenious mechanick', in the early 19th century and his 'gouty chair' is exhibited at Kenwood House. Research would suggest that comparable chairs existed in France as early as 1751 and the French Revolutionary, Georges Couthon, used one to get around Paris. A later design, also attributed to Merlin, the invalid wheelchair, features large wheels with outer hoops for the occupant to grasp and this is the true ancestor of the modern wheelchair.
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