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Merlin's 'invalid or gouty chair' and the origin of the self-propelled wheelchair
Abstract
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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... The history of mobility devices stretches back thousands of years, as evidenced by artifacts such as a crutch-like stick buried with an Egyptian mummy from the 25th Dynasty (744-656 BC), 14 a cane held by an Italian Franciscan friar in a 16th century wooden painting, 15 and the first wheelchair appeared in an ancient Chinese stone engraving dated AD 525. 16 The first selfpropelled wheelchair was developed in Italy in the mid-15th century, but it was not until 1814 that John Joseph Merlin (1735-1803) designed the prototype of the modern wheelchair used today. 16 In the mid-20th century, driven by ongoing wars, polio epidemics, and the aftermath of the Thalidomide tragedy, engineering research and development of mobility devices flourished, with increased attention on power wheelchairs. ...
... 16 The first selfpropelled wheelchair was developed in Italy in the mid-15th century, but it was not until 1814 that John Joseph Merlin (1735-1803) designed the prototype of the modern wheelchair used today. 16 In the mid-20th century, driven by ongoing wars, polio epidemics, and the aftermath of the Thalidomide tragedy, engineering research and development of mobility devices flourished, with increased attention on power wheelchairs. 17 Today, research on mobility devices has broken new ground, with new designs of exoskeletons 18 and new technologies for wheelchair control and monitoring, such as brain-computer interfaces 19 and route navigation. ...
Mobility devices are crucial in enhancing activities and participation for individuals with mobility disability, particularly among the rapidly expanding population of older adults worldwide. This paper explores patterns of mobility device use among a nationally representative cohort of community‐dwelling older adults in the United States, using data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS) waves 1–9 (2011–2019). Our descriptive analysis focuses on the characteristics of incident mobility device use, its influencing factors, and related user experiences, aligning with the NHATS late‐life disability framework. Mobility devices were categorized into walking aids (WAs), wheeled and seated mobility devices (WSMDs), and mixed use of both. We identified 2,943 incidents of mobility device use among 2,591 participants, spanning 47,722 person‐years in community settings, yielding an incidence rate of 61.7 per 1,000 person‐years. Over half (51.3%) of mobility device use ended in 1 year, with WAs being the predominantly used (63.8%). About one‐third (30.5%) of these incidents involved a change in device combinations, with a notable shift towards WSMDs and mixed use over time. We found that older adults using WSMDs or changing their device combinations were in a more vulnerable state, while those using mixed devices or changing their device combinations experienced poorer user experiences. This study advocates for the implementation of rental and recycling programs, the involvement of NGOs and professional associations, and the adoption of flexible policies responding to the dynamic patterns of mobility device use among community‐dwelling older adults. It also recommends expanding services to better serve vulnerable subgroups.
Purpose
– -- The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography including a brief history but with the focus on its electronic format.
Design/methodology/approach
-- A historical account of the forerunner publication is provided, followed by consideration of the content of the new electronic version in contrast to that provided in the earlier print editions. There is also consideration of the structure of the work, with a look at the “added value” features provided. Illustrative examples are used throughout.
Findings
-- The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography continues to provide comprehensive coverage of notable British figures and is easy to navigate and use in its electronic version. Most significantly, it remains an essential resource for libraries, especially in the UK.
Originality/value
-- There have been many reviews of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, but this is one of the few to have been published in recent years providing an overview with a focus on the advantages of the electronic version. For information professionals it offers a useful summary of the main features of this resource and a reminder of its continuing value as a biographical information tool.
Georges Couthon; History of medicine; French Revolution; Paraplegia; Rehabilitation
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