In 1948, an African American nurse and physical therapist invented a device that allowed her patients to feed themselves. Her invention paved the way for modern feeding tubes.
Bessie Virginia Blount, also known as Bessie Blount Griffin, was an American nurse, physical therapist, inventor, handwriting expert and possibly the first Black woman to train at Scotland Yard’s Document Division.
In the 1940s, she who worked with World War II veterans in New York City’s Bronx Hospital (now part of BronxCare Health System), where she taught veterans with amputations to read and write with their teeth and feet.
It was during this work that Bount invented a device that her patients could use to feed themselves.
Blount’s invention involved a tube that delivered food to a person’s mouth whenever he or she bit down on it.
She patented part of the design in 1948, then gifted the rights to the invention over to the French government in 1951.
It was on the advice of a religious leader as the U.S. government hadn’t shown much interest in the device.
Her invention paved the way for modern feeding tubes, which can be inserted into a person’s nose or stomach if the user can’t ingest food orally.
After patenting the feeding tube, Blount continued to invent and went on to become a forensic handwriting analyst.
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American
women are the heart of America. They know how to solve problems, juggle
responsibilities, and remain adamant, fearless, courageous and caring
for 400 years (1607-2024)
America has been the benefactor of the love and courage of women since the day they stepped into the New World we now call America.
Women are problem-solvers both in and out of the home. That’s likely why many life-changing inventions and discoveries point to an American woman. They’ve given us solid leaders and inventions that transformed life, faith, family and the American Dream.
How important women are to the success of our great country.
Women are the heart of America, and America owes her women the same.
Source: History.com and the public domain///
American
women are the heart of America. They know how to solve problems, juggle
responsibilities, and remain adamant, fearless, courageous and caring
for 400 years (1607-2024) America has been the benefactor of the love and courage of women since the day they stepped into the New World we now call America.
Women are problem-solvers both in and out of the home. That’s likely why many life-changing inventions and discoveries point to an American woman. They’ve given us solid leaders and inventions that transformed life, faith, family and the American Dream.
How important women are to the success of our great country.
Women are the heart of America, and America owes her women the same.
Source: History.com and the public domain///