The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-05-03
aps-S&Wt
voLTAIC ARM DILLO.
That Wicked Theft.

W
the Cincinnati DAILY STAR. containing an ad-
vertisement which covers precisely half page
of that paper, and which emanates from the
Volta Belt Company" Of Cincinnati. 1t ap-
pears that the "Volta Belt Company" is trou-
bled because in our issue for January, 1876, we
characterized their shameless distortion OF an
editorial which we wrote in our number for
April, 1876, as "a Wicked Theft" and that
they now seek to escape the penalty
always attaching to unfair conduct, by de-
crying the standing and influence of the JOUR-
NAL OF HEALTH. We do not care to allude to
this Belt Company again, having already
stated in substance that we were compelled to
look with suspicion upon concern which
could so far subyert our meaning by the omis-
sion of important words when claiming to
quote our language, as to make us appear to
be bearing testimony to the value OF the appli-
ances which they manufacture. 1t matters
very little what opinion these beltpersons may
hold Of the JOURNAL; 1t is of great Importance
| to all right minded men that our utterances
should not be wrested from their plain intent,
and made to seemingly foster and sustain that
| to us utterly unknown quantity, the Volta Belt
| Company Of Cincinnati
| The trouble appears to be that when we
discussed the subject of electrical action and
| its application to diseased conditions, in our
| April, 1915, issue, we spoke some commenda-
l tory words Of the appliances made by Mr.. e. j.
Seibert, Of this city. These belts, and bands,
and shoe-soles we had used in several cases,
1 and from their use excellent results had fol-
lowed. We believe we were doing our readers
a real service in explaining the uses and ad-
vantages of these simple and inexpensive in
struments, at a time when, as never before,
the minds of the medical profession are active
| ly engaged in discussing the value Of the yari-
GUS methods of inducing the electrical phe-
nomena, and employing the power of this
subtle and mysterious agent in the healing
processes. We have examined scores OF
| electrical disks ana chains and belts from
/ Pulvermachers down. and we are bound to de-
clare that the same principle Is involved in all
4 of them. To claim that the chain of Pulver .
macher embe1ies any principle or exhibits any
power which SieDert's goods do not, is the
sneerest folly. In this view we are abundantiy
sustained by many medical writers. That able
medical publication, the New York Physician
/ and Pharmacist" in its issue OF November
Hast speaks as follows: "rhe Pulvermacher
chain, which has received the distinguished
Iapprobarion of Sir Charles Locock and other
n
gland, and, as the Armadillo per orms the
/ same functions and presents the same princi-
l pies, only in more convenient form. there il
no reason why it should not attain the same
| celebrity here"
/ So far as we have examined and tested tht
electric appliances OF many makers, we dis
cover no difference in power or In results
Seibert's goods have some advantages; they
| are of very convenient shape, are easily ap.
piled and comfortably worn, and are quits
reasonable in prfve We have seen a gooC
many sufferers from painful neuralgia aztec
tions and distressing nervous disorders, who
assert that these articles OF Seiberts-tO which
/ he has given the general name Of "Voltai,
i Armadillo'-have rendered signal and lasting
II service. Physicians innumerabie have EN-.
Iployed them and testify to their efficacy The,
II are probably as good as anything of the kline
Il can be, and will do all that ought to be ex
pected of such appliances.
These Cincinnati belt people take grea
pains, and occupy much space to show tina
Il when HALLS JOURNAL says p good woid TO
i Seibert's goods, it does it in spite of the ad
i verse opinions of writer's in the PoPULA Al
Il SCIENCE MONTHLY, and the PHILADELPHIA
lMEDlCAL AND SURGICAL REPORTER. Thi
4 might all be true, and yet we should not con
u slider it our duty to adopt the conclusions O
4 persons who have not, IL may be, given tn
L subject as careful investigation as It has re
aceiyed at our hands: We find in tn
i mission that the allusions to the Armadillo il
Il previous issue were made without any direc
4 knowledge OF the appliance. This is, of course
4 a complete retraction Of any previous criticism
4 upon the instruments. The article in tn
4 APHILADgLPHIA MEDICAL AND SURGICAL RE
1PORTEa was published IN the absence of til
\ editor, who had never even seen the "Arma
4 dillo." 1t was prepared by a party in the in
4 terest of a rival house. This was the statemen
II Of the editor of the REPORTER to another edito
il in New York. OF course, loose statements thu
II uttered will have little effect when weighe
II with mature judgment, based upon thou sht
Il full, intelligent and long continued investfga
Il ton.
i But this unhappiness on the part OF tho Gin
Il cinnati belt personages is matter OF no con
il cern to the public. Suffering humanity enl
il asks what it shall do to be saved from avoid
4 able pain, and it is very likely to accept tn
1 answer which may be vOuchsafed by the trie,
/ and reputable. We utter no s'puffs;" the Ian
Il guage oIfattery is a dead tongue to us. w,
i try to speak the truth, let it help or harm who
ever it will. And with the simpl
thought uppermost in our minds that Mr.. Sci
bert and his goods have been unjustly Mt
a tackled, and that what we were lmpelied to sal
In their behalf has been employed, after dis
tortion, to give credence and popularity to
II device of which we know nothing, we are i'm
PEELED to say that we have found the Voltai
Il Armadilloi a valuable appliance in those case
in which a .c0ntinuDlIs electrical current ha
Il Lace ed In a indiCated.