Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-29
SURPLUS ELECTRICITY.
How an Inventor Proposed to Free
the Human Frame from Erratic Elec-
trical Currents.


trfcal Currents.
One of the curious phases Of human nature
crops out in the applications made to the
Patent office for letters patent for various
devices for curing the ills that flesh is heir to-
There Is no limit to the credulity of human
nature in this particular, and anything that
holds out a brilliant prospect for the speedy
cure Of disease. however visionary or improb-
able 1t may seem to the unprejudiced Judgment,
is sure to receive the test OF an experiment from
a large number of people. At the present time
electrical devices are perhaps the most popu.
to try the merits of electrical hair brushes liver
pads, 1nsOles for shoes, and q thousand and one
Things 100 numerous to mention OF course
prevent the applications being made. Not
long ago an application was made for patent
Tor u device which consisted simply OF q wre
which was to be run across the ceiling over the
beo where the patient was lying. One end of
the wire ran into the ground, and the inventor
claimed that in this way the electric currents
were conveyed from the patients body and
safely carried away into the ground. Accom-.
panying the application were affidavits
from persons who claimed to have been cured
by this device. In spite, however, of this vol
ume of testimony the patent was not granted
electrical device for preventing diseases such
as paralysis, heart troubles, &c. 1t was claimed
that by this device the surplus of electricity
that was supposed to be in the human body
was drawn of. The application was rejected
on the ground that it had no useful function
and that as far as the examiner was aware. the
human body was not normally overcharged
with electricity, but If 1t should be that il
would be drawn off by the body coming in con-
tact with various substances In the ordinary
course OF daily avocation.
AN INVENTORS VIGOROUS PROTEST.
The inventor. however, was q man of spirit as
we'll as of inventive genius, and made the fol-
lowing rather humorous reply to the letter re-
jecting his application:
Your examiner says: This application is OBJ
Jected TO on the ground that the Invention de-
scribed is unnecessary for the purpose de-
scribed and the difficulties it PROPOSES tn
remedy do not, in fact, exist In saving this
your examiner cOntradicts himself and in fact
eats his own words by asserting q few lines be-
low, this remarkable iDse dirt. that a large
the express purpose Of supplying the BODY with
electricity, and that 1t is recognized medi-
cinal agent, &C. Ii this is not palpable con-
tradiction and back down would like to know
what is one.
l submit that your examiner has no right To
officially assert his belief that the difficulties
this Invention proposes to remedy do not in
fact. exist Is it material whether he thinks
they exist or not. If others believe SO, they
besides, why should it be necessary that your
examiner should be convinced that the diff
cuities TINS Invention proposes to remedy do
not III fact exist. Should the noble army of
patent medicine inventors stop compromising
their remedies; If perchance your examiner
should not have any thing the matter with his
liver? suppose that your examiner believed
Ike Kew. Jasper, OF Richmond, that the sun do
move, should be prevented from patenting a
Your examiner says applicant will he required
to show first, that the human body is normally
charged with free electricity Ii your exani-
liner will kindly take a gutta percha comb and
providing he be not BALD com his hair with il
III the dark, venture to assert, that he will
see some electric sparks. We do not claim that
they are either free or captive sparks, but sim
ply some form OF electricity.
your examiner requires us to show second,
tn no IN
submit that we cannot be required TO show that
said electricity is injurious to health Some
| folks may like plenty OF electricity in their 8
and think 1t very good, while others may en-.
| terrain the reverse opinion and eaxerly desire
| to be relieved of their electricity It is This
class that our invention is designed to benefit.
| main charged with electricity because your
| examiner does not believe it TO be Injurious To
remain loaded up with the stuff? hope not
| are usually provided with iron or steel pegs
| which provide path OF discharge through the
ground in our daily walks. Here again your
| great numbers Of people wear shoes that are
| sewed, not pegged. Shall these good people be
cut oil from the benefits OF this great discovery
because your examiner happens to wear pegged
| shoes and does not feel the burden OF his
| load OF electricity? I beg you to consider thi,
large class of people. Your examiner may be
| abled, as he says, to turn on and of gas
| cocks and water cocks In the magnificent gov
eminent buildings provided by the people, but
| there are vast number here In the wild wesl
who are still reading by the tallow dip and
drinking from the Old oaken bucket that hanpi
in the wells vi their daddies. Would 1t be right
| have not the enlightened appliances OF gas and
water cocks accessible? submit that we ART
| entitled ~ consideration in behalf of the vas
numbers Of people who do not wear iron nail.
in their shoes, nor burn gas, nor drink from 8
| hydrant, and because your examiner does these
things the balance OF the United States is mo-
bound to suffer tor It.: put the question K
| you, would 1t be right?"