Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Applying Electricity to the Human Body.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Generating and Applying Electricity
to the Human Body.
We, WALTER JOSEPH NEWTON, Mechanical Engineer, HENRY JAMES
PURBROOK, Electrician, and HERBERT DE CARLE HUDSON, Ironmonger, all
of 42 Lambton Quay, Wellington, in the Colony of New Zealand, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
Our invention relates to applying electricity to the human body, and has for its
object more especially applying a current of electricity for curative purposes in a
convenient and effective manner.
One part of our invention consists in applying a belt, girdle, or wrapper of novel
construction to any convenient part of the body, but more especially around the
loins; such wrapper containing a dry battery or batteries connected to metallic
terminals or electrodes, which batteries are placed in proper positions according to
the purpose for which the application of the electricity is required, or the disease
it is intended to cure or alleviate.
Another part of our invention refers to the nature and composition of the dry
battery itself.
Our invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings on which,-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a belt fitted with the improved apparatus.
Figure 2 is a diagram illustrating the circulation of the electric current.
Figure 3 is a view of a similar apparatus to that in Figure 1, but shewing means
for conducting the electric current through the chest and spine.
Figures 4 & 5 are front and back views respectively shewing the application of
the apparatus illustrated in Figure 3.
Figure 6 shews the means of applying electricity to the chest.
Figure 7 shews the means of applying electricity to the spine.
Figure 8 is a front elevation of a battery constructed according to our
invention.
Figure 9 is a vertical section of the same.
Figure 10 is a transverse section of the same on the line 9-9.
Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
(a) is a belt to be fixed around the loins by straps (a¹) or other suitable means,
and fitted with pockets (b) or their equivalents to receive the batteries hereinafter
described; which pockets may be of any desired number according to the number
of batteries. These pockets we prefer to be in a diagonal position as shewn for
greater convenience in carrying them on the body of the patient.
(c) is a terminal or electrode having an extended surface so as to provide an
efficient surface for supplying the electricity to the body, or the object to which
it is attached; and (c) is another similar terminal or electrode applied to the part
or position to which the current of electricity has to circulate from the terminal (c).
These terminals or electrodes may be of wire gauze or woven wire, either woven
into the substance of the belt or fixed upon it, or may be of metal deposited upon
a suitable fibrous material. (c) is the positive, and (c) the negative terminal or
electrode, or rice versa as desired and according to whether the negative or positive
wire from the batteries is attached to them; and in the case of passing the current
from the back through the abdomen to the front of the individual or vice versa this
belt alone is used with the wires arranged as shewn, viz., the positive (d') from the
battery (d) attached to the terminal (c), the negative wire (e) passed to the positive

page_text: pole of the battery (ƒ) and the negative wire (g) attached to the terminal (c'),
the current returning through the body of the subject from and to whatever part
desired.
It is evident that instead of a belt, a suitable carrier for the battery may be
attached to any other part of the body if desired, but we prefer to use the belt
attached to the body as illustrated in the drawings.
To apply the current of electricity to the spine (see Figure 3) we make use of
a bandage or strap such as (h) which is (by preference) at its lower end (h¹) formed
in the shape of a T with eyelet holes (2) by which it can be fastened to the belt,
which has similar and corresponding eyelet holes (1). This bandage or strap has
attached to it a lining of wire gauze or metallic substance (7) which in the
T piece (¹) is exposed on one side of the textile fabric and in the main body (h)
is exposed on the other side; therefore by passing the said T end between the
electrode (c) and the body of the patient the said electrode (c¹) is cut off from the
body, but as the upper metallic surface of (j) is in contact with the body, the current
passes into the said metallic surface (7) and thence into the back and spine of the
patient, and through the body back into the electrode (c) so as to complete the
circuit.
To apply the current to the chest we make use of a breast piece (k) which is
fastened around the neck of the patient in any suitable manner so as to lie close to
the skin, and we connect the same by the wire (¹) to a piece (7) which is placed
similarly to the Ţ end (¹) in Figure 7, viz., with its metallic surface facing the
electrode () and cutting the current of the same off from the body, but receiving
the current froin the said electrode, passing it through the wire (¹) into the breast
piece (k) which has its metallic surface next the skin so as to pass the current of
electricity through the chest and back, to the electrode (c¹).
It will be seen that by similar arrangements applied to the feet, or any other
part, we can pass the current of electricity through any part of the human body
and in any desired direction: for instance, in the case of varicose veins an electric
current may be produced up the legs by placing positive electrodes under the feet
of the patient, so that the current may pass up the legs and thence to the opposite
terminal of the battery which may be in any convenient position.
In Figures 8, 9 & 10 is illustrated our improved dry battery which we prefer to
use with our apparatus.
(m) is the outer case of zinc having a binding screw to receive the negative
wire (e). This outer case (m) is made in any form most convenient to the body,
but (by preference) tubular as shewn, and stopped at the lower end of the tube by
plaster of Paris (n). The carbon (o) is first prepared by dipping its terminal end
into melted paraffine to prevent capillary attraction, then hung in a saturated
solution of permanganate of potash whilst it is acted upon by a powerful electric
battery, say of 6 or 8 Bunsen cells: The carbon is then put in position within
the tube (m), being guided and held by the plaster of Paris (n). We then fill the
space surrounding the carbon with a creamy solution made as follows, viz., 5 parts
by weight of oxide of zinc, and 11 parts by weight of plaster of Paris moistened
with a saturated solution of chloride of zinc in which is dissolved a small quantity
of chloride of ammonia. This solution becomes comparatively hard, and when
thus charged the battery will last for a considerable period.
.
We wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the exact details
or location of the several parts of our apparatus, as these can be varied according
to the part of the body to be operated on; and moreover the batteries can be carried
on other parts of the person instead of by means of a belt around the waist as shewn,
and can be of any desired number.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. In an apparatus for generating and applying electricity, a dry battery o

page_text: batteries combined with a belt such as (a) having electrodes such as (c) & (c¹),
as and for the purposes substantially as described herein and illustrated on the
accompanying drawings.
2. In an apparatus for generating and applying electricity, a dry battery or
batteries combined with electrodes such as (c) & (c¹), as and for the purposes
substantially as described herein and illustrated.
3. In an apparatus for generating and applying electricity, a dry battery or
batteries combined with electrodes such as (c) & (c) and a bandage or strap such
as (h), as and for the purposes substantially as described herein and illustrated.
4. In an apparatus for generating and applying electricity, a dry battery or
batteries having electrodes such as (c) & (c) combined with breast pieces such
as (k), as and for the purposes substantially as described herein and illustrated.
5. In an apparatus for generating and applying electricity, a dry battery or
batteries having electrodes such as (c) & (c¹) combined with a bandage such as (h)
and breast piece such as (k), as and for the purposes substantially as described
herein and illustrated.
6. In an apparatus for applying electricity a dry battery constructed and
arranged as herein before described and set forth.
7. The combination of apparatus for generating and applying electricity to any
part of the human body substantially as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of July 1894
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.