Improvements in and connected with Medical Batteries.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb.,
1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 28th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Medical Batteries.
We, GEORGE FRANCIS WEBB, Medical Electrician, and JOHN ARTHUR CRISP,
Jeweller, both of Jefferson, in the County of Ashtabular, and State of Ohio,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
Our invention relates to improvements in that class of batteries which are
employed to send a current of electricity. through the body in the treatment of
acute and chronic diseases of various kinds; and the object of our invention is to
produce a battery, and attachments therefor, which may be conveniently carried
upon the body and by means of which a constant galvanic current may be sent
through any part of the body, and also to produce electrodes which may contact
with the body without .corroding and without cutting or injuring the body in any
way. The batteries are carried by a belt which is fastened around the body and
provided with straps which extend upwards from opposite sides of the belt and
terminate at the top in a yoke adapted to embrace the neck and rest upon the
shoulders of the wearer and thus support the device. To the belt,are buttoned
any-convenient number of cases, made preferably of silk leather-lined, and adapted
to contain battery pockets which are water-proof and are preferably made of cloth
covered rubber, the pockets having a flap at the top to fold down and cover the
batteries. The batteries are formed of a series of copper and zinc plates and each
cell is complete in itself. Each battery is composed preferably of nine cells,,and
the cells are formed of a central copper plate and an outer zinc plate. The copper
plates have V-shaped ends to provide for the passage of the rivets by which the
plates are fastened together and layers of felt are placed between the copper, and
zinc plates, the felt serving the double purpose of insulating the plates from each
other and of absorbing the.acid. The zinc plates are longer than the copper plates
and are doubled.over them, the plates being held together by the rivets which pass
through the opposite sides of the zinc plates and through the V-shaped, ends of the
copper plates.and.they are attached under sufficient pressure to bind the copper
plates in place. The several cells are connected by copper hinges, the copper
element of one cell being hinged to the zinc element of the next and the circuit
may thus be cut out at any point by applying the contact hook or adjuster to one
of the hinges, as described below. The end cells of each battery are provided
with hooks, the hooks, at one end of a battery connecting with a copper element
and that at the other end with a zinc element. The hook has a bent portion to fit
over the battery pocket and the outer end of the hook terminates in a series of
rings adapted to engage the contact hooks of the circuit wires. An adjuster which
is somewhat like the hook, inasmuch.as.it has, the rings to engage the circuit hooks
and a bend to pass over the edge of the pocket, is provided, said adjuster being
also formed with a terminal bend which passes over one of the hinges of a battery.
The adjuster is made of spring, wire so that it will maintain a constant pressure
upon a hinge, and if a person does not care to take the full strength of a battery
the adjuster may be clasped upon a hinge of the battery so as to cut it out at a
desired point and the circuit hooks on one end of the wires hooked into the rings.
By having several of these rings on the adjuster as described, a number of
wires leading to different parts of the body may be conveniently connected with
the battery. To connect with the battery hooks and with the electrodes which
contact with the body, snap hooks are used the hooks being adapted. to press
constantly on the parts with which they engage so that there will be.no break or
variation in the current. These hooks are formed of spring wire.which is made

page_text: into a coil to form one end of the hook and to give the necessary spring and
extending forward from the coil is a doubled member which is formed into a hook
and also the parallel members which are made to extend between the wires of the
doubled member and which terminate at the back of the hook in coils. The hook
will thus press upon one side of an object to which it is attached and the coils and
members will press against the opposite side. A band is used in connection with
the battery, adapted to be strapped around the neck or upon a limb and to carry
electrodes as described below. The electrodes are made of pure coin silver, that
being the best conductor and also being less liable to injure the body than most
other metals, and the electrodes have the sides which are to contact with the body;
made convex, thus ensuring a perfect contact and also preventing the edges from
doing injury, the spring of the electrodes also making them easy to the body. The
electrodes are doubled over on opposite edges to form lips by means of which they
are attached to a belt or band and one lip being perforated to enable it to engage a
hook. The electrodes are arranged upon the belt, the yoke, and the neck band,
and any number may be used, the electrodes being arranged so as to be opposite
the nerve courses and centres of the body and the electrodes are connected by
wires which are the ordinary covered copper wires, with the battery. The wires
have a hook at each end, the hook on one end being connected with one of the
battery hooks and the hook on the other end being connected with an electrode.
It is obvious that the current will pass through one electrode into the body and
out through another electrode to the battery, and by reversing the battery the
direction of the current in the body may be changed.
One of the wires is formed into a loop on which are a number of a bead
like electrodes adapted to be passed around the male organs of generation, so
that the current will pass directly through the nerves thereof, the object being
to cure certain diseases peculiar to said parts. The bead like electrodes being
adapted to turn, will prevent abrasion of the skin, and the skin cannot be
caught between them and pinched as they closely abut one another and no open
spaces are ever formed between them. Suitable cone shaped, electrodes may also
be connected with the battery to be applied to the anus for the cure of piles and
to the vagina for the cure of female complaints.
To prepare the batteries for use, they are dipped preferably in cider vinegar,
although other acids may be used; the belt and attachments are then placed upon
the body, the batteries are inserted in the pockets and the connections made
between the batteries and the electrodes. The electrodes may be located and
connected in accordance with the disease to be treated.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Medical Batteries.
We, GEORGE FRANCIS WEBB, Medical Electrician, and JOHN ARTHUR CRISP,
Jeweller, both of Jefferson, in the County of Ashtabula, and State of Ohio,
United States of America, 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 improvements in that class of batteries which are
employed to send a current of electricity through the body in the treatment of
acute and chronic diseases of various kinds, and the object of our invention is to
produce a battery and attachments therefor which may be conveniently carried
upon the body and. by means of which a constant galvanic current may be sent.

page_text: through any part the body, and also to produce electrotres
with the body without corroding and without cutting or injuring the body in any
way.
To this end our invention consists in certain features of construction and
combination of parts which will be hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a broken perspective view of the battery and attachments embodying
our invention.
Figure 2 is a detail view of a portion of the battery cells and the hook for
connecting with the same.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the blanks forming one cell of a battery, shewing the
manner in which the elements of adjoining cells are connected.
Figure 4 is a cross-section through one of the battery cells, on line 4-4
Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a rear elevation of one of the electrodes which contact with the
body, shewing also a peculiar hook which connects therewith.
Figure 6 is a cross-section of the same, on line 6-6 Figure 5; and
Figure 7 is a detail view of the adjuster.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
The belt A is fastened around the body, and the ends of the belt may be pro-
vided with any suitable buckle for that purpose, and extending upward from
opposite sides of the belt are the straps B which terminate at the top in a yoke C
which is adapted to embrace the neck, and rest upon the shoulders, of the wearer
and thus support the device. Buttoned to the belt are the cases D there being as
many cases as batteries and in the present instance there are two which is a
convenient number but any desired number may be used. The cases are preferably
of silk, leather-lined and are adapted to contain the battery pockets E which are
waterproof and are preferably made of cloth-covered rubber, the pockets having
a flap E at the top to fold down and over the batteries.
The batteries are formed of a series of copper and zinc plates and each cell is
complete in itself. Each battery is composed preferably of nine cells and the cells
are formed of a central copper plate F and an outer zinc plate G. The plates F
have V-shaped ends f to provide for the passage of the rivets g by which the
plates are fastened together, and layers of felt H are placed between the plates F
and G the felt serving the double purpose of insulating the plates from each other
and of absorbing acid to run the battery. The plates of zinc G are longer than
the copper plates and are doubled over them, the plates being held together by
the rivets which pass through the opposite sides of the plates G and through the
V-shaped ends of the plates I and they are attached under sufficient pressure to
bind the copper plates in place. The several cells are connected by copper hinges J,
the copper element of one cell being hinged to the zinc element of the next and the
circuit may thus be cut out at any point by applying the contact hook or adjuster
to one of the hinges as described below. The end cells of each battery are
provided with hooks K, the hook at one end of a battery connecting with a copper
element and that at the other end with a zinc element. The hook K has a bent
portion to fit over the battery pocket and the outer end of the hook terminates
だ
in a series of rings & adapted to engage the contact hooks of the circuit wires.
The adjuster L is somewhat like the hook K, as it has the rings to engage the
circuit hooks and the bend to pass over the edge of the pocket but it also has a
terminal bend adapted to clasp one of the hinges ) of a battery. The
adjuster L is made of spring wire so that it will maintain a constant pressure
upon a hinge and if a person does not care to take the full strength of a
battery the adjuster may be clasped upon a hinge of the battery so as to cut it out
at a desired point and the circuit hooks on one end of the wires hooked into the
rings l. By having several of these rings on the adjuster as described a number
of wires leading to different parts of the body may be conveniently connected with

page_text: the battery.
To connect with the battery hooks and with the electrodes which.
contact with the body, the spring snap hooks M are used the hooks being adapted
to press constantly on the parts with which they engage, so that there will be no
break or variation in the current. The hook M is formed of spring wire which is
made into a coil at m to form one end of the hook and to give the necessary spring
and extending forward from the coil is a doubled member m¹ which is formed into
a hook m² and also the parallel members m³ which are made to extend between the
wires of the doubled member m' and which terminate at the back of the hook m²
in coils m'. The hook m² will thus press upon one side of an object to which it is
attached and the coils m' and members m³ will press against the opposite side. A
band O is used in connection with the battery, the band being adapted to be
strapped around the neck or upon a limb and to carry electrodes, as described below.
The electrodes P are made of pure coin silver, that being the best conductor and
also being less liable to injure the body than most other metals, and the electrodes
have the sides, which are to contact with the body, made convex thus ensuring, a
perfect contact and also preventing the edges from doing injury, the spring of the
electrodes also making them easy to the body. The electrodes are doubled over
on opposite edges to form the lips P₁ by means of which they are attached to a
belt or band and one lip has a perforation p to enable it to engage a hook M.
The electrodes are arranged upon the belt A the yoke C and band O and any
number may be used according to the nature of the disease to be treated, the
electrodes being arranged so as to be opposite the nerve courses and centres of
the body and the electrodes are connected by the wires which are the ordinary
covered copper wires with the battery. The wires 9 have a hook M at each end,
the hook on one end being connected with one of the battery-hooks and the hook
on the other end being connected with an electrode. We will not follow any
particular circuit as it is obvious that the current will pass through one electrode
into the body and out through another electrode to the battery and by reversing
the battery the direction of the current in the body may be changed.
shewn one of the wires g formed into a loop q' on which are a number of bead-like
electrodes and the loop is adapted to be passed around the male organs of
generation so that the current will pass directly through the nerves thereof, the
object being to cure certain diseases peculiar to said parts. The bead-like
electrodes will prevent abrasion of the skin as they will turn and the skin
cannot be caught between them and pinched as they closely abut one another
and no open spaces are ever formed between them. Suitable cone-shaped electrodes
may also be connected with the battery to be applied to the anus, for the cure of
piles, and to the vagina for the cure of female complaints.
We have
To prepare the batteries for use they are dipped preferably in cider vinegar,
although other acids may be used, the belt and attachments are then placed upon
the body, the batteries are inserted in the pockets and the connections made
between the batteries and the electrodes. The electrodes may be located and
connected in accordance with the disease to be treated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is-
1. A battery cell, comprising a copper plate F having notches ff in its ends, a
zinc plate G bent upon itself and enclosing the copper plate, rivets passed through
the members of the zinc plate and its notches to hold the copper plate in place, and
an absorbent material between the copper and zinc plates, substantially as shewn
and described.
2. Battery cells, each comprising a copper plate F having notches ffin its ends,
a zinc plate G bent upon itself and enclosing the copper plate, rivets passing
through the members of the zinc plate and its notches to hold the copper plate in
place, an absorbent material between the copper and zinc plates, copper hinges
connecting the copper plate of one cell with the zinc plate of the next cell, and

page_text: hooks connected respectively to the copper plate of one end cell and the zinc plate
of the opposite end cell, substantially as shewn and described.
3. In a body battery, an electrode P formed of a circular convex plate having
its edge at opposite points bent over at P P upon the concave side of the plate one
of the bent-over portions being provided with an aperture p, substantially as shewn
and described.
4. The combination, with an electrode P formed of a circular convex plate
having its edge bent over at opposite points P P upon the concave side of
the plate, one of the said bent-over portions having an aperture p, of a snap-
hook M constructed of spring wire formed into a coil m having a doubled
member m¹ terminating in a hook m² and to the parallel members in³ extending
between the wires of the doubled member m¹ and terminating back of the
hook min coils me the hook m² engaging the aperture p from the inner side
of the bent portion P¹ of the electrode and the coils m' pressing against the concave
side of the electrode, substantially as shewn and described.
5. The combination, with a case D having attaching devices at its upper open
end and a waterproof pocket E in said case provided with a closing flap at its
upper open end, of battery cells in said pocket having hooks on the copper and
zine plates of the end cells provided with bends to pass over the upper edges of the
ends of the case and eyes or rings exterior of the case for connecting the circuit
wires, substantially as shewn and described.
6. The combination, with a battery and a pocket for the same, of a hook having
a bend to fit the pocket said hook having one end connected with an element of the
battery and the other end formed into a series of rings, substantially as shewn and
described.
7. In a body battery of the character described, an adjuster constructed of
spring wire said adjuster having one end formed into a hook to fit the battery
hinges its central portion bent to fit over the battery pocket and its outer end
formed into a series of rings, substantially as shewn and described.
8. In a body battery of the character described, the combination, with the
ringed hooks of the batteries and the perforated electrodes, of connecting wires and
spring hooks attached to the wires said hooks having an end coil a doubled member
extending from the end coil and terminating in a hook and two spring members
extending from the coil and through the doubled member, substantially as shewn
and described.
9. The combination, with the battery, of a connecting wire formed into a loop
and bead-like electrodes mounted
on the loop, substantially as shewn and
described.
G. F. WEBB.
J. A. CRISP.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.