Improvements in and relating to Electro-therapeutic Baths and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1899--Accepted, 6th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Electro-therapeutic Baths
and the like.
I, JOHANN JAKOB STANGER, of No. 15, Ehinger Strasse, Ulm, Germany, Tanner,
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:-
In the present apparatus for hydro-electric therapeutic purposes, a medical
treatment of the human body is obtained by bringing the whole body, or a limb
thereof into contact with an electrically charged fluid in either the liquid or
vapour state.
The fluid may be a suitable chemical solution, for instance, tannin solution,
and this apparatus is distinguished from the tannin solution baths hitherto used
for medical purposes by the application of electricity in connection with the
fluid and its chemical composition.
This electrical, apparatus has increased efficiency over those hitherto used for
medical purposes, the action of which depends on the application of fluid as a
conductor of electricity whilst over the hitherto used electrical baths the distin-
guishing advantage is that of being able to apply the electric current over the
whole or any desired portion of the body.
In the accompanying drawing such an apparatus is illustrated, with different
modifications of construction in Figures 1 to 10.
The constructional modification illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 forms a
bath in which the whole body can be exposed to the medical effect of a bath
charged with electricity, for instance an electrical solution of tannin bath, and
the strength or pressure of the current can be regulated by means of a meter or
switch placed on the bath (volt-meter 1, resistance regulator 2, switch 3).
The bath 4 provided with a waste plug 10 consists of material such as wood,
which is a non-conductor of electricity and withstands the influence of the bath-
ing fluid mixture, and is of a square shape, in order to make the electrical cur-
rents passing from the carbon electrodes 5 arranged sideways along the walls
of the bath and which are placed at fixed distances from one side to the oppo-
site one, effective over the entire bath. Carbon electrodes are preferred because
carbon is not affected by the bathing fluid (such as tanning solution and the like)
like metal electrodes. These electrodes are combined in a frame by four wooden
bars 6 which rest in wooden corner supports. The electrodes are connected
with the conducting wires by means of metal connecting pieces or terminals 9,
which in order to protect them from the action of the bathing fluid are covered
with a suitable insulating covering, such as enamel.
In consequence of the electrodes consisting of carbon plates, and the contact
strips 9 connecting the electrodes being protected from the bathing fluid by
covering of enamel, the important advantage is obtained of no decomposing
substance being present in the bath, and that the bathing fluid cannot become
contaminated.

page_text: It is necessary further to mention that in this apparatus a regulatable dis-
charge of the electric current takes place.
This is obtained in the following manner:-The bath, as already mentioned
above, is of a rectangular or square shape, and the electrodes cover the whole
width or length of the bath.
If the bath were for instance of an oval shape then the bathing fluid would
not be equally impregnated with electricity as the current would take the
shortest way from the anodes to the cathodes... Consequently the upper and lower
curved part of the bath would be free from electricity so that the latter could not
act on the upper part of the body and the feet of the bather which are usually
found in these positions.
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If on the contrary, it has instead the square or rectangular shape of the bath 4.
so that carbon electrodes can be placed over the whole length or breadth of the
bath, then this defect is overcome and the electric current is proportionately
distributed.
In the described arrangement the whole body is consequently exposed at the
same time to the action of a medicated bathing-fluid and to the electric current.
As may be seen from the drawing longitudinal and transverse electrodes are
arranged in this construction, it is however obvious that either the longitudinal
or transverse electrodes would suffice. alone; in both cases the electric current
can be applied to the whole body.
In Figures 1-to 4 the whole body can be exposed for bathing while the bather
lies in the bath, the electric current being conducted to the carbon-electrodes
by means of the contact strips 9.
If, however, it is only wished to treat one portion of the body, as, for example,
the back (Fig. 1) then the current from the carbon electrodes can be cut off and
a pipe of rose 18 be used as positive pole, to which the electrically-charged fluid
is conducted in a suitable manner.
The electric current passes from the pipe or rose 18, as one electrode, by means
of the stream of fluid and the human body, to the breast plate 13 as second elec-
trode. The mask or breastplate 13, which Fig. 10 shows clearly on a larger
scale, consists of a wire gauze 13 having a screw 14 for fixing the conducting
wire 15, and also bands or straps 16 for fastening the mask to the body.
Figure 2 shows a similar construction; only instead of the mask, an electrode
plate 20 is applied, on which the bather lies. The electric current in this case
passes from the pipe or rose 18, through the stream of fluid and the human body
to the electrode plate 20 to which the second conducting wire is joined.
In this arrangement the patient can also naturally stand on the plate instead
of lying, and the electrically charged fluid is applied to him in the same way
by means of the rose 18.
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Figure 3 shows how the arrangement described can also be used for inhaling
when the electrically charged stream is simply conducted into the mouth, of the
patient. In this case the stream is naturally in the form of steam as it is used
for inhaling, and therefore a steaming apparatus is connected with this construc-
tional form, which consists of the container 21 for the reception of the fluid.
The container has a grate box 22 for the fuel 23 and is fitted with closing. aper-
tures 24 for pouring in the liquid, as well as a safety valve 25 and cock 28. The
pipe 18 forming the one electrode, is connected with the steamer by the-tube 27
or any other insulated inserted piece.
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1
Similar steamers are shewn in the construction, Figure 4. These standin
such a position opposite each other, that their respective streams. of steam meet
each other and a limb, for instance; a hand, held in the steam consequently
forms a connecting limb as electrode for the electric current passing through, the
pipes 18 18 of the steamer by means of the stream. ngt 1
The feet of the patient can naturally also be exposed to the electrical bath at
the same time as shewn in the constructional form illustrated in Figure 3.
Instead of employing two steaming apparatuses, two electrically charged

page_text: streams of a fluid and going in opposite directions can be produced with only
one steamer if the latter is arranged as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, of which
Figure 5 shews a perpendicular section and Figure 6 a view of the exterior. The
steamer is provided for the purpose with two stop-cocks 28 to which tubes 29
are joined which end in the pipes 30 forming perfect electrodes.'
The method of using these pipes is the same as in the previous example of
the construction.
'
The form of construction illustrated in Figure 7 shews a steaming apparatus
according to Figure 3. The nozzle pipe through which the steam flows out of
the steamer, forms in this case at the same time both the electrodes. The pipe 31
consists of a metal pipe the inner wall of which is preferably coated with insu-
lating material such as enamel, this pipe forms one electrode. An insulated
rod 33 is the second electrode, forming the axis of the tube 31 the said rod 33
is carried in suitable bridges 32, which are composed of insulating material.
The whole is insulated and connected by means of the rubber tube 34 or the like
with the pipe 35 of the steamer. If the patient lays hold of the tube 31 with
the hand and allows steam to stream on him through the tube, then an electrical
action takes place on his body from the tube over the body as the one electrode
and the steam to the rod 33 as the second electrode.
The two apparatuses in Figures 1-7 have the very serviceable and conspicuous
advantage of allowing by its means the electrically charged fluid to act on each
desired portion of the body after the other successively, which is a great advan-
tage for chronic invalids."
Thus, for example, the fluid is able to operate from the hands to the feet;
from the head to the feet, from the head or the mouth to the hands, and ro
forth:
In electrical baths hitherto used this was not possible, apart from the fact that
steam currents were not employed.
These constructions as far as they operate with cold liquid may be employed
with great advantage on the Kneipp system which system relates to the curing
of invalids by cold water treatment then it is obvious, that if electricity be em-
ployed in addition a greatly increased action is obtained, greater than has
hitherto been the case in all shower baths, douches, and the like working without
electricity up to now.
Figure 8 shews a small vessel which is principally intended for an arm-bath
and, is provided with a plate 11 forming the one electrode, while the other elec-
trode is formed by the pipe 18 through which the electrically charged fluid is
conveyed.
A similar arrangement is shewn in Figure 9, which may be used for a foot
bath, and consists of a vessel 12. This latter may be constructed of metal and
consequently at the same time fills the place of the one electrode whilst the other
can be formed by the mask 13. The current passes from the conducting wire 17
through the fluid present in the vessel 12 over the body and from the latter
through the mask 13 to the conducting wire 15.
It is obvious that in case of need precautions can be taken in order to con-
centrate the electrically charged fluid as much as possible.
For this purpose a box contained in a vessel could be applied, which would
be provided with apertures for the pipe 18 and the extremities to be treated
such as hands, arms, or feet.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An apparatus for the production of an electrically charged and preferably
chemically prepared fluid for medicinal purposes, characterized by the arrange-
ment, that one or more pairs of electrodes connected with the fluid or the steam
thereof are arranged in such a manner that electrically charged fluid can be

page_text: caused to operate and flow from any desired portion of the body to any other
portion and react on the whole body or any part thereof which is to be treated,
substantially as described.
2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, in which the electrodes consist of special
carbon plates (5) placed together in a frame, so placed in a bath for receiving
the fluid and which bath is provided with a volt-meter (1), switch (3) and con-
trolling resistance (2), that they extend the whole length or breadth of the bath,
whereby the electric current is compelled to flow through the entire bathing
fluid in equal proportions without any contamination of 'the same being able
to take place.
3. In an apparatus according to Claim 1 an electrode in the form of a mask
consisting of woven metal or the like (13) and fastened to the body of the patient
by means of bands (16), substantially as described.
4. An apparatus according to Claim 1 consisting of two steaming appara-
tuses (21) for the fluid, the pipes of which (18) form the electrodes of a source
of current, so that the portion of the body brought between the pipes to be medi-
cally treated in the current of steam forms a conducting link for the electric
current passing through the pipes and the current of steam aforesaid.
5. An apparatus according to Claim 1 consisting of a pipe (18) forming one
electrode and a plate (20) forming the second electrode so that the part of the
body to be medically treated placed on the plate, forms a conducting link in the
fluid for the electric current passing over the plate and pipe, substantially as
described.
6. An apparatus according to Claim 1, the pipe of which for the out-going
steam, form two electrodes (31, 33) insulated from the steamer and consisting
of two cylindrical parts placed one within the other and mutually insulated in
such a manner that the limb placed for medical treatment coming in contact
with the current of steam forms a conducting link for the electric current pass-
ing through the electrodes and the current of steam, substantially as described.
7. An apparatus according to Claim 1, consisting of a steaming apparatus (21)
for the fluid, provided with two nozzles (30) forming the electrodes which are
connected with the apparatus by means of tubes, (29) substantially as described.
T
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LT
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1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.