AN IMPROVED GALVANIC BELT."
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert George Bell, of Wardour Street, Oxford
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Doctor of Medicine, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED GALVANIC BELT."

page_text: I propose to arrange along the internal surface of the belt a series
of zinc and copper plates or discs, copper on zinc consecutively, but
between each pair of plates I adjust a layer of thin cloth, felt, or other
textile fabric of an absorbent nature, the whole being rivetted or
secured to the belt, so as to prevent overlapping surfaces, the fabric
dividing the respective pairs of plates from metallic contact; the
terminals are then connected to fine helical wire spring tension pieces to
which the final copper and zinc plates or convex discs are attached
clear from the belt, for contact with those parts of the body required to
be treated, the belt being held in position by a band of fabric attached
to metal loops, one at each end of the belt. Now, in this construction
and arrangement of galvanic belt no acids or other exciting liquids are
required to generate the galvanic current, because the layers of thin cloth
or similar material act as absorbents of the moisture emanating from the
skin, and consequently necessitate a constant or unvarying degree of
electricity among the plates of copper and zinc. There is therefore no
occasion to remove the belt for the purpose of applying excitants to the
plates, and thus comfort and convenience are ensured.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Albert George Bell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 5th August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALBERT
GEORGE BELL, of Wardour Street, in the County of Middlesex, Doctor
of Medicine, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Albert George Bell, Her, special
licence that I, the said Albert George Bell, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Albert George Bell, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,

page_text: within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED GALVANIC BELT,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Albert George Bell,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in tho
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Albert George Bell, do hereby,
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :—
This Invention relates to the construction of an improved galvanic
belt intended for the treatment and cure of various diseases, and
whereby a more constant and uniform galvanic circuit is effected than
by the use of the ordinary belts.
I propose to arrange along the internal surface of the belt a series of
zinc and copper plates or discs, copper on zinc consecutively, but between
each pair of plates I adjust a layer of thin cloth, felt, or other textile
fabric of an absorbent nature, the whole being rivetted or secured to
the belt so as to present overlapping surfaces, the fabric dividing the
respective pairs of plates from metallic contact; the terminals are then
connected to fine helical wire spring tension pieces, to which the final
5 copper and zinc plates or convex discs are attached clear from the belt,
for contact with those parts of the body required to be treated, the belt
being held in position by a band of fabric attached to metal loops, one at
each end of the belt. In this construction and arrangement of galvanic
belt no acids or other exciting liquids are required to generate the
galvanic current, because the layers of thin cloth or similar material
act as absorbents of the moisture emanating from the skin, and con-
sequently necessitate a constant or unvarying degree of electricity among
the plates of copper and zinc. There is therefore no occasion for the
patient to remove the belt for the purpose of applying excitants to the
5 plates; and thus comfort and convenience are ensured.
The accompanying Drawing illustrates the Invention, similar letters
Thi
10 11

page_text: full size, views of the two sides of belt complete, as developed or laid out
flat; Fig. 1 representing the side to be worn externally, that is, away from
the body, and which I term the "front" of the belt; and Fig. 2, the side
to be worn next the body, and which I term the "back;" the remaining
Figures are drawn full size. Figs. 3 and 4 shew the galvanic pile and
adjoining parts of the belt, of which they are front and back views.
respectively. Figs. 5, 6, and 7 shew respectively detached views of one
of each of the copper plates, the zinc plates, and the cloth layers above
referred to; the corresponding reference numbers 5, 6, and 7, in Fig. 4,
denote the corresponding parts. These are not distinguished in the
other Figures, but in Fig. 2 are represented a series or system of the said
parts, the letters a denoting the combined application of the pairs of
copper and zinc plates and of the cloth.
In the several Figures generally 6 is the foundation of the middle
portion of the belt, consisting of leather, or webbing, or other convenient
material, or convenient combination of materials, such as leather
externally and silk internally. To this foundation the pairs of plates
5 and 6, and the cloth 7, separating each pair from the next pair
of plates, are secured by rivets or otherwise, the fastening represented
being eyelet rivets as at c, and the arrangement being such that
the several sets of parts 5, 6, 7, may overlap the adjoining sets. The
terminals are marked e and f, are of copper and zinc respectively,
and are united by the helical wires or conductors g, to the final copper
and zinc plates or convex discs h and i respectively; k, k, are metal
loops uniting the foundation and the galvanic pile carried thereby with
bands or straps m, m, of woollen cloth or flannel, or other convenient
fabric or material, to complete the girt of the body, and which are
provided or formed as shewn with button, button hole, and buckle and
tab, for holding the belt upon the body when applied thereto, by being
curved or bent around the body, the curving or bending of the galvanic
portion being provided for by the manner in which the sets of parts
5, 6, and 7 are united to the foundation b, as above described. Tapes,
strings, or other convenient equivalent may be substituted for button and
buckle fastenings, and the copper and zinc plates and layers of cloth may
be sewn on instead of being rivetted to the foundation, somewhat smaller
holes in the plates being provided accordingly instead of the larger holes
for rivets which are shewn in the Figures 5 and 6. A piece of elastic
webbing n is inserted (for the convenience of the wearer) in one of the
'bands m.

page_text: Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I claim and desire
to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent, my
improvements in galvanic belts substantially as herein described and
shewn.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I claim and desire
to be secured to me by the herein in part recited Letters Patent, my
improvements in galvanic belts substantially as herein described and
shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert George Bell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert George Bell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Second day of August, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
ALBERT GEORGE BELL. (L.S.)
10 Witness,
ALEX. PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross, London.