CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS, APPARATUS, AND ARTICLES FOR THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRO-GALVANIC AND MAGNETIC ACTION FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Antoine Burq, of Paris, Chemist, for the
Invention of "CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS, APPARATUS, AND ARTICLES FOR
THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRO-GALVANIC AND MAGNETIC ACTION FOR
MEDICAL PURPOSES."
Sealed the 29th September 1858, and dated the 4th April 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Antoine Burq at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 4th April 1853..
.
I, ANTOINE BURQ, of Paris, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention of "CERTAIN INSTRUMENTS, APPARATUS, AND ARTICLES
FOR THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRO-GALVANIC AND MAGNETIC ACTION FOR
MEDICAL PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
It has been discovered by medical men that the outward application
to the liuman frame of various metals, either in a pure or alloyed form,
is more useful and efficacious than the application of galvanic currents
for the same purpose. The magnetic, electric, or other like properties
possessed by various metals differ much in quality and degree, and the
effects resulting from their application_also_.vary with circumstances,

page_text: such as the state of health of the patient, age, &c. And thus it
happens, that the application of copper may have no beneficial effect
on one patient, while it may benefit another, or vice versa; steel may
be injurious to one, and useful to another; and the judicious combina-
tion of metallic bodies forms the great secret of success in this art.
And I find that the application of copper and brass, and of English
and German steel combined, form useful combinations for medical
applications. And my Invention consists in certain instruments and
apparatus made of these four metals, to be applied to the human frame
for the purpose of giving to it magnetic, electric, or magneto-electric
action. Figure 1, represents two rings; one, A, half brass, half copper;
the other, B, half English, half German steel; and these rings may be
worn together or not. Figure 2, is a medal. Figure 3, is a series of
medals, made of copper and brass, English and German steel. The
same medals may be used as shewn in Figure 4, hung together by
chains. Figures 5, 6, and 7, shew different combinations of the same
metallic medals. That shewn by Figures 7 and 8, may be worn as a
bracelet. Figure 9, represents a corset busk, one side being made of
copper and brass, and the other of English and German steel, or they
may be made with the four metals on one side. Figure 10, represents
whipping rods made of a bundle of the four metals. Figure 11, an
Indian strigil for causing friction; the small wooden wheels are
alternately covered with copper, brass, and English and German steel.
Figure 12, represents what I call metallic wadding; it is made of
cotton wadding moistened with some glutinous matter, such as treacle,
on which a coating of filings of the four above named metals is
sprinkled, over which a layer of cotton is again placed. Figures 13
and 14, represent armatures, or large rings, for the thigh, leg, or arm.
If the whole of the limb is to have the application, two may be used;
and these rings are made of the same metals.
Figure 15, is a peculiar bath, in which filings of the said four metals
are to be used in a wet or dry state. For the prevention of oxidation
or other ill effects, I sometimes coat the outer face or faces of these
instruments with tin, silver, or silver gilt. I do not confine myself to
the precise form of the instruments shown.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Antoine Burq, in the Great Seal Patent Office,
on the 4th October 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ANTOINE BURQ, of Paris, Chemist, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the six-
teenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Antoine Burq, Her special licence
that I, the said Antoine Burq, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Antoine Burq, 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, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "CERTAIN.
INSTRUMENTS, APPARATUS, AND ARTICLES FOR THE APPLICATION OF ELECTRO-
GALVANIC AND MAGNETIC ACTION FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Antoine Burq, by an instru-
ment in writing under my hand and seal, 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 the
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 Antoine Burq, do hereby de-
clare 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:
It has been discovered by medical men, that the outward application
o the human frame of various metals, either in a pure or alloyed form,
is more useful and efficacious than the application of galvanic currents.
for the same purpose. The magnetic, electric, or other like properties
possessed by various metals differ much in quality and degree, and the

page_text: effects resulting from their application also vary with circumstances,
such as the state of health of the patient, age, &c. And thus it
happens, that the application of copper may have no beneficial effect
on one patient, while it may benefit another, or vice versa; steel may
be injurious to one, and useful to another; and the judicious combina-
tion of metallic bodies forms the great secret of success in this art.
And I find that copper and brass, and English and German steel, form
useful combinations for medical applications, more especially in cases
of cholera, when employed in the manner and by means of the instru-
ments and apparatus herein-after described. And my Invention consists
of the manufacture and use of certain instruments and apparatus made
of these four metals, to be applied to the human frame for the purpose
of giving to it magnetic, electric, or (magneto-electric action.
Fig. 1, represents two rings to be worn on the fingers; one half of the
ring A, is made of brass, and the other half of copper. The ring B, is
composed of one half English steel, and one half German steel. These
rings may be worn either upon one finger, or upon two fingers of the same
hand. Fig. 2, represents a medal to be suspended by a riband, and worn
round the neck; the plate C, is made one half of copper, and one half
of brass the plate D, is one half English steel, and the other half
German steel; a disc of leather or cloth is placed between the metals
to prevent galvanic contact. Fig. 3, represents a series of medals,
made of copper, brass, English and German steel, in in manner similar to
the foregoing. These series of medals are intended to be used more
particularly in conjunction with the metallic bath, herein-after described,
or in cases where the metals are required to be kept in a damp or
moistened state. Fig. 4, represents a form of metallic combinations,
to be worn as a bracelet or armature, and is composed of small
plates of copper, brass, English and German steel; these plates are
rivetted together, a plate of copper to one of English steel; a plate of
brass to one of German steel and in order to prevent galvanic contact,
pieces of cardboard are interposed between the plates, leaving a space
in the centre, through which may be passed an elastic band having a
snap or clasp at the ends, for the purpose of securing it to the wrist or
Each of the metal plates should have stamped upon its 'surface
arm.

page_text: -
some device or design, so as to give them a certain degree of roughness,
which sometimes, greatly increases their utility; in this or any other
similar form, combinations of the metals may be worn by females as.
bracelets, head-bands, necklaces, &c. Fig. 5, represents a necklace for
children, the beads of which are formed of copper, English steel, brass,
and German steel, threaded alternately upon a string or riband: Any
of these articles, where they are intended to be worn as ornaments,
may, if required, be covered with a film of gold or silver, to give them.
a more pleasing appearance. Fig. 6, represents a corset busk; one
side E, is formed of two pieces of brass and copper, and the other side.
F, of English and German steel; or it may be made with the four
metals upon each side, but this mode does not offer any great advan-.
tage over the other. Fig. 7, represents an instrument for striking the
surface of the body to increase the energy and activity of the muscles.
It consists of a bundle of wires formed of equal portions of copper,
brass, English and German steel wire, to which a suitable handle
is attached. Fig. 8, represents an Indian strygil for rubbing the
surface of the body; G, G, are wooden or ivory wheels, the peripherics
of which are alternately covered with copper, brass, English and
German steel. Fig. 9, represents what I term metallic: wadding,.or
cataplasm; it is formed of a piece of cotton wadding covered with
gum, or a solution of sugar, or molasses, upon which is spread a
quantity of filings or turnings of copper, brass, English and German
steel. The gum or sugar prevents the oxydation of the metals, and
gives to the mass a certain degree of suppleness. To prevent the
asperities of the metals injuring the skin, the surface of the poultice
may be covered with a thin layer of wadding. Fig. 10, represents an
armature or ring for fitting the thigh, leg, or arm. The figures show
a front and back view of the armature; they are made of copper, brass,
English and German steel; the two portions are kept together by an
adjustable strap at the back, marked b, b; the front is secured by the
hasps c, c. If the whole of the limb is to be covered with metal, then
two or more of these armatures must be used. Fig. 11, represents a
bath formed of the four metals, copper, brass, English and German
steel, in which the patient is to be placed; and, where necessary, the

page_text: greater portion of the body may be covered with filings or turnings of
the metals above named, either in a dry or wet state; or series of
medals, such as represented by Fig. 3, and forming a sort of chain, may
be wound round the limbs of the patient, with the view of increasing
the surface exposed to metallic contact.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do
not bind myself to the precise details herein-before given. But I claim
the use and manufacture of the instruments, apparatus, and articles
formed of a combination of metals as herein shown and described, for
application to the surface of the human body as curative agents, or as
preventives of disease.
. In witness whereof, I, the said Antoine Burq, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this First day of October, in the year One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
ANTOINE BURQ. (L.S.)