Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Treating Diseases.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1893-Accepted, 22nd July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Apparatus for Treating Diseases.
A communication from EMORY JACOB GODMAN, of 612, North Mount Street,
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A., Machinist.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to the treatment of diseases of various kinds by subjecting
the part afflicted to a series of pulsations or blows continued for a greater or less
length of time, and of a uniform character; and to this end the invention consists
of the method and means fully set forth hereinafter of securing and transmitting
such pulsations or blows or vibrations, reference being had to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a view illustrating one method of producing and transmitting the
vibrating force or motion.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating another form of apparatus.
Fig. 4 is a view illustrating part of the apparatus, Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5 Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal side view of the preferred embodiment of the improve-
ments.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of one end of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 and
Fig. 8 is an end view of Fig. 6 showing an arrangement for the support of the
motor.
It has been found that certain diseases may be treated very effectively and in
some cases cured by subjecting the afflicted part in connection with other treatment
of course to a massageing action and it has been found in some cases that by
securing a massageing action of a steady and uniform character and prolonging it
for a greater or less length of time at each treatment, a very much better result
can be attained than would be possible from intermittent, irregular blows or
pulsations.
One of the main objects of this invention is to secure such blows or pulsations of
an absolutely uniform character; and another is to continue such blows or pulsations
without varying their character, for any desired length of time; and another is to
vary the rapidity and the intensity of the vibrations when desired.
While the action has been referred to as being a series of blows, it will be under-
stood that these blows are so slight and so rapidly repeated that they are more
properly pulsations or vibrations.
It has been found that in order to secure the desired results, a vibrating object
must first be had which may be a board, or diaphragm, like the sounding-board of
a piano, or of a violin or other musical instrument, or the vibrating object may be
the tongue of a reed, and in connection therewith, means are employed for imparting
a continuous series of uniform vibrations to the said object, with means for varying
the rapidity of the vibrations when required, and between the said object and the
part to be treated, a conductor of any suitable character is interposed that will
conduct the vibrations of the said object to the part to be treated.
These three features embodied in this invention may each of them be variously
constructed. As before stated, the vibrating object may be of different forms.
The method of imparting the vibrations may be of any suitable character to secure
rapidity and uniformity. For instance, it may be a current of air, as in the case of

page_text: the motion imparted to the tongue of a reed, producing thereby a musical sound;
or it may be the vibration of a string of a violin, or positive mechanical means on a
vibratile object may be employed.
Thus in Fig. 1 is shown a phonograph A the cylinder B of which is provided
with a longitudinal series of parallel lines a or it may have a regularly arranged
series of dots or dashes, the lines, dots or dashes produced in any suitable way, and
a uniform rotation is imparted to the cylinder from an electro-motor, and the result
will be that a uniform series of pulsations or vibrations is imparted to the diaphragm C,
of the phonograph and the conductor between the diaphragm C and the ear, is in
this case in the form of a column of air in a flexible tube H having an ear-piece E
which concentrates the vibrations upon the drum of the ear, when the latter is to
be treated
In the construction shown in Fig. 3 the diaphragm C is the back of a case F
something like the case of a violin, or an Æolian harp, provided with one or more
bridges a over which is stretched one or more strips of gut or other suitable
material. When a uniform vibration is imparted to one of the said strings by
means of a bow, or other suitable means, a uniform vibration is imparted to the
diaphragm C, and this vibration may be conducted to the drum of the ear or other
object by a conductor in the form of a light rod or wire D' in contact with the
diaphragm C and also in contact with the drum of the ear or other object but it is
preferred to connect the diaphragm C'with a smaller diaphragm C' at the end of a
conical receiver with which communicates the pipe d the column of air in which
serves to conduct the vibrations to the car-piece E.
In order to secure an absolutely uniform vibration or tone from the string b it is
preferred to make use of an operating device consisting in the present instance of a
rotating bow G which may be a thin rubber disc rosined at the edge where it runs
in contact with the string and is driven by an electro motor S or otherwise.
The pitch or tone of the string may be varied by shortening or lengthening it,
and for this purpose it is preferred to provide the box F with a series of frets u
over which are stretched one, two or more strings band to provide means whereby
any one of the strings may be pressed upon any one of the frets to shorten it. For
instance, adjacent to the point where each string crosses one of the frets the screw w
may be used having a circular flange and when the screw is screwed down, the
flange presses the string upon the fret beneath, when the screw is lifted, and the
string is let free.
The bow or rubber G may be supported by movable bearings 10 adjustable by
screws 12 in curved guides 13 so as to bring it into contact with any one string, as
desired.
While the continuous series of uniform pulsations and vibrations have been
referred to it will be understood that these may be continued for a greater or less
length of time as may be desired, perhaps only for a fraction of a minute at one
time or for fifteen or twenty minutes at another, but that they are continuous so long
as the application is required and it has been found that it is of the utmost
importance that they should be uniform and not vary, being more of the character
of a single tone and not of the character of an intermittent broken series of actions,
producing simply a noise for this reason it has been found that pulsations derived
from the vibrations of a string like that of a violin are very much better than those
which result from the mechanical action of a series of indentations upon the cylinder
of a phonograph.
For some purposes, it is desirable to vary the intensity of the vibrations, which
may be done by a buffer consisting of a rock-shaft 7 having a felt rib 9 and which
may be turned by a handle 8 to bring it against the strings.
In the preferred form of apparatus shown by Figs. 6, 7 and 8 it will be observed
that a frame E of any suitable construction is employed, and supports a sounding-
board diaphragm and preferably has a neck 6; and over the said sounding-board
and across the bridges extend one, two or more of the strings or cords A. The
vibration of one or other of these strings is made the means of imparting vibration

page_text: to the sounding-board or diaphragm A' and to the conductor column of air in the
tube H hereinbefore referred to.
The vibration of either string A is effected by means of the operating device E¹
which in this instance is in the form of a disc with a series of fingers or projections 8,
which may be rigid or flexible, and the said disc is mounted on the shaft 1, turning
in bearings in a horizontal frame C, one end of the shaft bearing against the end
of an adjusting screw G, which may be turned out so as to release the shaft when
desired. The said frame C is suitably supported so that it can be moved vertically
and horizontally, any suitable supports being employed for securing these
adjustments. As shown, there are four posts 9, 9, 9, 9, arranged adjacent to the
sounding-board, and between each pair of posts extends a guide-rod 10, and on
the two guide rods slides a cross-bar 12 through threaded openings, in which
pass two vertical adjusting screws B, B, the ends of which extend into openings
in bosses 14, 14, of the frame C and turn therein so as to carry the frame with the
screws. Thus, each screw has an annular recess into which extends a cross-pin 15,
extending through the boss 14. By turning the screws B, B, the frame C may
be raised or lowered to place it in any desired position vertically and by
allowing a slight play in the connections between the screws and the frame, the
latter may be set at an angle when required. This permits the bow or rubber E¹
to be brought so as to cause the pins or fingers 8 to come into greater or less
contact with the strings, and by adjusting the cross-bar 12, upon the guide-rods 10, 10,
the bow or rubber may be brought against one or other of the strings. The
vibrations of each string may be varied by providing the neck 6 with a number
of frets 5 and by depressing the cord at any suitable point upon one or other of
the frets. This may be done so as to hold each cord or string after it is depressed
by means of a yoke I, sliding upon the neck and provided with a pad 17, and
adjusting screw 16 by which the pad may be brought down against the string so
as to force the latter against the edge of one of the frets
It has been found desirable in some instances to impart distinct shocks to the
part to be operated upon, and for this purpose a hammer or striker and means
for moving the latter to bring it forcibly against the diaphragm or sounding-board
is employed For instance the frame E or C carries a guide 18 in which slides
the striker L in the form of a rod having an arm 19 which extends over a cam M
on the shaft 1. When the cam turns to one position it raises the striker, and in
another it releases it and lets it fall forcibly against the sounding-board or
diaphragm. The hammer however, may be differently constructed and operated
so as to be thus brought at intervals forcibly against the diaphragm. The electro-
motor S in this instance rests upon an arm or bracket 21, extending from the
frame E, and is secured by means of a screw-rod 22, extending from the base-plate
of the motor through a slot 23 in said arm 21, and provided with a nut 24, so that
the motor may be set to different positions upon the arm and then secured in place
after it is properly adjusted.
A band 27, passes around a pulley 25, of the armature shaft and around the
driving pulley D on the shaft 1, and it will be seen that the motor may be adjusted
to either tighten or loosen the belt as may be necessary in order to maintain its
relation to the frame C, when the latter is adjusted upon the guide-rods 10.
If desired, however the motor may be mounted directly upon the frame C, as for
instance in the position shown in dotted lines x Fig. 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that without limiting myself to the precise
construction and arrangement of parts described what 1 claim is :—
1. An apparatus for the treatment of diseases consisting of a vibrating object
means for imparting a continued series of uniform vibrations to said object and a
conductor as a column of air interposed between the said object and the part to
be treated substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. The combination in an apparatus for treating diseases of a vibratory object
means for imparting a continuous series of uniform vibrations to said object means
for varying the number of vibrations as desired and a conductor as a column of air
between the object and the part to be treated substantially as set forth.
3. The combination in an instrument for treating diseases of a diaphragm means
for imparting a series of uniform vibrations to said diaphragm a second diaphragm
connected with the first a funnel extending from the second diaphragm and
provided with a tube and an end piece substantially as set forth.
4. The combination in an apparatus for treating diseases of a diaphragm a string
stretched in proximity to said diaphragm and means for vibrating the string to
produce a series of uniform continuous vibrations and a conductor as a column of
air between the diaphragm and the part to be treated substantially as set forth.
5. The combination of the diaphragm the strings a wheel for operating upon
strings and means for adjusting the wheel to and from the strings substantially as
set forth.
the
6. The combination of the diaphragm two or more strings a wheel for operating
upon the strings a carrier for the said wheel and means for adjusting the carrier to
bring the wheel to operate upon one or other of the strings substantially as set
forth.
7. The combination of the diaphragm the strings and operating wheel a frame
supporting the shaft of said wheel and means for adjusting the said frame vertically
substantially as set forth.
8. The combination of the diaphragm two or more strings the operating wheel a
frame for supporting the same and means for adjusting the frame vertically and
horizontally substantially as set forth.
9. The combination with the diaphragm the strings the wheel and frame
supporting the same of a cross-bar resting upon horizontal guides and adjustable
thereon and supports adjustable vertically for connecting the frame to the cross-bar
substantially as set forth.
10. The combination with the diaphragm of a striker L and means for imparting
intermittent movements thereto substantially as set forth.
11. The combination of the diaphragm strings wheel and adjustable supports for
the said wheel a frame supporting the diaphragm an electro-motor supported by
part of said frame and means for adjusting the said motor substantially as and for
the purpose described.
12. In an apparatus for treating diseases the combination of the frame diaphragm
strings frets 5 and an adjustable yoke and means carried by said yoke for
depressing the string against the frets, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 20th day of June 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.