Year: 1888

page_text: 1 FREDERICK SAMUEL BELLHOUSE of Oxford Grove, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Man-
chester in the County of Lancaster do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:
This invention relates to that class of towel used mostly for the purpose of producing
friction by rubbing on the human body and is designed chiefly for use by persons
subject to rhumatism. Galvanism and electricity have been applied in various ways
for the cure of rhumatism or the alleviation of pains consequent upon it and other
similar disorders such as neuralgia, but I am not aware that such have been produced
by direct friction on the body. I have ascertained that a fabric coarsely manufactured
from silk will, when smartly rubbed on the body, generate a certain amount of
electricity which has a very beneficial influence on rhumatism and similar pains.
For this purpose I manufacture a towel of silk, preferably on account of the less
cost of production, from silk waste, known as "silk noils," these are prepared in any
suitable manner, spun into a coarse yarn and then manufactured into a rough towel.
This may be used either as an ordinary friction towel to invigorate the skin and
produce circulation, or to cure or alleviate the pain of rhumatism, neuralgia or kindred
diseases.
1
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester,
Patent Agents.

page_text: Improved Friction Towel.
I, FREDERICK SAMUEL BELLHOUSE, of Oxford Grove, Chorlton-on-Medlock,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Salesman, 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 :-
This invention relates to that class of towel used chiefly for the purpose of promoting
circulation by the friction of rubbing on the human body, and is designed chiefly for
the use of persons subject to rheumatic, neuralgic and other pains.
Galvanism and electricity have, I am aware, been applied in a variety of ways for
the cure of rheumatism or the alleviation of pain consequent upon it or other disorders
or diseases such as neuralgia, but I am not aware that frictional electricity produced
by direct friction upon the body has been employed for that purpose.
I have ascertained that a fabric may be manufactured from silk "noils" which,
when rubbed smartly over the body will generate an amount of electricity that will
have a very beneficial effect on rheumatism and similar painful disorders.
This invention consists essentially of a towel manufactured from the waste material
silk "noils" which will produce a curative or beneficial effect when rubbed over the
affected parts, through the generation of an electric current.
In carrying out the manufacture I select a good quality of the silk waste, known as
"noils" and put same through the necessary preparing machines, to lay the fibres
sufficiently straight to spin into a coarse yarn. The yarn is then woven into a looso
fabric in lengths usual for towels. An open towelling is thus produced, rough in
appearance but comparatively soft to the touch and which in use will not be liable to
irritate the skin.
This towel may be used either as an ordinary friction towel to invigorate the skin
or promote circulation-or-it-may-be-applied-to-cure-or-alleviate the pain-of-rheumatism,
neuralgia or kindred diseases.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I do
not claim the application of electricity itself to the human body, but that what I
claim is :-
A towel manufactured from silk "noils" capable of producing a curative or
beneficial influence, when applied to the human body substantially as and for the
purposes described.