Improved Electric Tan Bark Bath and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Electric Tan Bark Bath and Apparatus therefor.
I, JOHAN JAKOB STANGER, of 43N, Untere Bleiche, Ulm A.D. in the Kingdom
of Wurttemberg, German Empire, Leather Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Hitherto inferior tan solutions or extracts have been employed for tan bark
baths owing to the expensive nature of pure tan solutions. Baths made from
inferior solution do not possess the same healing effect as a concentrated tan bark
bath would have and the object of the present invention is to produce a com-
paratively pure tan bark bath at a small cost.
The bath is advantageously made of wood. The outlet is provided with a plug
in the usual manner, said outlet pipe being taken direct to the tanyard or tan
works. At each side of the bath wooden racks are arranged, which should be
detachable in order to facilitate cleaning the bath. To the racks are fastened
electric conductors or electrodes which are connected to the main conductor by
means of clamping screws. Suitable resistance devices may be arranged in the
conductors by means of which the power of electric current may be regulated at
will.
Bars of wood or a frame may be arranged on the bath, which bars or frame may
then be covered with a cloth, so as to partially enclose the person bathing.
The bath is filled with tan bark solution and the electric current allowed to
pass through the same. As soon as the bath is done with the plug is raised and
the tan bark solution allowed to flow off to the tanyard, where it is employed for
tanning skins and hides in the usual manner.
By arranging a tan bark bath system in connection with a tanyard the cost
of the bath is practically reduced to nothing, since the tan solution is not wasted,
being just as applicable for tanning purposes after the bath as before the same.
Thus tan bark baths are rendered accessible to the poorer class of patients.
By employing the electric current in connection with the baths, the healing
power of the same will be enhanced. The electrodes may both be arranged within
the solution or one may be placed in the bath and the other applied directly to
the body of the patient.
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1007
Improved Electric Tan Bark Bath and Apparatus therefor.
I, JOHAN JAKOB STANGER, of 43N Untere Bleiche, Ulm A.D. in the Kingdom
f Wurttemberg, German Empire, Leather Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: 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:-
The tan baths hitherto known, and which are especially ordered for use against
rheumatism, gout, neuralgia, skin diseases and the like, have an extremely small
curative power, even when strongly concentrated Tannin is employed.
According to the present invention, the most striking curative effects are
attained, as has been proved by practical experiments.
This improved result is attained by supplying electric current through carbon
electrodes to the bath in which the Taunin solution is placed. The electric
current passes through the Tannin solution, and reacts upon the body of the
bather in such a manner that the pulse is quickened as the current passes along
all the blood vessels, nerves, and so forth over the whole surface of the human
body through the strong Tannin solution uniformly from the outside through
to the heart.
By means thereof the substances contained in the blood which are to be separated
out, are again detached and reconducted to the heart, whereby the cleansing of
the blood by means of the kidneys can take place.
Figure 1 shews a view partially in section of such a bath arrangement and
Figure 2 shews a view from above of the same, whilst
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate details.
In the corners of the bath 1 to be filled with Tannin solution, which bath may
be of any suitable shape, are placed bars 2 in the slots of which the electrodes 3
are placed. For this purpose light removable frames made of wooden bars are
employed, through the slits of which the electrodes are thrust, and which are
held at a suitable distance apart in this manner, as shewn in Figures 1, 3, and 4.
It is advisable to make use of carbon electrodes, because these have the advantage
over electrodes of copper and the like in that they do not contaminate the Tannin
solution. In the example shewn each frame possesses four electrodes, provided on
both sides with brass strips 5. These strips are screwed together and are placed
in connection with the main conductors 6, 7. The one conducting wire 7 passes
around the bath and is separated from the same by insulators 8. The connecting
wire 6 is attached to a terminal 9 fixed in a plate 17, whereas the wire 7 is
connected to the terminal 10. From the terminals 9, 10, the wires pass through
the rheostats 18. The current passing through these is supplied through the
terminals 11, 12, 13, 14 which are connected by wires to the terminals 15, 16,
to which the main current conductor 6, 7, is connected.
On the plate 17 is further placed a reversing switch 19 in order to be able to
reverse the current. A voltmeter 20, which might also be replaced by an
ampere-meter serves to measure the current strength, whilst a bell 21 interposed
in the current circuit serves to give a signal to the bath attendant.
The Tannin fluid is discharged through the plug-hole 22. If this can be placed
in direct communication with a tannery there is a great economy, because the
liquor can then be used for tanning purposes, so that the cost of a bath even with
strong liquor is comparatively small.
The tannin solution can also be used over again for several baths, only it is
then advisable to filter it in a suitable manner, which may be conveniently effected
by allowing it to flow through troughs filled with tan.
The fluid is then just as pure for subsequent baths as for the first, so that the
conveying of any infectious matter cannot take place. According as the upper
and lower, or the side electrodes are put in use, the current man be directed
from the head to the feet or from the one side to the other side of the bath.
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. A Tannin bath arrangement characterized by a bath (1) to be filled with
Tannin solution, to which electric current is supplied for the purpose of securing

page_text: increased curative effect in such a manner that the main conductor (6, 7), is in
connection with electrodes (3), which are easily removable, and are placed in
the bath.
2. A bath arrangement such as set forth in Claim 1 characterized by having
placed upon a plate 17, a rheostat 18, a reversing switch 19, a current meter 20,
and a bell 21, in such manner that apparatuses which control the current at will
are easily accessible and can be controlled from the bath.
3. A bath arrangement such as set forth in Claim 1 characterized by having
its carbon electrodes 3 which avoid the contaminating of the Tannin solution
inserted in slotted wood frames 4 in such a manner that they are easily removable
at any time.
this 15th day of August 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.