Year: 1886

page_text: declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
The object of my invention is to combine with the medicinal and curative effects
of plasters a mild electric current, which shall be equally distributed over the
entire surface of the plaster.
Plasters have been made in which small plates of metal overlapping each other
have been embedded in the substance of the plaster, occupying a small portion of
its central area, but these have been found objectionable because of the con-
centration of the electric action in a small area, and the consequent active local
effect upon the skin. To obtain a milder, more uniform, & evenly distributed
electric action,
place two or more alternating peices or strips of foil, or thin
sheets of different metals, having marked electric reactions with each other,
between the cloth or paper backing of the plaster and the gummy composition of
the plaster itself. If only one peice or strip of each kind of metal foil is used, each
occupys nearly the entire half the surface of the plaster, leaving an outer margin
where the plaster composition and its backing of cloth or paper come in direct
contact to bind them together; and if found necessary perforations can be made
in the metal foil to allow additional contacts of the backing and plaster com-
positions for the same purpose.
If more than two peices of metal foil are used, they are so arranged that the
strip of one kind of metal is next to and in contact only with the strip of the other
kind of metal, and not in contact with a strip of metal of its own kind. As for
example, zinc would be followed by copper, which would seperate it from the next
strip of zinc; following the plan of arrangement of the well known voltaic pile.
These strips can be arranged side by side over the whole surface of the plaster, a
strip of one kind of metal alternating and in contact with a strip of the other kind
of metal; or a compound strip can be made of two kinds of metal joined end to
end, that is to say, one half of its length would be of one kind of metal and the
other half of another, and the two metals joined in the middle; and these compound
strips need not touch on their sides but may have intervals between serving to
bind the plaster to its backing. Such compound strips may be arranged so that all

page_text: the ends of the same kind of metal shall be on the same side of the plaster, or so
that one half of the ends of one kind of metal shall be on one side and one half of
the ends of the other kind of metal shall alternate with them on the same side.
In order that the skin may, when the plaster is applied, be in direct contact with
the metal foils, I perforate the sheets of plaster composition before joining them
with the backing and intervening metal foil. Any two metals having electric
reactions may be used, but I use preferably, zinc with copper, or zinc with silver,
or copper with silver, or, if a stronger electric action is required, hydrogenized lead
with peroxide of lead.
Instead of the interposition of metal foil between the composition and the cloth
or paper backing of the plaster, I can deposit the metals directly on the surface of
the cloth or paper backing, and use strips or peices of such metal-coated-backing,
alternating the different metals in the same manner as above described.
TL
1000

page_text: ELI LEMON SHELDON, merchant of number 3 Lombard Court Lombard Street
London E.C. do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVED
MEDICINAL PLASTERS and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to combine with the medicinal or curative effects
of plasters a mild electric current which shall be equally distributed over the entire
surface of the plaster-Plasters have been already made in which small over-
lapping plates or discs of metal were embedded in the substance of the plaster
occupying but a small portion of its central area, but these have been found
objectionable in practice because of the concentration of the electric action in a
small area and the consequent active local effect on the skin-To obtain a milder
more uniform and evenly distributed electric action I cover the face of the plaster
(which may be either a medicinal plaster or simply a neutral sticky substance
spread like a medicinal plaster) with two or more alternating strips or pieces of
foil or thin sheets of different metals having marked electric reactions the one with
the other-These metal foils or sheets are arranged alternately to give the effect of
the well known voltaic pile, that is, the edge of the one metal zinc for example,
overlaps or is in contact with the edge of the other metal, tin for example, and the
tin would also be in contact with the edge of a second piece of zinc on the other
side, and so on, the two different metals alternating and being in contact with each
other over the entire face of the plaster. In this manner I form a continuous
metallic surface so arranged as to produce when applied to the skin a mild and
uniform current of electricity varying in electro-motive force according to the
character of the metals employed from about one fourth of a volt to one volt-In
order that this metallic surface may be kept in close contact with the skin I allow
the outside margin of the plaster for the space of about one fourth of an inch to
remain free and uncovered by the metallic surface and I also perforate or cut with
a stencil die the sheets or foils forming the metallic surface so as to allow the
sticky substance of the plaster to be exposed and uncovered at several points over
the plaster-These perforations or stenciled apertures together with the free margin
around the outside of the plaster allow sufficient contact between the skin and the
sticky substance of the plaster to hold the plaster and its metallic surface closely
and firmly against the skin thus securing a uniform and constant electric action.
Particular attention is invited to this feature of my invention, as in many of the
so called electric belts chains and batterys to be worn on the body there is no
efficient means of securing a close and uniform contact of the apparatus and the
skin, and although my invention may be called an electric plaster, the sticky
substance of the plaster may or may not be medicinal, its object and purpose being
chiefly to bind and keep in close contact with the skin the metallic surface
arranged as before described-Although I have mentioned above zinc and tin for
the purpose of illustration, any two metals having marked electric reactions can be
used, but I prefer to use in practice tin and electrolytically deposited magnesium

page_text: or if a less electromotive force is required, I use tin and an alloy of magnesium and
zinc which alloy I deposit electrically-It is obvious that instead of cutting away
parts of the metallic surface to allow points of sticky contact with the skin, I can
overlay the metallic surface with enough points or slips of sticky material to
ensure that the plaster shall be kept in contact with the skin. Instead of metal
sheets or foils, I can deposit the metals directly on strips of cloth and use such
cloth as backing of plasters alternating the strips of such metal coated cloth
backing as before described.
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. An electric plaster producing a mild electric-current over its whole surface
substantially as described.
2. An arrangement by which a metallic surface composed of strips or pieces of
foils or thin sheets of two different metals arranged alternately to give the effect
of the well known voltaic pile, and whose edges are in contact or overlap, can be
closely held and kept in contact with the skin to secure the curative effect of the
electric current thereby generated, substantially as described.
3. The combination of magnesium and tin as a voltaic arrangement in an electric
plaster.
4. The combination of magnesium-zinc alloy and tin as a voltaic arrangement in
an electric plaster.
Dated this 28th day of September 1886.