Improvements in the Method of Treating Nervous and other Disorders of the Human System, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 25th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Treating Nervous and other
Disorders of the Human System, and Apparatus therefor.
Communicated by THE ELECTROLIBRATION COMPANY, a body corporate under the
laws of the State of Alabama, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street Liverpool and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for treating nervous and
other disorders of the human system, and for improving the condition of foul or
impure air.
In carrying the invention into effect in the treatment of disease, a metallic cord
or wire or other conductor is used, provided at one end with a clasp or means of
attachment to the body of the patient, and at the other end with a metallic body of
suitable character, such for example as a case or shell filled with iron wires or small
fragments of iron."
The clasp on one end of this device is attached to the patient preferably in direct
contact with the flesh, and the case or shell at the opposite end subjected to a cooling
or heating influence, for example, by surrounding it with ice, immersing it in cold
water, or placing it in the outside atmosphere during cold weather, or, on the other
hand, by immersing it in hot water. In some cases it is advantageous to place the
shell or other terminal in the earth.
Under ordinary conditions it has not been found necessary to establish any
connections other than those above stated. A complete circuit, in the sense in
which the words are commonly used in the science of electricity, appears to be
unnecessary.
A thorough and long continued practice of the invention, including the treatment
of a great many persons suffering from a variety of complaints, bas established the
fact that the treatment above described will, in most cases, re-establish a normal and
healthy condition of the patient. In many complaints a single treatment of from one
hour upward is sufficient, but in more serious or critical cases the treatment is to be
repeated and prolonged as may be required.
In some cases, particularly when the ground connection is used, a sponge, moistened
cloth or other body, presenting a moist extended surface to the action of the atmosphere,
is connected to the conductor within the dwelling or apartment, and in such cases it. is
found that there is a decided tendency to improve the condition of the air as regards
its life-sustaining qualities.
In the accompanying drawings:
:―
Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the device connected at one end to the
limb of a patient and immersed at the other in a vessel of cold water.
As here shown the device consists simply of a wire or shell conductor, A, with the
clasp B at one end and the shell C at the opposite end.
Figure 2 represents the device detached, the shell C, composed of brass or like
material, being filled with iron wires.
Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the conductor A as extending from the
patient to a winding drum D on the wall, whence it is extended to the shell or
terminal C in the earth. E represents a sponge, saturated cloth or other suitable body
connected with the conductor. The drum is provided with a crank and serves as a
convenient means of winding up the free end of the conductor when the device is not
in use.

page_text: The theory regarding this device and the mode of treatment thereby is that disease
is in the main due to or accompanied by a disturbance of the electrical equilibrium of
the human body, and that the effect of the device is to re-establish this equilibrium.
It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not dependent upon this theory,
and the fact is recognised that the improvement in the patient may be due to some
other cause or effect which is not fully understood at the present day.
Dated this 3rd day of Raberam 1900
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Treating Nervous and other
Disorders of the Human System, and Apparatus therefor.
Communicated by THE ELECTROLIBRATION COMPANY, a body corporate under the
laws of the State of Alabama, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.L.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, 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 a method of and apparatus for treating nervous and
other disorders of the human system, and for improving the condition of foul or
impure air.
In carrying the invention into effect in the treatment of disease, a metallic cord or
wire or other conductor is used provided at one end with a clasp or means of attach-
ment to the body of the patient, and at the other end with a metallic body of suitable
character, such for example as a case or shell filled with iron wires or small fragments
of iron.
The clasp on one end of this device is attached to the patient, preferably in direct
contact with the flesh, and the case or shell at the opposite end subjected to a cooling.
or heating influence, for example, by surrounding it with ice, immersing it in cold
water, or placing it in the outside atmosphere during cold weather, or, on the other
hand, by immersing it in hot water. In some cases it is advantageous to place the
shell or other terminal in the earth.
Under ordinary conditions it has not been found necessary to establish any
connections other than those above stated. A complete circuit, in the sense in
which the words are commonly used in the science of electricity, appears to be
unnecessary.
A thorough and long continued practice of the invention, including the treatment
of a great many persons suffering from a variety of complaints, has established the
fact that the treatment above described will, in most cases, re-establish a normal and
healthy condition of the patient. In many complaints a single treatment of from one
hour upward is sufficient, but in more serious or critical cases the treatment is to be
repeated and prolonged as may be required.
In some cases, particularly when the ground conuection is used, a sponge, moistened
cloth or other body, presenting a moist extended surface to the action of the atmosphere,
is connected to the conductor within the dwelling or apartment, and in such cases it.is
found that there is a decided tendency to improve.the condition of the air as regards.
its life sustaining qualities.
In the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification:
Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the device connected at one end to the.
limb of a patient and immersed at the other in a vessel of cold water.
As here shown, the device consists simply of a wire or shell.conductor-A, with the
clasp B at one end and the shell C at the opposite end.

page_text: Figure 2 represents the device detached, the shell (), composed of brass or like
material, being filled with iron wires.
Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the conductor A as extending from the
patient to a winding drum D on the wall, whence it is extended to the shell or
terminal (in the earth. E represents a sponge, saturated cloth or other suitable body
connected with the conductor. The drum is provided with a crank and serves as a
convenient means of winding up the free end of the conductor when the device is not
in use.
The theory regarding this device and the mode of treatment thereby is that disease
is in the main due to or accompanied by a disturbance of the electrical equilibrium
of the human body, and that the effect of the device is to re-establish this
equilibrium. It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not dependent
upon this theory, and the fact is recognised that the improvement in the patient
may be due to some other cause or effect which is not fully understood at the
present day.
Having now particularly described and ascertained tho nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:
--
1. The herein described method of treating nervous or other disorders, consisting in
connecting the body of the patient by a conductor with a metallic or like terminal sub-
jected to a cooling or heating influence.
2. The improved device for the treatment of nervous disorders, consisting of the
metallic or equivalent conductor, the clasp at one end of the same and the metallic
body at the opposite end.
3. The device for treating nervous and other disorders, consisting of the conductor,
the clasp at one end and the hollow metallic body at the opposite end with a filling of
iron wires or equivalent materials therein.
Dated this 6th day of September 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.