Improvements in Bath Apparatus for Treatment with Electricity and Medicinal Substances.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bath Apparatus for Treatment with Electricity and
Medicinal Substances.
:
I, CARL EMIL SCHNÉE, of Karlsbad, Austria, Doctor of Medicine, and Physician
to the Austro-Hungarian General Consulate in Karlsbad, 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 an arrangement for carrying out several methods for
treating the human body, namely, commonly by electrifying or galvanisation
as well as by kataphoresis or the introduction of medicaments in the human
body.
The invention consists of bath apparatus with four separate tubs or receptacles
each of which receives only one limb of the human body at a time, these four
tubs being so combined with an adjustable chair that the body to be treated
may assume a comfortable position during the treatment:-.
I will describe the apparatus with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which Fig. 1^ 2 and 3 are respectively a front view, sectional side view
and plan of the complete apparatus. Figs. 4* 5 and 6 shew detached details,
while Figs. 1 to 50 shew diagrams illustrative of the mode of operating with
the apparatus.
The four separate tubs can be connected with the electric circuit as required
so that the current flows through the body in fifty different directions. For
placing the body as comfortably as possible the chair combined with the four
tubs is so constructed, that the arm-tubs may be elevated and lowered as well
as removed and turned horizontally. The body of the patient is brought into
the right position relatively to the four tubs by elevating or lowering the
movable seat of the chair.
The fifty different current directions (bathing combinations) are shewn in
Figs. 1 to 50, wherein the courses of the current through the human body is
shewn by arrows for different kinds of treatment, while in the squares the dírec-
tion is shown diagrammatically. According to the kind of connection of the
tubs with the electric circuit employed and by reversing each kind of connection
the current is made to flow through the body in the directions hereinafter
described. Using all the four tubs the fourteen bathing combinations A1, A2,
A³,
(Fig: 1 to 14) are possible; by disconnecting one tub, i.e. by using
three tubs, the twenty four bathing combinations B1 B2 B³
(Fig. 15
to 38), and by disconnecting two tubs the twelve bathing combinations C C³
(Fig. 39 to 50) can be carried out.
03
The electric current, flows as follows:-
A¹, Fig. 1: The current flows from both arms through the body in vertical
direction downwards to both legs.
A³, Fig. 2: By reversing the direction A' the current flows from both legs
through the body upwards to both arms.

page_text: A³, Fig. 3: The current flows from the the right limbs through the body hori-
zontally from the right to the left and through both left limbs.
A, Fig. 4: By reversing the direction of A³ the current flows from the left
limbs horizontally through the body to both right limbs.
A, Fig. 5: The current flows from the right arm through the upper part of
body (horizontally from the right to the left) and through the left arm as well
as through the right hand part of the body (vertically downwards) and through
the right leg, at the same time through the left hand leg and the lower part of
the body (horizontally from the left to the right) and through the right leg as
well as through the left part of body (vertically upwards) and through the left
arm.
A, Fig. 6: By reversing the direction of As the current flows along the same
lines in the direction opposite to that shewn in A5.
A7, Fig. 7: The current flows from the upper limbs through the body and
the left leg (on the right hand vertically downwards as well as diametrically from
the right to the left downwards and in the lower part horizontally from the left
to the right) and through the right leg.
As, Fig. 8: By reversing the direction of A7 the current flows along the same
lines as in Fig. 7, but in opposite direction of that in Fig. 7.
A, Fig. 9 The current flows from both upper limbs through the whole body
(on the left hand vertically downwards and diametrically downwards from the
right to the left as well as in the lower part of body horizontally from the right
to the left) and through the left leg.
A1, Fig. 10: By reversing the direction of A' the current flows the same
lines as last described but in opposite direction.
A", Fig. 11 The current flows through the lower limbs, the right arm and
the whole body (on the left hand vertically upwards and diametrically from the
right to the left upwards and in the upper part horizontally from the right to the
left) as well as through the left arm.
A, Fig. 12: By reversing the direction of A", Fig. 11 the current flows the
same way as that of the kind A" but in opposite direction.
AB, Fig. 13: The current flows from both lower limbs through the body,
the left arm (on the right hand vertically upwards, as well as diametrically from
left to right upwards and in the upper part horizontally from the left to the
right) and through the right arm.
A, Fig. 14: By reversing the direction of A" the current flows in opposite
direction but along the same lines.
If one, or two, tubs are not connected with the source of electricity, the follow-
ing thirty-six combinations can be made, twenty four of which are produced by
disconnecting one tub (combinations B) while the twelve combinations C are
obtained by disconnecting two tubs.
After having disconnected one of the tubs the electric current flows as
follows:-
1, Fig. 15: The current flows from both upper limbs through the body and
the right leg.
12, Fig. 16 shows the reversal of the combination B', wherein the current
flows along same path but in an opposite direction.
B, Fig. 17: The current flows through both upper limbs, the body (on the
left hand vertically downwards as well as diametrically downwards from the
right to the left) and the left leg.
B Fig. 18: By reversing the direction of B³ the current flows through the
left leg, the body, (on the left hand vertically upwards, as well as diametrically
upwards from left to right) and through both upper limbs.
15 Fig. 19: The current flows from the right arm and the right leg through
the body (in the upper part horizontally from the right to the left, as well as
diametrically upwards from the right to the left) and the left arm.
B, Fig. 20: By reversing the direction of B5 the current flows from the left

page_text: arm through the body (in the upper part horizontally from left to right and
diametrically downwards from the left to the right) and through the right arm
and the right leg.
B, Fig. 21: The current flows from the right arm and the right leg through
the body (in the lower part horizontally from the right to the left, as well as
diametrically downwards from right to left) and the left leg.
Bs, Fig. 22: By reversing the direction of B7 the current flows through the
left leg, the body (in the lower part horizontally from the left to the right and
diametrically upwards from the left to the right) and consequently through the
right arm and the right leg.
B, Fig. 23; The current flows from the lower limbs through the body (on
the right hand vertically upwards, and diametrically upwards from the left to
the right) and through the right arm.
B10, Fig. 24; By reversing the direction of B9 the current flows through the
right arm, the body (on the right hand vertically downwards, as well as dia-
metrically downwards from the right to the left) and through both lower limbs.
B, Fig. 25 The current flows from the lower limbs through the body (on
the left side vertically upwards and diametrically upwards from right to left)
and through the left arm.
B3, Fig. 26: By reversing the direction of B the current flows through the
left arm, the body (on the left side vertically downwards, and diametrically
downwards from left to right) and through both lower limbs.
BB, Fig. 27: The current flows through the left arm and the left leg, through
the body (in the upper part horizontally from the left to the right, as well as
diametrically upwards from the left to the right) and through the right arm.
B, Fig. 28: By reversing the direction of B13 the current Hows from the right
arm through the body (in the upper part horizontally from the right to the
left, and diametrically downwards from the right to the left) and through the
left arm as well as the left leg.
115, Fig. 29; The current flows from the left arm and the left leg through
the body (in the lower part horizontally from the left to the right, and dia-
metrically downwards from the left to the right) and through the left leg.
B16, Fig. 30: By reversing the direction of B the current flows from the
right leg through the body (in the lower part horizontally from the right to the
left and diametrically upwards from right to left) through the left arm as well
as through the left leg.
B, Fig. 31 The current flows from the right arm, and the left leg through
the body (on the right side vertically downwards and in the lower part of the
body horizontally from the left to the right) and through the right leg.
B18 Fig. 32: By reversing the direction B the current flows from the right
leg through the body (on the right side vertically upwards, as well as in the
lower part horizontally from the right to the left) and through the right arm and
the left leg.
B, Fig. 33: The current flows from the right arm and the left leg through
the body (on the left side vertically upwards and in the upper part horizontally
from the right hand to the left hand) and through the left arm.
1320 Fig. 34: By reversing the direction of B the current flows from the left
arm through the body (on the left hand vertically downwards as well as in the
upper body part horizontally from the left to the right) and through the right
arm and the left leg.
B21, Fig. 35: The current flows from the left arm and the right leg through
the body (on right side vertically upwards, and in the upper part horizontally
from the left to the right) to the right arm.
B, Fig. 36: By reversing direction B₁ the current flows from the right arm
through the body (on the right side vertically downwards, and in the upper part
horizontally from the right to the left) to the left arm and the right leg.
B23, Fig. 37: The current flows from the left arm and the right leg through

page_text: the body (on the left hand vertically downwards and in the lower part horizon-
tally from the right to the left) to the left leg.
B2, Fig. 38: By reversing the direction of B23 the current flows from the
left leg through the body (on the left side vertically upwards as well as in the
lower part horizontally from the left to the right) to the left arm and the right leg.
If one hand-tub and one foot-tub, or two hand tubs or two foot tubs are dis-
connected the electric current flows as follows:
C, Fig. 39: The current flows from the right arm through the upper part of
the body horizontally to the left arm.
C2, Fig. 40: By reversing the connection used in the combination C¹ the
current flows from the left arm through the upper part of body horizontally to
the right arm.
C³, Fig. 41: The current flows from the right leg through the lower part
of the body to the left leg..
2.
CFig. 42 By reversing direction of C³ the current flows from the left leg
through the lower part to the right leg.
C, Fig. 43 The current flows from the right arm on the right side vertically
downwards through the body to the right leg.
C, Fig. 44: By reversing direction of Cthe current flows from the right
leg vertically upwards on the right side through the body to the right arm.
C, Fig. 45. The current flows from the left arm vertically downwards through
the body to the left leg.
C, Fig. 46: By reversing direction of C the current flows from the left leg
vertically upwards through the body to the left arm.
C, Fig. 47. The current flows from the right arm through the body diametri-
cally downwards from right to left to the left leg.
C, Fig. 48: By reversing direction of Cthe current flows from the left leg
through the body diametrically upwards from the left to right to the right arm.
Cu, Fig. 49: The current flows from the left arm through the body dia-
metrically downwards to the right leg.
C12, Fig. 50: By reversing direction of Cu the current flows from the right
leg through the body diametrically upwards to the left arm.
The apparatus used for carrying out the above stated fifty bathing com-
binations is as already mentioned-so constructed that the patient can assume
a comfortable and natural position therein.
The apparatus comprises four separate tubs a¹, a², b1 and 2 of non-conducting
material which shall not be affected by the influences produced by the treatment.
Such a material may be preferably porcelain but any other material adapted for
this purpose may be employed. "The tubs with their oblong rounded-off and
tapering shape may be longer (al and a²) or higher (and 2) according to its
purpose i.e. to receive an arm or a leg. The four tubs are combined with an
especially constructed chair, so that the tub can be brought in the most suitable
position for receiving the limbs.
The arm-rests are carried by toothed racks c, reaching through the cross rails
arranged on both sides of the chair. Upon cach of those cross rails a bar e
mounted on a vertical pivot is arranged, the ends of the bars e being so sharpened
that they engage with the gaps between the teeth of the racks c. For elevating
or lowering the arm-rests the bars e must be turned on their pivot. When the
arm-rest is then brought to the desired height, the bar e is turned back in the
plane of the racks c so as to engage therewith. Both arm-rests consist of three
plates, the lowest of which (f and f) is fastened upon the racks c. Plate fas
well as plate f¹ have two dovetailed grooves, wherein are loosely provided move-
able bars g, and g', g'. The bars g and gl have a double dovetailed cross section
and lie with their upper dovetailed halves in corresponding grooves of plates
and the latter being moveable along the bars g, g¹. Upon the plates h, hare
provided plates and the latter being connected with the first by pivots i, i
around which pivot the plates k, k can be horizontally, turned. By this con-

page_text: struction I render it possible to bring the arm tubs into any required
position.
The seat plate d (Figs. 4 and 6) is carried by a frame (Figs. 4 and 5^) sup-.
ported by racks 7. The frame of the seat is composed of four bars forming
a trapeze the four corners of which carry the racks 7. On each side of the chair
a rail is provided (Fig. 4^) through which the racks are put and whereupon a
bar o lays, the sharpened ends of which may fit with the gaps in the teeth of
the racks. The trapeze shaped frame is provided with a middle bar p¹. In
all the three bars p, p, p two dovetailed grooves are formed for receiving two
corresponding bars y which are attached to the seat plate. The seat arranged in
this manner may be covered with an insulating covering, the upper end of which
reaches beyond the back support r.
A bracket m can be attached to the back support of the chair for carrying
electric controlling apparatus or the like if desired.
Each of the four tubs is provided with two guides s adapted to receive electrodes
of corresponding dimensions, preferably manufactured of prepared hard carbon.
To the binding screw of each electrode a conducting wire is attached but the
two wires of each tub are afterwards connected so that they form only one con-
ducting wire therefore in each separate tub only positive or negative current
at the time can be introduced and never positive and negative currents at the
same time.
When the tubs are filled with liquid (water with or without medicaments) to
the necessary height the apparatus is ready to be used.
The patient acts as the single conducting means between the four tubs a¹, a²,
1, 63, for the electric current so that the current is compelled to flow through it.
The electric current introduced in the tubs flows through the insulated body in
the above named fifty combinations, according to the particular circuit com-
bination employed and depending upon how many and which of the tubs are
connected with the positive pole, and how many and which of the tubs are con-
nected with the negative pole.
All these fifty combinations can be employed for four different kinds of treat-
ment; 1, for galvanising, 2, for faradisation, 3, for galvano-faradisation, 4, for
kataphoresis that is for the introduction of medicaments in the human body;
thus the human body can be treated in the fifty different combinations by gal-
vanic current, in the fifty combinations by faradic current, in the fifty combina-
tions by combined galvanic and faradic current and further by the fifty com-
binations medicaments can be introduced in the human body.
It will be seen from the foregoing that by my present invention I place at
the disposal of medical men two hundred different methods for treating the human
body, from which they can choose the special combination or combinations adapted
to the individual qualities of the patient.
I wish it to be understood I do not claim generally the combination of four
electric baths for electric treatment as this is already described in the Specification
to my Patent No. 18475 of 1897.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. Electric bath apparatus consisting of the combination with an adjustable
bathing chair of four separated tubs of non-conducting material (preferably
porcelain) each of which receives one limb of the body and which can be con-
nected in different combinations for every kind of treatment of the body, sub-
stantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
2. Electric four-tub bath with four separated tubs of non-conducting material
(preferably porcelain) each of which receives one limb of the body and which can
be connected in different combinations for every kind of treatment of the body,
combined with an adjustable bathing chair, the arm rest of which carry plates

page_text: that receive the arm tubs and are capable of being elevated and lowered, hori-
zontally moved and turned in the horizontal plane, substantially as described
and for the purpose set forth.
3. Electric four tub bath with four separated tubs of non-conducting material
(preferably porcelain) each of which receives one limb and which can be con-
nected in different combinations for every kind of treatment of the body, com-
bined with an adjustable bathing chair, the seat plate of which can be elevated
and lowered and moved more or less forward, substantially as described and
for the purpose set forth.
4. Electric four tub bath with four separated tuls of non-conducting material
(preferably porcelain) each of which receives one limb and which can be con-
nected in different combinations for every kind of treatment of the body, com-
bined with an adjustable bathing chair, the seat and the back support of which
is covered with an insulating covering, substantially as described and for the
purpose set forth.
5. In a electric four tub bath with four separated tubs of non-conducting
material such as is referred to in the first and second claims constructing each
arm rest of three plates having a configuration corresponding to the tub form of
which the lowest plate (f, f') is carried by two racks (c) held in position by a
pivotally mounted bar (e) such plate f f¹ carrying two bars (g, g¹) guiding the
middle plate (h, h) provided with corresponding grooves, while to the plate h h
the third plate (k, ) is attached by means of a pivot (¹) substantially as
described and for the purposes set forth.
6. Electric four tub bath with four separated tubs of non-conducting material
such as is referred to in the first and third claims, constructing the seat with
dovetailed bars (g) provided on the underside of the seat plate (d) and fitting
into corresponding dovetailed grooves secured in bars (p, 2¹) of the seat frame
the latter carrying at each corner a rack (/), which can be held in position by
means of bars (e) with sharpened ends engaging with the spaces between the
rack teeth, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
7. Electric four-tub bath apparatus combined and operating as herein described
with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 13th day of December 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.