Improvements in Electric Baths or Apparatus for Applying Electricity for Medical or other similar Purposes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Aug., 1890-Accepted; 27th Sept.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electric Baths or Apparatus for Applying
Electricity for Medical or other similar Purposes.
I, Dr. GUSTAV GAERTNER of Vienna in the Empire of Austria, Professor at the
University of Vienna, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The present invention relates to electric baths for applying electricity for medical
or like purposes the chief objects to be attained by means of the improved bath
which I term a two cell bath being (1) to compel the electric current to pass
through the parts to be acted on without waste of electricity and (2) to cause the
amount of current passing at all points of the submerged parts to be approximately
equal.
According to this invention I divide the bath into two perfectly separate com-
partments or cells by means of a partition made in two parts. The lower part of
this partition is permanently united to the sides and to the bottom of the bath but
the upper part is capable of being removed or of sliding upwards and downwards
in guides so as to be capable of joining the lower part and forming with the latter
a partition making a tight joint with the sides and bottom of the bath. Both the
upper and the lower divisions of this partition are cut away so as to form an
opening between them the edges of which are provided with india rubber cushions
or pads.
Suitable electrodes or metal plates are provided around the interior of the bath
at the sides and those in one compartment are connected with the positive pole and
those in the other compartment with the negative pole of the electric generator or
source of electricity. Inside these electrodes or plates a wood lining may be
provided.
The patient places himself in the bath (the upper part of the partition being
removed) in such a position that his two thighs for example rest upon the air
cushion on the under part of the partition. The upper part of the partition is
then slidden into position and the air cushions may then be inflated with air so that
they adhere closely to the submerged parts. By these means with the aid of the
partition the bath is completely divided into two compartments electrically connected
solely by the immersed parts of the patient through which the whole of the electric
current is consequently caused to pass, in proceeding from one compartment to the
other. Weights sand bags or other suitable means may be employed to retain the
upper part of the partition in position.
Dated this 23rd day of November 1889
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Electric Baths or Apparatus for Applying
Electricity for Medical or other similar Purposes.
I Dr. GUSTAV GAERTNER of Vienna in the Empire of Austria Professor at the
University of Vienna 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 :-
The present invention relates to electric baths or apparatus for applying electricity

page_text: for medical or other like purposes the chief objects to be attained by means of the
improved bath which I terin a two cell bath being as follows namely:-(1) to compel
practically the whole of the electric current to pass through the parts to be acted on
and (2) to cause the amount of current passing at every point of the said parts to be
approximately equal.
In order to obtain these results I divide the electric bath by a non-conducting
partition into two compartments one of which is connected with the positive pole
the other being connected with the negative pole of the electric generator and I
place the limb or other part to be operated on in an opening in this partition so
that it forms the sole connection between the two compartments as hereinafter
described.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several figures on the
annexed sheet of drawings the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in longitudinal section an
example of an electric bath constructed according to my invention for applying
electricity to the human body.
Figure 2 represents the bath in transverse section partly in elevation and Figure 3
is a plan of the same.
This improved electric bath is divided into two perfectly separate compartments
or cells A and B by means of a partition CC Figure 2 made in two parts. The
lower part of this partition is permanently attached or united to the sides and to
the bottom of the bath but the upper part C is capable of being removed or of sliding
upwards and downwards in guide grooves D D so as to be capable of joining the
lower part and forming with the latter a partition making a tight joint with the sides
and bottom of the bath. Both the upper and the lower divisions of this partition
are cut away so as to form an opening X between them the edges of which opening
are lined or provided with india rubber cushions or pads E E¹.
Suitable electrodes or metal plates P P are provided around the interior of the
bath at the ends and sides, the electrodes in one compartment being connected with
the positive pole and those in the other compartment with the negativo pole of the
electric generator or source of electricity. Inside these electrodes or plates a wood
lining F may be provided as represented in the drawing.
In order to make use of this apparatus the patient places himself in the bath (the
upper part C of the partition being previously removed) in such a position that his
two thighs for example rest upon the air cushion E on the under part C¹ of the
partition. The upper part C of the partition is then slidden into position and the
air cushions E E₁ may then be inflated with air in such a manner as to apply them
closely to the submerged parts. By means of the cushions E¹ and the partition C C¹
the bath is now completely divided into two compartments A and B which are
electrically connected with one another solely by the immersed parts of the patient
between the cushions E Eso that the whole of the electric current is caused to pass
through these parts in its passage from one compartment to the other. Weights such
as the sand bags G Figure 1 or other suitable means may be employed to retain the
upper part of the partition in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. An electric bath divided by a partition C C¹ provided with an opening lined
with flexible or indiarubber air cushions E E' into two compartments A and B
with the object of causing the whole of the electricity to pass through the parts of
the human body which are placed in the aforesaid opening and which complete the
division of the bath into two compartments substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

page_text: 2nd. An electric bath or apparatus for applying electricity for medical or other
similar purposes constructed and operating substantially as herein before described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.