Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Electro-therapeutic Purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1898-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1898
[Communicated from abroad by Professor Doctor ANTONIO MAGGIORANI, of Rome,
Italy, Surgeon to H,M the King of Italy]
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Electro-therapeutic
Purposes.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C S., MI.M E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, 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:-
The present invention relates to an apparatus for electro therapeutics which
can be employed for ordinary or special baths, for electric baths or for hand or
foot baths, for fomentations and for other applications in the diy way
The speciality of this treatment consists in the different arrangements which
admit of the regulation with precision of the quantity of electric energy
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure shews the appaiatus which forms the object of the present application.
Figure 2 shows a special bath for complete bathing
The apparatus consists of a pile or battery A, the voltage of which is determined
by the system of pile employed The conducting wires are connected to an
electric bell, they then continue to the winding of an inductor of a Ruhmkorff
coil. The wires of the secondary coil terminate in the bath or upon the parts
of the body to be treated by electricity. The carbons C and the zinc plates Z of
the pile are supported by means of a wire D surrounding a gauge É provided
with a graduated dial and indicator The quantity of electricity furnished by
the piles depends on the amount of immersion of the carbon and of the zinc in
the liquid medium. The figures on the dial indicate the number of amperes
given by the battery The bell 18 of the usual construction only the coils Fare
placed upon a moving base and can consequently be removed at will from
the armature G An index or needle h passes over a graduated scale H and
shews the position of the coil F
The current passing in the coil F attracts the armature G overcoming the
resistance of the spring g The more the wires are separated from the armature G,
the more the electric energy will be increased By means of an ampere meter,
the different positions of the coils F are fixed, so that the bell will ring at one
or two amperes, and the graduated scale H will shew by means of the index h
the number of the amperes for each position of the coil
The two instruments above described assist and control one another Suppose
we require, for instance, a current of three amperes, the gauge E will be turned
until the needle shews 3; at the same time the wires F are so arranged that the
index h indicates 3 on the graduated scale H and the bell will ring thereat,
but if the index h 18 set to shew more than the bell would not ring until the
desired current is obtained,

page_text: In this manner it will be obvious that both the battery and the bell act as
ampere meters and the doctor will recognise with precision what electric energy
is being employed during the treatment.
The shunt E is used to send the current to the bell in order to fix the number
of amperes required, and then to turn the current directly to the Ruhmkorff coil.
This coil is constructed in the usual manner, but preferably with the following
modifications
Upon the base K 18 fixed the bar I on which the inductive coil L is attached
The central portion M 18 movable, and is constructed of a bundle of soft iron
wires provided with a graduated scale, which terminates at its upper end in an
eyelet and serves to give the different positions to the central part; the electric
energy of the inductor is thus changed as may be requisite. The secondary
coil N is mounted in a slide a so as to be able to be placed nearer or further
away at will by means of the bar I, thus causing an alteration in the penetration
of the inductor in the secondary coil, and consequently, an alteration in the
quantity of electric energy which has to be used during the treatment.
Upon the base & there is a graduated scale in opposition to an index or needle
fixed upon the slide n; by aid of these devices the doctor can regulate methodically
the amount of electric fluid which is to be passed to the patient. By this means the
graduation of the secondary coil is attained by the movement of the slide n, and
that of the inductor by means of the drawing in or out of the central part M
The conducting wires which pass from the secondary coil are connected by
means of terminals of pins, of balls, of metallic brushes, of rollers, of belts or
any other quitable device placed upon the suffering parts of the body when it is
required to apply the electricity in the dry way; if fomentations are required
the wires are placed in a felt which is then applied to the suffering part
however, there 18 required a total or partial immersion, the wires pass into the
water and are connected to suitable blades, drums or the like of any usual or con-
venient form
If,
The bath may have any convenient shape, but it is preferably constructed in the
form represented in Figure 2, especially for the treatment of heart affections
because the introduction of the water in it is regulated greatly according to what
the patient can bear, whilst the bath can be emptied in a very short space of
time by means of the outlet P. Further, the patient can take his bath in the
vertical position.
The conducting wires of this apparatus are constructed of an alloy of aluminium
or of phosphor bronze which has a great conductive power, or they may be formed
of alloys consisting essentially of nickel which does not oxidize, and also possesses
a great conducting power
My apparatus presents the following principal advantages --
1 It can be easily regulated and enables the precise distribution of the elec-
tricity to be made
2 It is easily transportable and can be erected at home in a very short space
of time
3. It can be controlled with facility by any person of ordinary intelligence
without the aid of a doctor
4 It can be used with other appliances for the treatment of the internal organs
of the body
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated
to me by my foreign correspondent. I declare that what I claim 18
The above described special apparatus for electro therapeutics composed of
the following elements (a) of a source of electricity capable of being regulated,
as for instance, by means of the immersion of the carbons and of the zinc plates
according to a graduated scale; (b) of an ampere meter of special construction
comprising an electric bell separable from the armature, the adjustment whereof

page_text: is indicated upon a graduated scale; (c) of a Ruhmkorff coil in which the central
portion of the inductor is movable, and in which the inductor is placed in a
movable slide for the purpose of modifying the force of the secondary coil; (d)
conducting wires formed of alloys of aluminium and of phosphor bronze or of
mickel; (e) the means described for causing the passage of a cui rent of electricity
through the water to the body of the patient or for applying the same by contact
in the dry way or combined with fomentation
2. In a special apparatus for electro therapeutics such as that set forth in
Claim 1, the use of a bath of the construction set forth substantially as described.
Dated the Seventh day of June 1898
W. P THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.