Improvements in the Mode of and Means Employed for Automatically Administering Medical Electricity to the Human Frame, also Applicable for other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1887
Complete Left, 17th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 20th Apr., 1888
Improvements in the Mode of and Means Employed for Automatically
Administering Medical Electricity to the Human Frame, also
Applicable for other Purposes.
I, MATTHEW NIGHTINGALE of 85 Gracechurch Street, London, E.C. Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to that class of apparatus known generally as medical
coils, and has for its object the administration of a current of electricity to the human
frame, the completion of the electrical circuit being effected automatically, by turning
a handle which acts as a conductor and regulator of the strength of the current.
In carrying out my invention, 1 provide an enclosing case or box of suitable
dimensions, the front and top of which are preferably hinged for facilitating access
to the interior. Within said case or box is arranged a suitable number of cells
forming an electrical battery of any desired type. Upon one side of the interior of
the case or box is attached an induction coil, which latter is suspended upon a
pivotted lever, so that it may be free to vibrate laterally. Two handles of suitable
size and form are attached to the exterior front of the enclosing case, one rf which is
fixed, and the other arranged to allow of its being turned to the right or to the left
as may be desired. A crank fitted upon the spindle of the movable handle within
the case or box allows of the rotation thereof against a spiral or other spring for
operating the iron core of the coil above referred to, so that the strength or intensity
of the current of electricity may be regulated according to requirements. A contact
cam upon the spindle of the movable handle makes contact with a metal spring or
brush upon a slight rotatory movement of said handle, and completes the electrical
circuit, the spring or brush being electrically connected to one pole of the battery of
cells above mentioned. The opposite pole of the battery is connected through a
suitable contact maker to the rigid handle. A metal catch is so arranged, that the
rotation of the movable handle which starts the machine is prevented, and the
mechanism is locked. Said catch is raised by means of a key or equivalent, without
which the mechanism cannot be started. Or, instead of the catch being raised by a

page_text: key as above described, I may so arrange and balance the catch, that the dropping of a
coin into a slit formed in the case lifts the catch, which, unlocking the mechanism,
allows of the device being used, the movable handle being again fixed by the catch,
upon being released, in which latter case the device according to my invention may
be made to act as an automatic collector of money.
The regulation of the length of the iron core which is enclosed within the coil, is
effected by the crank attached to the movable handle, above mentioned. The semi-
circular movement of the end of said crank to which the iron core of the coil is
pivotted is compensated for by reason of the suspension of the coil to the pivotted
lever above mentioned. In order to allow of the total withdrawal of the iron core
from the coil, a supplementary length of brass or other nonmagnetic material is
attached to said core.
I may in connection with the above apparatus provide a floor plate, or a chair,
arranged as a conductor, in electrical communication with one pole of the apparatus,
or a bath similarly connected.
A pointer attached to the movable handle may indicate the degree of strength or
intensity of the current, upon a graduated dial, and a ratchet plate and pawl may also
be attached to said handle for maintaining the current at any desired strength. With
a view further to conduct the current away, I may insert clips, screws or equivalent,
in sockets formed in the handles.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Grays Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in the Mode of and Means Employed for Automatically
Administering Medical Electricity to the Human Frame, also
Applicable for other Purposes.
I MATTHEW NIGHTINGALE of 85 Gracechurch Street London E.C. 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:-
My Invention has reference to the application of a primary or secondary current
of electricity to the human body, for medical purposes, the regulation of the strength
of said current being entirely under the control of the patient and a special arrange-
ment is provided whereby, on the insertion in a suitable slot of a coin of pre-
determined value representing a fee, the electrical circuit can be completed and the
current administered to the patient, such automatic collection of coin being a special
feature of the device or contrivance according to my Invention.
In order that my Invention may be the better understood I have appended the
accompanying sheet of Drawings, in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional
elevational view and Figure 2. a transverse sectional elevational view of the device or
contrivance according to my Invention, drawn on line A B Figure 1.
In carrying out my Invention, I provide an enclosing case or box A of suitable
dimensions, the front and top thereof being preferably hinged for facilitating access
to the interior. Within said case or box A is arranged one or more cells B of an
Electrical Battery, of any suitable type. Upon one side of the interior of the case or
box A is attached an induction coil C, or in certain cases I may employ a primary
coil, suspended upon a suitable pivot a so that it may be free to move laterally.
Two handles of suitable size and form are attached to the exterior front of the
enclosing case or box A aforesaid, one of which D is fixed, and the other D¹
arranged to allow of its being turned to the right or to the left as may be desired.
A double crank, b fitted upon the spindle e. of the moveable handle D' within the
Case or Box A allows of the rotation thereof against the tention of a spiral or other
spring c, for the purpose of causing the iron core d, to slide in or out of the coil C,
in order that the strength or intensity of the current of electricity may be regulated
according to requirements-A contact cam f is fixed upon the spindle e of the
moveable handle D¹, in such a manner that it makes electrical contact with a metal
spring or brush g, upon a slight rotatory movement of the handle D' and the spindle e,
and thereby completes the electrical circuit, the spring or brush g being electrically
connected to one pole of the battery B. above mentioned. The opposite pole of said
battery is connected through a suitable contact breaker h. to the fixed handle D-A
metal catch i, shown in detail in Figure 3, is pivotted at J, the lower end of which
engages with a cam piece k, upon the spindle e, of said moveable handle D'. A
flap, attached to, or forming part of the cam piece k, closes or partly closes the lower
;

page_text: opening of a trough or shoot E, the position of the upper aperture corresponding with
a slit m in the lid of the containing case or box A. A coin of predetermined weight,
size and value, being inserted in said slit m, will fall by gravity down the trough or
shoot E, and strike the pivotted balanced flap 1, which becomes displaced as shown by
the dotted lines in Figure 3, thus removing the catch i from its engagement with the
cam piece K. The handle D¹ upon the spindle e may now be turned, in, which action
electrical contact is established between the contact breaker h, (which is connected to
the battery B.) and handle D¹. The secondary wires n―n' are also coupled to the two
handles D D respectively, or, in the case of a primary coil, the primary wires are
suitably branched to serve the purpose of conveying the current to the handles D, D¹.
The handle D¹ is locked by the catch i and the cam piece k until a coin of sufficient
weight to balance the catch i be dropped through the orifice or slit m, and until this
operation is performed the electrical contact is not established.
The current strength is, of course, regulated by the degree of immersion of the iron
core d. into the coil C, this is effected by the double crank b before referred to, and
an index p Figure 4, fixed to the handle or knob D' indicates the strength or degree
of intensity of the current upon a graduated quadrant q. This may if necessary be
fitted with ratchet teeth so as to secure the handle to any strength of current.
I may
as an alternative arrangement, provide a single lever or arm upon the spindle e of the
handle or knob D', the end of which is attached to the iron core, in this case the
locking arrangement represented on the drawing by a cam piece k. and a catch i.
and flap l. would be replaced by a flap and catch acting direct upon the lever. The
oscillatory movement of the coil C upon the pivot a allowing of the reciprocatory
motion of the iron core d in both cases, without causing undue friction or straining.
In combination with the apparatus above described, I may provide a floor plate;
or a chair, arranged as a conductor in electrical communication with one pole of the
apparatus, or I may apply the poles to a bath, or arrange screws, clips or equivalent
devices in connection with flexible conductors for transmitting the induced or primary
current to any required distance from the apparatus.
•
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First-The improved apparatus for automatically administering a current of
electricity to the human body substantially as herein described and shown in the
accompanying drawings.
Second In the improved apparatus herein described and referred to in the
preceding claim, the method which I adopt for releasing the regulating handle D'
and enabling the electrical circuit to be completed by means of the weight of a coin
actuating a counterbalanced catch i in combination with an induction or primary
coil, contact breaker and electric battery substantially as herein set forth and shown.
Third-In an electrical apparatus for automatically administering a current of
electricity to the human body, the mode of and means employed for varying the
strength or intensity of the current according to the will of the operator, and provided
with a graduated scale and index and mechanism for actuating the core substantially
as herein set forth and shown.
Dated this Eleventh day of February 1888.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Grays Inn Chambers,
20, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent for Applicant.