IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE CONSTRUCTION OF MEDICO-ELECTRIC. SURFACES."
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Kershaw, of Upton Cottage, Slough, in the
County of Bucks, Stationer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN. THE
CONSTRUCTION OF MEDICO-ELECTRIC. SURFACES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Kershaw at the.
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 24th
August 1860.
I, GEORGE KERSHAW, of Upton Cottage, Slough, in the County of Bucks,
Stationer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF MEDICO-ELECTRIC SURFACES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to produce medico-elèctric surfaces to be
applied to such parts of the human body as require an artificial excitement to'
restore the functional energy of the nervous or membranous systems of those
parts. To this end I propose to combine to waterproof or other suitable
fabrics, metallic surfaces composed of discs or pieces of positive and negative
metals, which overlap one the other and are in metallic contact. These discs
or pieces may be disposed in a line to form a metallic band, which is to be
metallically connected at its ends, and worn round an arm or leg affected by
paralysis or slight symptons akin thereto. Or these discs may be arranged in
the form of a circle, oval, or other circumscribing figure on the cloth to
which they are attached. The attachment of the discs to the cloth may be by
sewing, rivetting, or otherwise, but in whatever way they are attached the discs
or pieces of positive and negative metal must be in metallic contact with each
.2. 7

page_text: other, the zinc and the copper pieces (if these metals are used) being applied
alternately and lapping the one over the other to make up the figure. The
medico-electric surfaces thus produced when applied by suitable bands or
straps to the part affected will, by reason of the moisture of the skin, be set in
action and impart the required local stimulus required.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said George Kershaw
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th March 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
KERSHAW, of Upton Cottage, Slough, in the County of Bucks, Stationer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
George Kershaw, Her special license that I, the said George Kershaw, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George
Kershaw, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter, during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION.OF MEDICO-ELECTRIC SURFACES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Kershaw, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Kershaw, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :—
==
The object of this Invention of improvements in the construction of medico-
electric. surfaces is to produce an electric band or belt which may be applied
to such parts of the human body as require an artificial excitement to restore

page_text: the functional energy of the nervous or membranous systems of those parts.
To this end I adapt to the surface of some waterproof or other suitable non-con-
ducting fabric metallic surfaces composed of discs, pieces or plates of positive
and negative metals, which are to be made to overlap one the other, and are
kept in metallic contact. These discs, pieces, or plates may be disposed in a
line to form a metallic band, which is to be metallically connected at its ends;
and worn round an arm or leg affected by paralysis or slight symptoms akin
thereto; or the discs may be arranged in the form of a circle, oval, or other
circumscribing figure on the cloth to which they are attached. The attachment
of the discs to the cloth may be by sewing, rivetting, or otherwise, but in what-
ever way they are attached, the discs, pieces, or plates of positive and negative
metal must be in metallic contact with each other, the zinc and the copper
pieces (if these metals are used) being applied alternately and made to lap the
one over the other in regular succession to make up the figure. The medico-
electric surfaces thus produced, when applied by suitable bands or straps to the
part affected will, by reason of the moisture of the skin, be set in action and
impart the local stimulus required:
•
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn various forms in which these
medico-electric belts or bandages may be made.
Fig. 1 represents a bandage which is intended to be applied to the chest or
throat. The concave part a fits to the neck, around which it is secured by the
elastic band or strap b, with the pointed or convex part of the bandage down-
wards; c, c, are the zinc plates or discs; and d. d, the copper plates or discs,
which are sewed down to the waterproof or other non-conducting foundation
fabric e, as shewn in the sectional Figure 1", in which some of the plates or
discs are removed to shew the mode of attachment. The part f, coloured red;
represents a piece of flannel, cloth, or other fabric, which covers up, the water-
proof or other non-conducting fabric, and is capable of holding a certain
amount of moisture, such as dilute acid or a solution of salt in water, for the
purpose of keeping up the electric action.
Fig. 2 represents another form of bandage, which is intended to be applied
to the loins or other part of the trunk. This bandage is constructed in
precisely the same manner as the other, but is somewhat different in form.
Fig. 3 is another form, which is intended to be applied to the knee, elbow,
or other projecting part of the body, for which purpose it is made concave, so
that the knee cap may fit in it and the electric metal plates may completely
surround the part affected. The foundation fabric e may be made of gutta
percha, or india-rubber, or some suitable fabric, covered or prepared with
either of these substances; or any other non-conducting substance, such as

page_text: silk, may be employed; but as it is advisable to keep the.metal plates or discs
moist while on the body I prefer that whatever material should be used for
the foundation it. should, if possible, be made waterproof, so, as to prevent
evaporation. The back of the bandage may be covered with any suitable
fabric, either.ornamental or otherwise, and suitable bands, straps, and buckles
must be tached thereto, to allow of the bandage being secured on the body
over the part affected.
Although in the Drawing I have shewn ..the metal plates or discs as having
been attached to the foundation fabric by sewing, it will be evident that they,
may be secured thereon by rivetting, which is, perhaps, preferable, as-metallic
attachment and 'contact between the parts is thereby ensured.
Having now described my Invention of." Improvements in the Construction
of Medico-electric Surfaces," and having explained the manner of carrying the
same into effect; I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent,
as aforesaid, the mode herein set forth of constructing. medico-electric
surfaces. ::
In witness whereof, I, the said George Kershaw, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-third, day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
RICHIP ALLEN,
'100, Devonshire Road;
Holloway.
GEORGE KERSHAW. (L.S.)