Improvements relating to the Application of Electricity to Turkish, Hot Air, Vapor Baths, and the like.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Application of Electricity to Turkish,
Hot Air, Vapor Baths, and the like.
1, JESSE JOSEPH WILKINSON, of 2 and 6 Spencer Street, Hull, Joiner, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the application of electricity to hot air,
vapor, Turkish baths and the like, and comprises an enclosing case of sufficient
length, height and width to allow of a patient reclining therein. Within said
enclosing case is arranged a couch or equivalent structure supported upon a suitable
frame, and formed of any convenient openwork material such for instance as cane,
wicker or the like. The bath is provided with a hinged lid or cover having two
apertures to allow of the hands being passed through, if desired; an aperture
formed partly on the head rest and partly in the cover embraces the neck of the
patient. The head rest is made adjustable and has a metal plate attached thereto,
which serves as one of the electrodes of the electric circuit. An adjustable foot
rest is arranged at the other end of the couch, upon which rest is also attached a
metal plate which serves as a second electrode in the Electric circuit. Beneath
the couch above referred to, is a hot air chamber extending the whole length of
the bath, said chamber being heated by preferably a mineral oil lamp placed
exteriorily at the foot of the bath. Upon the hot air chamber aforesaid is placed
a receptacle for containing the water, medicated fluids or the like, for supplying
vapor to the interior of the bath. Access to the interior of the bath for the
purpose of introducing the receptacle containing the vaporising medium, is had
through a door provided on one side of the bath, and the fluid contents of said
receptacle may be changed, reduced or added to through the reclining couch, one
part (preferably near the centre) being hinged for that purpose.
Upon the exterior of the side of the bath opposite to the door is fitted a case
containing an induction coil and battery for generating a current of electricity.
A switch and current regulator is placed inside the bath within easy reach of the
patient, who can regulate the current as directed. These accessories may however
be arranged on the exterior of the bath, and be under the control only of the
attendant, or they may be fitted on both the inside and outside of the bath.
A suitable number of connecting posts arranged in the interior of the bath
allows of the connection thereto of flexible cords to which may be attached brushes,
pads or like devices for application to different parts of the body.
Dated this Seventh day of December 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Application of Electricity to Turkish,
Hot Air, Vapor Baths, and the like.
1, JESSE JOSEPH WILKINSON, of 2 and 6, Spencer Street, Hull Joiner, 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 relates to improvements in the application of electricity to hot air,
vapor, Turkish baths and the like, and in the accompanying sheet of drawings,
which are added in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood, such
improvements are applied to a particular construction of bath.

page_text: In this sheet of drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical section and Fig. 2 is a plan of
the application of the improvements to this construction of bath.
The bath comprises an enclosing case A of sufficient length height and width to
allow of a patient reclining therein. Within said enclosing case A is arranged a
couch B or equivalent structure, supported upon a suitable frame C, and formed
of any convenient openwork material such for instance as cane, wicker, cross laths
or pieces, or the like. The bath is provided with a hinged lid or cover D having
two apertures a, a to allow of the hands being passed through, if desired; these
apertures can be closed by sliding doors b, b, when it is not desired to use them
an aperture c formed partly in the fixed upper part of the enclosing case A and
partly in the lid or cover D embraces the neck of the patient. The head rest E
is made adjustable, by screw or otherwise, and a metal plate F is attached thereto
or, as shown, to the fixed upper part of the enclosing case, which comes in
contact with the patient's head or neck, as the case may bo, and serves as one of
the electrodes of the electric circuit. An adjustable foot-rest G is arranged at the
other end of the couch B, to which rest G is also attached a metal plate H, which
serves as a second electrode of the electric circuit. Beneath the couch B is a hot-
air chamber I, perforated at its upper side, extending the whole length of the
bath, said chamber I being heated by a mineral oil or spirit lamp J or gas-fire
or heater placed exteriorily at the foot of the bath. Upon the hot-air chamber I
is placed a receptacle K for containing the water, medicated fluid or the like, for
supplying vapor to the interior of the bath. Access to the interior of the bath
for the purpose of introducing the receptacle K containing the vaporising medium
is had through a door provided on one side of the bath, and the fluid contents
of receptacle K may be changed, reduced, or added to, through the couch B, one
part B over the receptacle being hinged for that purpose.
Upon the exterior of the side of the bath opposite to the door is fixed a case L
containing a battery M of one or more cells and an induction coil N for the
supply of a current of electricity. A switch O and current regulator P is placed
inside the bath within easy reach of the patient, who can regulate the current as
desired or directed. These accessories may however be arranged on the exterior
of the bath, and be under the control of the attendant, or they may be fitted on
both the inside and outside of the batlı.
I also provide brushes, pads or like devices Q for application to different parts
of the body which are connected by means of binding-posts in the interior of the
bath or otherwise to the terminals of the induction coil.
I do not bind myself to any particular method of arranging the electrical con-
ductors for carrying the current, or method of regulating and controlling the supply
of current, as I can utilize any existing regulators and switches.
The electrical part of these improvements may be applied to other constructions
of baths than that shown, if desired, but it is most applicable to the construction
herein illustrated.
In the case of hot air baths the receptacle K and vaporising medium would be
dispensed with.
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 :-
(1). In Turkish, hot air, vapor baths and the like, the combination of an
enclosing case, an openwork couch on which the patient reclines, a hot air chamber
placed beneath the couch extending the whole length of the enclosing case and
heated exteriorily, a receptacle supported on the. hot-air chamber and containing
the vaporising medium; the said enclosing case being provided with an adjustable
head rest, an aperture for the neck, and apertures (closed at will by sliding doors)
for the hands of the patient, substantially as described herein and illustrated by.
the accompanying drawings.

page_text: (2). In Turkish, hot air and vapor baths of the kind described in the preceding
claim, the use of a metal plate in contact with the head or neck of the patient
forming one electrode of the electrical circuit and a metal plate attached to an
adjustable foot-rest and in contact with the feet of the patient forming the other
electrode of the electrical circuit, and pads or brushes capable of being applied to
any part of the patient's body, the current to the same being supplied by a battery
and induction coil and controlled and regulated by means of a switch and regu-
lator, substantially as described herein and illustrated by Fig. 1 of the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
Dated this 7th day of Santamber 1889
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.