Electricity could be produced in a number of ways, and entrepreneurs were eager to capitalize on a growing and unregulated industry. Faradic, galvanic, wet and dry cell batteries, and static electricity produced direct current for home devices before indirect current was available to power larger machines in doctors’ offices.
Essai Theoretique et Experimental sur Galvanism (1804) by Jean Aldini (check)
In London, Giovanni Aldini's experiments involved the application of electrical currents given to a recently executed criminal. Aldini stated: “On the first application of the arcs the jaw began to quiver, the adjoining muscles were horribly contorted, and the left eye actually opened.” Mary Shelly wrote her classic horror story of reanimation by electricity just a few years later in 1818, and the introduction of her second edition of “Frankenstein” included the comment that reanimation of the dead is “not of impossible occurrence.” The idea for her novel may have come in part from the work of Aldini.
early twentieth century twenty four- plate electrostatic generator (by Wagner?) with glass legged table and hand electrodes
Large electrostatic generators, sometimes referred to as friction machines, could produce a high voltage current when spinning glass plates or cylinders were in contact with pads of various materials. The resulting charge was then stored in Leyden jars, which acted as capacitors, and the current was used therapeutically in any number of ways the imagination could conceive. Despite the fact that these devices were without any proven merit, many were found in physicians’ offices in the early twentieth century.
advertisement for a large Wagner electrostatic generator
glass and brass discharge wand for an electrostatic generator
chest treatment with an electrostatic generator
An electrostatic generator in use from Practical Electro-Therapeutics (1908) by Franklin Gottschalk, MD
18th century Ramsden's electrostatic generator
Illustration by Amedee Guillemin
Ramsden electrostatic generator by Pixii of Paris (ca. 1780)
This is another variety of electrostatic generator.
Glass electrostatic generator by Edward Nairne (ca. 1770)
Early models could be used in the home for nervous disorders.
electric chair
This unmarked direct current electric chair was used in the doctor's office to treat any number of medical conditions.
Magneto-Electric machine by Green (ca. 1880)
Magneto-Electric machines (ca. 1880)
Consumers were offered many ways in which to utilize the new marvel of electricity at home. In 1854, Davis and Kidder patented a magneto-electric machine which became one of the earliest and most popular home electric devices of the nineteenth century. It generated an electric current from spinning magnets which sent a small shock to surprised and delighted patients suffering from any number of nervous disorders. (left): unmarked; (right): by Joseph Gray and Son, Sheffield
advertisement for a magneto-machine
magneto-electric machine
This is an unusual variety of the hand cranked magnto machine.
Seymore's Battery
This is a very complicated battery powered device with lots of "bells and whistles."
battery-powered Williams’ Dial Electro-Magnetic Machine
Barrett Medico Electro Galvanometer
Appareil Trouve
This small French direct current device was manufactured in Paris though availale in the US.
early twentieth century trade card for Harness’ Electric Corsets
Dr. Scott's electric corset
electric corset
This corset could be worn at home for the treatment of muscular or abdominal disorders. A small battery provided the power.
advertising card for products by the Dr. Scott’s Electric Company (ca. 1900)
Scott's magnetic brush with compass
These popular brushes actually contained magnets inside and the small compass that came with the brush proved to the buyer that this device had healing powers.
Scott's brush advertising
White’s Electric comb
This comb contained a battery to make it effective in restoring hair.
Electreat device with external and internal attachments (ca. 1925), Electreat Mfg. Company, Peoria, Illinois
The Electreat was a hand-held battery powered apparatus for home use that was to be drawn across the body to relieve pain and strengthen the heart. This instrument was first manufactured in Peoria, Illinois in 1919, and has the distinction of being the first device seized by the government under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938.
demonstration for the use of the electreat hand-held device (ca. 1925)
advertising for Pulvermacher's electric belts
Another option was the electric belt, which contained a copper disc in the front with two to four chrome plated nickel discs at the rear. The “copper-nickel interaction” supposedly created a healing electromagnetic field that would treat almost any disease by magnetizing iron in the blood, thus improving oxygenation to all tissues. A belt was available for each sex, the male type containing a suspensory attachment for improved potency.
advertising for Pulvermacher's electric belts
female and male magnetic belts by Mioxrls (ca. 1920)
Electro-Vitalizer male magnetic belt
Boyd’s Batteries (1879)
One of the more popular devices was a Boyd’s galvanic battery as electricity was purportedly produced by the “amalgamation” of several different metals. When hung around the neck, the Boyd’s Battery cured by “electrifying the entire system.”
advertisement for the Boyd's Battery
In his 1879 handbook, Boyd guaranteed the ability of his Miniature Battery to cure almost any condition.
electric weights by the Smith and Shaw Electric Co.
Small batteries increased the ability of these weights to energizer the user.
advertising for electric weights by the Smith and Shaw Electric Co.
penny arcade device (ca. 1930) by the Midland Manufacturing Company
Carnival sideshows often had a place in their penny arcades for electrotherapy where entrepreneurs saw a commercial opportunity in diagnosing and treating medical conditions.
Mills "Electricity is Life"
This is one of the more ornate devices of this type.
electric helmet by Energo of Turin, Italy; Faradic Battery by S. Maw Son and Thompson, London (ca. 1930)
There was always a demand for devices that would treat mental disease. Electric helmets of all sorts were manufactured in the early part of the twentieth century to provde relief for these patients, mostly in Italy and in France.
another direct current electric helmet
by Societe Electromedica, Apparecchi ad alla frequenza, Milano in Italy
Institut Electrotherapique, Paris
an electric helmet from France
Electromedical Society helmet
This glass helmet was used in Milan, Italy for the treatment of any number of central nervous system complaints.
E. Balzanni Electric Helmet
This is a very unusual cased direct current Italian electric helmet from Balzanni in Milan.