Massage therapy is an ancient practice that has remained popular because of the presumed increase in circulation to diseased tissues. The discovery of electricity allowed healers to better provide "healing oxygen" through vibration.
vibration of the “internal organs” with the Macaura’s Pulsocon (ca. 1920)
Small hand operated home devices were fashionable in the early twentieth century, and they were touted to cure almost any disease. One of the more popular was the Macaura Pulsocon, invented by the “vibrotherapist” Gerald Macaura, who established his therapeutic institute in Manchester, England in 1908.
early twentieth century handheld vibrators
(top): VeeDee by J.E. Garratt, London; (bottom): Macaura’s Pulsocon by the British Appliances and Manufacturing Co., Glasgow
demonstration of the VeeDee (ca. 1910) used for headaches
massage vibrator by the Battle Creek Equipment Co.
vibratory treatment for the head
vibratory treatment for the stomach
from The Value of Vibrotherapy as a Therapeutic Measure (1913) by J.H. Kellogg
early twentieth century eyeball massagers
Exercising increases strength, so certainly the logical treatment for “weak eyes” would be to exercise those muscles, and thus strengthen eyesight. Physicians jumped to that conclusion and came up with a variety of eyeball massagers, their production and sale perfectly legal since there was no requirement at the time to prove their safety or efficacy. (left to right): the Ideal Company and the Neu Vita massager
vibratory treatment of the eye
early twentieth century Shelton Vibrator for treatment of the chest
Portible vibrators were available for home use to treat almost any medical problem.
Dr. Swift's massage treatments
From the time of Hippocrates, the term “hysteria,” or literally “womb disease,” has been considered a female disorder, and the symptoms were many, including anxiety, insomnia, swooning (or perhaps petit mal seizures), and almost any abdominal discomfort. Some physicians treated this "disease" of female patients their office.
early twentieth century home hand electric vibrators
In the early twentieth century, vaginal stimulation with vibratory devices for the treatment of female hysteria was a common and lucrative part of many physicians’ office practices, and small electric vibrators were frequently found in homes throughout America for personal use. (left): Calvete vibrator #2; (right): the White Cross vibrator
vibrator from Club Health Products, 1928
Kolon Motor
This device was used to treat upper digestive and lower gastrointestinal disorders by massage.
the Battle Creek Health Builder Oscillo-Manipulator by the Sanitarium and Hospital Equipment Co.
Similar devices were sold into the 1950's for weight reduction.
the treatment of liver disease through massage
vibration for ear disease by a tissue oscillator (ca. 1920)
Battle Creek Vibratory Chair by the Sanitarium and Hospital Equipment Co., Massage Vibrator by the Battle Creek Equipment Co.
Larger pieces of vibrating equipment, including beds and chairs, could be found in hospitals and sanitariums for the treatment of a variety of systemic disorders, as well as for an improvement in general metabolism, cell nutrition, body secretion, elimination, peristalsis, and blood and lymph flow to name just a few of the purported benefits.
The Health Jolting Chair
using the foot attachment of the vibratory chair
from The Value of Vibrotherapy as a Therapeutic Measure (1913) by J.H. Kellogg
the Violin Vibraphone
This rare instrument was used by physicians in the early twentieth century to cure deafness by stimulating "frozen" inner ear ossicles. The patient would put on the stethoscope and listen to various sound frequencies played through a battery powered violin.
Audiometer by H. Pfau in Berlin
This device complements the violin vibraphone above since it employed a violin bow to be used for the diagnosis of various forms of hearing impairment.
ear vibratory treatment of deafness
Dr. Powell used this battery powered device to stimulate the inner ear and thus magically restore hearing.
Meco-Sazh for Hair and Health by the Foster Manufacturing Co., Cleveland
Stimulating the hair follicles by vibration was sure to improve hair growth.
Evans Vacuum Cap
This device used suction to aid hair growth.
Vibratory Doctor
This is a penny arcade device made by the Watling Corporation in 1904. After the insertion of a penny the user could be cured of a number of musculoskeletal complaints by the vibration of a rubber hand.