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Electricity could be produced in a number of ways, and all were employed by entrepreneurs eager to capitalize on a growing and unregulated industry (56). Early dry cells and later batteries producing direct current (57-61) were used before indirect current was available in doctors' offices (62-64) and at home. Electric belts that created a "healing" electromagnetic field could be demonstrated to be effective when an accompanying light glowed as it was passed within that field (65-67). Large electrostatic generators, or friction machines, produced current when glass plates were spun, creating a charge that was stored in Leyden jars to be discharged to treat almost any disease that one could name. Incidentally, these same machines supplied power for the first x-ray studies (68-74). Some therapists even found an early use for weak microwaves in their diathermy machines (75-77).

With electricity more available in the 20th century and manufacturers free to use their imagination, large devices were made for use in doctors' offices and hospitals and included chairs (78-82), baths (83), wall plates (84-86), and freestanding cabinets (87).

Radioactivity

The discovery of radioactivity by Madame Curie presented the medical community with a number of business opportunities that could not be overlooked. The revigator (88,89) was a jar of weakly radioactive clay that was advertised to "cure all" if 6-8 glasses of water were consumed the next morning after the water was left overnight in the jug. Unfortunately, the public had second thoughts when cancer of the mouth and jaw developed at a high rate in those who were most conscientious about taking this therapy. While the radiation in these jugs is low, the radon is high so collectors should be careful about keeping these jugs in closed spaces.

56) Quack Electric Trade Card

Manufacturers of patent medicines and quack devices produced trade cards to advertise their products. This is a wonderful example made by Dr Scott to sell some of his many quack electric devices.

57-61) Direct Current Home Devices

The battery powered Electraply is another very common quack device of the early 20th century and is important in the history of medical quackery in that its sale finally resulted in legislation directed toward standardizing the safety and efficacy of similar instruments. Some of the many attachments are pictured here. The Williams Electro-Magnetic machine was powered by direct current.

62-64) Indirect Current Quack Devices

Large quack devices were manufactured when indirect current became available in homes and hospitals. Pictured is a beautiful small McIntosh cabinet to supply power to any number of quack attachments and a large Thompson Plaster cabinet. The latter was used primarily for ENT work.

65-67) Theranoid Belt

When plugged in and turned on, this belt generated a magnetic field that was advertised as therapeutic and safe (despite the current debate). A small ring with an attached light was supplied with the belt and when brought close, the light would shine, proving that the belt was working.

68-74) A Large Electrostatic Generator

Standard indirect current was not always available at the turn of the century so that Toepler-Holtz electrostatic generators were used to provide physicians with current for treatment as well as to power the first x-ray devices. They were fairly common and advertised in the Sears catalogue with numerous accessories. The pictured generator is one of the larger types and is made up of 24 glass plates, 6 sets of four each, which were rotated to produce current for therapy. Pictures of the electrostatic generator in use is from "Practical Electro-Therapeutics" (1908), by Franklin Gottschalk, MD.

75-77) Diathermy

The pictured machine was made by United Diathermy, Inc. of Pittsburgh, and generated microwaves for the treatment of almost any condition, as outlined in the enclosed booklet.

78-82) The Therapeutic Electric Chair

The use of the electric chair for therapeutic purposes represents one of the supreme ironies in the history of medicine. As early as in 1890, the McIntosh electric chair was in use and is pictured by RW St. Clair, MD in his book "The Practical Application of Electricity in Medicine and Surgery". Others produced similar chairs, even one that had violet ray tubes on both sides to add to the therapeutic (and visual) effect. The Wappler Electric Company of New York was very active in this area and a chair with a cabinet to supply current can be seen here. Also seen is a porcelain electric footplate by the Davis Electric Co., 1904.

83) Electric Bath

So enamored with the magical (and unproved) properties of electricity were early physicians that they emersed patients in "baths" of electricity. An electric bath with an electrostatic generator to supply power is seen here in the 1904 medical catalogue by Max Wocher and Son.

84-86) Wappler Wall Plate

Electric wall plates supplied power to chairs and other electric instruments. Pictured here is a wall plate for sale in a 1904/1905 Physicians' Sears catalogue and a Wappler wall plate with some of its therapeutic accessories.

87) Wappler Cabinet

Although power for electric chairs and other devices was usually generated by way of wall plates, the Wappler Company also manufactured this large cabinet for the same purpose.

88-89b) Radioactivity in a Bottle

The potential of radioactivity was enormous though largely untested. It did not take long for entrepreneurs to take advantage of an obvious opportunity. The revigator was a ceramic jar that contained a low level of radioactivity that was imparted to water held overnight to be consumed the next morning. There were several varieties, as seen here.

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56) Quack Electric Trade Card

59) Electraply Attachments

63) McIntosh Power Supply

67) Theranoid Belt

73) Electrostatic Generator

76) Diathermy

79) Neon Electric Chair

83) Electric Bath

85) Wappler Wall Plate

87) Wappler Cabinet

89) Revigator