electric therapy machine
Date: circa 1860
Inventory Number: DW0082
Classification: Electro-Medical Apparatus
Subject:
Maker: Breton Frères (fl. 1843 - 1884)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
20.1 × 32.8 × 13.2 cm (7 15/16 × 12 15/16 × 5 3/16 in.)
Accessories: broken drawer
Description:
A "Knight" rotating iron armature before pair fixed coils with sliding 5-layer permanent U-shaped magnet in their centers. Wood case with handles and binding posts protruding -- drawer in bottom. Drawer is broken and is missing its handle.
Signedon oval plaque, on front of case: BRETON FRÈRES / A Paris / Rue Dauphine, 25 / CI-DEVANT RUE DU PETIT BOURBON, 9
FunctionFor therapeutic use. Applying electric shocks to the patient to cure 'nervous diseases' including toothaches, tic douloureux, poor circulation, headache, neuralgia, neuritis, tonsillitis, catarrh, asthma, goiter, hoarseness, earache, lumbago, backache, dandruff, falling hair, paralysis, nervousness and sexual weakness.
Historical AttributesInvented by N. Knight, London in 1854.