US129561A

US129561A - Improvement in electro-magnetic vapor-baths

Info

Publication number: US129561A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1872-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 1889-07-16

Description

J. A. HOFFMAN.

improvement in Electra-Magnetic Vapor-Baths,

No. 129,561. 527/ Patented July 16, 1872.

PE" mmiillum 4M PHOTO-LITHUCRAPHM 00.1%! (GSSDIVNIS PROCESS,

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIOE. I

JOHN A. HOFFMAN, OF MENDOTA, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC VAPOR-BATHS.

, Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,561, dated July 16, 1872.

Specification describing certain Improvements in Electro-Magnetic Vapor-Baths, invented by JOHN A. HOFFMAN, residing at -Mendota, in the county of La Salle and State sists in certain novel arrangements of parts,

and in the use of a pole-changer, by means of which the physician is enabled to subject either the entire body or only certain parts of it to the action of the electric currents, as well as to reverse the direction of such currents.

Figure 1 is a sectional plan view of my improved electro-magnetic vapor-bath. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 is also a vertical section taken in a plane at right angles to the section shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows the pole-changer in elevation.

The same letters of reference are employed in all the figures in the designation of identical parts.

The patient under treatment undres'ses and seats himself on a stool, B, in a box, A, so constructed that it may be closed air-tight, the head of the patient protruding through a suitable aperture in the top of the box above the stool. An ordinary electro-m edical apparatus, 0, is employed, and connected, by wires F and G, to a galvanic battery, D, in such a manner that the course of the current may be reversed. To this end these wires are connected to a pole changer or reverser, E, which is made of a nonconductor, but provided with metallic bands e at the ends for connection with the batterywires and the copper posts 0 c or c c. The posts a and c are in connection with the wire H and the posts 0 and c with the wire I, so that, by changing the reverser E from the posts 0 and c to the posts 0 c, the flow of the current of electricity through the wires H and I, when brought in circuit, may be reversed. The wire H goes to the copper plate H on the back-rest of the stool B, near the upper end, so as to come in contact with the upper portion of the spinal column. The wire I terminates in an electrode, I, in the tub K, which is to be partly filled with hot water to soak the patients feet in. Thin w-ires L and M branch off from the main wire I, both terminating in electrodes, as shown, to be taken hold of by the patient with his hands. The wire L runs behind the back-rest of the stool, and is connected with the plate L, with which the lower part of the patients spinal column may be brought into contact. Steam is admitted into the box through the pipe N after the patient has been placed therein with his feet in the tub of warm water.

When the system attains to the requisite heat and relaxation the electricity is turned on as follows, the patient having taken hold of the electrodes on the wires L and M: The reverser standing on the posts 0 c, the current enters the body at H and flows out through the hands and feet. By turning the reverser onto the posts 0" c the direction of the current will be reversed.

The current may also be sent through portions of the body only, if desired, by simply disconnecting the other parts. Thus, to send a current from the neck to the right hand, disconnect the body from the plate L and the feet and left hand from their respective electrodes. In like manner may the current of electricity be passed through other parts of the body by properly making connections and disconnections.

What I claim as my invention,and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

An electromagnetic vapor-bath, combining in its construction a box, A, battery D,'the wires from which are connected to a reverser,

E, and circuit-wires, arranged substantially as specified, so that currents may be sent through the whole or only portions of the body, and in either direction.

JOHN A. HOFFMAN. Witnesses:

JOSEPH HUNTER, L. B. Grooms.