A new or improved medical electric and magnetic appliance.

  • Tom Cooke
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A new or improved medical electric and magnetic appliance. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    T. and J. fi„ Cooled8 New or Improved Medical Electric and Magnetic Appliance. The battery 3 may be of any suitable type such as a ‘ dry ’ battery and is located within the top part of the upper section 2a Beneath the battery and supported between collars T of insulating material is a self-induction coil or its equivalent 8 which transforms the low tension ^ battery current into a current of sufficiently high tension to produce a beneficial •> effect on the user of the stick. The battery 3 is introduced into the stick through a hole or opening 18 in ihe handle 4 which hole is normally closed by a sliding cover 22 fixed by a screw 23. The poles of the battery comprise a stud 19 at the bottom end, and a blade spring 6 at the upper end. The stud 19 makes contact with one terminal 10 20 of the coil 8 and the spring 0 makes constant electrical contact with the metal handle 4. The current flows from the battery, through the self-induction coil or its equivalent and then by means of the switch 5 along a conducting wire 9 to the handle 4 through the metal of which the current circulates and finally 1‘3 returns. The switch preferably comprises two spring tongues or contacts 5a, 5b, carried by the section 2a and by the adjacent upper part of the section 21j respectively. A spiral compression spring 10 is arranged between the two said sections of the stick, being located between a plate or disc 12 soldered, brazed or otherwise 20 secured within the lower part of the section 2a, and the bottom of a socket 13 screwing into the upper part of section 2b. A screw or stud 25 passing through the lower part of section 2a and through slots in the socket 13 holds the two sections firmly together while at the same time it allows for relative movement between them in the direction of their length. 25 The bottom extremity of the lower section 2b is provided with a tubular socket 14 into which a solid plug forming the ferrule 15 telescopes against the action of a spring 16 when the stick first makes contact with the ground. The plug is provided with an enlarged head or with lips which engage with the spun over the edges of the open end of the socket 14 to prevent the plug from 30 falling out. The action of the stick in use is as follows; — During walking the first, shock or jar as the stick makes contact with the ground is absorbed by the telescopic spring ferrule 14. As the pressure on the stick continues the sections 2a, 2b, are caused to close up telescopically thus 35 resulting in relative movement between them. This movement throws the switch into action the spring contact 5b carried by section 2b engaging with the second spring contact 5a located in the upper section 2a thus completing the circuit. Current now flows from the battery 3, through the self-induction coil 8, thence through the switch 5 and wire conductor 9 to the metal handle 4 40 from which it passes into the hand of the individual and finally returns through the metal of the handle 4 of the stick. As the stick is raised from the ground the pressure thereon is removed and the spring 10 returns the sections to their normal relative positions thereby separating the spring contacts 5a, 5b, con¬ stituting the switch, and breaking the circuit. * 45 here it is desired to use the stick in a manner other than as a walking stick the construction of the same may be varied. Tor example, when it is desired to apply the device to the feet of the individual the handle 4 of the stick may be made extensible as shown in detail, Figure 3, where the said handle 4 is fitted with a telescopic member IT in electrical connection therewith by studs 21 50 and guide slots 24. In use, the stick is held by its stem in the hand while the feet abut against the. extended handle. The pull thus put on the stick causes relative movement of its sections with the result that the switch is operated and a current is (aused to circulate throughout the handle and its extension whence it passes into 5*5 the feet of the individual and produces well known beneficial effects.
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