General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

10

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Medium-brown wood case has bright lacquered brass hinges, lock, crank, etc. Large unbleached paper label on inside of lid. U-shaped silver metal magnet partially painted dark blue. Dark purple flocked fabric [possibly velvet] covering on rotating weights. Black leather (?) belt.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

27.0 cm

Width

16.5 cm

Height

14.9 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Medical equipment

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

GRAY

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

City

Sheffield

Context

Country

Unknown

State/Province

Unknown

Period

This type of machine popular in late 19th c.

Canada

Part of a large collection of medical artifacts, archival material & trade literature transferred to CSTM in 2002 from the former History of Medicine Museum, Toronto, ON.

Function

Used to produce a mild electric shock or current believed to be beneficial in treating a variety of nervous and organic ailments.

Technical

Unknown

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Paper label covering underside of lid features three illustrations of machine in use, illustration of prize medal awarded in 1862, and text "IMPROVED/ PATENT - MAGNETO-/ ELECTRIC MACHINE/ FOR NERVOUS DISEASES./ DIRECTIONS.- Connect two metallic cords or wires with the Sockets in the end of the Box,/ and apply the handles connected with the other ends of the metallic cords to any part of the person/ through which it is desirable to pass the current of Electricity. Then turn the Crank, regulating/ the strength of the current by the speed, and by the Knob at the end of the Box; it being desirable/ to increase the strength only to that degree most agreeable to the patient. It is less unpleasant to/ the patient is wet sponges are placed in the ends of the Handles, and these applied to the skin, as they/ prevent the pricking sensation. The sponges should never be put inside the Box whilst wet, as they/ rust the machinery. In applying it for Toothache, Tic-doloreaux, or Neuralgia, the operator takes one/ handle and places his fingers or sponge over the part affected, while the patient holds the other handle/ in the hand, or apply it to any other part of the person. The Bearings and Spring must be oiled/ occasionally. FIRST CLASS PRIZE MEDAL AWARDED TO JOSEPH GRAY & CO., TRUSS WORKS, SHEFFIELD, AT THE/ INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION, LONDON, 1862, FOR EXCELLENCE IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS." "y y" printed by hand in pencil on inside of case, in drawer well. "ALARM" stamped into head of know on one end of case. UHN catalogue no. "X969.34 J" printed by hand in white ink on case back, below hinge.

Missing

Unknown- appears complete.

Finish

Medium-brown wood case has bright lacquered brass hinges, lock, crank, etc. Large unbleached paper label on inside of lid. U-shaped silver metal magnet partially painted dark blue. Dark purple flocked fabric covering on rotating weights. Black leather (?) belt.

Decoration

Pattern of scrolling vines and flowers border label, and separate illustrations.