Halse Electrostatic Machine
May 01, 2013
by Sean Ruck, Contributing Editor
The picture and description appear courtesy of Dr. M. Donald Blaufox, M.D., Ph.D, from his website:
www.mohma.org.
Each month we visit Dr. Blaufox’s Museum of Historical Medical Artifacts to take a look back at the medical equipment that cleared the way for what patients encounter in doctors’ offices and operating rooms of today. Some equipment may be recognizable, while other inventions featured here have since become obsolete or have had their usefulness discredited.
Category: Electricity
Estimated Date: 1865
Manufacturer: Mr. W. H. Halse
Description: 5“x 2.5” electric coil mounted on a 7“x 4” base. Distinctive is the 4” circular face with a pointer which turns to indicate a changing charge as the coil is extended. 8 lacquered brass fittings. Associated electrodes missing. This is a rather elegant example of a typical nineteenth-twentieth century electric shock machine used to treat a vast variety of ills. The Science Museum has a an interesting example of a trade card advertising this device.
www.mohma.org.
Each month we visit Dr. Blaufox’s Museum of Historical Medical Artifacts to take a look back at the medical equipment that cleared the way for what patients encounter in doctors’ offices and operating rooms of today. Some equipment may be recognizable, while other inventions featured here have since become obsolete or have had their usefulness discredited.
Category: Electricity
Estimated Date: 1865
Manufacturer: Mr. W. H. Halse
Description: 5“x 2.5” electric coil mounted on a 7“x 4” base. Distinctive is the 4” circular face with a pointer which turns to indicate a changing charge as the coil is extended. 8 lacquered brass fittings. Associated electrodes missing. This is a rather elegant example of a typical nineteenth-twentieth century electric shock machine used to treat a vast variety of ills. The Science Museum has a an interesting example of a trade card advertising this device.