Electrothereupeutics

"Electro-therapeutics" in blocky, blue all-capital lettering
a closed fist holding many lightning bolts emanating from the first

The nineteenth century was a golden age of electro-therapeutics, thanks to the enthusiastic nature of innovators eager to incorporate electricity into medical treatments. A slew of medical inventions came to the market, some perhaps strange to us now while others familiar due to modern devices operating on the same principles.

Electricity could be directly applied via shocks in order to treat paralysis and nerve-related issues. Similarly, electric currents were used as a form of anesthesia; accounts mention running an electric current through a patient's jaw while their teeth were pulled. Vibrating belts provided massages to relieve muscle pain.

Treating the nerves and muscles

Three images of a torso with different size electrodes being placed in different locations, and how that affects the electric current and density traveling through the body

Current differences based on what kind of electrodes are used and where they are placed on the body

Head profile with various labeled motor points that are part of facial and neck muscles

Motor points of the muscles of the head, face, and neck

An electrode is applied to a man's jawline near his ear

Muscles supplied by the facial nerve stimulated from the motor point below the meatus

A man with two electrodes being placed on his corrugator supercilii muscles near his temples

Bilateral contraction of the corrugator supercilii muscles

A smiling man; a pair of hands are touching two electrodes to his cheeks

Bilateral contraction of the zygomaticus major. The contraction of the orbigularis palperum is also shown in the cut

A side-view of a head facing left, with labeled motor points

Motor points of the face and neck

Two electrodes are held against the face of a man. His left eyelid is shut and his mouth is drawn to one side in a grimace

Faradization of the facial nerve and muscles. Eyelid firmly closed and mouth drawn to one side

A hand holding two electrodes with pointed ends against another hand

Muscle faradization with metallic electrodes (Duchenne)

Two hands holding wired electrodes against a thigh

Faradization of the muscles of the thigh, contraction of the quadriceps

Two electrodes held near the back and under the knee of a leg. The foot is brought upward and outward.

Faradization of politeal nerve and peroneal muscles. Foot brought upward and outward

A man with an electrode held against the nape of his neck and another held under his armpit

Spinal-cord-median current

A man is seated next to a table with a batter and pair of handheld electrodes. A doctor has one hand on the electrodes and the other hand against the man's head
A patient seated next to a table holding a battery with wires coming out of it. A doctor holds wired electrodes and is applying one to the patient's stomach

General faradization - application to the stomach

The doctor holds a wired electrode to a patient's upper thigh. The electrode is wired to a battery or generator on the nearby table.

General faradization - application to the lower extremities

A diagram of the human body from the back with labeled nerves and muscles

Electro-therapeutical anatomy of the human body. Posterior view.

Two electrodes are placed on opposite sides of the lower body while an insulated uterine electrode is applied to the cervix

Faradization of the uterus

Vibrations and massages

A black and white photograph of a man with a small handheld vibrator being inserted into his ear

Method of applying vibrator to the ear

A handheld medical vibratory device with wires coming out the bottom. Various long tube-like attachments are shown.

Freudenthal's instrument for vibratory massage

A roller device with bumps on the roller head

Roller or massage electrode

A page on the farado-masseur, which looks like some sort of electric powered roller.

The farado-masseur, combining facial massages and faradic current

A two page spread depicting various Voltamp accessory products that could be used with electricity. Some of these are attachments like sponge holders or metal balls, and others are roller massages or electric hair brushes

Various electric devices, including a wheel massage electrode

An electrical apparatus with wires and wheels mounted to a base

Jackson's pneumatic masseur for the ear

Prev Next