J.L. Pulvermacher's patent portable hydro-electric voltaic chain batteries : sold by J. Steinert, (sole agent for the United States,) ... New-York.

  • Pulvermacher, J. L.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: J.L. Pulvermacher's patent portable hydro-electric voltaic chain batteries : sold by J. Steinert, (sole agent for the United States,) ... New-York. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

    11/36 (page 5)
    [!•'.] The Interrupting ClocJaaork (sec figure 5) is the most perfect apparatus for interrupting and renewing the electric current iu a reguhir manner, and just as it may be desirable. As the movement of the clockwork is fixed in a metallic conductor with an insulating handle, which at the same time serves to wind up the movement, nothing remains to do but to hook the Chain tu this conductor or metallic box, and to make the movement go in order to communicate or to feel the interrupted shocks, the rapidity o! which is regulated with mathematical precision by a horn pin at the side of the handle, and which, even in experimenting, may be pushed to the right or left with the thumb, just as the shocks are desired, more or less rapid, or none at all. The intervals of the shocks may be reduced from one second to such a rapidity of shocks that a Chain of 100 to 120 elements will contract the strongest arm, or any muscle which is wished to contract; besides this, the extreme rapidity of the impulses given, prevents all painful sensations with which other apparatuses are generally accompanied. The importance of this apparatus can scarcely be exaggerated, particularly in the treatment of hemorrhages, in aecouebempntF!, etc., whero the regularity of impulses given is of the highest importance, and in cases of paralj'sis of the motor nerves, without affection of the nerves for sensation, a disease in which, until now, scarcely any shocks strong enough could be employed, ou account of the acute pains accompanying them. [G.] Voltameter, or Apparatus for Decomposing Water (see figure 6).—A tube of glass, fixed on a wooden stand, with two hooks If the tube is filled with water, and one pole (end) of the Chain is fastened to one hook, while the other pole is kept ha one hand, and if the other hand, which is disengaged, then takes hold firmly of the other hook on the wooden stand, (both hands being moistened for conduct- ing better), the quantity of gas disengaged inside the tube at the platiua threads, will show the measure of the electric current passing through the body. MODE OF APPLICATION. The electricity of the Chains is excited by immersing them iu vinegar about ten seconds. This ought to be done in passing the Chain through the liquid from one end to the other, thus, that every part of the Chain get equally charged with the liquid; but as little as possible must remain between the links.