1851 Great Exhibition: Official Catalogue: Class X.: L. A. Ritterbrandt
730. RITTERBRANDT, DR. L. A., 7 Northumberland Street, Strand — Inventor.
Galvanic bath. The principle of this bath is simple; it consists of a vessel constructed of two different metals, separated by a non-metallic substance which not merely fulfils the purpose of an ordinary bath, but at the same time acts as a perfect battery.
The metals employed are zinc and copper, the latter being plated with silver. This combination, however, is not the only one that may be employed. Any other two metals differing in their electrical relations—that is, positive and negative to each other—will afford in a more or less degree the same result; as, for example, zinc and iron, iron and copper, etc.
This bath is a simple apparatus for causing a current of electricity to pass through the body of the bather. The fluid employed is common water. By connecting the wires attached to the two metals a strong current of electricity will be made to pass through the body of the bather, which will be attested by the deflection of the needle of the galvanometer attached to the bath. If, instead of cold water, warm water be employed, the deflection of the needle will increase in proportion to the temperature of the water. If a small quantity of common salt, or any soluble salt be added, or sea or mineral spring water employed, the current of electricity will still further increase; notwithstanding which, however, it will pass so mildly and imperceptibly through the body as to obviate any unpleasant sensation.
In cases where it is necessary to make use of electricity of greater intensity than that producible by the bath, this may be effected by combining it with one or more cells of an ordinary battery, so as constitute one compound battery. Where it is necessary to pass shocks through the body of the patient it can be effected, in the bath, in several ways:-
1. By closing two of the caps of a single coil with a wire, and connecting the other two by wires attached to the bath.
2. By connecting one or more cells of a battery with the caps of a primary coil, and connecting the two ends of the secondary coil with the wires of the bath; care being taken that the direction of the current from the coil coincides with that of the bath.
3. By using a single coil, connecting two of its caps with a battery, and the two others with the two wires of the bath--viz., the positive wire of the coil with the negative wire of the bath, or with the wire attached to the zinc, and vice versa. In this manner the patient will receive shocks from the electricity of the coil, while his body will be affected by the electricity from the bath.