3
animal magnetism.” Perkins was soon expelled from membership in the society, of which
he had been a founding member. However, when a yellow fever epidemic broke out in
1799, he administered another of his remedies—a solution of salt, vinegar and water—
with great energy, but little success.5 He died of the disease the same year.
The 19th Century
The 19th century might be termed the “Age of Electrotherapeutics.” In the belief that elec-
tricity could cure a number of ailments, it became common practice to deliberately send
shock waves through the body. Much of this theory stemmed from the work of the Italian
physician Luigi Galvani, the father of galvanization, whose research on isolated frog mus-
cles showed that they would react spasmodically when exposed to an electrical impulse.
There were wide varieties of electrical quack devices. The Improved Magneto-Electric
Machine for Nervous Diseases consisted of a large magnet, a magneto, two metal cylin-
ders and attaching wires. The instructions stated that the cylinders were to be held so that
electrical current would run through the body. This treatment was claimed to relieve ner-
vous disorders as well as toothache, tic douloureux and neuralgia. Many similar devices
could be found in doctors’ offices, and a jolt of electricity was often standard therapy.
Electric belts were also popular throughout the 19th century. They were reputed to cure all
nervous, chronic and functional diseases. The belts were actually strings of very small bat-
tery cells that, when soaked in vinegar, generated a weak electrical current.
Early 20th Century
In 1892, almost a century after Perkins’ patent was granted, Dr. Hercules Sanche obtained
one for another cure-all device. The Oxydonor, according to the doctor, “caused the
human organism to thirst for and absorb oxygen, the vitalizer of blood.”6 The Oxydonor
was a sealed metal cylinder containing a stick of carbon, and an uninsulated, flexible cord
was attached to one end. At the end of the cord was small disc. To initiate the action, the
user merely placed the cylinder in a bowl of cold water and attached the disc to a wrist or
ankle with an elastic band or buckle. The machine supposedly removed oxygen from the
water and forced it through the “myriad pores” of the body. Like the earlier tractors, the
Oxydonor was also indicated for all forms of disease and was touted as the “new life saver
for self-treatment.” The Oxydonor was advertised in several of America’s best monthly
magazines. The typical American woman of the time was depicted relaxing on a couch
and reading a novel while the Oxydonor busily supplied oxygen.
Fortunately, in 1915, exposure by the American Medical Association (AMA) journal
and action by the postal authorities were instrumental in controlling Sanche. The US
Postal Service issued a fraud order against Sanche’s device and denied his company the
use of the mail service. The AMA called attention to the danger of all such instruments,
particularly warning against their use as a treatment for diphtheria. One company had
claimed that its oxygen-supplying device could take a slowly choking child and with
speed, simplicity and safety bring it back to health. This, the AMA journal called a “cruel
and criminal lie.”
Sanche, however, was the forerunner for a host of a host of other 20th century moun-
tebanks. The most notorious may have been Albert Abrams, AM, MD, FRMS, founder of
“Electronic Medicine” or “Radionics.” Abrams claimed to have developed a diagnostic
system that could determine the sex, race, disease and even the religion of a patient he
had never even seen. Even more miraculous was his invention of an apparatus called the
Oscilloclast. With this device, Abrams claimed to be able to cure most of the ills of the
flesh.7 This ingenious machine was developed not through the usual arduous trial and
error methods of scientific research but by more direct means.
On a visit to Germany, Abrams had become obsessed with a string galvanometer
invented by Einthoven. “With this instrument,” Abrams said, “heart disease can be
A History of Quack Medical Devices
animal magnetism.” Perkins was soon expelled from membership in the society, of which
he had been a founding member. However, when a yellow fever epidemic broke out in
1799, he administered another of his remedies—a solution of salt, vinegar and water—
with great energy, but little success.5 He died of the disease the same year.
The 19th Century
The 19th century might be termed the “Age of Electrotherapeutics.” In the belief that elec-
tricity could cure a number of ailments, it became common practice to deliberately send
shock waves through the body. Much of this theory stemmed from the work of the Italian
physician Luigi Galvani, the father of galvanization, whose research on isolated frog mus-
cles showed that they would react spasmodically when exposed to an electrical impulse.
There were wide varieties of electrical quack devices. The Improved Magneto-Electric
Machine for Nervous Diseases consisted of a large magnet, a magneto, two metal cylin-
ders and attaching wires. The instructions stated that the cylinders were to be held so that
electrical current would run through the body. This treatment was claimed to relieve ner-
vous disorders as well as toothache, tic douloureux and neuralgia. Many similar devices
could be found in doctors’ offices, and a jolt of electricity was often standard therapy.
Electric belts were also popular throughout the 19th century. They were reputed to cure all
nervous, chronic and functional diseases. The belts were actually strings of very small bat-
tery cells that, when soaked in vinegar, generated a weak electrical current.
Early 20th Century
In 1892, almost a century after Perkins’ patent was granted, Dr. Hercules Sanche obtained
one for another cure-all device. The Oxydonor, according to the doctor, “caused the
human organism to thirst for and absorb oxygen, the vitalizer of blood.”6 The Oxydonor
was a sealed metal cylinder containing a stick of carbon, and an uninsulated, flexible cord
was attached to one end. At the end of the cord was small disc. To initiate the action, the
user merely placed the cylinder in a bowl of cold water and attached the disc to a wrist or
ankle with an elastic band or buckle. The machine supposedly removed oxygen from the
water and forced it through the “myriad pores” of the body. Like the earlier tractors, the
Oxydonor was also indicated for all forms of disease and was touted as the “new life saver
for self-treatment.” The Oxydonor was advertised in several of America’s best monthly
magazines. The typical American woman of the time was depicted relaxing on a couch
and reading a novel while the Oxydonor busily supplied oxygen.
Fortunately, in 1915, exposure by the American Medical Association (AMA) journal
and action by the postal authorities were instrumental in controlling Sanche. The US
Postal Service issued a fraud order against Sanche’s device and denied his company the
use of the mail service. The AMA called attention to the danger of all such instruments,
particularly warning against their use as a treatment for diphtheria. One company had
claimed that its oxygen-supplying device could take a slowly choking child and with
speed, simplicity and safety bring it back to health. This, the AMA journal called a “cruel
and criminal lie.”
Sanche, however, was the forerunner for a host of a host of other 20th century moun-
tebanks. The most notorious may have been Albert Abrams, AM, MD, FRMS, founder of
“Electronic Medicine” or “Radionics.” Abrams claimed to have developed a diagnostic
system that could determine the sex, race, disease and even the religion of a patient he
had never even seen. Even more miraculous was his invention of an apparatus called the
Oscilloclast. With this device, Abrams claimed to be able to cure most of the ills of the
flesh.7 This ingenious machine was developed not through the usual arduous trial and
error methods of scientific research but by more direct means.
On a visit to Germany, Abrams had become obsessed with a string galvanometer
invented by Einthoven. “With this instrument,” Abrams said, “heart disease can be
A History of Quack Medical Devices