This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
Electrotherapy equipment. Front three quarter view. Grey background
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Electrotherapeutic machine invented by Nairne, 1780-1809, early 19th century.
The cylinders of this electrotherapy machine are turned against the leather cushion, creating an electrical charge which is then transmitted to a Leyden jar. This holds the charge, which can then be passed to a flexible conductor used to deliver an electric shock to the patient.
Electrotherapy was used for a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. This type of equipment was invented by Edward Nairne (1749-1806), an optical and mathematical instrument maker and natural philosopher. Electrotherapy came into popular use in England in the second half of the 1700s.
On display
Science Museum: Medicine: The Wellcome Galleries
If you are visiting to see this object, please contact us in advance to make sure that it will be on display.
Related people
Details
- Category:
- Therapeutics
- Object Number:
- A199299 Pt1
- type:
- electrostatic machine
- taxonomy:
-
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- generator
- credit:
- Smith, S.A.
Cite this page
Rights
We encourage the use and reuse of our collection data.
Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
Descriptions and all other text content are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
Download
Download catalogue entry as json
Download 
manifest IIIF
Our records are constantly being enhanced and improved, but please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information shown on this website.
