| Reference Number | MIMM/2018-5-76 |
| Title | Magneto Electric Machine |
| Date | 1800-1899 |
| Creator Name | Thompson & O'Neill; fl. nineteenth century; razor and surgical instrument makers and cutlers |
| Description | Mahogany rectangular box with hand crank at the front, and keyhole. The sides of the box have one brass hole at each end. On the left side, there is also a metal knob that can be pulled to change the strength of the magnet.
The lid of box is hinged. Inside the box is a large magnet, connected with a velvet and metal rotator. There are two vertical cogs of similar size, which allows for a textile rope to be moved. Two brass cyclindrical holds with textile rope are presented in the box, each one with a brass pin at the end of the rope. These pins insert to the brass keyholes on the exterior sides of the box. The hand crank is used to move the cogs and rotator to deliver a mild electric shock. The device, labelled on the inside lid of the box "Newly Invented Improved Magneto Electric Machine, for Nervous Diseases" was intended to give mild electric shocks to treat aches and pains, but especially those associated with the nerves. The label lists its directions as well as some other uses. This machine is considered to be 'medical quakery. This one was made by O'Neill & Thompson. |
| Extent | 3 parts |
| Dimensions | 250 x 110 x 110mm |
| Digital Collections | View online in our digital collections |
| Copyright | Free to use under the terms of the Creative Commons Licence Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) |
| Credit Line | Royal College of Physicians of Ireland |
| Object Name | Electro Medical And Cautery Apparatus |
| Term | Electric Stimulation Therapy -- Instrumentation |
| Therapeutics |
| Therapeutics -- Instrumentation |