Diathermy Machine

Description:

The idea that high-frequency electromagnetic currents might have therapeutic effects was explored independently in 1890–1891 by Jacques Arsene d'Arsonval, a French physician and biophysicist, and by Nikola Tesla, a Serbian American engineer. German physician Karl Franz Nagelschmidt coined the term diathermy in 1908 and performed the first extensive experiments on patients.

An inscription in the lid of this machine reads “HOME DIATHERMY CO. INC. / NEW YORK, N.Y. / SERIAL NO. 26142.” This firm registered a trademark in 1940. Arnold Steindler was president.

Location: Currently not on view

Place Made: United States: New York, New York City

See more items in: Medicine and Science: Medicine

Exhibition:

Exhibition Location:

Credit Line: Mrs. Edgar Thoren

Data Source: National Museum of American History

Id Number: 1977.0668.01Catalog Number: 1977.0668.01Accession Number: 1977.0668Serial Number: 26142

Object Name: diathermy

Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ad-678d-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa

Record Id: nmah_1404607

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