04 June 2013

A Galvanic Battery


The estate settlement of Belinda/Melinda Newman in rural Linn County, Iowa, in the 1860s lists an item that I do not normally see during this time period:

a galvanic battery

Sale Bill from Belinda Newman Estate, Linn County Iowa, probate case files 570; digital image obtained on FamilySearch.

I'm going to show my ignorance and ask what would a nearly seventy year old widow living by herself need with a galvanic battern in 1869?
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1 comment:

  1. Unknown4:17 PM

    I'm wondering if it was one of these?

    http://www.electrotherapymuseum.com/2010/Batts/index.htm

    It seems to be a quack medical medallion, based on the ideas of the galvanic cells - different metals react to sweat, creating electrical charges that cure everything!

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