Accession No

6527

Brief Description

‘Die Galvanohaemoplastik’ manuscript book, by Ludwig Josef Melicher, Austrian, finished c. 1860, and two electrotherapy-related instruments

Origin

Austria; Vienna

Maker

Ludwig Josef Melicher [book author]

Class

physiology; manuscripts

Earliest Date

1860

Latest Date

1860

Inscription Date

1860

Material

paper; wood (mahogany?, pine?); paint; metal (iron, steel, brass); ivory; cloth (felt)

Dimensions

[6527.1] 311mm x 235mm x 30mm [6527.2] 310mm (l) x 145mm (d) x 140mm (t) [6527.3] 165mm (l) x 120mm (d) x 55mm (t) [6527.4] 220mm (l) x 85mm (d) x 7mm (t)

Special Collection

Provenance

Dorotheum Auction House, Palais Dorotheum, A-1010 Wien, Dorotheergasse 17, Austria. Antique Scientific Instruments and Models sale, 07/11/2011, lot no. 308.

Inscription

“Die Galvanohaemoplastik und deren Anwendung in der Operativen Chirurgie” [Title page of book]

Description Notes

‘Die Galvanohaemoplastik’ manuscript book by Ludwig Josef Melicher, Austrian, finished c. 1860, and two electrotherapy-related instruments.

[6527.1] Manuscript book “Die Galvanohaemoplastik und deren Anwendung in der Operativen Chirurgie” [”The Galvanohaemoplastik(?) and their Application in Operative Surgery”]. 341 numbered quarto(ish) pages of manuscript text, plus 12 sheets of various colour and black-and-white manuscript illustrations of experimental and instrumental set-up for electrical physiology / surgery experiments. Stitched binding in paper. Printed biography of Melicher, inscribed “Wien, 1860”, pasted onto title page (cut from printed book title page?). Some loose manuscript pages interleaved (7 manuscript pages loose SK -- 09/04/2021).

[6527.2] Electrotherapy instrument in mahogany (?) box painted black, on four feet. Hinged lid. Inside is two wire coils mounted on a freely rotating spindle. Coils can be rotated by ivory handle on outside of box. Spindle includes four shaped and cut circular metal contacts that make and break contact with four flexible steel teeth. Teeth connected to brass electrical contacts on outside of back of box. Also thumb-screw brass electrical contact on opposite end of box to handle. Lock with key to secure lid to box.

[6527.3] Electrotherapy instrument - switch for making and breaking electrical circuits (?). Mahogany (?) block on four feet. Four brass electric contacts with thumb-turn screws on top of block near each corner. Central pivot with three brass arms, two opposite and one at angle, that can be rotated above five flat metal contacts (three contacts in arc on side of single arm; two in arc on side with two arms). Flat contacts and thumb-screw contacts are connected together by wire soldered onto underside of block.

[6527.4] Horseshoe-shaped iron magnet with separate flat bar iron magnet. Bar magnet has hook for hanging.

Condition: good/fair, complete.

References

Events