University Health Network - Academy of Medicine Collection
Category
Diagnostic & Treatment Artifacts
Classification
Neurology
Accession Number
1983.14.1 a-b
Description
A wide, heavy, adjustable circular piece (a) covered in leatherette has an operating panel mounted on the outer surface has two on-off switches; a smaller circle of wire (b) is covered in the same material and has attached to it a small light bulb.
A wide, heavy, adjustable circular piece (a) covered in leatherette has an operating panel mounted on the outer surface has two on-off switches; a smaller circle of wire (b) is covered in the same material and has attached to it a small light bulb.
Number Of Parts
2
Part Names
a - large ring - Size: Width 10.2 cm x Diameter 48.3 cm
b - smaller ring - Size: Width 2.5 cm x Diameter 34.3 cm
Provenance
Acquired from the Academy of Medicine; source: Mrs. Currall donated it to Dr. Thomas Porter; was previously owned by Mrs. Minnie Donnelly, her mother.
Printed on control box: " OFF OFF // LOW HIGH // THERAPEUTIC // SOLENOID // H.E.P.C. LA. 2068 110 VOLTS 1-36 AMPS. 110 WATTS 25 OR 60 CYCLE // THIS APPLIANCE IN SO FAR AS ITS SAFETY // AS AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE IS CONCERNED // HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE HYDRO // ELECTRIC POWER COMMISSION OF ONTARIO. // THIS APPROVAL IN NO WAY AFFECTS OR // CONCERNS THE THERAPEUTIC VALUE OF THE // APPLIANCE. // MANUFACTURED BY // THE HARMONY ELECTRO MANUFACTURERS // TORONTO, ONT."
Permanent Location
Storage Room 0010
0010-D6-1
Unit Of Measure
centimeters
Condition Remarks
#2: the leather is hard.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Document
Books
Photo
Reference Comments
Letter from Dr. Thomas Porter; "Electro-Medical Instruments and Their Management," Schau and Son, p. 307; two photos in file
"In the Matter of Joseph C. Bradley et al.," Federal Trade Commission Decisions, Volume 28, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1940, pg. 250 - 265, https://books.google.ca/books?id=AoIhAQAAIAAJ&dq=the+%22harmony+electro+manufacturers%22&source=gbs_navlinks_s.
Research Facts
"Mrs. Donnelly had a chronic low back pain for which she used this Solenoid as therapy. It slid over her head and she positioned it around her body a little below the mid-line so that the bulk of the Solenoid was opposite her lower back and then she turned it on and sat with the Solenoid in place for 20 to 30 mins. . . . used it on and off over a number of years and in fact Mrs. Currall has used it on occasion but she attributed no particular benefit to it. Mrs. Currall confirmed our belief that the small ring with the light bulb attached was used only to test the large ring and assure that it was 'still working.'" "Electro-Medical Instruments and Their Management" shows a solenoid designed to enclose a patient when lowered like a venetian blind; person sits on a built-in seat.
When the device is turned on, it generates a magnetic field inside the belt. The loop with the bulb attached is a test coil, used to test whether the magnetism is coming from the belt. The person using the belt should be in a comfortable position, as relaxed as possible. It was generally used three times a day around the waist, but could be used on any part of the body. These belts were sold to the public for between $65 and $75 each. It was advertised that "Electro Magnetism thorughly relaxes, strengthens vitality, assists oxidation, increases circulation, aids metabolism, stimulates the nerves, builds up the body, repelling the blood, thus stimulating circulation, dissolving the poisons, placing them in a position to be removed. Thus removing the cause of disease, the body is permitted to rebuild itself." The idea behind it was that blood is diamagnetic, so the magnetism would produce friction and make electricity in the tissues which would stimulate the body's chemistry to dissolve calcium and poisonous crystals in the blood, which would then be eliminated from the body. This belt was used to treat ailments like rheumatism, arthritis, lumbago, headache, sore eyes, paralysis, strokes, phlebitis, asthma, constipation, hay fever, ulcers, kidney problems, and many others. The company maintained that while some ailments would respond immediately to the belt, others might take months. In 1939, the company and its representatives were ordered by the United States Federal Trade Commission to cease and desist from claiming that the Harmony belt had any therapeutic value in treating rheumatism, arthritis, paralysis, etc., or that it helped remove poisons from the body.
Exhibit History
On loan to McGill University for exhibit at Osler Library L-2022-5 18 July – 28 Oct. 2022.