(a) Rectangular booklet detailing the uses of the hyfrecator as a method of removing lesions, warts and cancers through a variety of applications; (b) plastic, rectangular control box with four metal female electrical ports; centre top on box is large charge regulator dial; on right side are a pair…
(a) Rectangular booklet detailing the uses of the hyfrecator as a method of removing lesions, warts and cancers through a variety of applications; (b) plastic, rectangular control box with four metal female electrical ports; centre top on box is large charge regulator dial; on right side are a pair of C-shaped metal clips for holding (c) in place; on back are four feet and a keyhole-shaped slot, four screws holding on the back plate, and a metal plate with legal information on it; out of the bottom, two rubber-covered electrical cords project; one of them ends in a two-prong male electrical plug; the other cord ends in a circular plastic and rubber foot pedal for the patient; (c) a cylindrical plastic baton with an angled metal spike protection from one end; a rubber electrical cord extends from the other end of the wand, ending in a plastic cylinder with a rounded end and a single prong that connects to the female ports on the front of (b).
Number Of Parts
3
Part Names
a - booklet - Size: Length 21.8 cm x Width 14.0 cm x Depth 0.7 cm
b - hyfrecator - Size: Length 193.3 cm x Width 13.6 cm x Depth 8.9 cm
c - baton - Size: Length 180.3 cm x Width 3.0 cm x Depth 1.4 cm
Provenance
Owned and used by Dr. Burns of Napanee, Ont., a 1947 graduate of the Queen's University Medical Program; some items belonged to Dr. Stratton, who held the Napanee practice prior to Dr. Burns.
(a) Printed on front cover: "HYFRECATOR // symposium on electrodesiccation // and bi-active coagulation"; printed vertically: "more than 100,000 hyfrecators in daily medical use"; back cover: "Birtcher // 4371 VALLEY BLVD., LOS ANGELES 32, CALIFORNIA // PRINTED IN U.S.A. FORM NO. 50183 50M 6-57 CP"; (b) embossed on foot pedal: "THE BIRTCHER CORPORATION // Birtcher // MADE IN U.S.A."; embossed on end of electrical plug: "33 // ELECTRIX"; embossed on front of control box: "HYFRECATOR"; engraved on control dial: "100 75 50 25 0 // BIRTCHER"; stamped on metal plate, back of box: "Birtcher // t // HYFRECATOR // REG. U.S. PAT OFFICE // MODEL X-712 // SERIAL HC89D2015 [number engraved] // 110/120 VOLTS 1.2 AMPERES 60 ["60" engraved] CYCLES // MFD IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA // THE BIRTCHER CORPORATION LOS ANGELES 32 // U.S. PATENT NO. D114.628 // TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CANADIAN // STANDARD ASSOCIATION, THIS DEVICE SHOULD NOT // BE OPERATED FOR PERIODS GREATER THAN 15 // SECONDS IN ANY 3 MINUTES. // THIS DEVICE, INSOFAR AS ITS SAFETY FROM ELECTR- // CAL SHOCK AND FIRE HAZARD IS CONCERNED, HAS // BEEN APPROVED BY THE CANADIAN STANDARDS // ASSOCIATION. THE C.S.A. IS NOT CONCERNED WITH THE PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF THE RADIATION // FROM THIS DEVICE // C.S.A. APPROVAL NO. 6769"
Permanent Location
(a) Storage Room 2005
2005-2-2 Box #2
(b,c) Storage Room 0010
0010-F5-4
Condition Remarks
(a) Upper right corner dog-eared; cover is stained, creased; (b) plastic pitted with age and wear; persistent stains and grim on relief of object; paint residue on plastic and cords; cords becoming brittle with age; metal slightly tarnished; (c) cord brittle, paint-stained; metal in good condition.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
Internet
Reference Comments
"Hospital & Physicians Equipment and Supplies," by J.F. Hartz Co., 1960, p. 92 (similar to item #3H-195)
Wikipedia
Research Facts
A hyfrecator is a low-powered medical apparatus used in electrosurgery on conscious patients, usually in an office setting. It is used to destroy tissue directly, and to stop bleeding during minor surgery. Wikipedia
Used to remove skin lesions, benign and malignant; use discontinued because of the amounts of radio, television and broadcast interference generated by its use (RF1, TV1, BCI)
The word hyfrecator is a portmanteau derived from “high-frequency eradicator.” It was introduced as a brand name for a device introduced in 1940 by the Birtcher Corporation of Los Angeles.[1] Birtcher also trademark registered the name Hyfrecator in 1939, and rights to the registered trademark were acquired by ConMed Corporation when it acquired Birtcher in 1995.