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Rare Antique BOYD'S BATTERY Quack Medical Cure Amulet
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Rare Antique BOYD'S BATTERY Quack Medical Cure Amulet
Price: US $50.00

Rare Antique BOYD'S BATTERY Quack Medical Cure Amulet Pat Jan 17 1878

The 1 1/8" diameter medallian is marked "Boyd's Battery",and on the reverse, "Patented Jan 17, 1878".

The battery is composed of 12 peripheral disks of copper, brass, and whitemetal, surrounding a central copper rosette. Boyd's 1878 patent date makes itone of the earliest such quack medical devices, predating Richardson's batteryby two years. The battery was worn around the neck, preferably over the heart.J C Boyd, an early advocate of galvanism promoted his battery as having healingqualities for a host of ailments.His pendants were the most commonly used in the late 19th century and therewere a number of imitators. He patented his battery in America initially andshortly afterwards in England.A small electric current is set up when metal are juxtaposed. It was knowledgeof this phenomenon and an emerging understanding of the central role of electricityin nature and life itself which led to the belief that objects with galvanicproperties would have a therapeutic effect on illness, ostensibly in whateverguise it manifested itself.

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