Electrical Exercise for the Fat.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 25 September 1914, Page 2

Electrical Exercise for the Fat.

The usual remedy for obesity is underfeeding or muscular exercise, and either may have bad effects in the enfeebled condition of many fat persons. French experiments having shown that electric stimula-

tion may give automatic, exercise of the muscles without fatigue, Dr. Nagelschmidt, a German physician, has had built a specialty designed apparatus for applying such treatment to the obese. As described by Dr. A. Gradeiivvitz, this apparatus consists of a strong wooden reclining chair, with insulated metal surfaces serving as electrodes, two electrodes for the patient's back being adjustable by racks, two being placed on the seat, two for the

•alves arranged on an adjustable oot-rest, and two others for the ablomen, and two for the thiohs or

■hest on special side supports. By ten small commutators, a switchboard connects each electrode either to a positive or a negative pole,

:<aeh electrode having its specially regulated resistance. By a special ■•■ mmutator, driven by a little

:-it_ei;ic motor, the supply current is transformed into an alternating current, and this for muscular stimu- ■... i'.i!i may reach a frequency as high

as 7,000 periods a mimile. The vlectric treatment has the same effect, in reducing flesh as ordinary muscular exercise, with no harmful consequences. Besides its use for producing muscular contractions, 'i he intermittent current is adapted for other purposes, and may be made to give local or even general anesthesia.