Electricity and Quackery in Medicine: A Shocking History

Quackery has existed in medical practice and culture since the founding of the country. Interest in electricity was particularly prominent in the 19th century and was a significant area of attention for both medical professionals and the broader population.

We often say that Benjamin Franklin “discovered electricity” with his kite flying experiment, although that wasn’t exactly true. People had known about “static electricity” for centuries. His experiment did, however, lead to a better understanding of electricity and discover that lightning is a form of electricity. He then invented the lightning rod and the power of electricity became part of America’s legacy. Following Franklin’s groundbreaking work, American inventors continued to advance the power of electricity. Further evidence of America’s rapture with electricity comes with the advent of Thomas Edison’s discovery of the incandescent light bulb. This interest in electricity accelerated the “War of the Currents” that was fought here in the US in the 19thcentury. This “war” was eventually “won” by Edison and is responsible for the Alternating current being the standard throughout the world.

So, it is no surprise that given America’s fascination and demand for electrical power, that medical practitioners started using it to help cure patients’ problems. In 1786, Galvani’s frog experiments demonstrated that electricity could make frog legs twitch. This led to a theory of animal electricity and soon people thought that electricity was the whole reason, the body moved. This concept of “vitalism” led to all kinds of bizarre experiments using electricity to animate a newly-executed prisoner’s jaw and to attempt to reinvigorate a limb that had been paralyzed by spinal injury.

The violet ray device is perhaps the most notable example of electrical quackery in medical history. Several such devices are maintained here, and they are frequently encountered at estate sales from older residences, reflecting their widespread domestic use. Manufactured and utilized extensively during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the violet ray was first presented in 1893 at the World's Columbian Exposition by inventor Nikola Tesla. The device delivered a high-voltage, low-current stream of electricity to the body, accompanied by a distinctive violet glow at its tip, creating a significant placebo effect for patients. Marketed as beneficial for numerous medical conditions, it came with specific instructions tailored for each ailment, ranging from neurological symptoms to musculoskeletal complaints. However, the device lacked therapeutic efficacy and posed substantial risks, including skin burns, internal injuries, and ocular damage, in addition to the financial loss and emotional distress caused by false hope.

Ultimately, the FDA—with support from regulatory bodies and legal action—halted the production and sale of these devices in the early 1950s and their popularity diminished quickly.