Every museum of medical electricity needs an electric belt or two. They aren't hard to find, nor are they expensive; and they were a significant fad in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. (Even Charles Darwin is reported to have tried them.) Magnetic belts were in fashion at the same time, yet they are almost impossible to find. What is the difference?

Magnetic belts were comfortable. Electric belts were not.

A magnetic belt is an ordinary belt, studded with small permanent magnets. An electric belt has batteries, wires, electrodes. A magnetic belt can be worn comfortably over clothes or underclothes; an electric belt must have the electrodes moistened and placed in contact with the skin. Electric belts are likely to give people rashes and chemical burns. They have lumps and seams for the batteries and wires, which leave creases and dents in the skin. If you have a bad back that can use a bit of support from a nice tight belt, the magnetic belt will help. The electric belt will just add to your troubles. One of the prime tenets of medicine is "first, do no harm". The magnetic belt fulfills that instruction a lot better than the electric belt does.

Electric belts were usually worn for a short while, then put away as a nuisance. Since they were expensive, they were put away in the attic instead of the trash. There they wait for the collectors to come, as collectors will. Magnetic belts were worn until they gave out, then discarded. Few were left for the antiques trade. We have some modern magnetic belts - but why use the bandwidth for a picture? Go down to your drugstore, and you can see a dozen in person. (Or you can look at an 1885 advertisement. Warning: 240K file.)

Museum Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 to 5
Thursdays 10 am to  8pm 
Closed Major Holidays
Library Hours: Monday - Friday 9 to 4:30

Admission: $7 Adults; $5 Students & Seniors; Children 3 and under are FREE!

© The Bakken Updated: April 6, 2007