Boyd's battery in metal box, 1879

Patented by Boyd in United States of America, 1879.

This medallion consists of a series of 11 peripheral discs made of different metals, including copper, brass and white metal, surrounding a central copper rosette. It was worn around the neck, preferably over the heart and was believed to cure various diseases by radiating galvanic electricity through the body. In reality it was useless, an example of the many quack medicine devices produced in the 19th century.