Nexus - 0304 - New Times Magazine-pages

Page Content (OCR)

WHY THE ELECTRIC BATTERY WAS FORGOTTEN side the battery devices found in Seleucia. He suggests that these needles may have been used for acupuncture, and points out that acupuncture was already standard practice in China. Electric fish were used for medicinal purposes in Greek and Roman times for relieving headache or gout. Scribonius Largus wrote long ago: "For any sort of foot gout, when the pain comes on it is good to put a living black torpedo fish under his feet while standing on the beach; not dry, but one on which the sea washes until he feels that his whole foot and ankle are numb up to the knees." But while electric fish are found in the Mediterranean Sea and in the Nile River, they are not found in the Persian Gulf or the rivers of Mesopotamia, hence the need to invent an electric battery. But all that was just too much for the establishment. It did not fit in with the usual concept of the development of Homo sapiens, the brilliant generation of modern messy and more readily available method of analgesic. Of course, the 1.5 volts that would have been generated by such a device would not do much to deaden a patch of skin, so the next conclusion was that these ancient peo- ple must have discovered how to link up several batteries in series to produce a higher voltage. Paul Keyser wrote that, "Mesopotamian medical practice included a number of ele- ments conducive to the reception of an electrotherapeutic device of this sort". In Sumeria, Akkad and Babylon there were two types of physicians, the "Asu" and the “Asipu". The latter practised diagnosis of the patient's symptoms, or divination to determine the nature of the affliction. The former prescribed the medicine or practised incantation to provide healing. They may have been the ones to apply electric shocks to the patient's stricken parts. Keyser considers it significant that bronze and iron needles were found along- Seated - enone Over 50 years ago, Wilhelm Konig, the Of course, the 1.5 volts that would have been used for acupuncture, and points out then Director of the Baghdad Museum, _ been generated by such a device would not that acupuncture was already standard reported the discovery of an electric battery do much to deaden a patch of skin, so the _ practice in China. 2,000 years old. next conclusion was that these ancient peo- Electric fish were used for medicinal You had not heard about this sensational ple must have discovered how to link up purposes in Greek and Roman times for discovery? We can tell you why. Itdidnot several batteries in series to produce a__ relieving headache or gout. Scribonius DT tn rt ere tee cree fit in with the established viewpoint. Most higher voltage. Largus wrote long ago: "For any sort of archaeologists did not want to know about Paul Keyser wrote that, "Mesopotamian foot gout, when the pain comes on it is it and hoped it would go away. medical practice included a number of ele- good to put a living black torpedo fish But Konig's electric battery did not go ments conducive to the reception of an under his feet while standing on the beach; away. In fact, a lot more of them were electrotherapeutic device of this sort". In not dry, but one on which the sea washes found in Parthian settlements near Sumeria, Akkad and Babylon there were until he feels that his whole foot and ankle Baghdad. two types of physicians, the "Asu" and the are numb up to the knees." The battery Konig discovered consisted "Asipu". The latter practised diagnosis of But while electric fish are found in the of a pottery jar 14 cm high and 8 cm in the patient's symptoms, or divination to Mediterranean Sea and in the Nile River, diameter with a 3.3-cm opening at the top. determine the nature of the affliction. The they are not found in the Persian Gulf or Inside this opening, and held in place with former prescribed the medicine or practised _ the rivers of Mesopotamia, hence the need asphalt, was a tube made of a copper sheet incantation to provide healing. They may to invent an electric battery. 10 cm long and 2.6 cm in diameter. The have been the ones to apply electric shocks But all that was just too much for the tube was sealed at the bottom with a copper __ to the patient's stricken parts. establishment. It did not fit in with the disc held in place with more asphalt. Keyser considers it significant that usual concept of the development of Homo Suspended from the asphalt lid was an iron bronze and iron needles were found along- _ sapiens, the brilliant generation of modern rod 7.5 cm long which hung down inside the centre of the copper roll. The use of asphalt sealing indicated that the contraption must have contained some liquid. At that time, all available liquids apart from vegetable and mineral oils were acidic; so the logical conclusion was that the pottery jar and its contents were for the production of an electric current. Vinegar was the most likely acid that would have Asphalt Stopper been used. But it was the purpose to which Hecrelne this electric current could or would be put that produced some embarrassment. About the only likely solution to this question was that it was used for electro- Copper plating, but no electroplated items had ever Cylinder been found, and, in any case, there is a lot more to electroplating than the production of a mild electric current. Now, Paul T. Keyser of the University of Vase for Alberta in Canada has come up with an Support alternative suggestion. Writing in the pres- tigious archaeological Journal of Near Eastern Studies, he claims that these batter- ies were used as analgesics. He points out Asphaltum that there is evidence that electric eels were used to numb an area of pain or to anaes- thetise it for medical treatment. The elec- tric battery could have provided a less Copper Disc JUNE-JULY 1996 NEXUS © 43