Re: New Toy

["Tesla list" <tesla-at-pupman-dot-com>]

Original poster: "by way of Terry Fritz <twftesla-at-qwest-dot-net>" <Beans45601-at-aol-dot-com>

In a message dated 6/7/02 2:24:04 PM Central Daylight Time, tesla-at-pupman-dot-com
writes:


>
> On Fri, 7 Jun 2002, Tesla list wrote:
> > Claude died a few years later of cancer...  Totally unrelated...  He joked
> > about all us getting fried, and we squealed with delight :o))  I have never
> > noticed any ill effects symelf ~:o))
> >
> > However, I was always wildly fascinated by the Tesla coil wand!!  Well,
> > while getting parts for Paul's next experiment, I saw it!  Brand new!  So I
> > got one!!  Not cheap at $170, but I had to have it :-))
>
> Don't worry about any radiation from this.  It puts out lots
> of high frequency RF, but no x-rays or radiation.
>
> What you have is an Odin coil, commonly known as a Violet Wand
> which were used in the early days of the 1900's as a medical
> device.  It was said to cure hair loss, cancer, blindness...
> pretty much everything.
>
> Now days all it's claims of health have been disproved, except
> one.  It is still used for removing acne.  The HV does a great
> job of killing bacteria and it really does work.
>
> Most of the units come with gas filled glass tubes to keep
> you safe from any dangerous AC current if you get grounded.
> You can find lots of older medical units on eBay and new
> ones like you have are still used.  The older ones use
> wax cores and will melt and ruin if used for more than
> a few minutes at a time.
>
> It lights up neon tubes, light bulbs.. lots of neat effects
> from it.  It runs at a frequency WAY higher than a Tesla
> Coil, but is similar in operation.
>
> There is a lot of confusion over the safety of these things
> if you get zapped by it.  A lot of people say the electrical
> skin effect keeps the current from penetrating, but others
> say the human body being way more complex than a solid
> conductor lets the current go very deep.  What is known is
> the frequency is so high your nerves can't register it,
> unless it arcs to you.  You can hold the glass electrodes
> and feel nothing until you let go.  Long term effects and
> possible nerve damage are pretty much not known.  But it
> certainly seems quite safe for short periods.
>
> If you like neat electrical things, go find an older one.
> They make a great addition to any collection of electronic
> junk.  New ones are much better made so better for
> demonstrating it to people, old ones look cool.  :-)



Intresting, what did they do (well, i guess maby not did...) just put the tip
of the thing against a pimple...?