Lebenswecker—The “Life Awakener,” Yikes!

Ouch! With its thirty sharp needles, the medical instrument known as the “life awakener” or Lebenswecker in German most likely caused more pain than it cured. The hollow ebony tube contained a handle with a coiled spring attached. When this spring was released, the needles punctured the patient’s skin, injecting oil known as Oleum, otherwise known as fuming sulphuric acid. Again, ouch.

According to the literature that came with the instrument, the Lebenswecker could cure “rheumatic pain, headache, toothache, cramps, asthma … diseases of the eye and ear, stiffness of the joints, tetters (skin eruptions), jaundice, hemorrhoids, … syphilis, etc.” It is noted that “The simple and easy manner, in which these remedies are applied, renders it practicable for everyone to use them with success in his own family.” Not surprising, this instrument, invented by Carl Baunscheidt in 1847, was discredited not too many years later.

So how did this Lebenswecker end up in the Minnetrista Heritage Collection? It was among the many artifacts donated by Herbert Hamilton of Eaton. His collection is a treasure of artifacts, photos, and archival material that document his life and career. We’ll continue to dig into why he had a Lebenswecker. By the way, his collection also includes a pandiculator, but that’s a story for another day.