These scary baths were supposed to increase blood circulation
We were just as confused as you after looking at this picture. The whole setup and vibe altogether seem so confusing yet so sinister. However, we can confirm that this wasn’t any early prototype of the electric chair, but something known as the Galvanic bath in 1938. Supposed to improve blood circulation (which was the thing to do in the 1920s and 1930s), these Galvanic baths had a huge market.
The obsession with improving people’s blood circulation stemmed from the belief that it may solve their health problems and provide them with better health. Such strange experiments resulted from ideas that incorporated two hazardous elements when used together: water and electricity. Who knows, these might have been the inspiration behind designing electric chairs.