Melinda Newman’s 1860-era estate inventory in Linn County, Iowa, indicated that she owned a galvanic battery at the time of her death. These batteries were used as a “cure” for various medical ailments. It wasn’t an old battery that she used to run her buckboard wagon when the horse wasn’t feeling up to it.
And, just based on her owning the battery, it’s difficult to say exactly what ailment she suffered from–particularly because various advertisements indicated that these batteries could be used to cure a variety of ailments.
I can’t use her ownership of the battery to state she had any particular illness.
It’s always worth taking care to not reach conclusions that are not supported by the evidence. What I know is that she owned a galvanic battery at the time of her death. I can learn about what these batteries are used for and include that information in my compilation of information on Melinda and in writing up what I have on her.
I just can’t say exactly what illness she used the battery for.
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