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Does the above picture look familiar to you? It should! It is nothing more that a replacement for the piezo-electical igniter for a back-yard barbeque! I picked it up from my local hardware store for the purpose of researching this article, although I also have an old, salvaged component that I have used for the last number of years.

It's quite an interesting device in its own right, The wires you can see in the picture leade from the igniter to a set of electrodes placed in the propane gas-way, with the propane turned 'on', the red button is pressed firmly and a spring driven hammer working across a tiny ceramic block creates a momentary, visible high voltage spark. This, in its turn, ignites the propane gas.

Lighting the barbecue is the igniters intended use, but it has others. It can readily be pressed into service as a bio-electrical 'spot' applicator which will deliver its electrical charge into a very small area, such as a wart or other skin blemish with great precision!

What got me involved in experimenting with this intriguing little gadget is the fact that a commercially produced version was examined by some sort of establishment committee and after a cursory look-see, the device was pronounced to be both without value and without any curative properties whatever. To me, that sounded like high praise for the device and an indication that someone, somewhere might not want the knowledge of the possible use of these applicators to spread!

There is one thing about the committee's findings that I would like to bring to your attention though, and that is that as researchers we must remember that many of these bio-electrical devices do not work with the speed of light! Many of them require weeks, perhaps months, bfore they produce what might be called 'concrete' curative results.

Here is how you can turn a barbeque igniter kit, or a salvaged igniter, into a very useful bio-electric device:

1. These things may be have some minor differences, depending on the manufacturer, but the first step is to remove the little lead wire from the igniter (in a salvaged unit). It fits over an electrode in the barrel of the igniter and whether or not it is used in the barbeque or is hand held, the device will produce a spark anyway. To test this, hold the barrel just above your arm with the electrode pointing directly at your arm (about an eighth to a quarter of an inch above the flesh). Next, click the red button. A tiny spark will jump from the electode to your arm with a small, but still perceptible 'jolt'. This is not a repeating function. Each discharge requires that the button be pressed again. The charge of electricity does you no harm, it doesn't hurt and it shows you quite positively that the device is working.

2. Optionally, you can install the electric lead to the elecrode in the igniter. Once you have done this, cut off an inch or so from the electrode and remove the insulation from the last quarter or half an inch of the lead. Twist the bared wires together and there you have it. My devices are always constructed like this. You can just use the electrode as it protrudes from the barrel of the igniter if you wish, but I think my way allows greater precision and I normally actually touch the bare and twisted wires directly onto my skin before clicking the button. Matter of choice, I guess, is all.

3. The final touch is to purchase a large fender washer from the hardware store. You can easily find one that will slip over the threaded barrel of the igniter and which will stop at the plastic 'lip'. Then screw the cheap, stamped nut that comes with device (holds the igniter firmly in the barbeque!) and tighten it up. When this is done, the fender washer provides a secure leverage for the two fingers holding on to the device (you need your thumb to click the button!) which allows the device to be held and operated in much the same fashion as an old fashioned medical syringe. That's it! Device Completed!

Devices very similar to this may still be found for sale on the Internet. The CRYSTALDYNE PAIN RELIEVER, the ACCUPOINT PULSE STIMULATOR and the PIEZO D-N QUARTZ CRYSTAL are some of them. Prices range from $30.00 to $130.00 U.S. Other than for some cosmetic dressing up, all of them are simply camoflaged barbeque igniters.

Commercial advertising promises cure or relief for just about everything from arthritis pain to dandruff removel! If at first limit your research to skin blemishes, warts and moles, you might obtain better results until your personal experience shows you the advantages and limitations of the device.

As a matter of interest, similar devices have been manufactured and marketed since at least the 1850's. For example, the DAVIS KEDDER MAGNETO of 1855 employed a small, hand operated generator which transmitted a low voltage current to a pair of cylindrical, hand held copper electrodes! Sound familiar?

Good luck with your research!