Janniere Electro Physio Therapy Room

Old Time Erie: Janniere photo courtesy of the Ada Lawrence Archives.

"J. William Janniere attended the schools of Kingston and was graduated from St. George's College, a Jesuit college. After completing his hospital work in his native land, Doctor Janniere came to the United States in 1906 and established a practice in New York City, where he remained for eight years. He was graduated from the National College of Therapeutics in 1921 and then located in Erie, where he has a well established practice. Doctor Janniere specializes in electro physio therapeutics. His office is at 228 East 11th street. On June 4, 1919, Doctor Janniere was married to Miss Ruth I. Stewart, of New Haven, Conn., and they have two children: Marie E. and William James. Doctor Janniere is a Republican, a member of the Catholic Church and belongs to the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of the World." -History of Erie, PA by John Elmer Reed (1925).

The treatment that Janniere practiced was likely the precursor to e-stim, or electric stimulation of muscles, that is widely used in sports medicine today. I had stim a couple of times a week following rotator cuff surgery. The premise is that electrodes are moistened and attached to the injured area (my shoulder) using conductive film or suction cups. The machine administers a series of electric pulses which trigger your muscles to contract. The intensity is turned up as high as the patient can tolerate. 

When the photograph shown above was taken, Janniere's office was located at 1106 Parade St. in Erie, Pennsylvania. (I would have taken one look at those contraptions and run right out the door.) J. William Janniere died in 1939 and was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Erie County, PA.

Enjoy more historic facts and photos of Erie, PA at: Old Time Erie