Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-06-07

Curious Treatment 0g DTrErsA. Some
years ago physician in New York city pub
lished "A small book, in which he gave we'll
written certificates Of marvellous cures ofdys-
peTsil. Patients began t1 flock % bin.
Their introduction t5 hi- treatment was very
queer. lie took the patient into bis c1u-al-
tation Office, examined bis ease, and ii it was
one he could cure, he announced bis fee as
five hundred dollars TO be paid in advance.
II the patients confidence was strong enough
the money paid, and then the doctor took
him through a ball, ny flight of stairs.
through another hall. then through room.
down flight Of stairs, upa flight. down
flight. then 70 the right, then TO the lelt. and
at last they arrived 10 small room without
windows, artiicialIy lighted. and in that
room the patient was required to pa, his
name u a solemn VOW that he would never
reveal the modes Of treatment.
This being finished, the patient was in
troluced 10 the treatment lt consisted in
Shaping the stomach and bowels Besides
this, the patient was required tJ I've TEN
perateiy, and much in the open air. On
rising in the morning, he was required to
spend from five to ten minutes in striking
his own abdomen with the fats OF his hands
Then he went out for morning walk after
having drunk a tumbler or two Of cold water
At eleven clock in the forenoon he spent a
quarter Of an hour or more in slapping the
bowels with his hands. Then he laid down
to rest. He dincd temperltoly at two o. 'clcck,
and spent the afternoon in saunterins about
At seven o. clock in the evening he repeated
the percussion. And went to bed at nine
O'Clock. \ majority Of the eases Of dyspep-
sia that sought relief at this establishment
had used all the other means except slap
ping; that is to say, they had lived on plain
food and much in the open air. Ii was the
slapping, the pounding with the fists knead-
ing with the fists. sometimes with the fists
Of an attendant, that cured these people for
cured they certainly were Marvellous cures
were effected in this establishment. After
the death Of the doctor, some OF his patients
felt themselves absolyed from the obligation.
and one of them described the treatment to
me.
la every ease Of indigestion, no matter
what may be its character, slapping the
stomach or bowels with the flats OF the bands
on rising in the morning, four hours after
bed, is excellent treatment. cannot con-
cieve of case of chronic indigestion which
such manipulation would not relieve.
If the patient be so week that he cannot
perform these slappings or kneadings upon
his own persen, the hand of discreet as
sistant should be employed
Ii is marvellous how the body, the stomach
for exaple, which, when these manipulations
are first practiced, may be so very tender that
the slightest touch can hardly be done-it is
marvellous how in two or three weeks blow
almost as hard as the hand lean give borne is
without suffering.
Nearly all soreness is relieved by judicious
handling For example. you stick needle
into your finger. Let it alone, and it will
ache for an hour and be sore for day But
lay the finger down upon your knee and beat
it with your other hand, the pain and sore
ness will disapper as if by magic.
You have a pain in the side or across the
chest; percussion will relieve it almost I'M
mediately. But constipation, dyspepsia,
torpidity Of liver and other affections Of the
abdominal viscera are relieved more surely
and completely than any other class by per-
cussion, kneading, &c. Such treatment
comes under the head Of counter irritation.
A new circulation is established in the parts
near the point of suffering and congestion.
Besides this, especially in abdominal troubles,
the manipulations appeal directly to the con-
tractility Of the weak and relaxed vessels in
the affected part.-Dio Leicis.