The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1872-08-23
Novel Treatment OF Dyspepsia.

Some years ago physician in New
York city, published small book in
which he gave wcIl written certificates
Of marvellous cures Of dyspepsia. Pa-
tients began to flock to him. The intro
duction Of his treatment was very queer.
lie took the patient into his consulta-
tion office, examined his case, and IL il
was one he could cure lie announced his
fee A. FIVE hundred dollars, to be paid in
advance. If the patients confidence was
strong enough the money was paid, and
the doctor then took hin through hall,
up fight Of stairs, through another
Lall, then through a room, down fight
Of stairs, upa flight, down fight, then
to the right, then to the left, and at last
they arrived in small room without
windows, artifcially lighted, and IN that
room the patient was required TO put his
name to solemn vow that he would
never reveal the mode Of treatment.
This being all finished, the patient was
introduced TO the treatment. IL con
sisted in slapping tho stomach aud bowels.
Besides this the patient vas required to
live temperately, and much in.the open
air. On rising in the 4 brniop he was
required to spend from fiYb 70 ten min
utes striking his own abdomen with the
hets of his lands. Then he went out for
a morning walk, after having drank a
tumbler or two of c-if wntes. At II
o'clock in the forenoon he spent quar-
ter of an hour or more slapping the bow
els with bis hands. Then he laid down
to rest. He dined tcmperately at 2
o'clock, and spent the afternoon in ssun-
.ering about. Att o'clock in the even
ing he repeated the percussion, and went
to bed at 8 o'clock. A majority Of the
cases of dyspepsia that sought relief at
this establishment had used all the other
means except the slapping; that is to say,
they had lived on plain food and much
in theopen air. It was the slapping, the
pounding with the fsts, kneading with
the fists, sometimes with the fists of n,
attendant, that cured these people, fd
cured they certainly were. Marvellous
cures were effected at this establishment.
NS the death of the doctor, some OF
the patients ferpst.saseIyes absolvcd from
the obligation, and one Of fvrrs-aeribctl
the treatment 60 me.
In every case of indigestion, no matter
whst may be its character, ,slapping the
stomach or bowels with the 1afs Of the
hands ON rising in the morning, four
hours after breakfast, and in the evening
on going to bed is excellent treatment.
] cannot conceive of case of chronic
Indigestion which such manipulation
would not relieve. If the patient be 50
weak that he cannot perform these slap
pings or kneadings upon his own person,
the hand of discreet assistant should be
employed 1t is marvellous how the
body, the stomach for Example, which.
when these manipulations are first prac-
ticed, may be so very tender that the
slightest touch can hardly be borne-it
is marvellous how, in two or three weeks,
blow almost as hard as the hand can
give is borne without suffering. If you
have a pain the side or across the chest,
percussion will relieve il almost immedi-
ately. But constipation, dyspepsia, tor
pidity Of liver and other aficd4ons of the
abdominal viscers are relieved more
surely and completely than any other
class Of affections by percussion, knead-
ing, etc. Such treatment comes under
the head Of eounter-irritation. A new
circulation is established in the parts near
the point of suffering and congestion.
Besides this. especially in qhlsNiass
troubles, the nanipulations az as-ss'
rcctly to the contractility Of III ,ons
laxed vessel in the affected Nslw
Letris. ~