The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-10-18
Eoret Treatment of Dyspepsia.

Some wears ago, a physician in New York
CITY published n small book, IN which he
ca We veU written certificates of marvellous
cures Of dyspepsia. Patients began TO flock
tot,:T, After the introduction of his patient
mo his consultation office, examined his
case. and if it was one ne could cure, he an
uounced his fee rs five hundred dollars to be
f,ajd i'm advance. If the patients confidence
- strono enough the money was paid, and
-f1an the doctor took him through hall, up
a ghf of stairs, through another hall, then
t,rongh a room, down flight of stairs, up
Hfrbt down a fight, then to the right, then
oiha left. and aS last they arrived at a small
room, without windows, artificially lighted
and in that room the patient was required TO
mt his name to a solemn VOW that he would
never reveal the mode of treatment. This
being all finished, the patient was introduced
IN the treatment. 1t consisted in slapping
the stomach and bowels. Besides this, the
patient was required to live temperately and
iDucb in the omen air. On rising in the morn
inc he was required TO spend from FIVE TO ton
minutes in striking his own abdomen with
the fats of his hands. Then he went out
for a morning walk, after having drank a
tunbler or two of cold water. At eleven o.
clock in the forenoon he spent quarter of
an hour, or more, in slapping the bowels with
his hands. Then he laid down to rest. He
din-d temperately at two o'clock, and
spent the afternoon in sauntering about
At seven o'clock in the evening he re-
pcated the percussion, and went to he'd
at nine o'clock. y majority of the cases
OF dysDepsia that sought relief at this estah
lishment had used all the other means ex-
cept the slapping: that is to say. they had
lived on plain food and much in the open air
It was the slapping, the sounding with the
fists, kueaCing with fists, sometimes with the
fists OF an attendant, that cured these peo-
pie FOR cured they certainly were Mar
Vellous cures were affected at this establish
ment. After the death of the doctor some
of the patients felt themselves absolved from
the obligation, and one of them described
the treatment to me. In ever case of indi-
gestiou, no matter what may be its charac-
ter, slapping the stomach or bowels with the
flats OF the hands rising in the morning,
four hours after breakfast and in the even
ing is an excellent treatment. / cannot con-
ceive of a case of chronic indigestion which
such mauiDulation would not relieve. If the
patient be so weak that he cannot perform
these slappingS or kneadingS upon his own
person, the hand of discreet assistant
should be employed. 1t is marvellous how
when the 1nanipulations first practiced,
NAV be so very tender that the slightest
touch can hardly he Borue-it Is marvellous
how in two or three weeks a blow almost as
hard the hand can give is borne without
suffering. If you have pain in the side or
/ across the chest, percussion Will relieve it
almost Immediately, But constipation dys-
sis, torpidity OF liver and other affections of
the abdominal viscera are relieved more sure
ly and completely than any other class of a +
tectiOns by percussion, kueadiug, etc. Such
treatment comes under the head of counter
Irritation. y new circulation is established
+ III the parts near the point of suffering and
congestion. Besides this, especially in alb
dOminal troubles, the manipUlations appeal
directly to the contracility of the weak, re-
laXed vessels in the affected part-Dio
+ LetciS