The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-10-19

six feet in height. From the center Of it
hung what looked like q small get of hAr-
ness: It was harness formed for very
particular purpose.
"Just slip under this!'' said the doctor,
and the writer obeyed. In trioei atrapl
were fastened under his chin and at the
back of the head, and both arms Wore
pushed through other straps.
Nov mp you Rov' remarked tho doctor
sententionsly, and sure enough tho writer
went MP" and q second later was aware
that he was engaged in rather . novel par
Torrance.
''There are good many Newspaper men
who ought to be hanged" remarked the
learned hangman grimly. "rve nsver had
the pleasure Of hanging one before, how
ever"
This sounded rather ominous, but the
strap was pressing under the victims jaw,
in such way that he could not have spoken
for gil of King Solomon's mines, 80 he hung
thea, and thought several things until the
doct ar sask At to let him down.
Now" he said, s.you know how it feels
to be hanged. How do You like it?''
There was no sensation that the writer
could describe produced by the suspension.
The weight Of the body came upon the jaw
and the back Of the head, but suspension
OF something like three minutes caused no
feeling of WEAKNESS. The doctor explained
that this would not be the case with per-
AA00AeAAe
ically weak be subjected to a long suspen-
sion. It would be dangerous with q person
afflicted with heart trouble.
ut is we'll to know that this treatment
may become dangerous under certain cir
cumstances where it is unskillfully or care
lessly administered" continued DR.. Rob-
ertson. ss'In fact, there have been accidents
since the treatment has been used, owing to
these causes. It is necessary that the great
est care should always be taken.
There are two systems of administering
this treatment. One have Just shown you.
use the suspension method himself es he
pleases, pulling himself up whenever he 90
desires without the assistance Of physi-
cian."
I'm many cases this method is absolutely
criminal" hs said. mo person should be
suspended except in the presence Of $50
ond party, who should be familiar with the
mode of treatment. It ia not an uncommon
thing for men to faint while undergoing
the treatment, even when carefully watched.
The danger of allowing patient to try the
treatment with no one near to assist him is
obvious. Now when suspend patient I
always have my assistant With me.
allow an unskilled person to do this.
for they are liable to jerk the rope and
cause shock to the patient. Az the pa
tient is gently and steadily pulled from the
ground or floor, stanG in front Of him
timing his pulse and Watching him closely.
mediately let down. Then at a proper time
the treatment is repeated. It was formerly
the custom to hang the patient every other
day only. At first the patient would be
hung half minute. From day to day,
however, the time OF suspension was in,
four minutes"
DR.. Robertson believes in more FREQUENT
after the patient has been treated for a
time suspend him every day and some
times twice day. find the results justify
sions are the separation or frightening Of
the vertebral column to its normal condi-
ton. OF COURSE" continued the physician,
''suspensiOn alone does not cure loComotor
ataxia. We use medicines in conjunction
with it. However, suspension is powerful
that was wanting until this year and with
out which no such progress could have been
made in treating the disease a. has been
made of late.''
''It will be understood" said the doctor,
shat We do not claim that tho cures that
have been seemingly made vii! be psrma-
considerable time before we can be GER
tain on that point. However, the indica-
tions now are that the suspension treatment
will rank among the great medical discov-
cries Of this generation. Men have come to
my Office walking on crutches.
"They would be partially blind and out
wardly would seem physical wrecks. After
short term of treatment the crutchea
could be thrown away. The patient could
see. He could walk very considerable dis
tances, carrying nothing but q light cane,
and could walk in the dark once more
without falling. Such cases are now COM
mon."
DR.. Robertson says that women acre
rarely afflicted with locomoter ataxia. He
also states that men engaged in pursuity
where the nerves are constantly brought in
to play are most subject to it. Actors seem
especially susceptible. The Same physi-
clan states that although the cure origin
ated in Europe American doctors nave been
the most successful in using it.
1.-The reason for this" said the doctor,
sis that while the European doctors are our
superiors in matters theoretic, our doctors
have faculty for developing new discov-
cries like this one, that is unrivaled. That
is the reason of the success here of the sus-
pension treatment. The Indications are
that the suspension treatment will from the
basis of a good deal of learned discussion
before many moons have come and waned."
DAVID WHcHsLER.
Copyright.
Muslin underwear must 60 this week ct The
Bee Hive.