Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1891-06-19
MASSAGE TREATMENT.
A Minute Description of the Somewhat
Painful Process.

AWo uo irS Oh d lndSSeur Operating
table is an experience for any man who
has not been there before. The room is
small. and as you lie on your back you
look up at the most amazing representa-.
tions of trees on the ceiling paper that
ever man gazed at
The first lesson is manipulation Of
the toes, and, really, man who has
been accustomed to regard these por
tions of his anatomy as modest, if
somewhat obscure, members of his
body physical is somewhat surprised
to find how suddenly they start into
prominence Under the hands OF the
masseur.
Raising the foot by placing the left
hand under the heel, the operator twig-
giles the toes. This word "twiggles"
does not sound impressive, but it ex-
presses the operation perfectly. There
seems to be movement throughout
the foot, sort of internal convulsion
of exercise in unexpected depths, that
amazes the one operated on. At the
same time the sensation is pleasant,and
this, combined with it's novelty, makes
one wish it might continue longer. I'm
fortunately, there are other rparts of the
body to be astonished, and the masseur
hurries on.
In the soft music of Hawaiian speech
there are no syllables dearer to the low
er of ease than Somi-Somi. 1t means
sleep after fatigue, comfort after
''chief's oven is opened" utter peace
whenever you undergo it. As the
strong, verile hands of a vigorous mas.
seur creep up the leg one understands
the significance Of Somi-Somi. The
muscles are gathered up by a curious
movement of the skillfhl hands into
punches, gently squeezed and allowed
to sink back into place. As this goes
on tits accompanied by a curious circuit
ous movement, under which the flesh
is moved in circles. Scientifically speak
ing, all of this work is meant to treat
the flesh as you would sponge-to
squeeze it until the infnitesimal parti-
cles of waste tissue are moved or dis
lodged, and allowed to find their way
into the veins.
The operator lifts your leg, resting
it on his left hand. He seizes the foot
with the right hand and does something.
1t is difficult to describe what this some-
thing is, but the result is that every
joint in the leg rattles Until the joints
seem to come apart. The leg you have
been accustomed to regard as decently
solid seems to be the most loosely tied
thing in the world, and your anger at
this queer assault at that portion of
your personal dignity residing in the
leg would find forcible expression were
it not all such an astonishing surprise
When the masseur attacks the thigh
where the muscles are big and power
full, the japanese method comes into
play. The respect one ihvoluntarily
feels for the Japanese method when he
hears it is carried ON by blind men, and
insures the living of these unfortunates
under the rule of the Mikado, van
ishes when he undergoes it. The
Japanese method simply amounts to the
most elaborate and excruciating system
of pinching one may conceive of. The
flesh is gathered up by the fingers and
palm, squeezed violently and sharply
and allowed to 60 back into place. A
good massage involves 1872 movements a
minute.
But it is just this sort of work which
red1ces the flesh of him who goes
through with it. Briefly expressed, the
object of massage is to supply to the
muscles that exercise which their owner
should give them but doesn't. Instead
of moving these from within by one s
own will, you allow some one to move
them from without by seizing hold oi
them and working them. The result il
the same; there is absorption of waste
tissue and the arteria1 blood rushes in
to supply new. Take the result when
the masseur slaps the flesh with his
hands followed into cups. In very
short order there is reddish look which
shows how the capillary blood vessels
have been stimulated And this treat
ment Of tapote, as the French call it, i:
that which one gets in Turkish batf
and which brings the glow which en-
ables you to resist the cold. 1t stimu
lates the blood vessels of the skin q.
nothing else will.
But the stick with leather thongs fas
tened to an end, the lageltum-to give
it the name it bore in the imperial bath.
in Rome when Tiberus Caesar bathed-
plays its part in massage. 1t is used t.
stimulate the skin, and although it,
beneficiary is irresistably reminded o
his school days, it does good work
The wrinkles which worry womer
and the double chin which men are sci
dom proud of may be greatly helped by
massage. To remove the first take III
between the ends of the fingers small
bunch of flesh, give it gentle but de
cided twirl, and let it go. To help th,
second, take the skin and flesh in tn
same fashion, work it sharply aroun,
and finish.
But there is an especial massage fo
the throat which is of use in throat dis
eases. Like all the others it is impos
sible to describe it in words, as tn
movements are most complicated. /
includes, however, manipulation o
the viens of the neck in addition to tn
movement of the muscles The frs
impression you receive is that the mas
seur is trying to pry your head off, but
relieved of this apprehension, you ca
devote the attention to counting tn
new points of sensation developed.
Perhaps the most amazing experienc
of massage is the work done upon tn
backbone. Most people realize, if ask
ed, that they have backbone, bu
few know the queer things the bach
bone can do. 1t is really more clever tina
we think. The first operation is nc
unpleasiug. 1t is accompanied by ger
tie lneading, under which one hear
mysterious sounds that seem as thong
, thev shOnld he familiar lint arc moi