Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-15
OUR NAIL POUCH.
Massage and Mechanical Therapeutdcs-A
. Clever Writer Criticised.

Clever Writer Criticised.
To the Editor of The Dispatch:
In an editorial discourse of recent date
you had occasion to point out the obligation
of all those who write for public instruction
to observe the closest adherence to truth
and fact, and let themselves be governed ae-
cordingfy. There is no class of writers for
the information of the public who should
adopt this golden rule and in every point be
guided by it more conscientiously than those
who undertake to lead, counsel or prescribe
in hygienfc matters, relative to the preser-
walton OF health. They should not suffer
themselves to be guided by hearsay or
rambling speculations, but present to the
public the facts, results and benefit of their
experience, II they have any. But, occa-
sionally, it happens that clever but over
ambitious writer, who loves to be entertain
ing, is ehargeable with the faults and neg
Iects resulting from inexperience or slight
regard Tor truth and facts not generally
known lengthy article in q recent issue
OF THE DISPATCH, headed lessons in Mas
sage" Indicates an authorship not above
s9en CRITICISM The writer of this article is
Shirley Dare"
our space is too valuable for the corree-
lion OF every one of Shirley Dare's'' errors
IN the article in question, but 1 hope you
Will nnd place for the following: 1t is not
true that Massage is nowhere better under
stood at the present day than among the
sandwich Islanders" although it is not i'm
proDabfe that some Sandwich Island adept
coulO easily give points to "Shirley Dare
Tor revised essay on this much twisted sub
Ject. If SHIRLEY Dare" keeps in view only
the mechanical part of massage or mechanic
theraphy she is on the wrong track. The
becnnlque OF massage is not difficult to
acquire, but mere routine can in no in
stance replace the application of those
anatomical and physiological principles
which must guide the educated 1nasseur in
N 20 A ri
weA[behaved Sandwich Islander, with
enough "savoir faire," could possibly pass
muster for job in Turkish or Roman bath
establishment, but his general manipula-
ton" could no more be compared to mass
age than the vending of a quackdoctor's
stuff could be classified with the practice of
medicine. In many countries the fore
studies and preparations of q professional
masseur are not insignificant. He must
know as much anatomy, physiology and
pathology as medical student, and attend
the various clinics with the physician or
surgeon in charge. There are many
European physicians who have won uni
yersal fame as masseurs, but it is not re-
corded that they obtained their distinction
In the realm of the late King Kalakaua. The
Japanese so-called masseurs whom, accord
ing to Shirley Dare's" statement, project
ing people proposed to import to New
York" are, undoubtedly, of the same stand
ard as those from Hawaii.
With the rareSt exceptions the "Ordinary
nurse" never acquires the art OF massage
otherwise than technically and, therefore,
cannot be employed as a masseuse with di-
rect therapeutical object in view. The work
in massage remains necessarily mechanical.
But for those who, like SHIRLEY Dare" en-
tirely overlook the therapeutical value of
massage as an auxiliary to medicine and sur
gerry and persistently cling to the IDEA of
message as only luxury" or rubbing
anybody Will suffice, from a South Sea ISL
and Kanaka to a colored washerwoman.
do not desire to contradict the following
10 If i1-In hat
known lawyer who always had his head well
rubbed (sfc) before going into court with q
case has a practical idea of the value of
massage, and if its virtues were fully under
stood clients would insist on general prac-
tice of the habit, when probably fewer mud
dle-headed judgments would result" but, on
the contrary, l venture to recommend, as an
experiment, that some similar treatment be
employed by Shirley Dare herself before
that lady a second time attempts to agitate
a subject so complicated, difficult and mis-
applied as massage and mechanical thera-
peutics. AXBL C. HALLBECK,
ALLEGHENY, June 18.