The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-02-28
Manipulation for Pneumonia, Sore
Throats, and Kindred Pains.


Some time ago the Cincinnati Times
Star gave a brief summary of information
concerning a novel cure for coughs that
had grown to the severity of pneumonia,
and for sore throats, praCtised by DIR.
Orrick Metcalfe, at Natchez, Miss. This
cure was by manipulation only. The
manipulation consisted of some rubbing
and deal of pressure for a longer or
shorter time, determined by the severity
of the case. The information concerning
this new treatment for so severe disease
as pneumonia was furnished in a paper
by DR.. Metcalfe, published in the New
York Medical Record. Since the pub
lication of that paper DR.. Metcalf has
moved to New York city, where he is
praCtiCing the same treatment he found
so successful in Natchez. In another
paper published in the Record of last
month the doctor explains that his
practice Of manipulation with pressure
is combined with limited degree OF ro-
tary motion. The degree of pressure,
he says, depends upon the sensitiveness
of the part operated on and the nearness
to the surface of the part afflicted
Where the tissues involved are deep
seated the pressure is necessarily firmer
Mr.. Metcalfe does not pretend to eX-
plain how manipulation brings relief.
He confesses he has no theory.
He simply knows that by this manipula-
ton and pressure the muscles are freed
from pain. The length of time manipu-
laton is kept up of course depends upon
circumstances, upon what is attempted
and how readily the trouble yields Some
times ten minutes will suffice; sometimes
half an hour may be proftably spent.
After few minutes spent in manipula-
ton, he says, the patient is requested to
cough when his success in expelling the
mucus determines the conduct of the
doctor as to the repetition Of the treat
ment. After the first treatment
there is almost invariably increased
| soreness, but after the second treatment
the soreness gradually and steadily di,
minishes until it disappears altogether.
| DR.. Metcalfe suggests that some people
entertain the idea he expects to force the
mucus from the bronchial tubes by ex,
| ternal pressure. In answer to that he
says he hasn't the remotest idea Of any,
thing of the sort. He knows it would be
impossible, but his experience has
taught him that the muscles engaged il
respiration are correlated with the
mucous membrane of the bronchial tubes
in such way that the manipulation o.
the muscles will cause flow Of mucus
He says he has demonstrated this too
often to have the slightest doubt in re
gard to it. Dr. Metcalfe claims to hay,
effected many cures of pneumonia, bron
chitis and asthma by an application o
no other medicine than that contained
in an external application of the hand o
fingers.
That this external medicine recon
mended by DIR. Metcalfe possesses vir
tue there is no. the slightest doubt a
any person who has been afflicted Will
soreness about the throat or chest cal
testify who has tried it. A few morn
ings ago an acquaintance of the writer O
the article in the Times Star complainec
of severe sore throat and was adyiset
not to dose with lot of decoctions tina
might permanently impair his Who'll
physical system, but to try manipula
tion of the muscles where the soreness
seemed located. If the manipulation
did no good, il would have one suprem
virtue of doing no hurt, which is nue.
more than can be said of much medicine
The unprofessional prescription wa
tried, with the verdict that it worke'
like magic.