St. Tammany farmer., 1905-08-12
z
Home Health
h Club
II D DAVID 4. EEZog7. Fl. 0.,AA
La aRur1e, Lna-
!, -
LUNEBAGC.


from members stating that the sub
feet of Iuuhaso has not been given
attention. This. however. is EiS-
take, as gave lecture upon the sub
1ect. but it was five years ago There
fore I think another viii be timely
since then been discussed under its
own name, although there has been
much given in previous lectures which
is applicable to that aiIment- In IEn-
bago the large muscles by which the
whole OF the body is raised from re-
eumbent position become so stifened
that they are unable longer to per
form their function It should be
borne in mind that these muscles are
at rest when the body is in reclining
position. the tims'when they are taxed
to their utmost being during the act Of
passing from this position to the erect
The condition of a muscle affected
with lumbago differs materially from
either that of paralysis or eramp. The
very substance Of the muscle itself
seems to be mostly at fault in this
distressing aiIment- In all probability
there is nerve defect in ma ny OF
these cases, but this could hardly be
termed the chief feature of the diff
Guilty. however. It is purely one Of the
substance of the large muscles them
selves.
The direct cause is that these mus
cIes have either suffered from Sc
we're strain or chill, which has tenn
porariIy deprived them Of the eIastt-
city. In this condition they cannot be
utilized or II they are it is only at
the expense Of very Sc we're pain the
result of pressure exerted upon certain
nerves, by the rigidity of the muscles
involved
To cite an example: A man applies
his strength to the lifting Of very
heavy load, in such manner as to
bring a strain On the muscles Of the
back. exceeding their capacity to with
stand without depriving them of their
elasticity. It is possible and even
probable that they viii not lose
their function Immediately, but stiff
ness gradually manifests itself The
explanation Of this Is not in the least
complicated. Because Of the over
strain to which they have been sub
teeted, they have been affected to
such an extent that they are more
easily deprived of their vital heat, and
being chilled while In this state, they
begin to stiden- The stiffness thus
resulting is one Of the most simple
forms of the disease now under dis
cussion
To employ another Illustration: A
man has walked so far as to expend
the amount of vital energy which his
nerves are capable Of furnishing to the
large lumbar muscles. The exertion
has been so severe as to entirely ex-
haust the supply of force which main
tains into them their elasticity. To
complete the injury which he is doing,
when thoroughly tired he sits down
upon a cold stone by the roadside, to
rest. or accepts a preferred ride on
the cold wooden seat of an open wag-
on. The muscles. already taxed be-
yond their real capacity, and requir-
ing reeuperatiye measures, by thls
further violence are now efeetually
stifened. and Iumbago is the result Oh
course It is not meant TO Intimate that
this particular regime IS necessary,
but only a slight exposure, TO the
weary and exhausted back. has prob
ably occurred, perhaps without the
patient having been conscious OF it,
but iaaexibiIitF Of the large muscles
results just as sure
In cases where this vital nerve
force has been entirely exhausted, and
the muscles have become rigid while
in this condition, it is not at all rea-
sonabIe to expect a cure without
great deal of attention to the appliea-
ton of restors tive measures OF course
it would be very nice indeed 1t BY
some magic spell the condition coufa
be instantly overcome. but am OF the
opinion that we mortaIs will exper-
fence much better and more highly
satisfactory results from careful ap-
plIeation of decidedly materialistie
AGENCIES A great many are so desir-
Gus of overcoming the condition with
out any particular exertion upon theil
part that they are very easily con-
vineed that surgery is the correct
thing or that blistering burning o1
poisoning with stryehIine or Other
poisons are the proper thing, and the
inevitable result is that the lumbage
is indeed forced to sueeumb. but to az
enemy much more Formidable than the
disease itself.
I have before me what is said to bs
one OF the best medical encyclopedias
published In it I find careful de
sertption Of method of treatment fol
| 1umbago which seems hardly credit
able in this day and age of the world
and vet the assurance IS given that 4
is largely used. 1t is called 'sAcupune
ture." and the method OF application
| Is described as follows:
"In lumbago aeupuneture IS mae'
over the ereetor spinae muscles. ans
| in seiatica along the course OF tn
/ nerve: it is performed thus The pa
tisut is placed prone On his face, th'
tender spots are found. and from ont
IN six needles are pushed vertiealI.
| into the flesh and allowed to RENAL,
from one-haH to two hours The nee
die should actually penetrate thi
nerve in sciattca.
| How would you like that treatment
| Well. as for NE, I think would pre-
| fer the Iumhago-
Returning to the Home Health eiul
| methodist has been seen tnat tn'
| principal thing Or, in fact, the onl.
thing. which IS present in lumbaso 1
/ -. IoSs of elasticity In the Strueturt