New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-18
MEDICAL GYMNASTICS.
Suf erers from LOcOmotor Atarld
Haze Special apparatus.

Had Charles Dickens lived In this age OF
medical wonders he might not have had his
Lady Tippins trying to hide the waywardness
OF her limbs by assumption OF playful SKIP
ping or Cousin Feenix wandering of at tan
gents when he desired 70 walk through door
way. Instead. his characters would have gone
to school of medical gymnastics and defed the
novelist to find fault with their gait Such
school is to be found in Philadelphia Were the
Affections of the patients subject for laughter, il
might cause amusement to watch them going
through their queer exercises the odd looking
machines in the clinical rooms.
One of the most interesting Of the apparatus
Is stairway on which have been cut grooves
for the feet of the individual who is condemned
by fate and the physicians to tread the steps
of this treadmiH This stairway. intended to
bring back to those afflicted with locomotor
ataxia the lost coordination OF motion, has
steps OF uniform height in each OF which are
cutouts for the feet of the patient AS he
walks up and down this odd stairway he sup
ports himself by the hand rails He is com
PEELED to place his feet in the cutOuts as he
exercises and In time it is said. regains the
power OF making his feet do his mind die
tates. instead OF the pedal extremites wander
ing wildly off on excursions of their own, after
the Lady Tippins or Cousin Feenix style
A device that is still more curious is q ten
COHSISlluS OF DUCK OF WON
on which are mounted on springs number OF
pins similar to those used IN bowling alleys
Each pin Is lettered or numbered and the pa
dent sits in front OF this apparatus. and. upon
the order OF the nurse attendant kicks a GER
tain pin either with the right left foot as or
dered The tendency of the cratic limbs is 10
attack the pin when ordered to punish thar
marked A. or to infict a jolt on when il is
the turn of the d pin to be kicked Also the
feft leg refuses to obey orders, and the right
insists on taking up the kicking out Of its turn
while the left win try to kick when it is the
rights inning In time. however according TO
the originators of this method OF restoring
lost coordination, the telegraph apparatus from
the brain gets into working order again. and the
net have to obey the will OF their owner
Locomotor ataxia Is a hardening OF the spinal
cDrd One OF the most troublesome symptoms
outside Of sharp. shooting pains. is the ataxic
Eait- staggering walk In mild cases the pa
dent loses control over motion and staggers
while walking: In severe cases he can't walk at
Al and has to stay In bed II is the mild cases
Chat these medical gymnastic machines are de
kSned to cure Other methods employed for
mo same purpose are the teaching OF the pa
Gent 10 stand In a correct upright position with
eot swaylng or tumbling, the training OF the
anncteo one To walk a straight line or on Ger
I'm patterns and to step over books. blocks
bottles placed on the floor without Knocking anv
a them down After the patient has gained \
eert2n amount Of control over the movements
SAe exercises are made more difficult BY beinE.
AsDs with closed eyes