The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-06-22

is obv1ated
a new apparatus deyelon,d dur
ing the war provides for the exercise
Of patients seated upon a rio1ng ma
chine. which has motion similar to
that OF a horse This keeps a
wounded man In saddle practice.
even. though he has bullet through
his shoulder or his arm in sling
The healing OF wound in the
hand or foot frequently leaves the
member stiff and hard to USE "a
stretches the foot, and finger ma
chimes, which exercise the fingers. if.
carefully applied during GONZALES
cence, render great aid in overcoming
this difficulty. The finger exercises
are especially designed to timber up
the trigger finger, but large NUM-
Der Of men who have lost their dns
gers have gotten such good .controb
Of their hands through this exerc1Sert
that they have returned to the ranks
quite capable Of shooting accurately
by using the second finger
The mechanical methods are not
confined to wounded men, but rem
der elective aid to those suffering
from fever and other diseases Sweat
ing machines. which Will produce
the required persptration by a care
fully regulated heat application, are
also provided with automatic regis
tiers which record the temperature
OF the patient during each treatment
the treatment OF diseases in which
coplous perspiration is required. a
breathing apparatus, which has been
in use in American hospitals and
gymnasiums for years, Is being used
to strengthen the respiration OF
patients;recoverfng from pleurisy and
pneumonia It supports the patient
In an upright position and assists
his breathing by the mechanical rails
ing and lowering OF the chest
Electricity is a. recognized heal
ing agent, and It Is being extensively
used for many purposes. Temporary
paralysis OF certain muscles fire.
Quent1y accompanies newly healed
wound. This IS overcome by cleo
trio currents applied after the me-
thods recognized in the best hospl-
tails of the world. The value OF heat
and light produced electrically Is ex-
emp1ifed in many ways. AZ large
number ofsmen are brought into the
hospitals who are not wounded or
affected by disease. They may be
suffering from shock. or from the
conclusion of a great shell falling
near them, or from the strain Of some
undue physical effect. like dragging
or moving a heavy gun. Electricity
frequently restores their viSor. It
is also being used IN restoring Vi
tally to men who have come In con-
tact with the poisonous gases lately
introduced upon the battle field
All of these mechanical appliances
come under the head OF mechanical
therapy, branch of medical science
which has made tremendous strides
during the present generation. By
means of 1t, a surprisingly large
number OF soldiers. who have been
carried into the hospital apparently
crippled for life. are returned to the
ranks in short time apparently little
the worse for their experience Those
not able to be returned to service
are sent home suffering far less IL
convenience from their injuries be-
cause OF the mechanical assistance at
forded them during their GONZALES
cense.
The injuries upon the battle field
do not differ materially from those
received IN industrial accidents,
which have increased SO tremendously
within the past quarter of century
The experience physicians have
gained in caring for those injured by
accidents is responsible for their skill
in the war hospitals.
Germany has made more gem
eral use Of mechanical appliances IN
aiding conva1escense than any other
country This IS said to be due to
the COMPULSORY insurance for work
men which compels the employer to
bear most OF the expense OF industrial
accidents. Tht utilization OF me
chanIcal apparatus has been found eff
fective in shortening the period OF
disability for the lazy workman who
would live as long as possible upon
the insurance fund An Investigation
recently made by DR.. Charles Jaeger
a world authority upon mechanical
derapy covering over SEQ hospitals,
lndicated that mechanical methods are
used not only Tor physical INJURIES
and affections OF the joints. but also
to adm convalescence rom many
! diseases. including fever and pneu-
mona, and also to expedite the re