678 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



were similar to the first series, and showed that it takes much 

 longer to fatigue the muscles by contraction from electrical irri- 

 tation after massage than before.* 



2. ^The next series of experiments were undertaken with a 

 view to determine whether the beneficial effects of mixed mas- 

 sage (friction, percussion, and kneading) increased in proportion 

 to the duration of its application. At 8 A. M. the normal fatigue 

 curve was taken, then every two hours and a quarter after this 

 the curve was taken, having been preceded by two, five, ten, and 

 fifteen minutes of massage of the right and left middle fingers 

 and their corresponding muscles in the forearm. Ten fatigue 

 tracings were thus taken, and the result showed that with five 

 minutes of massage all the useful effect that could be produced 

 was obtained. When the massage was continued longer, for ten 

 or fifteen minutes, there were but slight variations in the amount 

 of work above and below that after five minutes. Similar experi- 

 ments were made in which electricity was used to tire the mus- 

 cles in place of voluntary flexion, and the same result was ob- 

 tained. 



3. The object of the next series of experiments was to ascer- 

 tain the effects of the principal maneuvers of massage friction, 

 percussion, and petrissage, or kneading. The mode of procedure 

 was as before : fir&t, the normal fatigue tracing was taken ; then 

 at regular intervals during the day, every two hours, the fatigue 

 curve was inscribed after five minutes of friction or effleurage, 

 after five minutes of percussion, after five minutes of petrissage, 

 and finally after five minutes of friction, percussion, and petris- 

 sage alternating. The results showed that there was very little 

 difference in the work that could be accomplished after five min- 

 utes of friction as compared with five minutes of percussion. But 

 there was a great increase in the number and strength of the 

 contractions after petrissage. The best effect, however, was ob- 

 tained after the alternations of all three. (It would be interesting 

 to reproduce the tables and tracings if space allowed.) Like 

 results were obtained when the contractions were produced by 

 electricity applied to the median nerve or to the muscles directly, 

 and the friction, percussion, and petrissage employed separately 

 and alternately. 



4. The effects of massage upon muscles weakened from various 

 causes were also studied in the same exact manner by Dr. Mag- 

 giora. Upon muscles weakened from fasting the effect of massage 

 was to restore them temporarily, so that they gave normal trac- 



* I have elsewhere called attention to the fact that after massage muscles give a much 

 more ready, vigorous, and agreeable response to the will and to the faradic current than 

 they do before. D. G. 



