726 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



territory, while the anterior and lateral aspects will be another for 

 thorough and efficacious friction. The same systematic division of 

 surface may be made above the knees as below, the number of strokes 

 below will vary from one hundred to one hundred and sixty with each 

 hand ; above, from seventy-five to one hundred each. From the base 

 of the skull to the spine of the scapula forms another region naturally 

 well bounded for downward and outward semicircular friction, and 

 from the spine of the scapula to the base of the sacrum and crest of 

 the ilium forms another surface over which one hand can sweep, while 

 the other works toward it from the insertion to the origin of the glutei, 

 at an average rate of sixty or seventy-five a minute with each hand 

 for a person of medium size. It will be observed that on the back 

 and thighs the strokes are not so rapid as on the other parts mentioned, 

 for the reason that the skin is here thicker and coarser, in consequence 

 of which the hand can not glide so easily, and the larger muscles be- 

 neath can well bear stronger pressure ; besides, the strokes are somewhat 

 longer, all of which require an increased expenditure of time. The 

 chest should be done from the insertion to the origin of the pectoral 

 muscles, and the abdomen from the right iliac fossa in the direction 

 of the ascending, transverse and descending colon. But here friction 

 is seldom necessary, for the procedure about to be considered accom- 

 plishes all that friction can do, and a great deal more in this region. 

 The force used in doing friction is often much greater than is neces- 

 sary, for it is only intended to act upon the skin, and there are better 

 ways of acting upon the tissues beneath it. If redness and irritation 

 be looked upon as a measure of the beneficial effects of friction upon 

 the skin, then a coarse towel, a hair mitten, or a brush would answer 

 for this purpose a great deal better than the hand alone. 



The most important, agreeable, and efficacious procedure of mas- 

 sage has been variously designated as manipulation, kneading, deep- 

 rubbing, or massage properly so called, in contradistinction to the more 

 superficial method spoken of above. This is done by adapting as 

 much as possible of the fingers and hands to the parts to be thus 

 treated, and, without allowing them to slip on the skin, the tissues be- 

 neath are kneaded, rolled, and manipulated in a circulatory manner, 

 proceeding from the insertion toward the origin of the muscles, from 

 the extremities to the trunk, in the direction of the returning blood 

 and lymphatic currents. For this purpose the same divisions of sur- 

 face as for friction will be found most convenient. Beginning then 

 with the fingers from the roots of the nails, the thumb of the manipu- 

 lator will be placed on one of the fingers of the j>atient, and parallel 

 to the latter, while on the opposite side the index-finger will be placed 

 at right angles to this, and between the two the finger of the patient 

 will be compressed and malaxated, in a rotary manner, at the rate of 

 seventy-five to one hundred and fifty per minute. The dorsal and 

 palmar surfaces will of course receive special attention, while the 



