73 6 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



greatest part had been forced into, and had penetrated through, the 

 synovial membrane, and the darkened lymphatics could be seen with 

 the unaided eye from the injected joint to the lymphatic glands, and 

 these latter were black from the absorption of the ink. Upon ex- 

 amination of the injected joint-cavities that had not been masseed, the 

 ink was still found in the joint mixed with the synovia in a smeary 

 mass, and it had not even penetrated into the tissue of the synovial 

 membrane. With the removal of the effusion by the use of massage, 

 Yon Mosengeil always succeeded in improving the stiffness, and in 

 obtaining the same appearances in the lymphatics. 



From clinical experience in the use of massage in joint affections, 

 such results as those obtained by Von Mosengeil might have been 

 with safety predicted. A consideration of the mode of application of 

 massage in joint injuries and affections, and its relations to mechanical 

 support, rest, and exercise, would far exceed the limits of this paper. 

 Scandinavian, German, and French army-surgeons, who with their 

 own hands have used massage the most in joint maladies, have ac- 

 cumulated respectable and trustworthy statistics showing its great 

 value in such cases. At the same time they have not forgotten to 

 tabulate their failures. The result of their experience in recent joint 

 injuries admitting of the application of massage is thus formulated : 

 "It will simultaneously further and increase resorption, accelerate 

 the circulation, relieve pain, and reduce elevated temperature" I 

 have illustrated this by a report of over three hundred cases, the de- 

 tails of which may be found in the " New York Medical Record," No. 

 353. The " Nouveau Dictionnaire de Medecine " clearly expresses the 

 action of massage in the following words : " Massage augments inter- 

 stitial absorption not only by the sur-activite impressed upon the re- 

 turning circulation, but also by dividing to infinity pathological and 

 normal products accumulated in the muscular interstices and meshes 

 of the cellular tissue. The dissemination of these products multiplies 

 their points of contact with the walls of the veins and lymphatics, 

 whence result their imbibition and diffusion into the general circula- 

 tion." 



But, discuss any therapeutical agent as we may, there is something 

 still peculiar to each that evades expression by tongue or pen. Of 

 what use is it to describe odors, tastes, sensations, sights, and sounds ? 

 They can only be comprehended by smelling, tasting, feeling, seeing, 

 and hearing. Just so with the peculiar calm, soothing, restful, light 

 feeling that so often results from massage, which can not be under- 

 stood until experienced. It doubtless arises to a great extent from 

 the pressure of natural worn-out debris being speedily removed from 

 off terminal nerve - filaments. Furthermore, massage excites and 

 awakens the muscular sense in an agreeable and beneficial manner 

 such as nothing else does, and we know that the state of our muscles 

 indicates and often determines our feeling of health and vigor, or of 



