KINESIPATHY. 389 



which flow from such simple means. Exercise is often demanded, 

 not so much for the whole frame, as for particular organs. For in- 

 stance a sluggish liver may refuse to resume its functions under the 

 general stimulus of a walk. The kinesipathist exercises the liver 

 itself: by his jerks and suggestive poking, he commands it to make 

 bile ; and sure enough the liver does make it. By a like precise- 

 ness of application he cures sluggish bowels. He exerts the physical 

 force of cure with the gentleness of art and science. He strengthens 

 special muscles by adequate ingenious exercises. He cures hot 

 heads and cold feet, by briskly rotating the feet upon the ankles, 

 steadying the limb by grasping its lower part. And so forth. This 

 is evidently the ultima ratio of treatment in chronic diseases. 



In paralytic cases, where the nervous derangement is only func- 

 tional, kinesipathy is found to be an effective mode of cure. Its 

 doctrine here, as we read it, commends itself to our acceptance. 

 Where a power has been lost, but its potency is left, it is as though 

 the power had never been developed. A palsied man of this kind 

 has forgotten the art of the use of his limbs, and has to learn it afresh. 

 He is an adult in those parts where his power lies; a baby in the 

 paralyzed tracts. The medical gymnast undertakes to teach the 

 latter, first how to creep, and then how to go. He commences 

 by passive movements — nursing, fumbling, and so stimulating, the 

 helpless large infant limb ; and by degrees a little reaction against 

 him is perceived. He then makes more extensive movements, 

 stretching the muscles, and producing further reaction; and finally 

 he commands the resistance of the patient, and then by his superior 

 force slowly overcomes it : in all these processes steadily keeping in 

 view the end, of educating the limb into self-reliance, or as we term 

 it, sense of power (p. 238). Many an old paralytic is cured by these 

 apparently trivial means ; the mind and will which had alienated 

 themselves, are coaxed back into his arms and legs. 



Like all real agents, kinesipathy is capable of abuse. It appears to 

 be contraindicated in nearly all acute diseases, and we should also say, 

 in those where rest, and not motion, is demanded. But it seems 

 probable, from the obviousness of the method, that neither the gym- 

 nast nor the patient would be likely to persevere to any great mis- 

 chief with the treatment, 



83* 



