CHAPTER XIY. 



MASSAGE. 



The term massage includes various forms of mechanical treatment, 

 which, according to the demands of the case in (]nestion, are either 

 applied singly or in combination, in order to bring about particular 

 curative results. The terms mechanical treatment and mechano- 

 therapy have also been coined, but the word massage is much more 

 frequentlv employed, and therefore understood. We ma}' distinguish — 



1. Gentle stroking of the diseased parts with the fingers or open hand 

 in the direction of the flow in veins and lymph vessels, that is, from 

 the peripher\' towards the centre. The maximum pressure to be 

 applied in such case should at first not exceed that produced by the 

 weight of the operator's hand. 



2. Brisk rubbing or pressure followed b\- stroking from the 

 periphery towards the centre. 



3. Beating of the parts with the open hand or fist, or with the 

 edge of the hand, or a special percussion iiammer. 



4. Kneading, in which the affected part, usually a muscle or 

 tendon, is lifted as high as possible with one hand, and tlien squeezed 

 in preciselv the same manner as one would press out a moist sponge to 

 squeeze out its contents. 



5. Active and passive movements. 



To prevent formation of pustules at the roots of the hair, which 

 would put a stop to furtlier massage, it is usual in human practice to 

 shave the affected spot and coat the parts with some lubricant, but 

 this is not absolutely needful. According to the effect produced 

 massage is applied for periods extending to an hour or more daily, 

 provided, of course, that the reaction in the affected parts permits of 



