The movement cure in every chronic disease : a summary of its principles, processes, and results / by Geo. H. Taylor.

  • Taylor, Geo. H. (George Herbert), 1821-1896.
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The movement cure in every chronic disease : a summary of its principles, processes, and results / by Geo. H. Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    a depressing sense of inefficiency. The mode of resistance incites the production of adequate power, for it begins feebly, so as to be en rap- port With the patient, but gradually increases as the movement advan- ces, until it approximates, but does not quite equal the power of the acting muscle, and then gradually declines until it ceases. The patient is gratified and encouraged to find, that a well-managed resistance evokes action at points where it was otherwise impossible, and that his capa- city therefor, surely and constantly increases. The powers of the system are aroused and directed, but never exhausted. The patient is never allowed to feel that he has not adequate resources, but on the contrary is constantly made to be surprised at the gradual expansion of his powers. But much of the success of the treatment depends on the tact previously spoken of. Few operators acquire it; many seem unaole to obtain it. The peculiar modes of reaching and touching the interior animating principle of the invalid, hardly admit of descrip- tion. But the reader may conceive that certain distinct impressions may be made, securing corresponding responses, by various degrees and kinds of resistance—rapid, slow or irregular, at the beginning, middle or ending, of the movement—by tremulousness, or any of the peculiar qualities by which musical sounds are designated. The human system may indeed be compared to a musical instrument, which read- ily yields harmonious sounds to the magic touch of the skillful opera tor, but which loses its qualities when imperfectly handled. The results of the movements are recorded in the primary organizing acts, and become apparent in the manifestations of force. These results are at first feeble, but are increased by the everyday's opera- tions, giving the invalid, day by day, a greater and higher control over himself, till it mounts to the highest health of which he is capable. The Time, or rhythm, with which a movement is performed is, if active, slower than ordinary exercise; generally, much slower, but this is somewhat modified by the age of the patient: thus the young per- mit quicker movements than are allowable for persons more advanced in years. The reasons for slowness of movements are these. In a