(^fc^:

THE
MOVEMENT CURE:

      CASES.
BY
CHARLES F. TAYLOR, M.D.
h
o
£5
        NEW-YORK:
JOHN A. GRAY, PRINTER, Nos. 16 AND 18 JACOB STREET,
     FIBE-PROOF BUILDINGS.
^*-T t-v-^
1858
'Pa^Z^Q:
G^
 
 
THE  MOVEMENT   CURE.
  At the request of many gentlemen and ladies who  have
been treated by the " Movement Cure " at this Institution, but
who, in describing it to their friends find it difficult to give them
an accurate idea of it, this pamphlet is prepared.  A sufficient
number of cases  are added to show its efficacy, and in what
diseases it is most useful.  The difficulty of giving a correct
idea of what the Movement Cure  is, lies in the danger  of its
being confounded with gymnastics, calisthenics, etc., to which
it has no resemblance, either in principle or manner of  appli-
cation, and to the difficulty of describing a movement without
at the same time seeing it.  Any thing more than to give  a
general popular idea, will not be attempted in this pamphlet.
Those who wish a full exposition of the subject are  referred
to a forthcoming work on the " Theory and Practice of the
Movement Cure," in which will be given the science of the
Movement Cure, embracing the special physiological effect of
every movement, with particular  directions for the treatment
of those diseases in which it is applicable.  It is only necessary
to say here, that Peter Henry Ling, the originator of  this sys-
tem, was  a  Swede; that his system has been practised in
Sweden in an institution sustained by government for  nearly
forty years, and that it has received the highest commendations
from several governments, commissions of inquiry, and physi-
cians of the highest standing.  Its claims to public and  profes-
sional confidence being established on the solid basis of modern
anatomical, physiological, and pathological knowledge—facts
 of science about which there can  be no dispute—as well as the
remarkable  results  produced in the cure of many  forms  of
                1 
2
 chronic disease, it needs only to be known to be appreciated.
 During the time that it has  been practised in this country—
 after the writer had studied it in several European institutions
 —the Movement Cure has  received the unqualified approba-
 tion of the first physicians in this city, both homeopathic and
 allopathic, several of whom are in the constant habit of send-
 ing certain classes of patients to us for the benefit of this treat-
 ment.   A system of practice  that consists in strengthening the
 various organs of the body  by means  of bodily movements,
 must be especially useful in  this country.  Here, where one
 half of the people are dyspeptic ; where almost every business-
 man has constipation ; where  a large proportion of all boarding-
 school girls have some  form  of spinal  curvature; where the
 woman are weak,  sickly,  and prematurely old ; where  all
 manly sports  for  boys,  and invigorating exercise  for girls,
 are studiously  avoided; the only  rational  means  of restor-
 ing  the general and  individual health of bodily functions, is
 through  such  a treatment as  that of Ling's.  Gymnastics,
 though crude and unscientific, may be very proper  and bene-
 ficial for the well; but  they  are  too  violent,  too general for
 special purposes, too  indiscriminate; the  physiological effect
 of each motion  is too little understood by the gymnast, to  be
 efficacious or even safe for the sick.  Those disorders so com-
 mon in this country, arising from relaxations of various tissues
 as prolapsus of the uterus and falling of the bowels,  with their
 attendant symptoms, can be  cured only by giving strength to
the organs, and the muscles and tissues  that should sustain
'hem in their places, by a course of Movement Cure treatment.

             HOW THE MOVE5IENTS ARE GIVEN.
  After thoroughly examining the patient and  ascertaining
 what organs are affected, and how they are affected, payino-
 special attention to the course of the circulation of the blood ;
 seeing the exact anatomical relations of all the organs;  whether
 the chest is contracted, or the shoulders stooping, or the abdo-
 men relaxed and pendulous,  or hard and contracted, or the
 liver enlarged, or the stomach sunken; seeing if the  feet are
 cold, and  the head hot; if there is  pain in the head or sides,
soreness of the throat or other part,  the character of the respi- 
3
ration, etc.: then a prescription is written out of such move-
ments as are indicated by the symptoms.  Ten or twelve differ-
ent movements are given, with rests between each, the whole
occupying about one hour.   The patient is placed in a certain
position, as standing, sitting, lying, or other attitude, the  arms,
legs, and trunk, being so situated  that when a slow, gentle
movement is made in a given direction, the force or fulcrum of
the movement is concentrated on  the  part or organ desired,
causing a distinct characteristic impression  to be made in the
desired direction.  It may be to increase or efccrease the flow
of blood towards that part;  to stimulate or repress vital activi-
ties ;  or to cause absorption or new-formation in the tissues, ac-
cording to the  character and quality of the movement given.
Such a movement is made to affect the chest or abdomen, the
spine or the  extremities, etc., as the case may be.   Or more
locally, the liver, the heart, the spleen, the uterus, the  head,
the feet, or any other designated part, is affected in some defi-
nite manner.   Then, besides, there are  many passive move-
ments, such as kneading the abdomen, vibrating  the chest, or
the liver, or spleen, percussion along the back, pulling the arms
and legs, rotation of the joints, etc., etc.  But in all cases the
character of the movements depends upon the case to be treated ;
different in consumption from what they would be in asthma ;
different in constipation from what they would be in diarrhsea;
different in suppression of the menses from what they would be
in too abundant catamenia, etc. No fatigue ever follows the
treatment, because they never call out but a very slight part
of the patient's strength, and the feeblest  can take this treat-
ment as  well as the strongest.
   Bayard Taylor,* who was treated in  the institution in Stock-
holm, thus speaks of it: " Ling's system not only aims at re-
ducing to a science the muscular  development  of  the body,
but by means of both active and passive movements, at reach-
ing the seat of disease, and stimulating the various  organs of
the body to a healthy  action.   In the  former of these objects
Ling  has certainly  succeeded; there is no other system of
muscular training, that will bear comparison with his......
On entering the hall, on the first morning of our attendance, a
* Northern Travel, p. 202. 
4
piece of paper  containing the movements prescribed for our
individual cases, was stuck in our bosoms.   On inspecting the
list, we  found we had ten movements, and no two  of them
alike.....There  was no voluntary exercise.....every
body was being exercised upon."........" During the time
of my attendance, I could not help but notice the effect of the
discipline upon the patients, especially the children.   The
weak and listless gradually strengthened themselves ; the pale
and sallow took color and lively expression ; the crippled and
paralytic recovered the  use of their limbs; in short, all, with
the exception of a few hypochondriacs, exhibited very marked
improvement.  The result of my observations and experience
was, that Ling's system of physical education is undoubtedly
the best in the world, and that, as a remedial agent in all cases
of congenital weakness  or deformity,  as well as for those dis-
eases which arise from  a deranged circulation, its value can
scareely be over-estimated."
                      CASES.

        DISEASES   OF  THE  CHEST.

                  Case I.—Tububctjlosis.

  A lady, thirty-eight years old, unmarried, was visited in the
country by Dr. G. H. Taylor on the first of January, 1857.  He
found her extremely feeble, had been confined  to her room
several months, could sit up only a small portion of the day;
emaciated and suffering from daily febrile attacks and night
sweats ; coughed a great deal, and raised a large quantity of pu-
rulent matter, with occasional portions of tuberculous deposit;
had raised considerable blood.  Examination showed extensive
disease in the left lung;  a large cavity under the left clavicle,
in which the gurgling of the accumulated matter was remark-
ably distinct at each respiration ;  another large cavity beneath
the left shoulder-blade, giving similar sounds, and still another
in the lower part of the same lung.  There was also the mucous
raal nearly all over  the left and  most of the right lung.  On
the whole, it was not a  case in which it would be prudent to
indulge the hope of the patient's surviving many months, much 
5
less of her ultimate recovery.  She was not in a condition to
bear much treatment.  He ordered her to have the room well
and often aired, to be sponged with tepid water when feverish,
to have the chest well rubbed with the wet hand, arid, when
able, to take a short tepid sitz-bath, and to discontinue her me-
dicines.  In about six weeks she had improved so much that
she was able to visit New-York, when she placed herself under
our care.   She still retained all of her old symptoms, though
in a less  aggravated form.  Condition of the chest about the
same, was able to leave her room occasionally.   Thus she con-
tinued without further improvement for several weeks, the
latter part of the time with perceptible falling away and aggra-
vation of some dangerous symptoms; had not menstruated for
five months.   The condition of the lungs were no better  than
on first examination.  At this juncture, as a forlorn hope, we
resolved  to try the Movement Cure.  Such movements were
given as  would cause the blood to circulate in the extremities,
strengthen the general system, improve the quality of the nu-
trient fluids, and relieve  the chest.   Relief came speedy and
permanent. In three weeks the menses appeared, and after two
and  a half months' treatment she returned to her friends in
very tolerable health, and she has continued to improve up to
the present time,  (May, 1858.)  She could walk four or five
miles a day without detriment, the mucous raals have subsided,
the cavities in the lower and central portions of  the left lung
have  healed, and  the one beneath the  clavicle is very much
improved, though it still causes her to cough and raise at times.
Her circulation is uniformly good, and to her friends she pre-
sents an appearance of sound health, and she has every reason
to expect to attain the ordinary length of life.

 Case H.—General  Weakness, with  Symptoms  of  Ltjng
                         Disease.

  This was a  very amiable  unmarried lady, thirty-two years
old, who  had always been more or less delicate from her youth
up.   The  catamenia had  never been properly performed, oc-
curring at long intervals and scantily.  For the past five or six
years she had been in very poor health; pale expression of
countenance,  inability to take exercise, accompanied  with 
6
tightness across the chest, pains in the sides, and slight hacking
cough, and slight expectoration.  At one time she raised a little
blood.  She had but little hopes of benefit when she placed her-
self under our care. The treatment by movements commenced
in March, 1857, and continued for about three months, when the
menses became, for the first time in her life, perfectly regular.
The treatment was continued about half of the time till Novem-
ber, and she continued to improve in all respects.  Nearly all her
former alarming symptoms had subsided, she could endure con-
siderable exercise and fatigue, the color returned to her cheeks,
her spirits were  buoyant, and  the last time I heard from her,
she continued in very fair health.  This  case had no other
treatment of  any kind but the Movement Cure.

                Case III.—Diseased Lung.
  W. B. was a young man, eighteen years old, always delicate,
tall, slim, and narrow-chested.  Two years before he had a
severe sickness,  caused  by inflammation of the lungs,  from
which he never fully recovered.   He had  a severe  cough, ex-
pectorated largely, and was weak, sad, and desponding.  The
result of examination was, that nearly the  whole of the right
lung was hepatized, large patches of the lower portion being
entirely impervious to the air ;  that side of the chest  being con-
siderably contracted.
  His circumstances  were such  that he could stay only five
weeks, but his improvement was marked from the first.   Dur-
ing his short stay  he  gained in strength and spirits rapidly ;
coughed and expectorated  much  less, his chest expanded, and
when he left,  the normal respiration was heard over the entire
chest, though feeble in those parts that were previously imper-
vious.  He left to perform the  duties of a clerk in a store, and
at last accounts was doing well.  I should have added that be-
sides his movements he took a short sitz-bath and chest-rubbins
daily, to stimulate respiration.

                      PAEALYSIS.
           Case IV.—Paralysis of Left Arm.
  This is a little girl, eleven years old, sent  to us by Dr. Marcy.
About six years ago she had an attack  of  brain fever, which
caused paralysis of the left side.  She gradually recovered, ex- 
7
 cept the  left shoulder and arm remained paralyzed down to
 the elbow.   She could use her fingers somewhat, but had no
 power of moving the arm at the shoulder or elbow joints, but
 it hung lifeless and motionless by her side.   The muscles were
 much wasted, especially the Deltoid and Biceps flexor.  In-
 deed, in these muscles there could not be perceived the slightest
 tremor of muscular contraction with the greatest efforts.  The
 treatment has continued about two months and a half, and now
 the little girl can move her arm in all  directions, though in
 some cases still feebly.  Muscular contractions are now plainly
 seen and  felt in the Biceps and Deltoid muscles whenever  she
 attempts  to use them, and though she can not yet quite lift the
 whole weight of her arm  to the head, she can  do so with very
 slight help, and will in time get the entire use of the arm.  I
 should have said that the size has considerably increased.  She
 still continues treatment.

       Case  V.—Paralysis, with Muscular Wasting.

   M. E. B., a little girl from Rhode Island, seven years old,
 came under my care the third day of March last.   When one
 year and a half old she  met with a fall which brought on a
 gradually developed paralysis of the right side. Of this, how-
 ever, she  recovered so far as to get nearly perfect use of the
 right hand, though it is somewhat the smaller of the two; but
 the right  leg, after the first efforts towards recovery, seemed to
 get no better, but rather grew worse.  It  was one inch shorter
 than the left, and very small and feeble.  She  often fell down
 in walking, and could not sustain the weight of  the whole body
 on  it for  a single moment; whenever she attempted  to do so,
 it would immediately give way, and precipitate her to the floor;
 there was great relaxation of the  ligaments of the foot and
 ankle, the toes were drawn down towards the heel, particularly
 when she was excited ; indeed, the  bones of the foot were so
 loosely held together, that they could be easily moved  upon
 one another with the fingers ; and there was general indication
 of relaxation in that leg.  She was under treatment about two
 months  and  a half,  and can  now  use  that  leg  with  very
great facility and strength.   It has grown larger and stronger,
being now able to sustain the whole body with ease, even while 
8
courtseying  upon it, till  the leg is  at right angles with the
thigh, and then raise into the upright position again ; the foot
is natural-shaped, and the former relaxation about the ankle
and foot is nearly gone.  This case had also a lateral curvature
of the spine  to the right, caused by the short leg and weakness
of that side,  but it was entirely removed by the treatment, and
a recurrence prevented, by causing her to wear a cork sole on
the right foot, so thick that the right hip is of the same height
as the left.   She left treatment and returned home nine months
ago.   I have just heard that she has continued to improve, till
now, the previously deformed  foot is sometimes  mistaken for
the other, its size and shape are so nearly perfect.

                        HERNIA.
                   Case VI.—Inguinal.
  We  have had only two cases  of  hernia treated by  move-
ments, both  of which have resulted in perfect restoration. One
was in a gentleman of twenty-one years, who had been obliged
to wear a truss for double inguinal hernia ever since a small
child.  The treatment consisted in such concentric movements
as would strengthen those muscles, the fibres of which form
the inguinal ring, so as to close the opening through which the
contents of the abdomen escapes.   After about  six weeks'
treatment, he left off his truss, and for the last six months has
been entirely well.  The other was  a recent case in a gentle-
man of thirty-five; was not severe,  and yielded readily to the
strengthening effects of the movements given.

                     DEFORMITIES.
       Case VII.—Lateral Curvature of the  Spine.
   L. F., a girl  thirteen  years old, had  been growing crooked
for the past year or more.  It was a well-marked lateral curva-
ture to the right.  Bad positions at school and muscular weak-
ness and retractions were the probable causes.   The deformity
was plainly to be seen by the casual observer, but was neither
extreme or confirmed in its position, and was taken just in time
to receive  the greatest  benefit from the treatment.  Yet the
spine curved considerably to the right, the right shoulder was 
9
prominent and projecting, the head inclining, etc.  She has
now been under treatment four weeks, and is perfectly straight
of the lateral curvature, the  shoulders  are  even,  the head
higher, and her position correct.  She will continue the treat-
ment a while longer to more thoroughly confirm the cure.
But it must not be supposed from this case that every case can
be cured so easily.  In most cases that reach us they have re-
mained so long, and been subjected to so many kinds of treat-
ment, that a perfect restoration of the form  is impossible.
Yet even in the worst cases there can  generally be some im-
provement of figure and much relief given.

 Case VHI.—Potts' Disease  of  the Spine, with Paralysis.

  This is a little boy five  years old, presenting the most un-
favorable condition to treat.  He had been  affected for two
years, but for the last  two months  before I saw him, he had
grown rapidly worse.   His spine, just before I saw him, in the
centre of  the dorsal region seemed to project within a short
period of time, rapidly backwards as though the carious bones
had just given way, followed by greatly diminished power in his
lower extremities, which want of  power continued to increase,
till, in a few weeks after coming under our care, he lost the'entire
use of his legs.  Besides the projection backwards, there was
also considerable lateral curvature to the left.   He was pale,
haggard-looking, at times  feverish, with fickle appetite and
irregular bowels.  He had  been taken  to the best surgeons in
the country, not one of whom  gave any assurances of recov-
ery, but had no treatment of any importance till he was placed
under our care on the 15th of September, 1857.  It  must be
recollected that at  this time he was growing rapidly worse,
and had changed considerably in the last six weeks ; the de-
formity, especially,  had increased.  Being only able, after the
first few weeks to lie, not being able to either sit or stand, and
the disease in an active state, there was but little chance to try
the efficacy of the  specific movements.  The treatment was
directed towards securing a better circulation in the extremi-
ties, a better quality to the blood, and more  perfect nutrition,
and strengthening of the muscles of the back, so as to relieve,
so far as possible, the point of disease from pressure.   After 
10
seven months' treatment the benefit received is marked.   The
posterior projection has not increased, but remains  just the
same; the lateral curvature is entirely cured; his appetite  is
regular and natural, and bowels regular; he is more fleshy,
his arms have increased in size, and he is very strong in them;
his countenance is fresh and animated, and he is as playful  as
any boy of his age that is  perfectly well; there is some im-
provement  in the use of the legs, and a much better circula-
tion in them.  His recovery will be slow.  This case, and .the
one immediately preceding, illustrate the utility of the Move-
ment  Cure in the most favorable  and the least favorable forms
of disease and distortion  of the  spine.   I believe that every
case of curvature of the spine may be  more or less benefited
by the Movement  Cure, but  only a few—those  taken early,
can be perfectly cured so that no deformity will remain.   Out
of the large number of spinal distortions treated at this Insti-
tution, every one  of which has been very much benefited, even
when of many years' standing, it is not necessary to select any
more  cases.   It is sufficient to say, that  this treatment is dia-
metrically opposed to mechanical support of any kind, which
only serves to weaken  still more the already feeble  muscles,
and confirm their contractions and relaxations, while the Move-
ment Cure seeks to restore them to their  natural healthy condi-
tion, by which alone the spine can receive adequate support.

Case  IX.—Deformity of the Chest, with Spinal Curvature.

  This was a little boy eight years old, previously healthy, sent
to me through the kindness of Dr. Marcy, to be treated for con-
traction of the right half of the chest.  It appears that about a
year before, he had had an attack of inflammation of the lungs,
from which no doubt he dated his disease, though his parents,
having recently discovered the deformity and seen it rapidly
increasing, thought it had suddenly come on and were in great
alarm.  The right half of the chest was exceedingly small and
contracted,  and the left  side  correspondingly enlarged;  so
much so, that he was considerably bent to the right, making
from  this cause quite a curve to  the left in the  upper part of
the dorsal spine.  The sternum also was thrown far out on the
right side and depressed on the left.  The position of his head 
11
 was very awkwardly thrown to one  side from this cause.  I
 saw him only three times, (in June, 1857,) and taught his father
 and mother such movements as the case required.  They then
 left for the country, promising faithfully to carry out the pre-
 scription.  Late in the fall of that year, they  called to thank
 me, saying that he was completely restored in form; the two
 sides of the chest were  alike, there was no curvature of the
 spine, and he was in the most perfect health.


                    MISCELLANEOUS.

           Case X.—Suppression of the Menses.

   A young lady, eighteen years old, naturally of good consti-
 tution had for several years past  been in one of those Ameri-
 can hot-beds of disease  and premature death, a fashionable
 boarding-school.  Naturally intelligent and amiable, she had
 yet contracted  the most pernicious habits of eating the most
 crude and indigestible  substances ; had a most inveterate con-
 stipation ; menstruated only  once in several months; was
 pale, with bloodless lips, and coughed incessantly.  Besides the
 movements appropriate in her case, she was ordered sitz-baths,
 and occasionally, as she grew stronger, the wet-sheet pack was
 added with great benefit.  After about three months' treat-
 ment, this case  resulted in a perfect restoration to health.  All
 of the unfavorable symptoms entirely disappeared.  Appetite
 became regular, and the craving for improper substances gone ;
 the cough ceased  entirely; the bowels  became regular; the
 monthly illness came on at proper times, and was natural and
 healthy ;  the color came to her cheeks, and the before listless
 young lady, became the life and soul of the house.

                  Case XL—Wry Neck.

  This was a lad ten  years old,  sent by Dr. McVicar, to be
 treated for wrry neck.  He was tall and slim, with  light com-
 plexion and hair; precociously fond of his books ; exceedingly
 nervous, irritable, and agitated by any thing unusual.   His
 deformity was brought on by the scarlet fever, which he had
had a year before.  The head was so far twisted to the right side 
12
that he could not look straight forward without great exertion-
His  cure  was  speedily  accomplished.   After three weeks'
treatment  by movements, he left cured, not only of the wry
neck, but of the excessive nervousness also.

            Case XII.—Disease of the Heart.

  A young man, aged  nineteen, was  brought to us  to  be
treated for  disease of the mitral  valves of the heart.  When
only six months old, he had an attack of rheumatism,  and had
had occasional  and severe attacks of the same disease ever
since.  Several years before, he began to have palpitations,
shortness of breath after rapid exercise, and other symptoms of
disease of the valves of the heart; he suffered from cold hands
and feet; there was some enlargement of the  chest over the
region of the heart; pulse irregular, and on auscultation, the
bellows sound was very distinctly heard at each pulsation.  So
little hope  had  his friends that he would live, that his father
had never  attempted  to govern  him, but, to use his  own  ex-
pression, had " let him run wild, paying  very, little attention
to him."  But his mother having more hope, brought him to
us for three months' trial of the Movement Cure.  The treat-
ment was principally directed to securing a better capillary
circulation,  especially in the extremities,  thus relieving the
heart's action and preventing cardiac and  pulmonary conges-
tions.  After remaining only two months, (instead of three,) he
was so much improved that, on our advice, he was taken away
to enter into some active employment.   In this case derivative
baths were also employed.

Case  XIII.—Falling of  the Womb and Prolapsus of the
                         Bowels.

  This was a very lovely lady, who having lived in a malari-
ous country for a long time, had been subject to malarious dis-
eases for many years, till her  constitution had  become so
weakened and  strength so exhausted, that the  above difficul-
ties were brought on.  There was great prostration; the pro-
lapsus uteri gave her  much trouble ;  the bowels protruded at
times several inches.  There was also  inveterate constipation. 
13
Her husband had employed the best physicians  in the city
without any benefit to his wife, and finally came to us almost
in despair.  The treatment  was often interrupted  by recur-
rence of chills, but after four  months' perseverance, she was
completely restored of the local troubles, and well enough to
manage without inconvenience, her own household affairs.

               Case XIV.—Loss  of Power.

  This is a very remarkable case, as  illustrating  the control
this treatment has over innervation, in assisting volition to ac-
complish its purposes.
  Miss C. had suppression of the menses for nine months, and
during the last four months she had been confined to her bed.
She could  neither walk, stand, or even  sit  up erect.   During
all  this  time she had been treated by some of the most emi-
nent physicians in  the city, but  with no perceptible  benefit.
Her last physician,* finding his treatment wholly unavailing,
sent for  me  to try the virtues of  the " Movement Cure."  I
found a beautiful young lady of nineteen, lying on her couch,
wholly  unable to assume any other position.  She was not
wasted, but her limbs, though plump, were  soft and weak, and
though  she could use the arms  with tolerable  facility, the
lower extremities refused to obey the will to any considerable
extent.   There was a temporary diminution of the amount of
nervous stimulus that could be directed to the muscles of these
parts.  Treatment was commenced on the  27th of May.  On
the first day of June she walked a few steps alone, and in a
week more she was able to walk about her room, sit  up nearly
all  the time,  and go out  daily to ride.   I gave her  treatment
twenty-five times,  during which she  gradually gained  in
strength and healthful appearance, and for  the last two weeks
she had the entire control and use  of her limbs, in all respects,
and at the end, was able to start for her home in a distant part
of  the country, much to the gratification of  her  parents and
friends.  She not only regained the control of her limbs, but
her muscles grew daily  more firm  and strong, the color  re-
turned to her cheeks, her spirits rose, and  she appeared well
* Dr. J. M. Sims, of the " Woman's Hospital." 
14
 on the road to perfect health.  Even if the rationale of treat-
 ment in this case consisted in getting control of the morale, as
 from the rapid improvement, some might  suppose,  still it
 would demand no less consideration on that account.   But in
 this case,  there was an actual inability.   She was very desir-
 ous to walk, and often tried, assisted by her physician.   After
 thorough  trial, he expressed  to me the opinion that she had
 not the power to do so.  The reason was, that each effort to
 use her lower extremities in walking, was so much beyond her
 actual capacity, requiring so great an expenditure of volition-
 ary power, as to be perfectly overwhelming, even before the
 first step was taken.  But though she had not sufficient nerv-
 ous stimuli  to distribute to the whole lower extremities at the
 same time, with any considerable effect, yet she had power to
 move a small portion at a time.   The treatment consisted in
 assisting her to get  perfect control  of one small portion of con-
 tractile tissue  at a time, and while all other parts were  at per-
fect rest.  Thus  at first she could  move her toes only a very
 little ; while she made the effort to bend them more, she would
 be assisted to  do so ; then, as her power over their movements
 increased, the action would  be increased, by offering gentle
 resistance to  her movements, etc.  Thus, of the ankle, the
 knee, and all other  separate parts, and finally, of a whole ex-
 tremity.  At the same time, the movements were such as to
 accelerate the circulation in the venous capillaries, and an influx
 of arterial blood, under the influence of which only, can inner-
 vation,  or muscular contraction, take place.
   Since the above was written, the young lady has entirely re-
 gained her health, and has married.

      Case  XV.—Dyspepsia and Nervous Prostration.

   Mr. J.  C. I. was for many years the managing partner of a
 large commercial business, involving millions of capital, with
 results  so often witnessed in this country.  All  at once, his
 health  " broke down ;"  he was obliged to give up. business ;
 became depressed in spirits; was troubled with indigestion and
 great weakness in the stomach and bowels.  He had tried va-
 rious kinds  of treatment, and had spent the last year or two at
 Water-Cure establishments, but without benefit.   His treat- 
15
ment began on the last of September, 1857, and continued with
some interruptions, for five months, when all his old troubles
had entirely vanished.   He has now great strength, is in good
flesh, digests his food well, and is an excellent picture of genial
good humor.

                 Case XVI.—Constipation.
  The wife of a naval officer had suffered for seven years from
constipation of the most  obstinate kind, and  from which no
means could give  relief.  So great were her sufferings in this
respect, that she insisted that there must be a stricture on the
rectum, which examination  proved was not  the case.  She
had  become poor  and wasted ; the skin was sallow, her com-
plexion sickly, and her appetite variable.  She was treated by
the movements only one month, but after  the first  week, her
bowels became regular, and from that time she rapidly gained
till her health seemed perfect.  Her complexion  became clear
and  healthful, and she gained flesh and youthful appearance
rapidly.   It is now about seven months since she left, but her
sister tells me that she is still enjoying perfect health.

             Case XVII.—Chronic Diarrhea.
  Mr. G., a native of the South, had  been an invalid  for fif-
teen years.  While opening a plantation  in Arkansas  he  ac-
quired the congestive  fever of the country, which  left him
feeble, with enlarged liver and spleen, and general prostration,
to which was added a chronic diarrhoea of  the most persistent
kind.  For seven years he was obliged to have constant  re-
course to opiates, which, of course, only rendered  the most
temporary relief,  after  which the malady would break out
with renewed violence.   He  was thin in flesh, hands and feet
cold and  bloodless, and the quality of the circulating fluids
was  very low.  He had tried gymnastics, but was made worse
by them.  Such a case does  not seem, to those unacquainted
with the  treatment, to  be very favorable  for  the Movement
Cure.  But the reverse is the fact.  All functional  derange-
ments are more perfectly reached by the specific  effects of the
movements  than  any  other class of cases.   By operating
through a particular function, to correct its abnormal mani-
festation, is the most rational, as well  as the most successful, 
16
method of procedure.  This gentleman commenced treatment
on the 13th July, 1857,  and continued three months.  The
treatment was  directed to equalizing  the circulation in the
extremities, stimulating  the  action of the liver and  spleen,
and preventing and removing venous staces in the abdomen
and portal system.  Slowly at first, more rapidly afterwards,
as the system had time to respond to the physiological action
of the movements, he began to improve.  After three months'
treatment, he left in  good health.  Several months later  he
wrote to us that he had travelled three hundred miles on horse-
back and four hundred miles on foot, and that his  power of
endurance was very great.

         Case XVIII.—Weakness of the Ankle.
  This is the case of  a gentleman who, by a succession of  ac-
cidents two  years before, had injured his ankle  at  various
times till inflammation set in, which caused it to  be so much
swollen and so painful that  he was not only deprived of the
use of it but was actually laid up for a long time.  After the
inflammation subsided, he still had no strength or ability to
use it, and had remained so for a long time.  The  condition of
his general health was bad.  Had lived in New-Orleans  for
twenty years, had had the yellow fever, was habitually and
inveterately  constipated,  and there  was imperfect nutrition
generally.  Passive movements at  first were  used  for  the
weak ankle, such as rubbing, stroking,  rotation, etc., and after-
wards stronger duplicated movements, besides those indicated
by the state of the general health.  He came on crutches ; in
two months he went away without even a cane, and his  gene-
ral health, besides the lameness, was very much improved.
  Several ladies  troubled with weak ankles, with a liability to
turn the foot suddenly inwards or outwards at any slight mis-
step, have been  readily cured of this difficulty by the use of
proper movements.


No.  67 WEST THIRTY-EIGHTH STREET, NEW-YORK.