The movement cure / by Professor Georgii.

  • Georgii, Augustus.
Date:
1852
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The movement cure / by Professor Georgii. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    applications; but it has proved successful in a great variety of chronic ailments. We mention here— First. Diseases of the chest va their various forms, from the mere tendency to weak and delicate lungs, chronic bronchitis, asthma, and the first and second stages of pulmonary con¬ sumption. These complaints, which in their progress cause so much distress, and destroy so large a proportion of the human race (in England alone about 90,000 die yearly of pulmonary complaints), are notoriously known to receive but little benefit from the ordinary medicinal treatment. The observations at the Institution of Stock¬ holm prove, on the other hand, that all these complaints, in their early stage, are in most instances under control, and have been often perfectly cured by Ling’s method. It is a fact, that the formation of the chest in consump¬ tive persons is, for the most part, such as would predis¬ pose to the development of the disorder. The shoulders are brought forward, the chest is narrow, its anterior aspect is contracted, and appears fallen in, while the posterior part is found to be larger and more prominent. This disproportion is occasioned by the muscles not being in equal action all over the thorax. It is self-evident, that this state cannot be materially changed by the use of internal medicine, mineral waters, cod-liver oil, etc., or by change of air. The application of specific movements is the only means of strengthening and developing the inactive muscles, and of deriving the blood from the lungs to distant organs. The passive movements will gradually remove congestion of the lungs and the air-tubes. The capacity of the chest will by these means be gradually restored to a healthy standard, and harmony in action and symmetry in form will, after a time, be obtained. This may appear contradictory to the observation that common gymnastics and violent exercises are found to be often very prejudicial to consumptive patients. In fact,