To the Medical Profession 
AND 
OTHERS INTERESTED 
IN THE SUBJECT OF 
MASSAGE. 
We invite your attention to the following sketch taken from the 
April number of “ The Elite JOURNALpublished by 
The Elite Publishing Co., Pullman Building, 
Chicago, III. 
“ Our correspondent in New York City sends us the following 
interesting account of the modus operandi of the New York 
School of Training for Massage, 721 Sixth Avenue, which will 
be of interest to many of our readers, especially those who have 
sent letters of inquiry to our office, and wish to know where 
reliable Massage help may be obtained, or the science correctly 
taught. Our correspondent was directed to this particular 
institution by several medical friends in New York City, who 
regard it with particular favor, being the only institution of 
the kind ever established in this country, and one which, 
according to the testimony of a voluminous quantity of eminent 
references and written testimonials which were shown to us on 
entering and detailing the objects of our visit, is conducted on 
strictly scientific and honorable principles.” 
THE NEW YORK SCHOOL OF TRAINING FOR 
MASSAGE, 721 SIXTH AVENUE, 
was first established by the present proprietor, Mr. E. T. 
Osbaldistone, in the year 1862 ; in New York City in the 
latter part of 1879. He is the elder of several brothers, who, 2 
with their wives and children, form part of a large family of 
Masseurs and Masseuses, including sister and brother-in-law 
and their children. Judging from the fine, healthy, strong and 
elastic form of the proprietor and others of this remarkable 
family I saw, they are splendid samples of what this now 
popular aid to materia medica and surgery can do for the 
development of manly vigor and muscle. 
THE STAFF OF THE SCHOOL 
consists of Mr. E. T. Osbaldistone as Instructor, Mrs. Alice 
Agnes, his wife, as Matron, and Miss Anne Mabel, his 
daughter, as Secretary. They are assisted by skilled helpers 
of either sex, who are available as Masseurs or Masseuses and 
nurses at any hour of the day and night. These latter are 
selected from a class of trained nurses, who also combine the 
work of massaeing the human body. 
IN CONSEQUENCE OF THE GREAT DEMAND 
for this kind of treatment, and the fair rate of fee paid for the 
service, so-called “ medical ” rubbers, cuppers, leechers, bath 
attendants, ex-nurses, trainers, ex-pugilists, spiritualists, 
“clairvoyants,” and “animal magnetizers” have fallen into 
the habit of using the term “ Massage ” on their business cards 
and in their advertisements. That many of these persons are 
frauds is made evident by the extravagance of their claims, which 
would exclude every other method of treating the human body 
but their own imitative system. Some are so grossly ignorant 
and physically incapable of performing this fatiguing kind of 
work, that few, if anyone, to whom they apply for patronage, 
are ever deceived by them. Still some manage to elude 
intelligent investigation, and support their claims to distinction 
by a wholesale condemnation of the regular qualified professors 
of the art. 
WITH THE HOPE OF COUNTERACTING 
the ill results of such charlatanism, which is calculated to 
mislead the medical faculty and their patients as to the 
therapeutical advantages of Massage when correctly applied 3 
by an experienced operator, and with the object of supplying 
the long-felt want on the part of the medical profession of a 
thoroughly trustworthy and intelligent and healthy class of 
male and female Massage workers, and prompted by suggestions 
from several eminent doctors, 
THE NEW YORK SCHOOL OF MASSAGE WAS 
ESTABLISHED. 
THE COURSE OF INSTRUCTION IMPARTED: 
1. Consists of a general knowledge of the construction and 
functions of the human body, aided by the use of illuminated 
anatomical charts, and short, impressive lectures. 
2. PROGRESSIVE demonstrative lessons in the mechanical 
art of Massage, as pursued by different nations, special impor- 
tance being attached to the soothing and toning Lomi-lomi 
of the Sandwich Islands. 
3. Exercises in Ling’s System of Swedish Movements, 
otherwise known as “ medical gymnastics,” taught minus its 
usual appendage—the term “ cure,”—which is calculated to 
mislead the uninitiated as to their medical advantages, and cause 
people to expect more from them than they can reasonably ac- 
complish, the method being in every respect a Rational System 
of Home Gymnastics, performed by the patients themselves, or 
by the aid of an expert. 
4. Exercises in Tapotement, of the French, and the 
system of muscle beating originated by Professor Klemm, of 
Riga, on the borders of Russia and Germany. 
5. EXERCISES in the use of the common electric battery. 
6. EXERCISES in the art of giving bed-ridden or other 
invalids portable dry hot air, steam, sulphur, calomel, herbal, 
turpentine, saline, or Aux-la-Chapelles baths at their own homes. 
7. Clinical Demonstrations and short lectures on the 
therapeutical application of these things. 
RULES 
are given for the guidance of the pupils, the first of which is 
that they are not at any time to assume any position relative 4 
to the patient other than that for which they have been 
especially trained and are employed to perform, and guard 
against any meddlesome and mischievous inclination to talk 
upon medical matters, presuming to give advice, pass opinions, 
or prescribe even the simplest remedy without the physician’s 
knowledge and approval. 
A CERTIFICATE OF MERIT 
is granted to successful graduates, signed by at least two 
regular medical practitioners and the instructor. 
THE AVERAGE TIME OCCUPIED TO LEARN 
the mechanical operations of Massage is two months, though 
many persons take a much longer period ; and months or 
years of practical experience must elapse before the operator 
becomes thoroughly competent to judge of the time, kind, and 
degree of the work and part best to operate upon, with a 
possibility of producing the best result;—in other words, to use 
Massage as a science. 
Invariably the best results are obtained from local treat- 
ment ; but no Massage operator (not a physician or surgeon) 
should ever presume to prescribe Massage* or administer it to 
an invalid unless it has been previously prescribed by the 
attending physician, as there are quite a large number of cases 
where Massage would do serious injury and even cause the 
death of the patient from exhaustion, inflammation, etc., etc. 
A ONE OR TWO HOURS’ LESSON 
is given five days in the week, the number of lessons being 
unlimited, and after the pupils have received their certificates 
they are expected to call at the School occasionally to refresh 
their memories, and ascertain if there are any new points 
to learn. 
* We except old experienced professors of the science who have had years of 
practice to back their knowledge, and who are often consulted by the patient’s 
physician as to the best method, or kind and degree of Massage to apply to the 
patient. In many instances the physician abandons the patient for a time to the 
discretion of the Masseur, carefully noting the results, and staying or prolonging 
the treatment accordingly. 5 
APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION 
to the School are required to furnish satisfactory references 
from persons who have known them at least twelve months 
previously. They must possess a sound and healthy constitu- 
tion, not large and fat, or ungainly of form, or too tall or lean, 
but of medium size, light, graceful and elastic, with strong 
powers of endurance, and a cheerful disposition. 
A SPECIAL FEATURE 
of the School is the advantage it gives to persons desirous of 
acquiring a knowledge of Massage for the benefit of themselves 
or their friends or members of their family. And for ladies 
and gentlemen to have their maids and valets taught some 
needed part or the whole of the art of Massage. Quite a large 
number of persons are thus taught, including the private 
nurses of physicians. 
ON ENTERING THE SCHOOL 
each pupil is supplied with a note book and pencil, on the 
first page of which they find a copy of their future business 
circular which has received the sanction of the medical faculty ; 
and following are a number of rules laid down for their safe 
guidance as pupils and afterwards as operators. In these 
books the pupil is expected to make intelligent notes on each 
lesson, and leave it with the Instructors at the close of the 
week for examination, when needed corrections are made. 
THE BUSINESS BOOKS 
of the School show that since its first establishment in the 
latter part of 1879, two hundred and ten pupils have been 
admitted for instruction, coming from all parts of the country, 
even from Lima, South America, and from England, Ireland, 
France and Germany, and one this year from Russia. An- 
other book shows that nearly twice the number admitted have 
been declined for some special reason. 6 
of the School is that of keeping a Visitor’s Register in which 
the names of pupils and persons coming for treatment are 
registered, with date and residence. No person can take 
treatment or receive instruction who objects to observe this 
rule. On its pages appear the names of some very illustrious 
personages. Amongst others, Ex-Governors E. D. Morgan and 
J. T. Hoffman, Ex-Vice-President Wheeler, Trenor W. Park, 
Royal Phelps, John Kelly, Generals Grant, Phil Sheridan, 
R. C. Schenck, S. K. Schwenk, Judges Barrett, Noah Davis, 
General Diaz, President of Mexico, The Earl of Onslow, 
Oscar Wilde, Secretary D. Manning, of the Treasury, and 
W. C. Whitney, Secretary of the Navy, and dozens of other 
eminent personages, including ladies, bankers, Wall Street 
brokers, priests, merchants and clerical and medical doctors. 
Amongst the latter we notice the names of some forty or fifty 
of the most eminent men of this profession in Washington, 
Philadelphia and New York Cities. 
AN ADMIRABLE SYSTEM 
DURING OUR VISIT 
to the School we had the honor of witnessing the pleasing 
sight of a whole class of pupils and three of the examining 
doctors present the Worthy Instructor with a very handsome 
illuminated testimonial, which we were given the privilege of 
copying. 
New York City, U. S. A. 
April ist, 1887. 
To All Concerned : 
This is to shozv, that we, the subscribers to this document> 
having been students at the New York School of Training for 
Massage and Rational Home Gymnastics, desire to express our 
gratitude and thanks to the Instructor, Mr. E. T. Osbaldistone, 
for his conscientious and untiring efforts to secure our future 
success. 
The Mechanical, Therapeutical and Clinical courses, through 
which we have been carefully condticted, warrant in believing 
that our worthy Instructor stands pre-eminently the most superior 
teacher and practitioner of the art in this country, and one who 
has been successful in reducing the work to a science. 7 
We likewise desire to express our thanks and approval of the 
kindly and skillful manner in which Miss Anne Mabel Tr. 
Osbaldistone has acted as Assistant Instructor to her father. 
We heartily hope she may meet with a brilliant future of 
success in her honorable and benevolent calling. 
This is signed by twelve pupils forming the February and 
March class, and endorsed by the examining doctor, thus : 
I can heartily endorse the pupils sentiments as expressed by 
them in this testimonial to their Worthy Instructor, having 
given considerable attention to the subject of Massage; and 
discovering much sham and fraud amongst its so-called professors, 
it is refreshing to find an honest and thoroughly skilled Masseur 
like Mr. E. T. Osbaldistone, whose talent as a teacher and 
practitioner in the art of Massage makes him a valuable aid to 
the members of our profession. 
Signed, Robert P. Gibson, A.M., M.D., 
49 West 93d Street. 
Quite a large quantity of such testimonials emanating from 
pupils, patients, physicians and others, bear testimony to the 
value of this School, and the skill of its staff of operators. 
TO OUR ENQUIRIES 
what the word Massage meant, and what is included under 
that term, the Instructor courteously referred us to one of his 
business cards, on the back of which we found the following 
answer to the first part of our question : 
“ The term Massage is taken from the French ; it has its ” 
“ origin in the Greek word I knead, or pound.” 
“Practically it is a system of passive manipulative exercise ” 
“ applied without exertion, nervous exhaustion, or fatigue on ” 
“ the part of the patient. It is adapted to the strong man, to ” 
“the feeble, invalid woman, and to the delicate child. It” 
“ brings into action, feebly or vigorously as may be desired, ” 
“the entire muscular system and all the tissues connected” 
“with it, as well as the deep-seated vital organs,, the liver,” 
“stomach, spleen, kidneys, bowels, etc. It promotes the” 8 
“healthful circulation of the blood throughout the whole” 
“system, and tends to relieve congestion by drawing the” 
“blood to other and distant parts. Its continued use builds” 
“ up and strengthens the muscles, and promotes the healthful ” 
“ action of weak and torpid organs. It improves digestion, ” 
“assimilation, and nutrition. It enlarges the chest, increases” 
“ the breathing power, and strengthens and develops the ” 
“lungs. It soothes, quiets, and regulates disordered nervous” 
“action, and establishes harmony between the nervous sys-” 
“ tern and various organs of the body.” 
“It tends to preserve health, by giving needed exercise to ” 
“ those who are. unable or unwilling to take sufficient active ” 
“ exercise.” 
“Brain-workers and persons of sedentary lives, such as phy- ” 
“ sicians, clergymen, lawyers, teachers, merchants, bankers, ” 
“ brokers, and other professional and business men, often ” 
“exhaust their nervous forces to such an extent, that they” 
“cannot take active exercise without still greater nervous” 
“ exhaustion. To them. Massage is invaluable.” 
“Its beneficial effects are most remarkable in cases of” 
“ paralysis, local or general weakness, torpor or debility of ” 
“ special organs, dyspepsia, constipation, weakness peculiar ” 
“ to women, lateral curvature of the spine, and other de- ” 
“ formities.” 
“For ladies in delicate health Massage and Swedish Move- ” 
“ ments are, as auxiliary agents to other hygienic treatment, ” 
“ among the most effective means at the physician’s com- ” 
“ mand. They expand the chest, throwing the anterior” 
“thoracic walls upward and outward, elevating the dia-” 
“ phragm, and so permitting the contents of the abdomen to ” 
“resume their normal position. At the same time, they” 
“ strengthen the abdominal muscles, enabling them to sustain ” 
“the stomach, bowels, etc., in place. The uterus then being” 
“ relieved from pressure above, gradually assumes its natural ” 
“ position as the parts regain tone and strength.” 
“ Weakly children, with narrow chests, flabby muscles, feeble ” 
“ vitality, or physically deformed, are rapidly and permanently ” 
“ improved.” 9 
“MASSAGE AS A LUXURY.” 
“Apart from its beneficial effects, Massage is by many” 
“ persons greatly enjoyed as a luxury. The soothing, ” 
“pleasurable sensations experienced during its administra- ” 
“ tion ; and the feeling of entire rest, the healthful glow, the” 
“suppleness of limb, and the keen appetite which follow it,” 
“ often induce persons to take the treatment, even though ” 
“ there is no indication in their health of special need for it. ” 
“To these, it is doubtless a means of preserving as long as” 
“ possible unimpaired the health which they already enjoy. ” 
“ Obesity is very effectually conquered by the use of Massage ” 
“and the Rational Home Gymnastics, the reduction being at ” 
“ the rate of two inches per week in circumference of ” 
“ abdomen, without interference with the ordinary diets or’’ 
“ general habits of the person.” 
IN REPLY TO THE SECOND QUESTION, 
as to what is included under the term Massage, the Instructor 
informed us that the word includes everything forming the full 
course of instruction with the exception of the parts having 
reference to baths, and the use of the electric battery. 
At the same time we were also favored with the following 
definition of 
PROFESSIONAL TERMS: 
Masseur.—A male Massage operator. 
MASSEUSE.—A female Massage operator. 
MASSAEING.—The act of performing the operation of Massage. 
Massaed.—Past tense. 
Tapotement.—From the French, being a process of slapping 
with the palms of the hands slightly hollowed, so as to 
crush the air between the hands of the operator and the 
skin of the patient. It produces a powerful capillary 
action. 
Muscle Beating.—A term used to indicate a peculiar exercise 
with hollow elastic tubes attached to a handle, or by 
means of soft elastic balls at the ends of sticks, or by 
the human hands held closed and partially tight, or by 
the fingers held open and loose. 10 
LOMI-LOMI.—A particular soothing and toning method of 
Massage pursued by the natives of the Sandwich 
Islands, and similar in many respects to the methods of 
the Hindoos, Chinese, Japanese, and natives of New Zea- 
land. When performing the Lomi-Lomi, the soft, cush- 
iony parts of the hands, and even the arms, are used, 
and considerable skill and care are needed to acquire 
the necessary amount of elasticity in the hands and 
wrists of the operator. 
Swedish Movements.—A system of rational home gym- 
nastics originated by Peter Henry Ling, of Sweden, in 
the year 1813, being passive, resistive or active. In the 
first case the operator works alone upon the passive 
form. In the second the operator and patient work 
together. In the latter the patient is instructed to 
work alone. 
These are the ordinary comprehensible terms used in 
Massage practice. But in this age of novelty attempts have 
recently been made to introduce some new-fangled terms, as 
for instance, Effleurage, Petrisage, etc., etc., which, however, 
indicate nothing differing in practice from the terms already 
quoted. 
ARE WOMEN SUCCESSFUL AS MASSAGE 
OPERATORS ? 
“ Women have not the same physical force and energy as 
men. They are useful for light, soothing work. But for de- 
veloping and toning and strengthening the muscles of the 
body, or reducing corpulency, they are quite incapable of the 
exhausting, hard work needed, and there are certain periods 
when it is positively dangerous for them to handle the delicate 
or sick human body. As to whether they should be employed 
to massae persons of the opposite sex is an open question. 
There are many eminent physicians who maintain that their 
contact with male invalids, either as nurses or rubbers, has a 
baneful effect upon the patients. Still they are largely em- 
ployed, and we have some very skillful and talented operators 
amongst our lady pupils.” 11 
TO THE ENQUIRY 
as to whether teaching so many persons the science of Massage 
was not likely to overstock the market and lower the value of 
such labor, the Instructor replied: “After close on eight 
years’ experience in this city alone, and having turned out 
over 200 well-trained pupils, we have come to the conclusion 
that the more there are in the field the more the system be- 
comes known and its merits appreciated ; consequently the 
demand is greater and still increasing. A few of the other 
regular Masseurs have offered strong objections to our teaching 
the science, and have resorted to many mean things to try to 
injure our work and retard our progress, even going to the ex- 
tent of sending anonymous, insulting and threatening letters. 
These persons do not reflect that few out of the many trained 
by us ever succeed in conducting their work beyond the 
degree of a mechanical art. Few, indeed, ever become skilled 
or talented enough to use Massage as a science. This may 
arise in many instances from an imperfect ordinary education, 
or from the habit of years spent late into maturity in hard, 
manual toil, or from the mistaken idea that tea, coffee, and 
spirituous and drug stimulants are essential to strength and 
endurance. We lay down a few simple rules for the guidance 
of our pupils, which, if they observe, will result in the pres- 
ervation of their health and insure success in their calline, 
providing no physical accidents befall them.” 
Our School is open to their inspection at any time, and a 
special invitation 
REGARDING VISITORS. 
TO MEMBERS OF THE MEDICAL PROFESSION 
to witness our mode of imparting instruction, and experience 
our system of Massage, is a standing one. It is a duty the 
medical faculty owe to themselves and their patients, and many 
have availed themselves of the invitation, and some left pleas- 
ing written records when they left. 
Thus terminated my interview with this remarkable man, 
and a visit to one of the most important institutions of a new 12 
industry ever introduced into our country, so far as suffering 
humanity is concerned. I left with a feeling of gratitude 
toward my medical friend who had recommended the visit, and 
conscious that I had acquired some useful and important 
knowledge upon a subject with which I was but partially 
acquainted before. I found the Instructor and his brother and 
other members of his family very affable and courteous, and 
willing to explain all and enlighten me in the mysteries of their 
craft. During my two hours’ stay I frequently saw the In- 
structor’s children playfully dodging in and out, and one little 
dot of three years was engaged massaeing her doll. “ That is 
how we were trained,” observed the Instructor. E. J. A. 
The New York School of Massage, 721 Sixth Avenue, sends 
out skilled male and female Massage operators and nurses to 
any part of the city or throughout the country, without any 
office charges to either party (the employer or employee). If 
necessary, portable electric, vapor, dry hot air, herbal, sulphur, 
turpentine, bran, tan and pine, saline, and Aux-la-Chapelle 
baths are sent with them. Massage benches of an improved 
kind, acting as table or lounge, are sent out on hire by the 
week or month or year. Price of the latter, if purchased, from 
$9 to $45. 
References of the highest order sent on application. A 
volume of testimonials open for inspection at all times. 
NOTICE. 
Whereas, it has come to our knowledge that certain persons 
have falsely represented themselves as graduate pupils of our 
School, we desire to caution people against all such, none be- 
ing entitled to represent themselves as our pupils unless pro- 
vided with a certificate of qualification and merit, signed by 
not less than two legally qualified medical practitioners, acting 
as examiners, and by the Instructor. 
A. M. T. O.SBALDISTONE, 
Secretary.