THE SWEDISH MOVEMENT 
AND MASSAGE TREAT- 
MENT. 
BY- 
HARTVIG NISSEN, 
Director of the Swedish Health Institution, 'Wash- 
ington, D. C., Instructor in Gymnastics at Johns 
Hopkins University, Baltimore. 
Address delivered before the Clinical Society of 
Maryland. 
(.Reprint from the Maryland ite&atb Journal of MhxMf' 
24 Ih, 1888.) ~ 
BALTIMORE: 
Journal Publishing Company, Print, 
209 Park Avenue, 
1888. OH THE SWEDISH MOVEMENT 
AND MASSAGE TREATMENT. 
Gentlemen :—I am here to-night to 
tell you a little of what I know about 
“The Swedish Movement and Massage 
Treatment” and, if some thing should 
seem strange, or, you should think, that 
I have claimed rather much for it, I beg 
you to remember, that oil, what I have 
to say, is based upon facts and, that I am 
here, not as a special agent for my- 
sel, but as one, who wants to lay be- 
fore you a clear and true representation 
of what has been done. 
It is a known fact, that bodily exer- 
cise was used as a curative agent in the 
earliest days. 
Aeskulapius, Apollo’s descendent, is 
said to have been the first inventor of 
the art of gymnastics. Medea procured 
health and youth by gymnastics. 
It was 400 to 500 years before Christ, 
that Icons and later Herodieus reduced 
bodily exercise to a system; and Hero- 
dieus made it a branch of medical 
science to preserve the health and cure 
disease by the use of gymnastics. 
Hippocrates was his pupil, although 
he did not agree with his master in all 
his gymnastical applications. 2 
Diodes, Praxagoras, Herophilus, As- 
depiades, Athenaeus, Celsus and Galen 
recommended “Movement Treatment” 
and gave rules for it. 
Mercurial is wrote in the sixteenth 
century a book, “De Arte Gymnastica,” 
or the science of bodily exercise, which 
he divided into, “gymnastics for athletes, 
for the military and for the cure of dis- 
eases;” he gave special attention to the 
last one, as it was used by the Greeks 
and Romans, and pointed out the use of 
the different movements in different 
diseases, and gave rules for their appli- 
cation in special cases. 
Thomas Fuller, an English physician, 
published in 1704 “Medicina gymnas- 
tica” or a treatise on the power of exer- 
cise in preserving health and curing 
disease. 
Clement J. Tissot, a French physi- 
cian, who several times gained the prize 
of the Academie Hoy ale de Chirurgie 
for his lectures, published in Paris, 1781 
“Gymnastiqne Mgdicinale.” 
Gutsmuth, Jahn, Clias and Spiess 
worked with energy to spread the Ger- 
man gymnastics or “Turnkunst,” but 
they did not pay any attention to gym- 
nastics as used for the treatment of 
diseases. 
As Herodicus observed the curative 
effects of gymnastics on his own delicate 3 
health and thereby was brought to use 
movements in therapy, so did the Swede, 
Pekr Henrik Ling, in the beginning of 
this century, study the movement treat- 
ment, because he had cured himself of 
rheumatism in the arm by gentle per- 
cussions. 
Ling had been a fencing-master and 
instructor of gymnastics, but now he 
studied anatomy and physiology, and the 
influence of the different movements and 
manipulations in different chronic dis- 
eases. 
He brought gymnastics into a system 
corresponding with the knowledge of 
physiology and, this is the reason why it 
is called “the Ling’s System,” or the 
“Swedish Movement Treatment.” 
By ardent study and labor, Ling 
succeeded at last in making his new 
ideas recognized, and in 1813 the first 
“College for Psedagogical, Military and 
Medical Gymnastics,” called the “Kongl. 
Gymnastiska Central Institutet,” was es- 
tablished in Stockholm at the expense of 
the Swedish Government. 
The principal studies for graduation 
are: Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, 
Hygiene, Diagnosis, Principles of the 
Movement Treatment, and the Use of 
Exercises for general and local devel- 
opment. 
Ling died in 1839. His pupils Brand- 4 
ting, Georgii, Liedbaek and G. Tndebe- 
tou published Ling’s theories. Hereby 
and on account of the many foreigners, 
who studied at the Central Institute of 
Stockholm, Ling’s art soon became 
known in a great part of the world. 
Hr. Joseph Sehreiber, of Vienna, (in 
his Manual of Massage and Muscle Ex- 
ercise page 21) says: “The most power- 
ful impetus, however, given to the re- 
vival of mechano-therapy originated 
with a Swede, the creator of the modern 
“Movement Cure,” whose doctrines 
spreading to England and to Germany, 
have after many decades, and in spite of 
being marked by some extravagancies, 
gained universal recognition.” 
He. Ron, in St. Petersburg; Georgii, 
Indebetou, Bishop, and Roth, in Lon- 
don; Rothstein, and Neumann in Berlin; 
Richter in Dresden; Schreber in Leip- 
zig; Melicher in Vienna; Eulenburg in 
Baden; Laisn6at the“hospital desenfants 
malads” in Paris; Taylor in New York, 
and many others, established special in- 
stitutions for movement treatment and 
published their results partly in medical 
papers, partly in books. 
Endowed with depth of thought as 
well as creative genius, fortified by sound 
scientific information, and sustained by 
an untiring devotion to his task, Ling 
was early led from result to result by a 5 
careful classification of movements, and 
by a scientific examination of their dif- 
ferent results. Lina; distinguished in 
the first instance between Active and 
Passive movements; A dive Movements, 
being such as the subject performs en- 
tirely by voluntary ipuscular contraction; 
and. Passive Movements, such as the 
subject tabes no partin, beyond allowing 
the operator to move the whole or any 
portion of his body—as flexion, exten- 
sion and rotation—and to manipulate it 
as i n st rotting, kneading, pressing, percus- 
sion, etc. 
These simple movements Ling com- 
bined into, Resistive or Duplex Move 
ments, viz : Active-passive, or “concen- 
tric duplex movements, such as the 
patient makes while the operator resists, 
and, Passive-active, or “excentric du- 
plex’’’ movements, such as the operator 
overcomes when the patient resists. 
Duplex, because two individuals en- 
gage in it; concentric, because the pa- 
tient’s muscles have to overcome a re 
sistance which prevents flexion—a 
movement toward the trunk; excentric, 
because the force acts in a direction 
away from the body. 
These movements cause an increased 
flow of blood to the muscles and soft 
parts, increasing thereby the circulation 
and removing accumulation of tissue 6 
waste. They cause resorption of exuda- 
tions, transudations, and infiltrations 
and a separation of adhesions in tendon 
sheaths and in joints. They increase 
the oxidizing powers of the blood. 
They relieve the congestion of the 
brain, lungs, intestines, uterus, liver 
and kidneys by increasing the flow of 
blood to the muscles. They stimulate 
directly the sympathetic nervous system, 
thus increasing secretion, and reflexly 
the activity of unstriped muscle fibre, 
and so relieve various functional de- 
rangements. And they educate mor- 
bidly affected muscles, to convert, abnor 
mal into normal actions, and to suppress 
useless movements. 
Dr. J. Schreiber in his book (page 67) 
says: “We understand by passive 
movements, all movements performed 
by the physician upon the patient, the 
latter remaining passive. The follow- 
ing results are obtained : 
1. Extravasations occurring about dis- 
located joints are, by pressing and rub- 
bing the tendons and ligaments in which 
they are embedded, finally liquefied, 
and thus more quickly absorbed. 
2. In stiffness of joints the contracted 
muscles and tendons are forcibly but 
gradually elongated, and any existing 
exudations or vegetations within the 
joints are disintegrated and absorbed, 7 
3. By the forcible stretching of the 
muscles their nerves are likewise 
stretched; molecular changes being thus 
set up in both. 
4. Forced extension of the muscles 
causes pressure on their blood and 
lymphatic vessels, thus accelerating the 
circulation. 
5. Finally, such muscles as have by 
rheumatic or neuralgic pains been kept 
in a state of inactivity, have some of their 
much needed exercise restored to them. 
Passive movements thus form in certain 
diseases, as in neuralgia and rheuma- 
tism, the introduction as it were, for the 
more painful active motions which have 
to follow.” 
Dr. J. Graham, Treatise on Massage 
page 23, says, in 1844 the Supreme medi- 
cal Board of Russia appointed two mem- 
bers of the Medical Council to inquire 
into the merits of the movement and 
manipulation treatment as practised by 
de Ron, one of Ling’s disciples at St. M. 
Petersburg, who had been using it then 
for a period of twelve years. From the 
highly commendatory report of the 
councillors we quote the following: 
“All passive movements, or those which 
are executed by an external agent upon 
the patient, as well as active ones pro- 
duced by the effort of the voluntary 
muscles, and the different positions 8 
with the aid of the apparatus or without 
it, are practised according to a strictly de- 
fined method, and conducted rationally, 
since they are based upon mechanical as 
well as anatomical principles. 
Experience teaches us the usefulness 
of the institution, as many patients 
thus treated have recovered their health 
after having suffered from diseases 
which could not be cured by other 
remedies.” 
Before speaking about more 
details of this system, I must say a few 
words about what is meant by the word 
“Massage.” Dr. J. Graham says: 
“Massage—to knead or handle—is a 
term now generally accepted by Euro- 
pean and American physicians to signify 
a group of procedures which are 
usually done with the hand, such as 
kneading, manipulating, rolling, and 
percussion of the external tissues of the 
body in a variety of ways, either 
with a curative, palliative, or hygienic 
object in view. Its application should 
in many instances be combined with pas- 
sive, resistive or assistive movements, 
and these are often spoken of as the 
Swedish movement cure. There is, 
however, an increasing tendency on the 
part of scientific men to have the word 
massage embrace all these varied forms 
of manual therapeutics, for the reason 9 
that the word ‘cure,’ attached to any 
form of treatment whatsoever, cannot 
always be applicable, inasmuch as there 
are many maladies that preclude the 
possibility of recovery and yet admit of 
amelioration.” 
In this I cannot fully agree with the 
author. Massage means kneading, and 
when we go so far as to say that massage 
means the handling and manipulation 
of the flesh as in, kneading, pressing, 
stroking, tapping, etc., I think 
we have embraced all, that can 
come in under this term. To say that a 
passive movement such as flexion and 
extension, or even a duplex movement is 
massage or kneading, is too much 
to say, and has been a source of 
great harm both to patients and to the 
original Swedish system, as I shall have 
occasion to show later on. 
“Scientific men will use the word 
massage to a<void the word cure” If 
these men had read a liftle about Ling’s 
system, they would not have found the 
word cure, as Ling called it, “Sjuk- 
gymnastik,” that is, “gymnastics for in- 
valids,’’ or better, “the treatment of dis- 
eases by movements,” which also em- 
braces the different manipulations, now 
grouped under the term massage. 
Rossback (Lehrbuch der physikalishen 
Heilmetkoden, Berlin, 1882) calls it, 10 
“Gymnastics and Massage.” Schreiber, 
terms it, “ Mechano-Therapy.” 
Rothstein, Neumann, Eulenburg and 
others call it, “The Swedish Health 
gymnastics,” but very few take to the 
term “massage,” to mean both man- 
ipulations and active and passive move- 
ments. It is true, that we frequently 
see “movement cure” on circulars and 
in some books, but the term is used 
partly on account of lack of knowledge 
and partly on account of fraud. 
I should think, that the most correct 
and all embracing term would be 
“Swedish Movement and Massage 
Treatment.” 
Massage embraces the processes of 
kneading, pressing, stroking, rubbing, 
tapping, hacking, and percussing when 
applied to the muscles in question for 
the propulsion of blood, lymph, and 
exudations from the periphery toward 
the centre. # 
In Europe this is used, combined with 
movements, in local troubles such 
as: Neuralgia, muscular rheumatism, 
sprains, stiffness of joints and tendons, 
cerebral congestion, chronic dyspepsia 
and constipation, chorea, writer’s cramp, 
etc. 
Dr. Weir Mitchell, of Philadelphia, 
in his “Treatment of Nervous Diseases 
by Pest”, has applied massage, as he 11 
says in his “Fat and Blood,” page 71 “to 
deprive rest of its evils.” This massage 
consists of gentle but firm rolling, 
kneading, friction, etc., of the skin and 
muscles of the whole body in order to 
bring about a free circulation of the 
blood and thereby improve or maintain 
the nutrition of the muscles. 
No doubt this way of using massage 
in nervous diseases is of very great value, 
but all over the United States we find men 
and women pretending to give “mas- 
sage” in the broadest sense of the term 
as used by Dr. Graham. These profes- 
sionals claim to have received their 
training from Dr. Mitchell. 
According to Dr. Graham’s book,page 
34, “Dr. Mitchell states over his own sig- 
nature, that he does not teach massage.” 
But suppose we admit that some of them 
have learned from Mitchell’s masseurs, 
still, what do they know? How is it 
possible, that a man, who has been 
taught how to use his hands, only in a 
certain way, for a special malady can 
know how to use them, and how and 
when to apply proper movements 
in all the different diseases, which are 
treated by “Swedish movements and 
massage ?” 
Much experience and hard study is re- 
quired in order, undcrstandingly, to give 
a full treatment. Thej.different manipu- 12 
lations may be for some persons easy 
enough to learn; but the active and 
passive movements, so indispensable for 
the cure of certain forms of disease, re- 
quire an exact knowledge of anatomy 
and physiology for their proper appli- 
cation and performance. 
I will now in a few words describe the 
mode of treatment which Ling systema- 
tised. 
Ling distinguished between five differ- 
ent fundamental positions, viz: standing, 
kneeling, sitting, lying and hanging; 
these he subdivided into a number of 
starting positions with the arms, legs, 
trunk and head, which combined in 
various ways make nearly 12,000 posi- 
tions, in which the different movements 
may be either taken or given. And so 
the number of movements may be said 
to be endless to suit each particular ail- 
ment. 
The movements may be spoken of as : 
Strengthening movements, such as 
flexion, extension, torsion, etc.; Stimu- 
lating movements as, percussion, vibra- 
tion, etc.; Quieting movements as, rota- 
tion, friction, etc.; Derivative move- 
ments with special movements of the 
extremities; Purgative movements as, 
kneading, pressing and active movements 
on the bowels. Some movements have 13 
a special effect on the respiration, 
others on the circulation, etc. 
To illustrate how these movements 
are applied in different cases, let us 
take, for instance, a patient suffering 
from anaemia. If he is. well enough to 
sit up, we will give him : 
1. “Chest lifting,” a respiratory 
movement; the chest is expanded, the 
inspiration becomes deeper and is fol- 
lowed by a stronger expiration. Thus a 
greater amount of oxygen is taken in 
and waste matter given off. This must 
stimulate the functions of the organs 
and thus accelerate the process of re- 
newal and an exchange of material in all 
parts of the body. 
2. “Foot rotation” to equalize the cir- 
culation by increasing the flow of blood 
to the feet. 
3. “Stomach vibration,” which has a 
direct effect on the stomach and will 
improve the appetite and the digestion. 
4. “Forward arm rotation,” a respira- 
tory movement, which has a similar 
effect as the first one. 
5. “Trunk rotation,” which brings 
the muscles of the waist and bowels into 
play, and acts on the circulation, es- 
pecially in the portal system. 
6. “Knee flexion and extension” with 
resistance. This has a strengthening 14 
effect on the flexors and extensors of the 
leg and promotes the circulation. 
7. “Bowel friction” to promote opera- 
tions of the bowels. 
8. “Back percussion,” which stimu- 
lates the nerve centres. 
These movements can of course be 
applied to the patient in different posi- 
tions according to his strength; and 
when the patient improves other and 
more vigorous movements are used. 
In a case of constipation a prescrip- 
tion of movements like the following 
would be the most effective : 
1. “Leg flexion and extension”, under 
pressure on the sacral region and the bow- 
els an active movement. This movement 
brings into play the flexors and extensors 
of the legs and has a purgative,effect on 
the bowels.- 
2. “Backward leg traction,” a duplex- 
movement, alternately, from a standing 
position, the patient resisting..forwards. 
Here the muscles „of the bowels, the 
flexors of the thigh and extensors of 
the calf are in action. Wherefore this 
movement has a purgative as well as, a 
derivative effect on the organs of the 
pelvis. 
3. “Forward trunk flexion” pressure 
being exerted on the sacral region and 
the bowels, from a lying position—active 
movement. 15 
4. “Trunk torsion,” from a kneeling 
position duplex-movement. 
5. “Trunk rotation,” from astride, sit- 
ting position—passive movement. 
The third, fourth and fifth movements 
bring into play all the muscles of the 
bowels, increasing the circulation of 
blood in the portal system; they have a 
good effect on the digestive organs and 
act purgatively in a measure. 
6. “Breech percussion, deep,” stand- 
ing position—passive movement. This 
acts on the sacral nerves, and has a 
stimulating effect. 
7- “Bowel kneading and friction,” re- 
clined position, with the muscles of the 
bowels perfectly relaxed—passive. This 
acts directly on the intestines and pro- 
motes the operation of the bowels. 
8. “Vertical arm flexion and exten- 
sion,” sitting position—duplex move- 
ment. This has a strengthening effect 
on the muscles of the arms, chest and 
back and tends to equalize the circula- 
tion of the blood. 
In cases of heart disease movements 
must be given, which shall diminish the 
pressure of the blood and decrease the 
activity of the heart. Inspiration acts 
as a pump on the circulation towards the 
heart. Muscle contractions produce a 
pressure on the walls of the blood-ves- 
sels, whereby the blood is forced towards 16 
the heart; hence, respiratory and circu- 
latory movements are here of great 
value, 
Dr. Gustaf Zander of the Meehanico- 
Therapeutic Institute in Stockholm 
says : “In heart disease, movement treat- 
ment is an uninterrupted necessity, at 
least during the winter. It is a pity for 
any such patient, who has not the opportu- 
nity ta use this treatment. It is astonish- 
ing what excellent effects regular, gentle, 
but many-sided muscular exercises have 
on diseases of the heart. Some of these 
when not too far gone, can be entirely 
cured, others can be stopped from further 
development, and all can be relieved.” 
In scoliosis', “ curvature of the 
spine,” where the muscles on the 
convex side are weakened and patho- 
logically changed, and the muscles no 
the concave side normal, it is clear that 
the weakened muscles on the convex 
side must be strengthened and developed. 
According to Dr. T. J. Hartelius, the 
principal of the Central Gymnastik In- 
stitute in Stockholm, “The restoration 
of a pathologically changed muscle can- 
not be produced by mechanical exten- 
sions, but only by muscular exercise and 
electricity.” 
“But,” he says, “for the restoration of 
a curved spine extension is necessary. 
The question is, therefore, whether this 17 
can be effected by the organisms own 
remedies. This is easy enough to prove. 
In mild cases of lateral curvature, where 
there is not yet any deformity in the 
vertebrae, the spine is straightened at 
each extension of the back. By flexion 
to the convex side, the spine is not only 
straightened, but it can be bent so far as 
to display a curve to the other side. In 
cases where the deformity of the ver- 
tebrae makes a full extension of the spine 
impossible, it is still possible by its own 
strength to produce an extension in its 
highest degree. 
For instance, in a “Forward trunk 
flexion and extension” the patient stands 
supported on the thighs and bends for- 
wards; when he raises himself up the 
operator resists him on the neck. Or, 
in “Backward trunk flexion” the patient 
is lying on the front of his legs, and 
raises the back up backward.” 
These, and a few other active move- 
ments, can better than any other mechan- 
ical remedy straighten out the curved 
parts. In a one sided scoliosis, for instance, 
with the convexity to the left, “lateral 
trunk flexion to the left” may be 
given. The operator puts his hand on 
the highest point of the curve, and 
resists the patient when he bends down. 
This can be performed either with the 
patient sitting, standing, or lying on his 18 
right side. Several other movements are 
also given, with the view and intention of 
strengthening the muscles on the convex 
side, and straightening out the spine, and 
should be used according to the strength 
of the patient, and the particular shape 
of the deformity. 
Dr. Schreiber (page 86) says: “The 
treatment of scoliosis by the Ling sys- 
tem, which has scored some of its greatest 
successes in this very department, re- 
quires however quite a special study, 
and can hardly be carried out without 
both apparatus and trained assistants.” 
Dr. M. Eulenberg in “Die Schwedische 
Heilgynmastik, Berlin, 1853, says: 
“Ling’s method is the only truly 
rational therapeutic means for the cure 
of chronic disturbances of motivity, such 
as result from spinal curvature, and for 
pseudo-anchylosis, the phthisical-tenden- 
cy, pigeon-breast, peripheral paralysis, 
etc. 
Even in cases of paralysis from lesions 
of the cord, it may still effect a cure, 
where all other measures, undertaken 
after the original disease has run its 
course will be found useless. Ling’s 
gymnastics have an even greater and 
more certain effect upon innervation and 
nutrition, than the common form of 
gymnastic exercises. Spinal (lateral) 
curvatures, resulting from faulty car- 19 
riage(in consequence of a preponderance 
of muscular force on one side of the body) 
are nowadays never treated by any good 
orthopaedist by any other means than 
the Swedish system.” 
In various joint affections this treat- 
ment has been used with great success. 
It may be used to increase the circulation 
in and around a joint, or to promote ab- 
sorption and to squeeze exudations out 
of the joint. 
In treating a sjprain of the ankle we 
begin with gentle centripetal frictions, 
commencing at the toes and gradually 
proceeding upwards as far as the painful 
spasm reaches, using the finger-tips, then 
the whole surface of both hands. 
As the pain diminishes more and more 
force may be employed, and when the 
contraction has so far relaxed as to leave 
the joint movable, gentle passive flexion 
and extension, and rotation of the foot 
should be performed. After the second 
or third sitting the movement of the 
ankle-joint will generally be quite free 
and almost painless; then more force 
may be applied and active and duplex 
movements used. Usually the treatment 
is repeated two or three times daily. 
Provided there is no fracture, four to 
ten days is enough to cure the patient, 
and the sooner treatment is begun the 
quicker will be the cure. Other joints 20 
are treated on the same plan. But the 
hip and shoulder joints are more difficult 
to treat, and require a much longer 
time in order to produce a cure. And 
so on, each different disease has its own 
peculiar treatment. 
It may be stated as a fact that not 
only in the Central Institute in Stock- 
holm, but in a number of Swedish move- 
ment institutions in many parts of Eu- 
rope, that the following diseases have 
been treated successfully according to 
this method: Chlorosis, Anaemia, Scrof- 
ulosis, Scorbutus, Different Neuralgias, 
Rheumatism, Gout, Different Venous 
Congestions, Adhesions of the Pleura, 
Emphysema, Hysteria, Hypochondria, 
General Nervousness, Insomnia, Epi- 
lepsy, Paralysis, Chorea, Writer's 
Cramp, Bronchial Catarrh, Heart Dis- 
eases, Dyspepsia, Constipation, Hyper- 
cemia of the Liver, Paralysis of the 
Bladder, Disordered Menses, Prolap- 
sus and Adhesions of the Uterus, Round 
Shoulders, Chicken-Breast, Scoliosis, 
Chronic Joint Diseases, Stiff and 
Sprained Joints and Tendons, Hy- 
drarthus, Muscular Atrophy, and a 
few others. 
After what has been said, it may be 
easily understood that it is absolutely 
necessary that the operator should not 
only be fully acquainted with the move- 21 
ments and their uses in different cases, 
but should also have a full knowledge of 
Anatomy and Physiology, and of the 
exact character of the disease which he 
is to treat. Still it has happened 
ceveral times, that I have been called in 
by physicians to treat some of their 
patients, and when I have asked what 
the 'rouble was I have been told, that it 
was not my business to know. 
Gentlemen, it is co-operation between 
the medical profession and the gymnasts, 
which is desirable and necessary in order 
to produce the best results. 
Having now given a short description 
ot the Swedish Movement and Massage 
Treatment, I shall here give a few cases 
to prove its value. 
From Dr. Hartelius, of Stockholm, I 
quote the two following cases: 
1. “A lady, 30 years old, with a dan- 
gerous organic heart disease—Stenosis 
of left ostium atrio—ventriculare, with 
insufficiency of milralis. The action 
of the heart was very weak. The patient 
suffered with great shortness of breath 
and painful palpitations; a great deal of 
subcutaneous effusion in the lower ex- 
tremities; and also considerable effusion 
in the peritoneum. ITer aspect was 
cyanotical. 
Mild chest-liftings and vibrations 
were given to produce strong inspirations, 22 
also rotation of the arms and legs to 
increase the circulation, gentle rotation 
and torsion of the trunk to act on the 
portal system, and centripetal friction 
on the lower extremities to promote 
resorption of the subcutaneous effusion. 
In the beginning the movements were 
very mild, but gave relief for a few hours 
at a time. Later the movements were 
applied several times daily, and now 
more lasting effects were produced. The 
patient received great relief, and more 
strength, and the effusion was lessened; 
'but of course her organic trouble could 
not be cured. Experience tells us, that 
each difficult heart disease must nearly 
always be under the influence of move- 
ment treatment in order to secure per- 
manently good results.” 
2. Hyperoemia of the liver.—“A gen- 
tleman of middle age had been ailing 
a couple of years. He had grown very 
lean, the skin was yellow, and his feet 
and ankles were swollen. The liver was 
considerably enlarged, especially the left 
lobe. There was no organic heart 
disease; there was a mild catarrh of the 
lungs; operations of the bowels were slow 
and difficult. He was treated twice 
every day by means of movements, and 
no other remedies were used. After one 
month the patient was considerably bet- 
ter; the liver was smaller; swelling had 23 
disappeared; appetite and flesh had in- 
creased. After the second month, hav- 
ing been treated once a day, the patient 
was cured.” 
Insomnia.—The 1st of October, 1887, 
1 was called to see a gentleman, 40 years 
old, who had been without sleep for 
three weeks. He was very weak and 
complained of pain in the back, legs 
and wrists. He was considerably nerv- 
ous, and had no appetite. The attending 
physician prescribed the diet and medi- 
cine, and 1 applied the movement treat- 
ment. 
In the beginning, gentle compression 
of nerves was applied and frictions from 
the shoulder toward the fingers, from the 
hip to the toes; also mild chest-lifting 
and vibration; gentle friction across the 
bowels and down the back, and at the 
last over the head. The patient had 
some sleep the first night, which was in- 
creased a little every following night. 
After a few days the force of the manip- 
ulations was increased, and kneading and 
vibration, flexion and rotation of the ex- 
tremities were applied. After two weeks 
the patient slept the whole night, and 
duplex movements were added to the 
former. One month after the treatment 
commenced the patient was well, but 
continued to take treatment at the in- 
stitute for another month, during which 24 
he gained considerable strength, and 
became twelve pounds heavier than ever 
before. 
Paralysis as a result of apo- 
plexy.—A gentleman, 50 years old, was 
stricken with apoplexy resulting in a 
partial paralysis of the right arm and 
leg. Two months later I was called in 
by his physician to apply movement 
treatment. The patient was at this time 
still in bed, unable to move himself. 
After three weeks’ treatment the pa- 
tient was up, walking about in bis room, 
and now improvement was noticed from 
day to day. Six weeks alter the begin- 
ning, the treatment was stopped; the pa- 
tient being able to walk as well as before 
the stroke, and having full use of his 
arm. 
Here it may be well to say, that such 
persons, who have been troubled once 
with apoplexy, ought never to stop taking 
treatment, or at least only at short 
intervals—unless he has plenty of other 
healthy exercise—as it is the best means 
to prevent another stroke. 
Rheumatism and neuralgia. — On 
September 24th, 1880, a lady, 55 years 
old, came to see me. She was live feet 
and six inches tall,, and weighed 230 
pounds. She complained of rheumatism 
in her legs and arms, and could only 
walk up one flight of stairs with the 25 
greatest difficulty. On her arrival she 
was gasping for breath and sat down to 
rest for nearly an hour. 
Eight weeks later, having taken treat- 
ment every day, the lady asked me if 
she might walk up to the top of the 
Washington Monument(about 900steps). 
Although I knew that she had improved 
marvellously, and had lost nearly 30 
pounds, I told her that it would be better 
not to try it yet, because, who should 
carry her down again if she got tired. 
She laughed and told me, that she had 
walked up the previous day, looked 
around for half an hour, and walked 
down and • home, about a quarter of a 
mile. She felt very well after it, and 
had no lameness nor pain. After ten 
weeks’ treatment the lady was entirely 
well, having had no rheumatism for 
the last five weeks, and her weight was 
now 196 pounds. Last summer she 
called to tell me, that she still felt like a 
young girl, and was going west for the 
rest of her life. 
A gentleman, 31 years old, had suf- 
fered with muscular rheumatism in his 
right shoulder and arm for two weeks. 
He had not had any relief nor sleep for 
several days, when he came to me. Five 
days later he was cured. 
Dr. N. H., 45 years old, had been in 
bed about three weeks with a very pain* 26 
ful lumbago, and was unable to move 
himself. I gave him movement treat- 
ment six times, after which he was out 
attending to his own business. 
A gentleman, 42 years old, had suf- 
fered from lumbago and indigestion for 
nearly eight months, and had given up 
all kinds of treatment. In April, 1883, 
I was called in by one of his friends. 
The patient, who had once been a very 
strong and healthy laborer, was now run 
down to a thin, very feeble looking man. 
He did not believe in my treatment, but 
he submitted to a trial of it. The first 
treatment being satisfactory, it was con- 
tinued every day. The improvement 
was remarkable. The pain became less 
and less; and the appetite and strength 
were increased every day. 
After three weeks’ treatment the pa- 
tient was well enough to attend to his 
business, and discontinued the treat- 
ment. Half a year later, when lie felt 
some symptoms of the lumbago, he 
came to my institute and took one 
month’s treatment. He has been well 
ever since. 
A lady, 29 years old, suffered from 
sciatica for ten months. She had been 
in bed most of the time, and all 
kinds of treatment had been tried with- 
out any relief. One day, in August, 
1885, she felt well enough to be taken 27 
in a carriage and carried into my insti- 
tution, where the treatment was applied. 
It pained her a great deal, but after a 
while it gave her relief, and she returned 
the next day. The fifth day she walked 
alone to the institute, and after three 
weeks’ treatment she was cured. 
Stiffness of joints and tendons.—A 
rather feeble lady, about 45 years of age, 
was struck on her right forearm. There 
was no fracture nor sprain, but the arm 
was kept in a sling for two months. 
Then the lady found that she could 
hardly move her arm, at the shoulder 
joint. The adhesions were broken up. 
During the operation the shoulder was 
mechanically dislocated and reset. In- 
flammatory adhesions followed, and the 
operation was repeated with no better 
result. The joint was stiff, with great 
inflammation of the deltoid and the ad- 
jacent nerves and tendons, and so tender 
and sore that it could not be touched, 
when the physician prescribed massage. 
The patient being under the influence 
of an injection morphine, administered 
by the physician; I was enabled to apply 
treatment,consisting of centripetal knead- 
ing and stroking. After a few days the 
injection was discontinued and passive 
movements were applied, in addition to 
the manipulations. Two weeks later 
active and duplex movemejitg were used, 28 
After two months’ treatment the pa- 
tient was well. 
Sprains.—A gentleman, 36 years old, 
sprained his right ankle by a fall, and 
had been on two crutches for eight 
months, when he come to me for treat- 
ment. There was no flexibility of the 
ankle, which was very tender and 
swollen. After six weeks’ treatment, 
once a day, the patient was cured. 
Last year one of my assistants sprained 
his left ankle in a gymnasium. He was 
brought home by his friends, and told to 
keep quiet in bed. He kept on all night 
bathing the leg with hot and cold water, 
and came next morning to the institute. 
The joint was slightly dislocated, the 
foot was turned upward and inward, 
and twice as large as usual. He was a 
strong young man, so I at once went to 
work and succeeded in putting it straight, 
after which a full treatment was applied. 
After four days’ treatment, twice a day, 
he was well. 
Hydrarthrus (Water on the knee)—. 
Prof. Dr. J. Nicolaysen of Kristiania, in 
(Norsk Mag. f. Lugevidenskab, 1874), 
communicates the following case: 
“A man, 32 years old, had suffered 
from hydrarthrus for six and one half 
years. Repeated puncture and evacua- 
tion had always been followed by a re- 
aeeumulaiioo of the fluid. Massage was 29 
used for several months, and the patient 
returned to his work. There was no 
relapse.” 
Another gentleman, 26 years old, had 
suffered from hydrarthrus of the knee 
for two months, when he came to the 
same professor, who sent him to me, 
being at that time in Norway. Aftef 
two weeks’ treatment the collection or 
fluid in the knee-joint disappeared, but 
the swelling of the capsule continued. 
After five weeks’ treatment the patient 
was well. 
The following are a few extracts from 
reports of the Swedish Movement Insti- 
tution in Bremen: 
“Of 10 digestive disorders, constipa- 
tion, cardialgia, flatulency, dyspepsia: 
6 were cured, 3 greatly improved and 1 
improved. 
“Of 59 spinal deformities: 23 were 
cured, 17 greatly improved, 14 improved 
and 5 still under treatment. 
“Of 6 cases of muscular weakness; 5 
were cured and 1 greatly improved. 
“Of 8 rheumatic disorders: 7 were 
cured and 1 greatly improved. 
“Of 13 sprains, wrist, finger, knee 
and ankle being involved all were cured 
in from four to twelve sittings.” 
A number of other cases could be 
given both from my own instiution and 30 
others, but I believe these to be sufficient 
to show that the Swedish movement and 
massage treatment is well worthy of 
adoption by the medical profession in 
the United States.