BZBce 184-9 :&:*&£&•:&:;: me BWivJv'vIwXv.V «' ^"Xv,X,X',X'X*.V •*.' £ s%«xyx<;«X':'x':-:::: >xx«XtX«#::x ?X*Xt.X*X*X*X*X«X*X . fiX'X*-«v J. &$•% - § wX _ 4 6 COMMON SENSE. with retention of the urine, and if he does not find that his ab- domen is different in form from what it formerly was, if it, is not retracted at the pit of the stomach, and sunken and hard at the lower belly. Many such cases have been relieved ol troublesome urinary incontinence, by some power applied to hold the bowels from the organ, and change the shape of the abdomen. In retention also, after all ordinary treatment has failed, the patient has been relieved by following the direction of an old lady, viz., to turn the sufferer on his face. Morbid Effect on the Rectum or Large Bowel.—We see that in lieu of the elevated state of the small bowels, there is now a partial descent of them, and that they rest with peculiar force on that prominence of the back-bone where it juts forward, and where the bowel dips down into the pelvic or lower cavity. Now, in our view, it does not require any stretch of reasoning to conclude, that this will finally produce a mechanical ob- struction, in this bowel, to the regular descent of the fasces. What will be the natural consequence of this ? Of course there must occur an accumulation of alvine matter, and the frequency of the regular discharges be diminished. This mass will become hard and heating, absorbing the natural secretions of the bowel; like a foreign substance, irritating the inner mem- brane and nerves, and inviting an undue quantity of blood to it. This will, indeed, be a gradual, but certain result. Added to this mechanical view, there is another consideration that operates in the producdon of obstinate cases of costive- ness. We see in the healthy child, or adult, that the abdominal muscles are like India rubber, or an elliptic spring; so that when we step or fall, the contents of the abdomen descend upon them, and distend them; these instantly react, throwing themselves and the superincumbent bowels back to their former position. This any one can test by placing his hand on the lower belly, and stepping heavily. He will sensibly feel the vibration or reaction of which we speak. Two purposes are subserved by this arrangement. First, it tends to preserve the organs from injurious contact and bruising, and thus they have always a gentle movement. The second result obtained by this motion and pressure, is, one of the most constant and necessary stimulants to functional action. This action stimulates the bowels to motion and to secretion. But now, how different is their condition, the bowels fall and rest upon the lower belly, and upon the bones below. Here they lie so low, that they are below the axis of muscular contraction, while if there does occur a retraction or contraction at the upper belly, press down- ward, and do more harm than good. The bowels themselves thus lie inactive and unacted upon, perfectly inert and deserted by their usual facilities for action; to all intents diad or motion- COMMON SENSE 57 .ess. This combination of influences may well produce per- manent costiveness without any reference to the vital energy But let us follow the effects of such a derangement still further. It will cause the whole intestinal tube to be preternaturally distended, producing derangement of the stomach, bad breath, loss of appetite, &o, &c. It will also mechanically retard or obstruct the circulation of the blood, inducing stupor, sleepiness, ennui, and a host of other symptoms. But this state cannot long exist; this hard, foreign mass must be thrown off, and the system rouses itself up to do it. See the disadvantages under which it labors. The bowel is now very tender and dry, and so is also the mass dry; but by united energies, by the exercise of great force and straining, the mass is thrown off; but what is the effect ? The inner membrane is much larger than the outer, and lies in folds ; but this dry mass pushes these folds before it, and turns it out at the outlet. Then the sphincter muscle that closes the aperture, contracts around it, constricting it, obstructing the circulation, and forming hard and very sore tumors upon the parts. Eventually these stools will be followed by blood, and you have as genuine a case of piles as can be imagined. Now, reader, we ask, are you not forced to admit these conclusions ? If so, what treatment should these symptoms receive ? How many cathartics, Brandreth's pills, Phimiey's pills, Hygeian pills, and syrups; how many homoeopathic or allopathic doses will it require to remove the cause and relieve the effects ? Never can internal remedies do efficient good; as well might medicine, poured into the coffin of a dead man, be expected to resuscitate him. The truth is, it is a mechanical difficulty, and requires mechanical relief, and all other treatment must be worse than useless. We leave the proper treatmeut of such a case for another part of the work. Morbid Effects on the Uterus and its Appendages.—We find, also, that there is a radical change in the mechanical relation of this organ aud its connections. Instead of having little more to do than to sustain their own weight, they have now a great weight to carry, the organs above them, to a great extent, falling upon them. The inevi- table result is, that the womb must either bear up the mass, or be greatly depressed, dius frustrating all its original relations. Let us trace out the consequences a little, further and see if we cannot find a clue to a large class of diseases that now torment the female, and which have hitherto been considered incurable. It will be recollected that we said, that the uterus had five sup- ports; viz., the vagina below ; the cellular tissue, intervening between it and the surrounding parts; the round and broad ligaments—the former arising from the side of the womb, run- ning upwards and outwards through the abdomen, and then passing down under the skin, and inserted in the groins, not t 58 COMMON SENSE unlike a pulley ; the latter, arising from the top of the womb, aud running upward, for the most part, are dispersed over the loins, or small of the back We have seen, also, that the peri- toneum, which lines the belly, is thrown over a large portion of the womb, and firmly attached to it. These organs, when in their proper and natural position, are put upon all the stretch that is healthy and comfortable. Now let us mark the effect of this unnatural position. The womb is depressed; of course, evey support is put upon an unnatural stretch. The vagina, a passage from the external world to the womb, would be forced open if it were not previously relaxed, and the womb depressed into it; the cellular tissue is also put upon the stretch. Now what will be the symptoms produced by such a state of things ? Will there not be a sensation of weight, bearing down, and dragging in the lower part of the body, often accom- panied with a burning pain throughout, or in the region of the womb ? The womb also, in its descent, rests on the bones, or the soft parts below, producing pain there, and a sense of bearing down, which is aggravated by standing, walking or taking any exercise, forcing the patient td move with great care, to avoid being in the least jostled. Also, the mouth or neck of the uterus rests upon some sub- stance, which should not be, as it was designed to be suspended in space. This brings about a very hardened, irritable state of that organ, it becoming enlarged and painful, which often terminates very seriously. This has often been supposed to be a cancer of that organ; but we have seldom failed to find all affections of the uterus that were confined to its neck, cured by elevating the womb, aud removing the great cause of irrita- tion But again, this descent of the womb puts the round ligaments upon the stretch, and, of course, the result will be, that its effect will be experienced where the ligaments are fastened, viz., in the groins; hence the patient, in addition to the other sensations, will feel a dragging, drawing and pulling sensation in the groins, which, after exercise, is often almost intolerable, and makes the patient's very countenance look dis- couraged. The broad ligaments are also put upon the stretch, aud as these organs spread over and fasten upon the small of the back, we look for some effects; and here, indeed, we find them in all their painful intensity, viz, the dragging, grinding, worrying pains in the small of the back, so common to the afflicted female. This pain is often so tormenting, that lan- guage is not adequate to express it; the most common descrip- tion given to me by the patients I have visited is, "I feel as though a joint or two of the back were gone." Now is it not plain that all the symptoms above described are rationally accounted for upon mechanical grounds, without resorting to the am- biguous and uncertain terms, sympathy, or irritation, or general • COMMON SENSE. 59 debility, all of which terms give no clue to practice, and tend only to induce the taking of a long string of internal remedies, which can be of no manner of profit. Such will be the me- chanical effects, and such the symptoms ; but what will be the effect upon the functions ? So far as my experience goes, it will be as follows:— First, the nerves of organic life are oppressed and irritated, and we may expect either a cessation or profusion of the menses; generally the latter, and very often terminating hi hemorrhage from that organ, gradually wearing away the life of the patient. I have several cases in my eye while I am writing, one in particular, Mrs. P., who labored under all the symptoms before mentioned. The falling of the womb was excessive ; so much so that it pressed down the pinneum, and caused a tumor un- pleasant to sit upon. This lady rarely went two weeks without the most severe hemorrhage, and one week was her ordinary respite. This lady had taken medicine enough to either cure or kill anything, without the least beneficial effect; but upon using a mechanical appliance, which relieved the depressed uterus, both the frequency and excess of these discharges were cured to a great degree. But there is another set of difficulties which we proceed to detail, of which a large portion of the female community are by no means ignorant. The nejrves that pass down the limbs, and supply them with the power of sensibility and motion, are derived from the back. They pass off from each side of the spine, and run through the pelvis by different apertures. It is well known that these organs are exceedingly irritable, and tenacious of their rights. But this new and morbid relation of all the parts, either drags the nerves out of place, compresses them, or, at least, throws them into some new state of association. In our view, they are actively compressed, and dragged upon, thus obstructing the medium of sense and motion. Hence are explained the following symptoms, which occur in the case of those who are afflicted with all, or a part, of the above described ills, viz., a burning, grinding, dragging pain in the limbs, particularly in the inside of the thighs, and often ex- tending downward to the feet, producing a sense of great weakness and pain on motion, with numbness and pricking sensations. Often these symptoms are accompanied with the swelling of limbs, and entire loss of motion. Such patients will feel com- fortably well in the morning, but towards night they find the above complaints coming on with withering power, accompa- nied with a distressing sensation of weakness in the hips, and 60 COMMON SENSE. pain or cramp there on motion ; or. as they have expressed it to me, " a feeling as though the hips would come apart" especially when going up»hill, or a flight of stairs. These patients may be, in other respects, in tolerable health, and yet be of all beings, most miserable. We now ask the reader if we have not reasoned fairly, or if any one can doubt the justness of our conclusions ? If we are right, what course of treatment should be pursued in such an exigency ? Should constitutional, or internal, or should me- chanical remedies be applied—remedies that will replace all the organs in their one only healthful relation ? And have we not also described the present situation and sufferings of a large portion of the heads of families, and many others ? Again, let us inquire into the effect of this change upon the vagina. This organ, in health, is designed to act much like an India rubber tube, always contracted upon itself, so that its inner surfaces meet, and also to admit of" considerable disten- sion. But what do we now see ? Instead of the healthy state, we see this organ perpetually distended, and filled with the body of the uterus. This body acts like a foreign substance in this organ, and irritates its powers of life, causing the vessels to pour out a fluid, often in very great abundance, which is a kind of mock suppuration, as in the case of the maturating of a wound. Furthermore, the longer this distension continues, the more will its fibres give way and become relaxed, making less and less effort to contract to their former state. And just 111 propor- tion as it is distended, just so far must the pores or ducts that open into the inner surface be mechanically enlarged and re- laxed, admitting of too ready an exit of the secretions. Thus we see that although the falling of the womb might be the first cause, the effects themselves now become active causes, per- petuating the disease. This morbid state is called leucorrhcea. or whites, and we have yet to see the first case of this exceed- ingly disagreeable and weakening complaint that will not give way to a judicious application of mechanical support, in. con- junction with other remedies. The recital of numerous cases and cures will be deferred to the practical part of this work. Another effect of this relaxation and displacement is, that the veins of both the bowels and the limbs are preternaturally compressed, laying a tangible and powerful embargo on the ascent of the venous blood, producing, of course, an enlarge- ment of the veins of the bowels, inducing tumors or piles, in conjunction with constipation. This will result also in an increase of blood in the veins of the legs, instituting, or at least aggravating, varicose veins, or a predisposition to it. Another effect is, that the lymphatic vessels, which convey COMMON SENSE. 61 transparent fluids to the trunk from" the limbs, are also com- pressed, inducing an interception of the lymphatic circulation, bringing about an enlargement of these vessels, and a swelling, at first in the feet and "afterwards in the limbs, alarming the patient through fear of dropsy. But observe one thing in this case, viz., that this class of patients will feel better in the morning; the swelling will be diminished, and they will be able to walk comfortably; but soon the swelling, stiffness and pain return again. What think you is the meaning of these changes ? At night the horizontal position has removed the weight from the vessels, and the fluid is permitted to pass along its way. It returns again the next day, because the compression is again brought on and the obstruction produced. This clearly showrs that internal remedies should not be administered for supposed dropsy, until we are assured that it is the dropsy, and not the certain effect of mechanical displacement, and relievable by physical and rational means. Let us now re-ascend into the abdomen, and look into the natural effect of this relaxation upon all the organs. W«e have already spoken of the pain and weakness in the limbs; the dragging in the groins and in the back, and the sensation of weight and bearing down in the region of the womb ;—these in the female case should be borne in mind, while we detail other symptoms above the pelvis. Effect on the Bowels.—The bowels are now supposed to lie inactive upon the womb and the pubis or front bone, so that any jostling produces a painful sensation, and the abdomen feels full and hard at this very point. The patient will always complain of a sense of deadness and weight at the lower belly. Again, the lining membrane of the abdomen is now put upon the stretch, at the bottom of the belly. This membrane is exceedingly irritable, vascular, and poorly calculated to sustain much impingement with impunity. The consequence then will be, that this state will irritate the nerves of organic life, invite an undue quantity of blood to this tissue, inducing a slow irritation or sub-acute inflammation, manifested by that soreness ana tenderness so common in most cases of dyspepsy, hypochondria, and the other diseases mentioned before. We now see the whole original mass mutually impinging instead of mutually supporting; the lower bowels fall, dragging along with them the upper; and these, if they do not drag the stomach, liver and spleen, in their fall, at least leave them to the influence of their own specific gravity. This weight we,know to be considerable, and if they descend, as they undoubtedly must, their suspensory cords must be put upon the stretch, and communicate a sense of weight to the stomach and sides ft 62 COMMON SENSE. Look then for a moment to such a relation of these parts, una There is now a space (nominal at least) between the bowels and the large organs, and this is unnatural. Formerly the lat- ter were continually supported by the former. These upper organs now being unsupported, there will ensue a sensation of dragging and pulling felt in the heart, sides and stomach, to avoid which the patient leans forward as in Fig. 4. See now how small is the wai6t, and how the pit of the stomach turns in and sinks! See how flat and soft the abdomen is at the stomach, and how round and hard at i*s base! As in Fig. 4, he keeps his hand at the pit of the stomach where he feels a goneness, a sinking, a vacancy. He inclines to be crooked: keeps hollow-backed rocking-chairs; is disinclined to stand erect, because he says it " pulls"—" it is tight;" but when he bends forward, then the upper organs descend and find their old neighbors, and the patient, in this humped position, enjoys a kind of comfortable misery. What are the facts in the case ? The stomach is suspended by its two ends without support, and when the patient eats, he is often compelled to retire immediately to bed, because he has, he says, such a load or weight at the stomach, which is partially relieved by the prostrate posture. But the healthy subject, where the muscles are firm, feels supported and better after eating, because all the parts are more firmly sustained. This fully explains the goneness, sinking, weight and load, so much and so often complained of. Again, in the female parti- cularly, when they complain of the foregoing symptoms (as Dr. Dewees truly says), there is, almost always, a pain in the left side, in the vicinity of the spleen, and Dr. Dewees also frankly acknowledges that he cannot account for it, only he knows the fact. To us the reason appears evident. From the lower surface of the spleen, and upper also, on account of the visce- ral descent, there is a hanging, or suspension; producing pain of a hanging, dragging, dull and dead character, which is almost perpetual, and which is most generally not increased by pressing—a sure sign that there is no interior, imflammatory action. Again, how commonly are liver affections indicated by pain in the right side. But do we not see that the liver being a heavy organ, when not supported, will make large demands upon the ligaments that connect it with the diaphragm to sus- tain it. This is a very unnatural work for these ligaments to perform, and certainly they must partially, at least, invert the diaphragm, and produce just such sensations as we may now describe, viz., a sense of weakness in the right side, accompa- nied with pain generally of a dead and dull cast; the patien will have a sense of dragging and hanging, and generally lear COMMON SEN6E. G3 towards that side ; incline to sit or stand with the hands upon that region. Now is there any mystery in this ? Is it not all the natural result of natural causes ? And yet, most of all such patients will be treated constitutionally for an idiopathic functional de- fect of the liver, and that by remedies which are too potent to be poured into the system needlessly, and which have no direct action upon the disease. But one thing should be remembered, viz., that this mecha- nical derangement may exist so long, or go so far, as to induce new symptoms of au inflammatory nature, thus producing a compound state of disease, requiring both mechanical and con- stitutional remedies. But even in this case the mechanical must be chiefly depended upon for a radical benefit. It is very common for patients to call upon me, representing themselves as having an affection of the liver or spleen, and dyspepsia, with many other things. When I ask them what they have done, they generally reply that they have done almost every- thing, and employed the best physicians. As a general rule, they say that they have been scarified or leeched in the side or region of the pain, and that this has been followed by blistering, then moxa or tartar emetic ointment; that they have taken the whole catalogue of syrups, a mass of blue- pill, and iu a word, used the whole routine of remedies which are right and proper for primary affections of these organs. But observe, when I ask them how these applications affected them, they almost invariably reply that while they took the medicine, and kept up the sore, they felt better of the inward pain; but when the sores healed, then the old difficulties re- turned again. So we see, the truth of these cases was, that there was no primary affection of the organs, but a mechanical one, inducing some vital or functional derangements, requiring only to be mechanically replaced, and all would be well. The good effect produced temporarily by the application was this. When they were scarred, and blistered, and made perpetually sore on the outside, they felt better within, and when the outer difficulties became better, then they were again made sensible of their original difficulty. By this time, I con- clude that it is best to examine the case for myself, in my own way. I look at the patient as at a building, liable to become shattered or racked. I keep in view that he should be erect; that then his chest will be well developed, his breast and stomach full, and his abdomen firm, and not too large at its base; this erect position pressing all the organs upward, sup- porting the upper portion of the abdomen as much as the lower. But what do I generally see ?—exactly the reverse. The patient is humped up; badly formed; breasts flat; stomach retracted and sunken; the abdomen flat and soft; the waist 64 COMMON SENSE. small, and the lower belly large (comparatively) and hard. 1 ask you now, if 1 need to doubt as to the geographical state oi the inner organs ? Have I not every evidence that the lower organs must have fallen away, and left the liver, stomach and spleen unsupported, and that the patient must feel all those mechanical and functional derangements that necessarily re- sult from such a state ? 1 ordinarily place the patient belore me, and examine the feeling and form of the body, describing at the same time his sensations so accurately that he is often. greatly surprised. I then inquire whether the sore parts are tender to the touch ; what kind of a pain is felt; whether it be a sharp, severe and shooting pain ? The answer is generally in the negative. 1 then ask if it is a dull or dead pain. " Why, y—e—s," is the answer. One, a lady of Philadelphia, was very expressive in her answer, wheu urged very hard to describe this pain. At loss for any word sufficiently descriptive, as a last resort said she, " It feels just as though it was hanging from where it is hitched." That just told the story. It was a pulling, dead dragging pain. This is applicable to either the liver, stomach or spleen, or all in combination. When I place my hand upon the small of the patient's back, pressing it, and then place the other hand at the lower belly, and raise it up- ward and backward, then involuntarily the patient straightens up, and is relieved. Now suppose that I should sit down be- side the patient, and gravely taking hold of the wrist, feel care- fully of the pulse ; then look at the tongue; examine the skin; inquire after the appetite, into the state of the bowels, and ask a hundred other such questions, how near should I come to the nature of the case and the proper treatment ? I should only find a multitude of diseases to contend with, and primary diseases too ; I should then be forced to deal out a formidable catalogue of internal remedies for each species. For my part, in the investigation of such a case, I should as soon feel of the elbow as the pulse, and look at the weather- vane as at the tongue, for a guide. This is the way such cases are kept along uncured and incurable—both the disease and the treatment being misjudged. In another part of this work we intend to cite a large number of cases that have come undei our notice, as illustrating the above positions, and exhibiting the happy results of a successful treatment. But these remarks have been chiefly confined to the feelings of the patient, and not much has been said of the functional derangements of the organs, as the direct result of the mal- position. We now proceed to speak of the functional influence of relaxation, in visceral malposition. The Liver.— It will be recollected, that to be mutually pressed above and below, is the proper state for all the organs: and also that die stimulus of pressure is one of the commonest and COMMON SENSE. 65 greatest stimulants to functional action, known in the human body. So we see that the liver is perpetually pressed upon in all parts by the ribs, lungs aud bowels. The function of this organ is to receive the blood which has been sent to the differ- ent organs in the abdomen, and is upon its way back again to the heart. And when it has thus received the blood, it draws out or secretes from it an element called bile, which, if left in the blood, renders it poisonous and deleterious to the system, giving a yellow tinge to the skin, and also to the white of the eyes. This morbid state of the system is called jaundice. This organ may become torpid or inactive, and insensible to the presence of the blood, its fibres neglecting to operate upon it, and jaundice will be the consequence of the blood's being loaded with bile. Or again, the nerves of organic life in the liver, which preside over this function, may become irritated instead of being torpid, and secrete a vitiated and unhealthy bile, which irritates and inflames the coats of the ducts that convey the bile into the bowels. Again, as there is no muscu- lar tissue about the liver or gall bladder, of course it must be by the surrounding pressure that this bile is thrown into the first bowel, to assist in digestion. But in a morbid state of the system this pressure is removed, and there becomes an accu- mulation of bile in the gall bladder, as the bile is not poured out. The specific effects of such a state, and the consequent indigestion will soon follow. Or, on the other hand, the reverse of this may happen. The bile may be somewhat vitiated, and after the gall bladder is filled to a certain extent, it may con- tinually flow into the bowel at improper times, keeping up an irritation and perpetual diarrlma, or chronic dysentery. This last effect explains the green stools often seen in bilious diarrhoea and dysentery. The liver is either torpid or irritable : generally torpor comes first, then reaction in the form of diarrhoea, or dysentery. This we observe in costiveness, for it is often suc- ceeded by an excessive discharge. The Stomach.—There is an analogous action in this organ. It is used to the comfortable support and stimulus of pressure But in the present state of the trunk it has it not. The nerves that preside over the functions of this organ are sensible of a change ; that die surrounding circumstances are new, and they are soon thrown off from their balance. Let us illustrate what we mean by this effect upon the nerves of organic life, disturbing their action. If a gentleman have a study, all in order, and is very systematical and uniform in his business, it becomes a second nature to him; but if some innocent and darling child do but transpose some of his papers, he is frustrated, made peevish and irritable, and manifests it by a hurried movement and fretful speech. Now, if the noble ?md ratioual powers of man can be affected in this way, and by so 6* 60 COMMON SENSE. slight causes, how much more may that involuntar / and material part of him be affected by a similar action, when it has no judgment to guide or direct. The fact is, in this case, that the surrounding circumstances are changed, and the nerves will feel it, and generally ac» accordingly. It is very generally known, that the digesting power of the stomach lies in a certain fluid contained in it, called the gastric juice, or rennet, as in the stomach of some animals. This fluid is under the power or direction of the nerves of organic life, and, when healthy, will dispose of whatever is put into the stomach. Now the nerves may become torpid or dormant, and cease to manufacture (or superintend it), the' gastric fluid. The consequence is, that the stomach becomes dry, and that food forced into the stomach lies there, as if in any other bag, undigested. It soon ferments, producing belching (eructations), offensive breath, and disagreeable taste in the mouth; or directly this result may ensue, viz.:—the nerves may be irritated or oppressed, and secrete a peevish, morbid, heating fluid, which irritates the extremities of the sympathetic nerves as soon as it flows over them. The consequence is, that there will ensue a burning pain in the stomach. In the torpid state, the patient will eat anything, and com- plain of nothing but a weight, or distress in the stomach; but in the irritable state, anything put into it often is immediately rejected as a foreign body, and the patient may be on the point of starvation. The same ambiguous results are true in the morbid state of the spleen; but we leave this part of the subject, to carry out our inferences. In view of what has been shown, may we not at times refer -the whole train of dyspeptic symptoms to the relaxation of the abdominal muscles, and a change in the me- chanical relations ? If this be so, can these symptoms in such cases be effectually removed by medichie without correspond- ing mechanical treatment ? Yet let it be borne in mind that the symptoms may occur from other causes, requiring an ap- propriate constitutional treatment. But, what we mean is, that when these symptoms obtain, if we find the form of body above described, showing that the organs are not duly sus- tained, we should first try all proper physical means, before we plunge into the mists of experiment on the vital action It may be, that the disease exists from a combination of causes, and requires a combination of internal and external treatment. We have in this state of the system the diaphragm con- tinually dragged upon, and permanently inverted, to a certain extent, by or in consequence of abdominal muscular relaxa- tion. We leave the visceral investigation for the present, and proceed to speak of spinal affections. COMMON SENSE. 67 CHAPTER VII. MECHANICAL INFLUENCES OF RELAXATION AND ACTION ON THE CHEST--THE LUNGS--PHILOSOPHY OF THE PULMONARY CIRCULA- TION AS CONNECTED WITH THE FUNCTION OF RESPIRATION-- EFFECTS OF LACING--MORBID INFLUENCE ON THE VOICE—THE FUNDAMENTAL LAWS OF MOTION. Mechanical Influences of Relaxation and Action on the Chest. First, we shall discourse of the heart. It will be recollected that we have shown in figures 2, 5 and 7, that the organs be- low were to support the organs above, and that it was to be accomplished by the abdominal muscles. But now, how different is the relation in figures 4, 6 and 8. The form of the abdomen is changed and sunken; the diaphragm is dragged upon, and drawn below its natural place; of course taking away a great support from the heart, so that now in- stead of being supported, it is, comparatively speaking, sus- pended. Now1 what may we expect in a functional point of view from this change ? We answer first, that this state is certainly a very unnatural one, and that the nerves of organic life, that preside over the involuntary action of the heart, will be oppressed, excited and irritated. This will cause both an accelerated and an irregular action ; which will vary in inten- sity, and will cause all the varieties of palpitation, or as some term it, fluttering of the heart. It has not been uncommon for ladies to ask me if the heart could ever fall or sink, and I have placed my hand on the left side of such patients, and absolute- ly found the beat much lower than I expected ; but I dare not then intimate that I thought the heart, an organ of so much importance, capable of a change in location. But now I un- derstand it; these patients were all of them droojn'ng and relaxed, just as we have described, and the heart Lad abso- lutely sunk. Even Elihu seems to have made reference to this when he says, " At this also my heart trembleth and is moved out of its place" When Elihu said this, he was broken down in body by fasting and continual watching. Think you that fiis abdominal muscles were not greatly relaxed, his heart sunken and in great agitation ? Fig. 8 represents the dia- phragm as descended, and only the point of the heart resting o.i it, which is a pretty good representation of the state of tnose laboring under the symptoms previously described. In this case, the fastenings or moorings of the heart are put upon the stretch. As this is a very unnatural state, it seems highly probable that there would be a deranged vital action in that 68 COMMON SENSE. organ. We know that the reception of a long expected letter makes the heart leap for joy; but'if it be sealed with black, it causes the heart to sicken, and almost cease to beat. Or if one's rights are invaded, and we are insulted, it rises in giant force, and beats with hasty and firm strokes, that send the blood to the very surface of the body, and makes the tired muscle ache for exercise. If then such comparatively trifling external circumstances, which .have no material connection with the heart, can, through the mind, so effectually modify its action, how much more may internal circumstances of a mechanical character, and bearing directly on the heart, be ex- pected to superinduce very important modifications in its original and peaceful action ? This point is so clear that we may safely pass on to speak of the operations and effects of palpitation of the heart. When palpitation of the heart is once originated, no matter by what means caused, there are a multitude of effects or results thai we may naturally expect therefrom. The first effect which we shall notice is one confined to, or felt in the heart itself. In most cases, there is a more frequent and strengthened action of the heart, and in all cases, its fibres are laboring under agita- tion, and a disposition to act, which is unusual. * Let us now see what will be the natural result of this on the heart's future action. The first inference which strikes us is, that it will tend to an unnatural and diseased enlargement of the heart, and that this enlargement will prove, in its turn, a reacting and perpetuating cause of itself, on the following principles. We see, in the cases of the farmer, the black- smith, and the dancer, that the limbs most-used by these dif- ferent characters, are very large and strong. This is brought about simply by the effect of exercise, which through all ani- mate nature seems to be the natural stimulus to growth and strength. So with the heart; its fibres, by their increased action, accumulate power, and consequently growth, while the growth and powef will in their turn enhance again the action. Now as we pass along, let us not forget that the offending cause is far back, even as far as the relaxation of the abdominal muscles. Another set, of affections which will or may be the direct result of the palpitation of the heart, have reference to the functions of the lungs; for the irregular and unnatural action of the heart may have induced a derangement of valves that admit the passage of the blood from one room of the heart to another. For instance; the arteries send the blood to the lungs from the right side of the heart, and the pulmonary veins carry it back to the left side, from whence it is sent over the whole system. Now if the valve that defends the passage of the blood from the first to the second room in the left side of the heart does not act, or becomes bony or gristly, of course COMMON SENSE. 69 the blood will be obstructed in its course from the lungs through the heart, and on, through the system What will be the result of this mechanical derangement? We answer, that the blood will accumulate in the pulmonary veins, and of course, be gorged in the lungs, inflaming them, expanding them, and producing a sense of suffocation in them The countenance of-the patient will become blue, the lips livid, and the face flushed. The lungs will be fevered and irritated. In order to free themselves, they will secrete a thick, tough mucus; there will be a troublesome cough from the irritation, inducing the patient to conclude that the lungs are the primary seat of the disease. We may infer from the foregoing remarks this simple but important inference, viz., that the apparent seat of complaining is not the real seat, or even the. locality of the disease. Let us also learn that we should never attack diseases of the lungs wfth internal treatment, by potent drugs, before we ascertain whether they are symptomatic, and a mere effect of a remote mechanical defect, calling for mechanical and physical treatment. We are only glancing at these effects as we go along, and now pass to the more remote effects of the heart's palpitation. We have seen that the heart is the great engine for the circulation of the blood. Its vessels divide into those which run into the head and arms, and those which supply the lower trunk and extremities. We see that the distance to the head is shorter than to the feet, and more direct. Of course, then, when the action of the heart is increased, the blood must be sent to the brain in unusual quantities, and with increased impetus. When we recollect that the brain at all times so completely fills the cavity of the skull that the very courses of the blood-vessels are imprinted deeply upon it, we can but expect that this surcharge of blood must be attended with some material consequences. Seeing that the cranium is formed of bone, and is inelastic, what will be the effect, we ask, of ejecting in this forcible manner the blood into the delicate organs that already fill the cavity that contains them ? We answer: the nerves of seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling and feeling must be compressed, and there must ens*ue a sense of fulness and tightness in the head, giving rise to that beating which is felt in fever; headache on laying down in nervous people ; also accounting for the relief produced from a straining sensation in the head, by the application of a napkin around it. But for the other morbid manifestations. We may see the soft brain, its fibres compressed in every direction. Of course the optic nerve will be in some degree compressed, and as this is the great nerve of vision, its action being mechanically inter- cepted, there will be a practical interruption of its functions. The nerve affording the ear a medium by which to convey sounds to the brain will be compressed or collapsed, probably 70 COMMON SENSE both in alternation, and either of these states will of course pro duce an interruption of the functions of this nerve, producing either a loss of sound or strange sounds. The same may be said of the nerves of smell and taste. We shall now attempt to sum the whole matter up, and try to give a rational explanation of certain things in this connection which have been hitherto in the dark, aud susceptible of only vague probabilities. While we proceed to the detail, let it be remembered that the subject will be affected, permanently or transiently, with palpitation of the heart, and more or less of the train of syrnp- toms described as the result of abdominal relaxation. Now we know that such a patient will often suddenly, after reaching or stooping, carrying a weight or ascending a hill or flight of stairs, complain of dizziness, blindness or confused vision, unnatural and frightful objects; will reel and stagger, holding upon the nearest object for support. The patient often imagines this to be a fit; complains of a sensation as of water in the head ; of ringing in the ears, with a confusion of ideas and loss of memory; clasps her head with her hands, and remains in a fixed attitude. When the fit has passed over, sometimes she will say that she felt at first a sensation of creeping up the spine, the sensation entering the brain and spreading out in every direction. Sometimes this affection passes off quietly, the patient moving gently and looking, around; at other times it is immediately succeeded by bursts of tears and sobs, the patient not being able to cease or assign any reason for this conduct. At. other times they will scream, seem delirious, and talk incoherently. Such patients will be often telling that life is a burden; that they have no comfort; they will be ever looking for death, and yet when it seems to be approaching, will be filled with terror. Much may be learned from the above connection of causes and consequences. First, we may learn the probable cause of nervous troubles, viz., a general or local muscular relaxation, and not an affection of the truncal organs. In the second place, we learn that these diseases do not exist in the imagination or fancy, and do not depend upon a strong or weak mind ; neither are they under the control of the most powerful intellectual influences. Those who have followed us in our mechanical investiga- tions, will see that one might as well talk tactics to the wind, as to expect that the mind can curb or govern nervous affections brought about by mechanical causes. In this view of the subject what shall we say to those husbands or creatures, who, when their faithful and afflicted wives are laboring under the above symptoms, not only refuse to afford them necessary attention, but even aggravate their sufferings by neglect, or cold and unfeeling remarks -turning them off with such cruel e pressions as these—"O! you are only hysterical! you will COMMON SENSE. 71 get better by and by"—and bestowing upon them .a look that speaks louder than words, expressive of contempt or derision, thus increasing a thousand fold the unutterable agony of the sufferer. At this time she particularly needs the supporting arm, the kind look, the sympathizing voice, and the magnani- mous attentions of him upon whom she leans as the bulwark of her defence, her prop and her stay against the blasts of life and the howlings of adversity. Inner turn, when her rock, her stay is smitten, she, like a vine, twines around him, at once supporting him, and at the same time comforting and healing. Remember kindly these tender ones, or ye are un- worthy of such a jewel, and deserve rather to taste and drink the dregs of life with no soft voice to cheer, nor soft hand to press the throbbing brow. Our remarks upon the treatment of these affections will be deferred to the succeeding chapters. There is also a ruinous class of diseases peculiar to the male sex, which is nearly allied to those abpve described in the female. I refer to melancholia or hypochondria. These patients we never find sitting or standing erect, with a full chest, and prominent and high shoulders. Their stomachs are always retracted and sunken, their upper belly soft and tender, while the lower is sunken and hard, as in figures 4and 6. They complain generally of pain in the right side, and a sense of weight in the stomach, accompanied with .tension or stricture, and aggravated by the erect posture. They walk with their heads down, the shoulders drooped, the chest com- pressed, and the hand laid flat on the lower belly to sustain themselves, and preserve the organs in their place, and from injury while in motion. The countenance and eye express despair or despondency. It has been the writer's happiness to attend several of these (of all perhaps the most unfortunate), and he has never failed to witness a smile of satisfaction overspreading the face on being well supported upon the broad, pendent abdomen, and upon the small« of the back by the hands. They immediately straighten up, breathe freely, and are astonished at themselves. It is our opinion that the majority of the cases of hypochon- driacal and hysterical predisposition are both caused by, and accompanied with, this general malposition of the organs within, thus mechanically disarranging the nervous functions, and inducing a whole host of nervous complaints. Let me remark, that this view of the subject should teach us to exercise patience and pity towards those who are thus afflicted, and not wound them by cold or trifling jests and gibes; for we see that this mental aberration is only an effect, and not a cause—only an oppression, not a deficiency or alienation of the mind. We may also learn from the above remarks the 72 COMMON SENSE. secret of suicide. We have been surprised and alarmed at the confessions of hypochondriacs: they almost universally tell us that they have a constant and irresistible desire or propen- sity to destroy themselves. They are restrained, they say, by a consciousness of their responsibility and consequent crimi- nality in the act, thus showing the mind to be in a sane, but de- pressed state. It is done, not because the man dares to die, but because he dares not live in this, to him, frowning world. I have many cases in my mind which have been radically re- lieved by supporting the abdomen, and relieving the trunk; some of these have been inmates of an insane retreat. These cases will be detailed in the chapter on the treatment of dis- eases. The Lunathetic and constitutional symptoms, such as head- ache, occasional fever, and nervous irritability in general; and in almost all cases there is more or less impairment of general health. Our present attention to this comp.aint is more especially confined to the bronchitis of public speakers or sinirers. In order to be understood and guided in our treatment, we must call to mind the philosophy of voice in its perfect development, as given in the first part of the treatise. It is, in the main, em- braced in the following considerations, viz., the erect posture ; the elastic muscles of the abdomen; the broad chest; the lungs compressed from below; the elevated chin, and die widely opened mouth, with great suppleness of the lips. Thus all the vocal organs and relations are brought into their proper position, and the air can be expelled in accordance with the philosophy of all power and motion. But who are they that are afflicted with the disease now under consideration? They are the relaxed—the feeble—those who generally sit, stand and ' walk in the curved posture—those whose shoulders droop— whose heads are bent forward, and whose chests are generally somewhat compressed. They are persons that do not enjoy constant or regular exercise in the open air, like the farmer; they are either mechanics, or the literary class of people. More generally they are teachers and public speakers, and of the latter class, ministers of the gospel are the most common sub- jects ; next to them lawyers, and those who are moderate men, who preach calmly by note, at a low desk, with^the head de- pressed, the shoulders drooped, and the mouth not freely open- ed or moved. Ladies also, who are highly accomplished, who are confined much to the piano or drawing-room, and who take little exercise, are also the proper subjects of this com- plaint. Let us now take up the case of a good minister, who preaches by note from a low desk, and who walks droopingly, and inquire what are the actual relations of the vocal organs, and what must be the .consequence of a morbid set of rela- tions ? First, then, he bends forward; this relaxes the muscles of the abdomen, and lets down the abdominal contents from sup- porting the diaphragm, as in figure 7, but acts as in figure 8 ; aud thus he loses the proper vocal leverage (as formerly il- lustrated), the very starting point. Next he contracts the dimensions of the lower chest, and, of course, compresses the lung there, compelling the superior lobes to do more than their part. Next, he has to speak by the contraction of the chest, bending forward, and drooping his shoulders, and not by the contraction of the abdomen, as he should. In this way we see that he applies the expelling power at right angles, and not in a direct line. Of course, COMMON SENSE. 105 then, it requires more power to effect the purpose, and there will be more force exerted upon the tubes or air cells, induc- ing a straining or concussion in them, which is at once un- natural and injurious. Besides, under these circumstances, the air is not expelled directly upward, but in all directions__ downward as well as upward, and thus a general concussion is produced, together with a confused and vibrating motion, very unlike that desired, viz., a smooth melodious sound. It must, then, vibrate or vacillate along up the bronchial tube in different streams. As the head is bent forward, we find the tube acutely curved, forming a natural obstacle to the progress of the air. It strikes the palatine arch, or roof of the mouth, and is thereby again concussed, producing a general vi- bration in the whole column of air, and, of course a more ex- tensive concussion of the lungs In this way the air is expelled by a continual pressure, in lieu of the alternating pressure and collapse of the abdominal muscles This will act upon the bronchial membrane, just as the hatter's bow-string acts upon the wool or fur, cutting it up into fine shreds; or, as the wind acts upon a banner in the air, fretting aud whipping it out in a short time. So, in this case, the membrane will be fretted and irritated, made so by con- cussion, and the congestion of the blood in it, invited there by the irritation. Its secretions will be dried up, the surface be- come rough, causing an aching or choking sensation in the throat, a gasping and grating in speaking, with a general jar- ring and shaking throughout the whole chest, which is very observable by placing the hand upon the breast. Again, the mouth is not opened freely ; the exit for the air is therefore not commensurate with the volume which is passed upward and seeking an aperture. Here, then, is another mechanical ob- struction to the air, which will increase the concussion, and the confusion of the air, scattering it in all directions. Some of it will escape through the clenched teeth, or the elongated mouth, a shape not celebrated for producing the proper and various sounds of the vowels. Some of it is forced backward, and out of the nostrils, producing a splintering, whizzing and nasal sound, so peculiar to the people called Yankees. The lips also are stiff, and not supple; of course they do not per- form their part in forming the sounds into articulate or distinct words, the throat having to do the whole, thus inducing sore- ness and fatigue. This is peculiarly the case with those ac- complished ladies, who are taught the Grecian stoop, and to speak with downcast face and eyes, closed mouth, and stiff and puckered lips. Now, with the true philosophy of voice before you, and the morbid practices of the subjects of bronchitis, what, we ask, will be the proper course of treatment ? Will medicine or a I'6 COMMON SENSE. change of climate effect a cure ? Certainly not. But there must be a return to the laws of the vocal apparatus ; let obedi- ence be yielded to these, and nature will then perform her functions. Treatment and Cure.—To the public speaker, then, we would say, " You must stand erect; elevate the head ; open the mouth fully, and move the lips supply. You must vary the shape of your mouth, so as to cause the various vowel sounds to be clearly emitted. You must relax and expand the chest, and not contract it. You must forget, for the time, that you have a chest, and concentrate the will upon the abdominal muscles, and effect their sudden contraction at each syllable, as you do when ejaculating the sound sh, while driving away an intrud- ing animal. In order to meet these requirements, you must leave off, if a minister, preaching by uote, or else elevate your pulpit, and use an inclined plane for a desk, thus bringing the whole manuscript near to the eye. The pulpit should (where the sermon is to be read) be so high that you can stand erect, and at some distance, and yet read distinctly, without bending the head or back, merely casting the eye upon the page. In this way you may be eloquent; you can see your audience, and theyvyour face, and not the top of your head; you wTill thii9 preach to them and not to the desk, while their attention will be held by your animated countenance and gesture. Your voice will be clear and of a large volume; pleasant alike to yourself and to the hearer; and though your throat be sore, dry and stiff, you may continue to preach and yet feel the better for it, while your position is proper, and your vocal organs all per- forming their appropriate work." In this wray, a person may be able to sing, although the voice may have been previously so flat and insipid as to have disgusted and discouraged the person himself. This explains the oft-repeated injunctions of music teachers, to hold up the head and open the mouth wide. This shows the reason why Methodist ministers and law- yers have less of the bronchitis than other speakers; why children and Indians are never hoarse, and why the same is true of all animals, as the noisy dog, horse, ox, &c, these all making their peculiar sounds through the agency of the ab- dominal muscles. Then let those that sing hold their books high; have the waist free, the chin elevated, and the mouth well opened. Let them not use the throat so much, neither the lungs, but the mouth and abdomen. Also recollect, that it is the genuine- ness and not so much the amount of abdominal effort that is wanted, for by making too much effort, too much air is expel- led, and too rapidly, producing a ragged and rasping sound- paining the throat. COMMON SENSE. 107 It is astonishing how persons improve who commence to practise these simple rules, and persevere in their attention to them. It may be often a laborious task to get well under way, but patience and perseverance will most certainly secure the victory. But many are so weak at the back, sunken and gone at the stomach, debilitated aad discouraged, that they usually will not and generally cannot enter determinedly into the mat- ter, so as to come up on nature's plan (which in fact is ineligi- ble), and need artificial support to aid and start' them. In which case the Lace should be used early, and it will appear surprising how soon they will revive, and recover strength. The proper way is, for those who labor under physical de- bility to early use the lace, in public exercises, to avoid the threatening downfall. I will now give a few of the numerous cases which have come under my notice, in testimony of the truth and practicability of the above remarks. Case 1. The author of this work was, from the age of 14 up to 31, afflicted with a morbid voice, aud weakness of the breast. My voice was disagreeable to all, partaking even of the ridiculous—now, it would be high, much like the noise of a gosling, next it would be broken up and splintered. I was always out of breath in talking, and ended the shortest sen- tences in a whisper. My attention was first called to the in- fluence of the abdominal muscles in vocal operations by Mr. Bronson. His views assisted me very much, as I was then preparing a work ou the influeuce of gravity on the truncal organs. I soon commenced a rigid discipline, aud submitted in all respects to the above requisitions. Soon my voice was materially improved, in tone, volume and melody. It has now become quite stable and regular, and I can even sing some. Previously I would break down in a few moments, when de- livering an animated discourse; but now I can (and have done it) address a large audience for three hours on a stretch, with ease to myself and distinctness to the audience. My vocal la- bors are now almost unceasing. I lecture about three hundred evenings in the year, and talk almost constantly throughout the day. My health improves under these labors, and my breast is strong. I should also state, that I increased the length of the lesson on the voice every day ; at first, vociferat- ing loudly by myself, and at the same time practising percus- sions of the chest with the open hand, increasing in violence as I could bear it. Cask 2. Rev. Mr. S---—, of Hartford, Conn., consulted me on account of ids voice. He said that for years he had been expecting to be laid by, and even had been, at times. He was subject to debility and gloom, and yet felt a strong desire to preach (there was, at that time, much religious feeling in his congregation), but felt that he must give it up. I observed 108 COMMON SENSE. that his throat was sore, red, and irritable, and that he had a cough. His breast was weak, and his stomach seemed to sink away. I told him to preach no more by note, or else to elevate his desk; to stand erect; hold up his head; speak slow and dis- tinct, and to open his mouth wide, and move his lips, thereby relieving the throat of the concussion, and rasping of the air — to speak, in short, not by the chest, but by the abdomen, es- pecially by the voluntary contraction of its muscles. Two days after he informed me that he had preached longer, louder, and more to the enjoyment of himself and his audience than he had ever done before He became a perfect convert to the system; proclaimed it wherever he went; advised all to attend the lectures, and for his ardor received the unfortunate title of a Banningite. Case. 3. Rev. Mr. E------, of Trumbull County, Ohio, an Episcopal Clergyman, was much troubled with low spirits and gloom, together with weakness of the stomach and breast. He always preached in the bent posture, his shoulders droop- ed, his chin resting upon his bosom, the top of his head turn- ed to the audience, and his face to the desk. As a conse- quence, his tones were monotonous, his gestures weak, and the whole performance devoid of everything but good sense and valuable instruction. He attended my course of lectures on the mechanism and philosophy of man—they closed on Saturday evening. I went, on the succeeding day, to hear him preach. From what I had been told, I expected to hear a most miserable performance, but to my surprise, he was erect and noble in his manner, animated in his subject, and feeling in his address. After church, he introduced himself to me, and said—" Sir, you have been of use to me. To-day I have preached louder and easier, ten times over, than ever I did be- fore. If I can judge correctly, sir," he continued, " you will bless the world, ana do incalculable good." Case 4. Miss H------, of Middlesex County, Conn., who had been au instructor of young ladies several years, came to consult me about her voice, which although formerly good, had been of late failing, and her throat was sore, dry, rough and painful. Her general health was also affected. She must necessarily use her voice continually, and spoke with great la- bor and effeminacy, in short, her voice was very flat and insipid. She was taught (and taught the same to others), that it was improper and immodest for ladies, at least, to open the mouth when they spoke, and move the lips freely; and that it was too masculine to walk erect, holding up their heads like inno- cent beings; but that the head must be bent down, the shoul- ders thrown forward, and the stomach retracted. Accordingly, she had studied to set the example ; had beeome a proficient < 0M.M.0N SENSE. 109 in that apish shape, called the Grecian stoop or bena. Discover- ing immediately the cause of all her difficulty, I explained it to her, and her good sense and keen perception of propriety soon grasped the whole idea, before even I had finished its ex- position. She begged me to stop. "I see it all," said she. " and am sick of it already." She accordingly changed her at- titude to one more proper and dignified, and so evident was the change that she was not recognized while walking the street. She also took lessons in vocal gymnastics, and in her first lesson found surprising relief. She was compelled to make great effort to bring the muscles of the abdomen into subordination, and to lay the chest at rest while speaking. At length, making a desperate effort, she succeeded. The voice came forth from her mouth, clear, smooth, and liquid. Clapping her hands, she instantly exclaimed, " I have got it!" Upon returning from school the next evening, she informed me, that she had taught that day with pleasure and ease, and that she had been able to sing in school, which had been impossi- ble before, on account of the flatness of the voice. Her throat was evidently better, her respiration free and full, her pulmo- nary circulation unobstructed, and she was restored from a state of mental depression to new life again. Case 5. Rev. Mr. C. D. N., at Springfield, Vt., was said to be about " done over" with consumption. His congregation was large and greatly attached to him. He was subject to bad night sweats, and great general debility;- his voice was weak, flat, and husky; his throat sore, and irritable, and his cough was very troublesome. Everything that kindness could devise had been done for him, and he was now given up to die. He called upon me for advice. I found upon looking into his throat, and hearing him speak, the whole cause of his difficulty. He had accustomed himself to speak with his mouth nearly shut, his throat curved, chest contracted, and abdomen relaxed, thus in- ducing all the specific effects of such a morbid state of things. I found also that his palate was very long, resting upon the root of the tongue and larynx, or entrance to the windpipe, irritating the laryngeal membrane, and the bronchial, aggra- vating all the other bad tendencies. Upon clipping the palate, applying the lace and improving his attitude, elevating his head and compelling him to speak according to the directions above given, he returned to his pulpit, his cough ceased, his voice aud throat improved, his countenance became dark and rugged, and he was almost completely reinstated, in every re- spect, to the astonishment of the medical faculty and his own congregation. Case 6. Rev. R. F. L., at C, N. H , was an eloquent and ex- cellent man. He found his health declining, his voice weak, his throat red, irritable, rough and u'cerated. There was con- 10 110 COM.MU.N SENSE.- tinually a painful sensation there, but more especially upon speaking. These symptoms were accompanied with ihe usual and dreadful gloom and depression of spirits. On preaching the first sermon after hearing my lecture and attending one lesson upon the voice, applying the Lace, found himself relieved, and he continued to improve, so that now he preaches three sermons on the Sabbath, with an animation unusual to him. Said he, with tears in his eyes, on parting, " I am willing to go and put up handbills for you; you have given me new life, new hopes, and restored me to usefulness." Case 7.—Rev. Mr B., Meriden, N. H., was another patient of the same class ; a modest man, regular, sound and systemati- cal. He preached in a low tone, and from a low desk. He was about giving up, and leaving the field, but upon the appli- cation of the Lace, and practising the simple directions above given, he found himself greatly improved. Said he to me one day, " Doctor, what a load has been taken off from me ? Before this, I have looked forward to a painful period of uselessness, but now my prospects are reversed, being brighter and full of promise; the world could not purchase from me the change I feel." What are the practical inferences to be drawn from the above facts ? We answer. 1. That the habits of sedentary men are, in general, very bad, and tend to extensive derangement of the functions, and that they should cultivate the erect posture at all times, and put in practice the rules above laid down in speaking. 2. That singers should be erect, permit their waists to have perfect liberty of motion, and throw the chest out full and broad. 3. That it is all important that children be early taught to sit erect, and walk so also ; and that their seats and desks should be high enough in school, to unconsciously beget in them the habit of being erect They should be taught to move erect, to hold up the head at all times—to hold the book high in reading—open the mouth wide, and speak loud, slow aud plain—not^blubbering over the sentences as they are often allowed to do. They should daily be taught in vocal gymnas- tics, or, in other words, these exercises should be introduced into common and high schools as an important branch of edu- cation—beginning with the vowel sounds, then proceeding to the consonants, and next to words and sentences—teaching die children to expel them with great foice. There should also be taught, once a day at least, a set of calistheuic exercises, such as are calculated to expand the chest in all directions, strengthen the muscles of the chest and back, and produce a fulness and roundness in the whole trunk. In this way the old saying may be fulfilled—" Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined." COMMON SENSE. ] 1 1 Affections of the Lungs.—The affections of the hums nre multi- plied in number, and very varied in degrees of fatality ; yet all of them, considering the delicacy of the afleeted organ, if they are permitted to go on uncured, tend to a fatal termination. In our practical remarks on these diseases, we shall not attempt to speak distinctly of them all, but in general terms, and on general principles, as it will already have been seen that there is ordinarily an identity in the cause and perpetuity of them all. however varied they may be. We will briefly enumerate the feelings and symptoms to which we allude, and then proceed to speak first of their character, secondly of their pathology, and thirdly of their cure. Symptoms of Affection of the Lungs.—Bleeding at the lungs; cough; shortness of breath; pain Tn the breast, dead or dull, fixed or wandering; tightness of breath, as if breathing through a sieve or gauze, and a sense of pulling or tightness in the centre of the breast, as though there was something drawing at the pit of the stomach when attempting to inhale a full breath, or to sit erect and shove out. the chest. When all or a part of these symptoms are experienced, the attention and anxiety of the patient will be excited The great question now to be settled is, are the lungs injured by organic disease, or are these phenomena only functional or sympto- matic, without any disorganization of their substance ? Upon the correct issue of this important question, is determined the character of the case; by it is decided the prospect or no pros- pect of successful treatment, or, in other words, life or death. If they are disorganized, i. e., their substance and structure in- vaded, the prospect of cure is diminished and doubtful, and that, just in proportion to the extent of the disorganization. -We will now suppose that all or a part of the following morbid relations are existing in coimection with the symptoms of disease above cited, and when there are none of them, then, although all the symptom's are complete, our views do not ap- ply to such cases, and they must be treated in the best way we can, with other than physical or mechanical remedies. But be it remembered, that such are almost unsupposable cases, so that if the cause be not entirely mechanical, it may be partly, and thus require a corresponding treatment. But let us examine the body in the light of philosophy, and see Avhat are its relations. The patient may be either sitting or standing during the examination, and we will commence the inquiry in view of the mechanical relations previously laid down, without any direct reference to the vital principle. xThe body should be erect, the shoulders high, the chest full, the short ribs playing freely, the lungs at perfect liberty, the abdomen round and firm, the stomach full, the back well curved inward, and the bowels elevated, supporting the dia- 112 COMMON SENSE. phragm. This would constitute the general mechanical physiology of man in a healthy state. But what do we find to be the case of our patient ? In sitting he droops the shoulders, and brings them forward, curving the back, while the whole trunk sinks. This position turns in the breast bone, and compresses the ribs and lungs. The abdo- men is relaxed, as in Nos. 2 and 4, and becomes hard and large at the lower belly, and small and soft at the waist, with a re- traction. In this case, if the muscles are relaxed, and the bowels descended, the stomach, liver, and other superior or- gans are compelled to descend, or to lose their support. Of course, they draw down the diaphragm, and produce the sink- ing in the stomach, leaving also the heart unsupported, putting the mediastinum on the stretch, and forming a vacuum between the lungs and the diaphragm. This will cause the surrounding atmosphere to crush in the walls of the waist, and compress the lungs, diminishing the size of their cavity. We see that in lieu of general support, there is a great drag- ging and falling, pressing the organs below the bowels out of place, and inducing all the difficulties of which we have spoken at large in the preceding pages. This explains the reason why these symptoms so often attend consumption, and accounts for the pains in the sides and stomach, and for the short and painful breathing, the lungs (the lower lung) cannot be opened or expanded, the air is therefore shut out, and the upper lungs have to do the breathing. Therefore, before ask- ing a question, we see that the machine is deranged, that the philosophy of respiration is interfered with, and that we might expect the same results and feelings of which the patient com- plains. In the standing posture, the patient complains much of weakness of the back, weight in the abdomen, sinking at the stomach, and tightness in the centre of the chest. After looking awhile at the patient in his ordinary, crooked posture, we direct him to straighten up, throw back the shoulders, and shove out the chest. He will immediately fall back, saying that it pains him to stand straight, that it pulls at the pit of the stomach, increasing the tightness of the breast, and the short- ness of the breath. Why is it? Because when the patient raises himself, he has also to raise the bowels, and that pro- duces the tension and gasping. Now, genuine consumption consists in, or is accompanied by an obliteration or obstruction of the air cells in some way, thus disfranchising the system from the use of a part of the lung, and just in proportion as this is the case, respiration will be imperfect. Be it remembered, that genuine consumption consists in the decreased capacity of the lung for receiving air; so that if by any means a large amount of air can be inhaled, you need not have much anxiety about consumption. COMMON SENSE. 113 Also, let it be remembered, that there are two ways in which air may be shut out of the lungs, viz., by disorganization and by compression. The next thing to be attended to in the ex- amination is, to see how much air can be inhaled in the sitting and standing posture, and if a full inspiration is effected in these postures, well; the case is not tuberculous, nor is there any disorganization or obliteration of the cells. If the lungs are in this case really diseased, it must be of a scrofulous taint, or an inflammatory action in some of its stages, as a chro- nic in bronchitis, but if he cannot inhale freely, we must next ascertain whether it proceed from disorganization, compression, or mechanical disarrangement. To accomplish this, two means may be adopted, viz., either place the patient in a recumbent posture, with the shoulders low, directing him to inspire as freely as he can. If he succeed in increasing the amount of inspira- tion, it is encouraging. If he increase it much or breathe free- ly, expanding both sides and all the chest and abdomen, so much the better; for this shows that the former shortness of breath proceeded from compression and not from disorganiza- tion. We now permit the patient to stand, and placing one hand upon the small of the back, pressing firmly upon each side of the spine, the other hand being placed upon the lower abdomen, open and firm. We now raise the hand upon the abdomen, gently but firmly, toward the stomach, as if intending to crowd the whole abdomen into the breast. After the patient has thrown back his shoulders, and shoved out his chest (which he can do when thus supported with ease), direct him to make the fullest possible inspiration. If he cannot now breathe better than before, his case is bad; but if his respiration is improved, his cure is, to say the least, probable, if he follows a right course of treatment. But should the symptoms be of a mixed character, and not as satisfactory as you might wish, then resort must be had to percussion or auscultation. First try percussion ; this may be done in various ways. In all cases, the chest should be bare, or nearly so. Placing the fingers of one hand flat on the chest, thump on them with the fingers of the other hand. Do this upon every part of the chest with careful attention. The chest should emit a hollow sound throughout, and of a uniform character. If in some parts the sound is like a hollow churn, and in others dead and fiat, like tapping upon a rotten log, it is an indication that the lungs are badly compressed. In lieu of the fingers, a dollar may be placed flat upon the chest, on which to rap. It is also to be noted whether one side of the chest is not fallen in more than the other. Next by auscul- tation, or listening to the sounds in the chest. To treat of this fully, would be to treat of a •whole distinct science; we shall only speak of the most obvious phenomena. Some use a 10* 1 14 COMMON SENSE. stethoscope, but I* have used my naked ear. The air, when passing into the cells of the lungs, and out of them, produces sounds, varied according to the different conditions of the lun^s. If no sound is emitted, then, of course, no air enters or departs. If, therefore, on placing the ear flat upon, and close to, every portion of the chest, any part emits no sound, then that part is badly compressed or really disorganized. Very commonly, mechanical derangement aud disorganization exist together. We have nothing now to do with the disorganized state, but to counteract a mechanical derangement, and restore and confirm respiration by cultivation. What is now the condition of .the lungs ? We see that, two general derangements prevail—obstructed circulation of air, and obstructed circulation of blood, by compression, as before shown. Of course, these are the two points in pathology aud therapeutics which demand our attention. What, then, do we want ? We want the cells, the arteries, and veins re-opened. This can be done only by the expansion of the chest and lungs. How shall this be effected ? -By internal and constitutional re- medies, or by meehauical means ? Evidently by the latter, as medicine can produce no effect upon the form, or remedy physical defects. First, the abdomen must be elevated by a Lace, judiciously, so as to lift the superincumbent mass up- ward and backward. By this means the lungs will be sup- ported, the chest enlarged at its lower region, and the tightness and stricture removed. The patient cau then stand erect, or place himself in any required position without the usual pain and stricture in the breast, and stomach, and the dia- phragm is also elevated and made tense, inducing it to con- tract more perfectly in respiration. In the second place, he is to commence the practice of calis- thenic exercises, which will be highly efficient in habituating him to the erect posture, developing a full chest and an ex- panded lung—placing the walls of the chest in such a position as to allow of perfect expansion. Calisthenic Exercises.—For the benefit of those who have paid no attention to these exercises, I will specify a few. 1. Let the patient after being supported assume the erect posture. Let the body be fixed, and not yield to the motion of the arms, but act as the pivot in all cases. Draw up the arms as if about to strike some person in the stomach, the head and body being perfectly erect; then push the clenched fist forward, with what might you have, throwing back the body. Next draw back the elbows suddenly and forcibly, as far as possible, keeping them near the side, in the meantime bringing the body forward. Do this with a force increasing with the power of endurance. 2. Keep the same erect posture and bend the arms hi ward, COMMON SENSE. 115 so as to bring the hands into the arm pits : then throw them down by the side violently, inclining the hands more to the back part of the body than to the front; at the same time ele- vating the head and shoulders. This straightens the spine; strengthens the muscles of the back and shoulders, and brings the body into habitual erectitude. 3. Place the palm of the hands upon the shoulders, and then throw them forcibly out and back; this gives lateral expansion to the chest. 4. Bring the back of the hands to the shoulders, the palms being turned forward, standing perpendicularly. Then throw them forward and bring them back with violence, always pre- serving this perpendicular position. This will serve to expand the chest, and throw back the shoulders. 5. Of Respiratory Exercises.—The patient is to cultivate the functions of respiration, by practising.breathing exercises, at least three times a day at stated hours. Let the length of the lesson be according to the strength of the patient, increasing as fast as is possible. Before I proceed to detail the process and rules, let me say a word respecting the propriety and importance of these exer- cises, and of cultivating respiration. We see that breathing is the first act performed after birth, and the last at death. We see, also, that every other sensible function is augmented by its cultivation, and that its full de- velopment is secured and perpetuated by this cultivation, as is the case with every physical function and organ of the body. Certainly then, this function, upon which life and death is de- pending, should not be neglected. All the surrounding impediments are now removed, and the combined mechanical relations are correct—all the deficiency is in the internal substance and arrangement of the lungs. What we now want is, to re-open the closed cells and re-ex- pand the whole lung; thus, also, enlarging the calibre of the arteries and veins, and securing a perfect inspiration, and healthful circulation. We now proceed to show how this may be effected. Take the barrel of a quill and make a small aperture in its little end; take the large end in the mouth, and closing the mouth, and the nostrils, inhale as much air as possible; then exhale it through the quill, taking care to suffer none to escape through the lips and nostrils, or use some of the new and improved in- haling tubes. This latter is to be done through the agency of the abdom- inal muscles, as you will see in all buglers, and as may be noticed by placing the hand upon the abdomen when you blow against your other hand. This, in the first place, ex- 116 COMMON SENSE. pands all the cells that are open or not entirely closed, and of course purifies the blood in the same ratio. It also expands the arteries, especially the capillary vessels, thus facilitating the mechanism of circulation. While your lungs are inflated, commence percussion on the chest over all its parts. If there be soreness, then be gende at first, and in- crease as you can bear it, and rest assured that in a few days you will be able to pound yourself with much violence, with- out pain. This agitates the air in the lungs, gently insinuating it into cells nearly, or quite shut, until all, or nearly all, are opened, and their proper functions restored. By this means, also, the pulmonary circulation is again re-established: the blood flowing freely in and out of the lungs. Now all this ia done on the simplest and most common principle in nature. We know that the natural exercise of any, or all the organs, affords the most efficient stimulus to growth and power of function, as in case of the legs of the dancer, or the arms of the blacksmith. Again, we know that concussion calls out the powers of life and exalts their action in a general or local manner. This we have found true, when our feet, hands, or ears are nearly frozen. Although we may be far from fire, yet if we stamp violently for a time, the blood re-enters the ves- sels, and warmth re-visits the feet; the same is true of the hands and ears when subjected to friction. This seems to be accomplished under the action of this law, viz., that exercise, friction, or concussion, shall excite the vital force, and call or invite an augmented amount of it to the seat of its action, thus restoring its diminished functions. So in the case in hand; the percussion agitates the lungs, and the vital force in them is exalted. Of this the patient is soon satisfied, feeling a sense of heat pervading the chest, and also an in- creased glow and action. By this action the absorbents are stimulated to absorb the lymph, whereby the cells are cleared, and if solid matter in the lungs ever can be absorbed (I mean morbid matter), that process will be thus facilitated in nature's own way. Now, why may we not plead the advantage ol this action on disease of the lungs, since all admit its potency and efficiency in every other tissue ? I am not yet prepared to fully endorse all that Dr. Ramadge and his coadjutors say relative to the cure of extensive tuber- cular disease of the lungs by the above or analogous physical means. But I do know that the results have been astonishing in many supposed organic affections of them. Let the reader now call to mind the substance of the past re- marks in all its associations and bearings, and especially remem- ber what constitutes genuine consumption, and all that is im- plied by it; and next, what is requisite,, or indicated, in the cure of that disease as developed by us. We will now pass on COMMON SENSE. 117 to report, faithfully, cases of the application of the above prin- ciples and practice. We here admit that there is much to be said relative to the regulation of the non-naturals, and of constitutional treatment to be attended to in conjunction with the physical means as above. But as it is not the genius or object of this work to give a general treatise on disease, but to speak principally of the physical means ordinarily not much thought of, we shall leave the other part of the treatment to be carried on according to old and established practice. Bnt before we proceed to the de- tailing of cases, we will give expression to some views, which are contrary to general practice, at least, if not to teaching and theory. First, With reference to air. When you have even the most reason to apprehend the presence or approach of real disease of the lungs (or imaginary either), allow not yourself to be shut up in the house for fear of taking cold, and to avoid ex- citing causes. It is the worst thing you can do, to shun the cold, and render yourself unable to bear the opening.of a door. Besides, you are now only dying for want of air, or oxygen, and that which is pure. Therefore keep in the free air, and take care in the fall not to give way to the cold days, but use them as hardeners for the wintery blast, having the body properly protected by a suitable amount of flannel. Next, take care not to cover your mouth with a thick veil, or napkin; it makes the air impure, and enfeebles the lungs, ex- cepting your lungs are very irritable and positive, then bad ef- fects of the cold air ensue. Next, exercise freely in the open air, and pretend to be well (but don't forget that you are not); be careful not to attempt a well man's work, but do according to your strength. But be sure, in doing this, to take the proper attitude, and keep it. In short, obey all the indications as above prescribed. As to diet, you must exercise common sense and strict ob- servation, and be dictated or governed by circumstances. Only this particular thing would I say:—Don't be afraid of nourish- ing diet, when it does not directly excite fever or pain ; but let it be easy and not stimulating. In short, keep up, as far as is at all practicable, the well man's proper habits. As to fever, inflammation, sweats, chills, and other incon- venient accompaniments, let them be treated as is found best to treat them in the wisdom of the profession, but don't lay by, meantime, the great physical remedies above described. And lastly, we say, give up being your own physician, or manag- ing your own case. Ydu cannot do it; it requires experience and general science to manage little things to advantage, and make all work to one point in harmony. But select the man 118 COMMON SENSE. who is humble and snowing enough to be satisfied with ra- tional treatment (however simple), as indicated by the laws of nature. Case 1. Miss I----, of Pittsburg, aged 18, returned from the south with almost every indication of seated pulmonary dis- ease. She scarcely passed a day without more or less hsemop- tysis, or bleeding from the lungs; respiration was very labor- ed and short; had much pain in the breast, particularly a "sense of tightness," or stricture in its centre, as if breathing through a gauze or sieve. Palpitation of the heart was ex- cessive and constant, accompanied by an intolerable pain in its region. Her physician, Dr. G., a most intelligent practition- er, felt quite sure that there was some organic derangement in the heart (probably of its valves). Her countenance wras of a waxen hue, that made all who knew the pretty girl, feel that she was fast falling into the grave. In connection with the above symptoms, she was unable to sit or stand erect, had great pain in the back, and a sense of continual agony, which made her very miserable. At the stomach she felt a most ghastly sense of sinking and vacancy, which, with the pain in the breast, was aggravated by the erect posture, aud by throw- ing back the shoulders, for the reasons laid down in the pre- ceding pages. And let it be distinctly understood, that the ab- dominal muscles were exceedingly relaxed, giving her the form of figure 4. She also was afflicted with prolapsus uteri, with all its connected and reflected influences on the brain, spine, limbs, &c, which we will not describe until we give our treatment of those complaints. At this juncture, I came to the city where she resided, to lay before its medical faculty my first paper on the physiology of the abdominal muscles, and the application of abdominal support to diseases of the chest, caused by general visceral desceu*, or retraction of the muscles of the abdomen. This paper w as laid before a meeting of them, and a committee, consisting of Drs. Gazzem, Spear, and McDowel, was appointed to investigate and report at an ad- journed meeting. Previous to this report, at the suggestion of Dr Gazzem, the lace was tried upon Miss I., as being a case that would test the principles laid down in my paper. The instrument was a bad one, and besides being very imperfect, it did not fit, being much too large. Nevertheless, she said immediately, that the pain in the back was relieved, aud that she could sit erect; that the deathly feeling at the stomach was gone; that she could breathe freely, and that she, in short, felt relief in hody aud mind. Especially that drawing sensation in the centre of the breast was removed. We left her for four days to construct a lace better adapted to her case. On the afternoon of the fourth day, we went to make the second application, and found her absent on a visit COMMON SE\.SE. 119 ft. is proper to remark here, that previously, the gentle motion of the carriage would cause great distress in the stomach, and generally produce fainting, or a strong tendencv to it. We returned again in the evening, and found her gav and cheerful; she had not raised one drop of blood since the" application of the lace. She had borne the ride with benefit, and inquired how soon she might waltz. The change was. great, and the fame of it spread through the city. In about two weeks I was invited to pay her a visit, when I found her able to entertain company. She was a new creature, and said that all was owing to the lace. She is now as well as others She has an occasional bleeding from the lungs, but very trifling, and is able to parti- cipate in most youthful enjoyments. This case proves, first, that,the lungs are dependent on the integrity of the abdominal muscles, and second, that an elevat- ing application to the latter does relieve the effects referred to. Case 2. Mrs. S----, Philadelphia, came to consult me in November of 184?. She had been for years supposed to be la- boring under pulmonary disease, and was treated for the same in the usual manner. She was emaciated and feeble; had a severe and constant cough, with pain in the chest, especially on assuming the erect posture, or attempting a full inspiration On directing her to make a full inspiration, she succeeded so poorly that at first I knew not that she had made the attempt, but found that she could not inhale over twelve cubic inches of air, and that the lower ribs were not inflated ; nor did the lower ribs rise or fall in respiration. The heart was in a con- stant state of excitement, and the head was affected with all the symptoms of a nervous patient. The form was drooping and bent forward ; chest compressed ; the stomach retracted; the lower belly large aud hard while in a standing posture, but exceedingly soft and flabby in the recumbent. She complain- ed of .great weakness of the back; of a sense of bearing down and dragging in the groins ; a weakness and pain in the limbs, and numbness, and in short, of everything which you might expect from such a patient. She could walk but a few rods without great fatigue and loss of breath, accompanied with violent palpitation of the heart. I became much alarmed for her lungs, and had her assume the recumbent posture, making the chest bare, to institute an examination of them by auscul- tation and percussion. To my astonishment, I found that on placing my ear to the chest, and directing her to inspire fully, she made a full inspiration, expanding every cell, and the whole chest; indeed I could distinctly hear the air murmuring through the entire lung (not so healthily in some parts as in others to be sure). I inquired the meaning of it. "0!"said she, " I always breathe easy in this posture." " And whv 120 COMMON SENSE. don't you when sitting or standing.'" said I. " Because it hurts so in my stomach that I can't," was her reply. This you, of course, see was evidence that the daily difficulty did not pro- ceed from organic disease, but from a bad mechanical ai- ransjement. This case proves many things, and renders much of our previous argument practical and true, and you are prepared to see that the Lace was indicated as a remedy, which was applied. She arose, and looked astonished, drew a long breath, and said, " There, I can breathe now! the dragging at my stomach is gone, the tightness in my breast is gone, the pain in my back and lower part of my body is gone, and I feel like a new creature." In this case there was an evident tendency to hepatization and consolidation of the lung, from the continual compression, and want of alternate expansion and contraction. This was indicated both by the soimds emitted on percus- sion, and by the tenderness on pressure. I directed her to beat the chest, especially its sore region, with the open hand, on full inspiration. This at first she could hardly do at all, but soon found great pleasure in daily percussing the whole chest with great force. The tenderness all subsided, the short- ness of breath and palpitation all left, and universal or general strength was the result. In about three weeks I called upon her, and found that she had walked about three miles that morning. Case 3. Miss M -----, of Philadelphia, a milliner, aged 19. consulted me for an affection of her lungs, of three years' standing. She stated that she had medicated much. Her form was exactly that of Fig. 4, which I need not describe. She suffered much pain in the breast, and accompanied with tight- ness, shortness of breath, a lividness of the countenance, and wheezing in breathing. She complained much of pain in the right side, of a heavy, dead nature, with weakness and sinking at the stomach; her back pained her much, and was very weak—had a sense of weight and bearing down at the base of the abdomen, on the pubes, or prominence below, with dragging in the groins. Her limbs were very weak, painful and numb ; often afflicted with pricking sensations, and she sometimes felt sreat aud sharp pain in the hip on moving it. Leucorrhoea, or whites, were wasting her away. While in the recumbent posture, she breathed freely, but not at all so in the sitting or standing posture. Palpitation of the heart was continued. This lady had a lace adjusted, and was immediately relieved of every sensible difficulty, which her countenance, as well as her tongue, showed; and in the space of three weeks, die con- stipation and leucorrhoea, as well as the other diseases, were en- tirely relieved. COMMON SENSE. IkJi The last two patients I heard from some five months after, and learned that they were well and happy. Percussion, and the other directions as laid down above were practised effectu- ally, and promised to be of peculiar and decided efficacy in these cases. Case 4. Mrs. H------. This lady had, for three years, been afflicted by a severe, dry and continual cough, which was ag- gravated on speaking the shortest sentence, or taking the least exercise. She had much pain in the breast, and shortness of breath. The pain and tenderness in the right side was great, and every symptom of dyspepsy was severe. The form was that of a broken down person, like fig. 4, drooped, with con- tracted stomach, and abdomen flabby and large at the base Of course she had most distressing prolapsus and leucorrhoea, with pafh in the back and weakness of the limbs. The head also showed great manifestations of disturbance, was continually dizzy, with roaring or sounding within it—confusion of thought, and loss of memory. The most horrible gloom over- spread her, so that she seldom went to the table, because she could not refrain from crying. Everything seemed to her like a horror of great darkness. The physicians decided that her complaint was very complicated, partaking of a pulmonary, hepatic, and dropsical nature, and had given her the mo*t ef- ficient practice by powerful medicines aud counter irritation. But I cannot better close the description, treatment and ter- mination of her case, than to use her own language in the fol- lowing letter, sent to me while in New Haven, which I give tielow:— " Middletown, Ct., March, 1843. " Dr. E. P. Banning, " Dear Sir,— When I called on you to consult you about my health, my lungs were in so bad a state that I could scarcely tpeak a word without the most violent coughing. Everything 1 attempted was done widi extreme restlessness and reluctance, and the little duties which my family required were a great burden to me " My religious enjoyments, and almost my confidence in God, were lost (at lea.->t it seemed so to me). Indeed I felt that I was fast going down to the grave, aud that, unless I soon found relief, my days would soon be numbered. In this junc- ture I applied to you for counsel, aud immediately, on the ap- plication of your lace, even on the same day, my relief was so °reat, that my friends wondered at the change that had come over me, and wanted to know what had happened. My hus- band said that my smiles and improved looks, even for the first day, had abundantly repaid him for the expense of the lace. ** Indeed all my symptoms, so distressing and painful—ind©« 11 * 122 COMMTIV SENSE. scribably so, and known only by my own unhappy experience, were gone ! vanished ! and as though they had not been. " I feel that I cannot be sufficiently thankful, that at this critical juncture with me, it pleased Almighty God to so order it, that Dr. Banning should visit Middletown. I can scarcely realize that my attendance on your lectures, so much against my will, at the earnest entreaties of my husband, has resulted so un- expecedly- in most happy consequences. I- shall ever pray that your life and health may long be spared, to go on relieving many helpless, sick and afflicted, as you have me, and be the means of great good to your race." Case 5. Mr. Fuller* aged 19, of Middlebury, Vt., had for years bent forward and drooped his shoulders. He had a dry cough, his chest was much contracted in every part, especially in its lower dimensions, the breast bone being actually turned inward. The stomach was very much retracted and tender, his lower abdomen tumid and hard ; his back and limbs were very weak; his respiration was short and painful, producing no expansion of the lower chest, especially so of the left side, which was very tender. He felt a sense of tightness and pull- ing from the top and centre of his breast, down below his stomach, and his bowels were very constipated. On percus- sing the chest, no sound was emitted from the left side, and on auscultating, or listening, no air was heard murmuring through the cells, except at the superior extremity of the lungs. Every variety of treatment had been in vain. The faith of Ins friends was very great; accordingly the lace was applied, as you will see (of course) that it was indicated. Immediately he straightened up, and breathed freely, comparatively; the tight- ness in the breast was gone; the sinking in the region of the stomach vanished, as it was filled by the elevation of the or- gans below, by means of the front pad ; the cough soon ceased, and the back was relieved by the pads on each side of the spine. His strength and spirits improved immediately, and his countenance became cheerful. Next, he set about praet'sin^ a set of calisthenic exercises, which were very efficient in re- storing his general energy and proper attitude of body. Next, he was vigorous in regularly percussing the chest in all irs parts, at the first but gently, with the open palm (and but very gently too), but soon with great violence. The issue was, that the tenderness vanished. Next, he set up the respiratory ex- ercises, as above laid down, and soon the lower lungs wvre well inflated, the ribs and abdomen well expanded, and in short, he was renovated throughout by the more healthy arrangement of the organs, and the purification of the blood. So numerous are the cases of radical and astonishing cure, that I know not where to stop, but I will content mvself with giving a few more, intending by thein to illustrate special points COMMON SENSE. 123 The following, in connection with the above, will show the efficacy of percussion in pectoral (or chest) affections. Case 6 Miss B—.---, Springfield, Vt,, had for vears been declining with consumption, as was supposed. Her strength and vivacity gradually went, a cough came on and increased, more and more. He* chest was weak, and pain wandering through jt, respiration was very short and laborious, aud voice weak and tremulous. Her form was precisely that of Fig. 4. She complained much of weakness and sinking at the stomach, aad pain in the back. Dreadful gloom overspread her, and she saw herself sinking into the grave with a steadv pace. The matter had been .thus settled for months by herself and friends, and her pastor (who was in the same state), in his visits, spent the interview in contemplating the realities of another world, and considerations drawn from the approaching change. The lace was applied to this lady, and no other remedy. On the same day she breathed easier, felt relief from the pain and from the weakness of the stomach and back; her spirits were also relieved, as though an actual weight had been removed from her soul. The cough began to subside, and in two weeks she rode and walked out, and could sing again. In a word, she told me, not long afterward, that she was almost entirely relieved of every unpleaaaut feeling, aud that her strength was being fas,t restored. She had faithfully employed the phy- sicians and their remedies, but did not receive even temporary relief. Some six months after, she sent me a circular certifying to her great and permanent relief to all her former ills. Case 7. Mr. B., aged 50, of Connecticut, was seized with a severe pleuritic attack, which was badly treated, and neglect- ed, until it terminated in an almost universal adhesion of the left lung to the ribs, so that the left ribs did not expand in in- spiration, nor could he make a full inspiration. By a faithful application of percussion, he was soon relieved of the tight- ness aud shortuess of breath, to a very great extent. The following is illustrative of the power of the lace in shortness of breath, when there are any of the derangements referred to in the previous pages. We shall let this case suf- fice, though we have scores of them that are perfectly to the point. Case 8. Miss C, Penn., aged 45, had been for years suppos- ed to be in a confirmed consumption. Her form was the worst I ever saw. Her shoulders were perfectly rounded; her chesl contracted and retracted; the region of the stomach was en- tirely sunken in, so that one might lay their hand in the retrac- tion ; her respiration was continually laborious and wheezing, and her body bowed forward, so that she never sat or stood erect. Says she to me one day, in her honest, native blunt- ness, " 1 wonder, Doctor, if you have anything that will do 124 COMMON SENSE. such good-for-nothing creatures as I am any good." I then examined her case, thinking her a poor subject, but was much struck with the extreme degree of the morbid form, which the fourth figure represents. The lace was applied; she arose and then sat down, silently for a moment (but erect), evidently ab- sorbed in surprise; at length she arose fcgain to her feet, and walked erect, and said, " Well, I declare for it, if I don't breathe clear from the bottom;" (i. e.) she had previously respired only with the upper lobes, and that with labor; but now she felt, a liberal and full expansion of the whole chest and abdomen in inspiration. Suffice to say, that her health and comfort were immediately very much enhanced. Finally: on this point we close, only having shown by what we have said, that something may be said and practised, to the immense advantage of the world, and that our advice certain- ly does not harm any one, nor interfere with any other treat- ment you may desire to practice. Palpitation of the Heart.—What is the pathology of this dis- ease, when not organic, cannot fail to be understood. It is simply this, viz., that the heart has lost the proper support ol the diaphragm, by reason of its partial inversion, through a relaxation of the abdominal muscles, or even from spinal irritation. In either case, the treatment is obvious. Should the case be an inflammatory affection of the spine (which can be ascertained by smart pressure on the spinal column), the usual routine of treatment, as laid down by the best writers on this subject, should be resorted to ; but care should be taken not to depend too long on that treatment, should it not prove ef- fectual soon; or should it give relief, and still the relief not be radical. The partial relief is not always evidence that the prosecution of the first treatment is advisable, as it may have accomplished all that it could accomplish by relieving the acute and aggravating symptoms. The remaining effects may be chronic, and depend on spinal or muscular weakness, but not on spinal irritation, requiring support by the lace. Thus it will be seen that in all inorganic palpitation, the indications make it necessary to support the body by elevating the abdo- men. Therefore, shoulcTit be evident that there is abdominal or spinal relaxation, in either case it will be expedient and necessary to apply the lace to elevate the diaphragm; for either of the two causes above referred to will produce the displace- ment, and induce the irritation of the heart's nerves of organic life, or its sympathetic nerves, and bring about the irregular action. Furthermore, even when the palpitation is attended or caused by organic derangements, if there be any sign of deficient support, as indicated by the form of figure 4, or by the sensa- tions complained of, if they be such as have been previously COMMON SENSE. 125 delineated, or by spinal irritation or weakness, the lace will be of great service in removing aggravating circumstances, and restoring the normal or natural relations of the whole trunk \\ e therefore remark, let none say that they are incurable, or th:it they have done their whole dutv as patient or physician, until they have tested the influence "of the lace. We have no cases of palpitation, entire, or isolated from other affections ; but have many severe ones, where the palpitation was the primary disease or prominent feature in the case. For these I refer to the cases just related, and could to others; but let it suffice to remark, that whether primary or not, the lace has always afforded entire or very great relief to this, and generally to the symptoms also. We will refer, as an illustration, to Case 1. Miss J., of Pittsburgh, Pa. In her case, one of the most distressing symptoms was, a continual palpitation, aggra- m vated by the slightest exercise or excitement of body or mTnd. In addition to the palpitation, there was a most distressing aud constant aching or pain in the heart. The character and extent of her cardiac affections led her practitioner to fear an ossification of the valves, or some other organic derangement, producing a mechanical interruption of the sensible functions of the heart. In this case, the application of the lace produced immediate relief to the palpitation and some relief to the pain. But shortly, the relief to the palpitation was almost perfect, and to the pain very great, if not finally entire. Her physician believed that hers was the most extensive and marked case of symptomatic or indirect affection of the heart, imitating a radical and organic affection, he had ever seen; and this was made evident by the relief obtained through the lace. We would now refer to Case 2. In this case, palpitation extended almost to suffo- cation, imitating a wild tumult within the chest, that threatened to subvert the native and necessary peace and tranquillity of the empire within. This feature of her case withstood the in- dulgence of any excessive excitement of body or mind. But the extent and rapidity of the relief procured to this affection by the lace was surprising, not only to the patient and myself, but to all the neighborhood. In short, it was entire and complete Case 3. Miss C, Mass., aged 22, had for years been so af- flicted with palpitation of the heart (having some irritation of the spine), that a moderate walk along the road, and always the ascent of a flight of stairs, would induce a paroxysm, amounting to a fit, of angina pect or is (a certain spasmodic af- fection of the heart). She would be prostrated, and agonizingly and violently agitated. Indeed, she was in constant apprehen- sion of death from these attacks. Every variety and extent of hospital and private treatment for spinal irritation had been 11* I 126 COMMON SENSE tried for her relief, with entire ill success. But on the simple application of the lace, in one moment she was relieved, so as to traverse the city, and ascend and descend long flights ot stairs, with impunity— without having her breathing spells, as she called them. In short, she returned to her accustomed employment in the factory in about five days after the applica- tion of her lace. But it is of no use to repeat or multiply cases on this head. I might adduce a multitude of them, of a very marked kind, too, and all successfully treated. Indeed, when 1 see so many taking every variety and any amount of anti-spasmodics or anodynes, to relieve this so common malady, and that without success, I long to show them " a more excellent way." Hysteria.—This protean malady has defied the profession, and, indeed, the whole world, to do more for it, than to partially prevent it by avoiding the more obvious circumstances that lead to the recurrence of the paroxysms, and to relieve the paroxysms by the usual anodyne and anti-spasmodic remedies. What I mean by hysteria, is that state of the constitution where there is an excited or depressed state of the nervous, and ot even all the other systems in the human body, predisposing to what we call hysterical paroxysms. Of the constitutional treatment I shall say nothing, as I know of no improvements to suggest; and my only hope of being serviceable in my re- marks, lies in speaking of this disease as caused and perpetuat- ed by certain mechanical relations, such as have been delineat- ed in the preceding parts of this work. I design to be very brief ou the subject, as but a word or two are necessary in addition to the past exposition. The truth is (and experience has proved it), that the constitutions predisposed to nervousness, or hysteria, are all of them of the form of figure 4, where there is a perfect change of relation in all the truncal organs, from the throat to the pelvis. Thus the whole system of nerves is de- pressed, or excited, in several ways. First, the organs cease to support each other, and a mutual dragging is produced, thus destroying their tone by the disarrangement, and the loss of the tonic influence of pressure from one to the other, through the medium of the abdominal muscles. From this cause, some of the nerves are compressed, some dragged upon, and some irritated, merely because the surrounding relations are changed toward them. This is exemplified by our exposition of the cause of pains, and loss of motion in the limbs; the bearing down; the drag- ging in the groins, and terrible pains and weakness in the back ; the sinking and ghastly feeling in the stomach, and torpor of that organ; the palpitation of the heart, and the consequent brain affections from compression on the nerves, inducing giddiness and dimness of sight, morbid excitement and de- COMMON SENSE. 127 pression, and ah the other phenomena of hysteria and hypo- chondria. We shall first speak of the treatment of hysteria in its common acceptation, as applied to females. The treatment, of course, will be simply to replace the bowels m then proper bearings, and retain them there. This cannot be done so well in any way, as by the judicious appli- cation of the lace, used according to the directions given for its use in this work. Secondly, let the patient obey the h ws of nature in her exercises and diet, &c, &c. My experience has been so wouderful in this matter, that I shall content myself by simply stating a few cases, as an exact illustration of hundreds ot others, and then leave the subject. Case 1. Mrs. A\, of Pennsylvania (married), was in the spring house, and, upon moderately exerting herself, she became frantic—hurled the vessels of milk out of door, and jumped into the spring. Her husband carried her into the house, and Dr. H. was immediately sent for. On arriving, he could think of nothing that could cause such a strange and sudden movement. She was still frantic. He however recol- " lected the extent o uterine sympathy, and made an examination per vaginam, and found the uterus moderately descended ; he ac- cordingly replaced it, and in one moment she was calm and perfectly restored This case shows not the use of the lace directly; but it does ■show the influence of uterine displacement in deranging ex- . tensively the functions of the brain, and of every other organ. Case 2. Mrs. B., of Crawford Co., Peun. (married), was the continual subject of every variety and degree of nervous de- rangement. She was fearful, tremulous and sympathetic in die extreme. Her mind, though of native strength, was irrita- ble and capricious; she would complain of sudden fits of in- disposition to move, with perfect confusion of mind, and of the sense of seeing, hearing, &c.; but especially, was gloom and apprehension a predominant trouble and besetinent, that disturbed her own comfort and that of her family. This state was of years'standing, and grew worse. She made applica- tion for the lace, and from that day she was a new being in body and mind. She now enjoys life well, and is restored to her former pleasantness of temper and disposition. An at- tempt to leave off the lace has always, shortiy after, been fol- lowed by the old difficulties. She also protests tiiat she would not do without it for the world. I might go on to enumerate a host of cases in point, but it is unnecessary, as all of the cases which have preceded, and which follow, are, in part, of the same stamp. I shall, there- fore, make but one single remark, viz. :—That in every case of permanent predisposition to hysteria, you will find more or less of the shape, or state, referred to in the former part of the 128 l OMMON SENSE. work, and it will be associated with most of the other maladies which result from that state of the parts. I also oelieve, that millions are now laboring under a set of chronic diseases, which are christened with names they do not deserve, but are merely a set of effects of one common cause, all requiring the same treatment, and that treatment is, support to the abdom- inal viscera. Hupochondria.—This terrible malady has, of all diseases, been least understood, and most unsuccessfully treated. The term, at least, is an indefinite one in its application throughout the world, and very opposite states of the system have been implied by it. So protean is this disease, that I shall not pre- tend to give a definition of it, but specify Below a few of the symptoms as indications of (as I view die matter) the mannei of treatment to be pursued. The manner of the approach, and the phenomena, are so varied and multiplied, that I can only point out its existence, but cannot definitely define it. The symptoms I shall divide into corporeal and mental, or those affecting (or appearing to affect) the body, and those that affect, the mind. But for the benefit of unlearned readers, I here say, that hypochondria is that state of the system which is denominated hipo, hip, lopo. fyc, #c Notwithstanding the endless variety of appearances, peculiarities and degrees of this malady, there are certain gen- eral characteristics that usually accompany it (a part, or all of them). Most generally they complain of some kind of bodily aberration (but not always), and we proceed to speak of a few of them. First, as to who the subjects are. In general, they are men who have been actively engaged in life —conspicuously so within their sphere, either as agriculturists, commercialists, or literary men; but more seldom are they found among the first of the three. The subject generally becomes taciturn and gloomy— begins to complain of pain or unusual feelings in some one or more of the organs. The liver is usually the organ pitched upon as the subject of disease. These complaints are not of » violent, or organic nature; but of a functional, or supposed to be. Torpor is the general complaint, or else a tendency to the bilious ; constipation usually attends ; and often the piles, ex- hibited in its varied shades and degrees, commonly occupy a portion of the patient's thoughts and anxieties. Or, the lungs may set in for a share, there being some cough: pain or un- easiness about the breast, usually attended by palpitation of the heart. The patient becomes retired, and takes most com- fort m tormenting others about his infirmities. These, among others, may be real. Secondly, of the mental indications, or phenomena of the disease. These may be called (to others will appear to be) illusions, 01 COMMON SENSE. 129 lallucmations. They have one grand division, viz., those re- ferring to the body, or temporal things, and those referring to eternal things. They will come to the most unaccountable conclusions in nature. In the midst of wealth and prosperity, they begin to conclude they are, or soon will be, perfectly poor. With reference to social relations, they strangely conclude, even amidst love and every endearment, that they are hateful •and hated, ju«tly or unjustly. Often they conceive the most fantastic notions of their forms, looks, or state, corporeally. Some imagine that they will soon swell so as to overset the house, or that they are turned into a tea-pot, or some animal Often they are inapprehension of mortifying, or suffering an endless variety of tilings. And all this time they will appear to be perfectly rational on every other topic. But be the pa- tient's view of himself what it may, one thing you may uni- formly expect, viz , that he will look on the unfortunate side of the question, and be most pertinacious in his belief. He often begins to feel that he is too mean to live, and that the sight of an honest man would kUl him ; that he has committed some horrid crime (though he cannot specify it), for which he ought to die. But the more common and disastrous cause of taciturnity and reserve, gloom and shyness, proceeds from a source that is not often guessed at, or remedied when known. I refer to an unfortunate turn of thought on his religious state, and immortal destiny. My experience has led me to know, that the troubles of the taciturn, gloomy, reserved and unhappy men, are generally misstated, and lie in some un- veiled view of the subject of religion. And strange it is, but it is true, that they will almost never let you kuow it, unless you surprise them by hitting upon it unawares to them. It may be doubt, fear, perplexity, darkness, &c. But the two common states are—trouble respecting their decease, or the notion that they have committed the unpardonable sin. 0! the horrors of that mind that entertains these thoughts. They curb the very wheels of life, and bring on real disease. They , dry up the soul, and despair, fear, agony, and fierce, perpetual fires dwell in him, and that, both night and day. His counte- nance shows it—his eye, ah! his eye : look at it! See the glared vacant look ! the indescribable sensitiveness and indif- ference combined, that tell of the discordant, agonized soul within, where hell reigns ; a soul is devouring itself. My own experience has been such, as to lead me, even me, so near to the borders of this pit, that I can conceive of the horror of those who are thus tormented. But my professional experience has been, for the last year, very full and strong on this point, so that 1 know more than 1 ever dreamed or guessed before. Let me here tell the reader that I have had it from the lips ol 130 COMMON SENSE. die most pious, who have recovered from this state, that to prevent committing suicide has been their continual anxiety and prayer ; that the temptation was constant and powerful. They have informed me also that nothing but a consciousness that they were sane and acoountable, prevented their imbruing their hands in their own blood. Dear reader, when you begin to dream of such things, I beg of you to be alarmed, and resist. It is the devil taking the ad- vantage of your weakness, and ere you are aware, he will have whispered something to you which you little think of. I will now cut these remarks short, and proceed to speak of the causes which do or may produce this train or family of symp- toms. I will first remark, on this head, that they may be organic, in a set of organs or a single organ, perhaps defying the best moral or physical treatment—as new formations, inflammations, or softening of the brain, liver, &c. And secondly, I will re- mark, that it may not be these, but be the result of certain moral causes, or outward circumstances, influencing the mind or the body through it. Thirdly, it may be, and most generally is, the result of neither of the above, but of the morbid change in the combination of arrangement in the organs of the human trunk, as shown in the preceding pages of this work; it being the result of muscular relaxation. Such has been the experience of the writer on this point. that he is led, unequivocally, to believe that a great proportion of the cases of melancholia, monomonia, and partial insanity, owe their origin and progress to the same cause which has induced hysteria and the other difficulties treated of, in this work. While I write upon this point, my feelings yearn to enter the retreats and lunatic asylums, and select such patients as I have seen there incarcerated for years, and make application of the treatment indicated in perfect cases of muscular relaxation But I ask the man who judges me to be fanatical, or too en- thusiastic, to call to his mind the cases of melancholia and mo nomania with which he has been acquainted. Recollect theii forms, their movements, and their countenances; let him con- template what is considered in figures number 4, 6 and 8; the extensive and mutual mechanical and geographical displace- ments which must, ensue, and the functional infringements which must result from deranging the relations, in all the most sensitive tissues of the whole body, and see if I am as en- thusiastic as he who can see no analogy in the cases. My opinion is, that uniform coincidence between the morbid form and diseased state, is more than an intimation that there is some pathological connection between the two, which requires investigation. But I have facts that put "opposing arguments COMMON SENSE. 13 J or inferences at defiance ; in which are involved the most satis- factory confirmations to the above hints, with the still more pleasing assurance that they are practical, and that, in this pathology, a ray of hope bursts upon those unhappy beings, who seem to be the sport of the wreck of mind. I shall close my remarks on this point by detailing a few cases out of the many which serve to illustrate the true nature of the case, as well as to show my views upon this subject. Case 1. Deacon 0., of Ct., came to consult me. He stated that for years he had felt a strange desire to put an end to him- self; that his earthly and religious enjoyments were lost, and his hopes, almost; that he appeared to himself to be the mean- est and vilest of men, and that 'twould kill him to meet the gaze of an honest, upright man, to avoid which he had often gone very far round, by a back way, shunning the glance of every one. He described his horror, and great, perpetual gloom, as being like a mighty press, that would almost press his soul out of him. He said diat he sometimes was in hopes that he was so far insane as to make him irresponsible for his conduct, and thus he could have an excuse for gratifying his great pro- pensity to commit suicide. But he said he knew that he was perfectly rational and accountable, and never lost sight of the fact that it was wrong, and that he would meet the just retri- bution of such an awfuf crime. His gloom and melancholy were dreadful, and every pleasant countenance only made his gloom the deeper. He complained some of dyspepsy, and of course of a capri- cious appetite. His locomotive powers were much depreci- ated ; his limbs were weak ; his back also ; his abdomen was pendulous, round and tender; stomach sunken and tender— very much so; could not bear to walk without holding him- self up. His shoulders were drooped, and in short he was a perfect case of general displacement. He said that my de- scription of "his feelings and thoughts was true to the letter. The lace was applied, and he could immediately walk or ride with ease and benefit, and engage in business with satisfac- tion, hi short, he seemed to be renewed in body and miud. He felt that he could not do enough to bring my views into general notice. It is just here to state, that no one ever knew or suspected- Deacon 0. ever was thus afflicted, or that he ever had the least thought of suicide, or suffered from mental depression. Case 2. Mr.------, of Ct., aged 55, was the most terrible case of hypochondria I ever saw, of the depressed character. His friends first consulted me on his account, and laid a plan to get him in to see me. He finally came. He came in bowed forward, his shoulders depressed, his chest contracted, his stomach retracted and sunken, his abdomen completely relax«o 132 COMMON SENSE. and fallen down—hanging like a " sack of soft soap " ou the bones below; indeed, he resembled a lady who was five months enceinte. He was continually holding up his abdomen with his hand, or feeling of his stomach. But the great com- plaint was that he had the consumption; he had little or no cough, and little or no pain, but complained of continual weakness in the breast, with shortness of breath, stricture, panting, and some palpitation of the heart. His mind dwelt on nothing but his approaching dissolution, continually imagining that if" he went into one room he nevei would come out again, or that he would certainly die if he went into the street. He would not change his clothes, noi even his linen, from month to month, on account of his debility, or fear of sinking under it. His friends were almost broken- hearted ou account of his singular conduct. As soon as I saw him I was convinced that his lungs were sound and every other organ, and that he was merely laboring under the natu- ral effects of a relaxation of the abdominal muscles. So great was his depression, and bodily and mental prostration, that he could not be prevailed upon to apply the lace, fearing (as he said) that he would "sink under it." He said he had found that his hand seemed to " fit better " and more gently, and that he could graduate the pressure as he was able to bear it. This case shows, not the power of the lace, in these cases, but the connection there is between the federal, or combined, mutual relations of the body, and these complaints, and also indicating the proper treatment to be pursued. Case 3. Capt. S., of Ct., aged 60, had been under the treat- ment of the best of the medical faculty in that State. He was naturally of stout, robust frame, but was now wasted away to a skeleton. He complaiued of continual pain m the stomach. which was so constant and severe that his doctors decided his case to be cancer of that organ. He also complained of a se- vere pain in his right hip, which disabled him from walking But his mental difficulties were not a few. He was most heavily depressed in mind, roving round, night and day, like one bereft of reason. His eye was glassy and vacant, yel showing great anxiety and distress of soul, or rather a great void, which nothing could fill. He could not sit in one position long, or stay in any one place, or have his attendants absent a moment. He was in continual fear of something, yet at the same time had a strong propensity to make away with himself, which gave his friends much alarm. I will not pretend to give anything like a full description of his case and sufferings I examined him in a mechanical point of view, and found him only the wreck of a man. Instead of having a tall, plump aut manly form (which he originally had), he was drooped humped and contracted in every dimension. His stomach wa- COMMON S. NSE. 133 peculiarly sunken and retracted, and he felt a sensation of tightness and pullmg in that region, whenever he assumed the erect postm'e, accompanied by a sense of weakness and faint- ness in the breast, with palpitation. His lower belly was hard and tumid, resting heavily on the bones below ; pressing on the nerves distributed about the hips, thus occasioning the pam and lameness there. He was also costive, and had some incontinence of the urine. Although I had not thought of his being a subject for the lace, I was struck with the similarity between his form and that of dyspeptics and others who were decidedly benefited by it. On this account, the lace was carefully applied. He im- mediately laughed aloud, for the first time during the last nine weeks, and said, " that feels comfortable." Suffice it to say, he became better immediately ; gained two pounds and a half in a week from that day; his mind became clear and his spi- rits lively; he could stay alone, could enjoy society, and be a source of satisfaction to others, being sociable and cheerful. His pain in his stomach and hip was relieved at once. In short, he was cured of all his maladies. His doctors, who had told me plainly that he had a cancer of the stomach, and that nothing could be done, were astonished, and owned that this was a triumph and a plain case. The truth isf, that the relaxation of the abdominal muscles was the legitimate cause of every difficulty. Especially see how plainly this accounts for the caucer of the stomach, and the pain in the hips. Case 4. Mr. R., of Ct, aged 50, a mechanic, had through life been very active, but for the last twelve years had been much indisposed, both in body and mind. He became gloomy, des- ponding, low-spirited and inert; had dyspepsy, liver complaint, constipation of the bowels, and, in short, everything that belongs to a combination of hypochondria and dyspepsy. He was soon deemed incapable of attending to his own affairs, and a guardian was placed over him. Sometimes it seemed that he would, for months, remain in some retired place, overwhelmed with gloom and horrid despondency, saying that he was damn- ed and lost, even then experiencing the pangs of hell. At other times he would be excited for months, and could not be contented unless driving on business at least sixteen hours in every twenty-four. He seemed then to act as if the world would come to an end if he should cease to rush on headlong. His temptations to suicide were constant and dreadful; he often examined to see if he were insane, aud always found that he was not, and that he was therefore accountable for all that he did. He said he spent most of his time in brooding over a " fearful looking for a day of judgment and fiery indig- nation." 12 134 COMMON SENSE. But he informed me of one singular fact, viz., that through the whole series of twelve years (a part of which time he was confined in the Hartford Insane Retreat), he never neglected his closet and communion with God, although much of the time it seemed like mockery. No business could be transacted with him requiring any intellect or investigation, such was his irritability. He was brought to me for consultation. ] could not see his form so morbidly indicative of displacemenl and relaxation as in the case of Mr. S. (Case 3), but somewhat so. However, the lace was applied, and in less than fifteen minutes he said that he was better, paid for his lace, and was a happy man. He became calm and cheerful, and in all re- spects like other men. His costive habits ceased in a day, though for years he had never had an alvine evacuation with- out cathartics. He immediately went about business, which had been neglected for years on his account, I have done very imperfect justice in the description to this case, and can only say, that half has not been told. I will close it by giving his letter below. , Middletown, Ct., Feb. 29, 1843. Dr. E. P. Banning, Dear Sir,—You will recollect that I had worn your lace a few days when you left our town, and that I had spoken well of it; and now, sir, I am under very great obligations to you, seeing, that on wearing it a longer time, I am much disap- pointed, inasmuch as I have had business of the most intricate and perplexing nature to transact that could be in my line, ever since you left here; aud to my astonishment, I have been able to pursue it with a clear mind, and go to rest at night quietly, and without much fatigue. I would also state that I have done all this without the aid of medicine ; and I now begin to feel and realize, that after a most distressing illness of more than twelve years, my health will soon be entirely restored. Yours truly, Many are the cases which I might present here, but these and the above remarks are sufficient to establish the principles, and entitle the suggestions to earnest consideration, and this is all we ask. Dyspepsy.—This term implies so much, and is so indefinite in its extent aud meaning, that it is difficult to write under it understandingly and fully. I shall, however, consider it in its vague and extensive application as it is generally understood, viz: to mean indigestion, constipation, tenderness of the ab- domen and stomach, heart and liver diseases, &c, &c. In my description of it, I shall be very brief, being only anxious to impress the reader with correct notions as to its nature, cause and proper treatment. The subject of it may have a part, or all, of the folio wing COMMON SENSE. 135 symptoms, and in either case, be said, under certain circum- stances, to be afflicted with dyspepsy. Let it be also distincdy borne in mind, that patients may labor under either of these symptoms, even in an aggravated degree, from some peculiar cause, and not have dyspepsy, that is, not have that state of the organ that can properly be called dyspepsy, or indigestion, and require, or even admit, of the ordinary and appropriate treatment for that malady and state. The patient may complain of loss of appetite, or changeable, and even voracious appetite. What is eaten sits heavily on the stomach, producing a sense of flatness, weight, or load, or else it will produce a burning sensation, or pam in the stomach, which is often insufferable, and which is accompanied with a belching of gas, or the throwing off of a hot acid fluid, that seems to melt the teeth, and skin the whole throat. Often, after eating, he.feels as though there were a great, heavy and indigestible mass in the stomach, the painful effect of it only being relieved by lying prostrate. He generally feels weak and ghastly at the stomach, it being tender on pressure. That region is smaller, retracted, and soft to the touch. The lower abdomen will be round, tumid and hard, or else the whole abdomen will be hard and retracted. Almost always he will most of the time be of constipated habits. He usually looks and stands like Fig. 4, bent forward, drooped, with small waist, sunken stomach, arid inverted ab- domen, that is, in its proportions ; he steps carefully, and holds his hands to his stomach, or abdomen, to prevent the shaking of the organs. From the above imperfect sketch it is plain that, let the cause be what it may, the mechanical relations are deranged, and that there is a general infringement of the organs, and consequent interruption or derangement of their functions. Reader, you now see the subject before you, you understand my views, and know what is the remedy. Can it be blue pills, tonics, anodynes, cathartics, or laxatives exclusively ? We say that it is neither; but that it is only an effect of general mal- position, produced by a relaxation of the abdominal muscles, inducing apparent primary diseases in every organ of the ab domeu. The question now is, what is the appropriate treat ■ meat, as indicated by mechanical physiology and common sense i The reply is one of great importance. Below I proceed to give this reply with great confidence, founding my treatment on reason, observation, and a host of facts, which, with me. weigh down all the fine-spun arguments which call for internal or constitutional treatment exclusively. I believe that the proper treatment, is physical or mechanical • a treatment which replaces all the organs, restores all the normal relations, and gives the macliine and its vital power a 136 COMMON SENSE. fair chance to perform their specific functions. Secondly, it is to consist in a due and judicious attention to all the habits of the patient, and a proper regulation of the non-naturals. Thirdly, in a judicious co-operation with medicines. This brings us directly to the treatment. First, then, of the phy- sical treatment we remark : The organs are all deranged, or gravitated, one pulling and leaning upon the other. The lace, of strength suited to the extent of the derangement, and the sen- sitiveness of the patient, should be applied and accurately ad- justed, so that it shall fit exactiy, ancl feel comfortably. The moment this is effected, the form of body is changed, the waist is enlarged by the ascent of the organs sustaining the diaphragm and lungs, and each successive set of organs sus- taining the other throughout the whole trunk. Relief is In- stantaneous to a certain extent. The patient now draws a full, refreshing breath, and says that the goneness is vanished, the back is relieved, the weight at the base of the belly re- moved; he moves cheerfully, and without the fear of shaking; all parts feel comfortable, because they are all compressed, each by each, and kept within their orbit. By this means, the stimulus or tonic influence of pressure is restored, whereby the insensible sensibility of Bichat is aroused (or the involun- tary powers of life); the secretions are set up, the oscillating movement through the elliptic spring of the lace is restored, imitative of the abdominals when they are elastic; thus, cos- tiveness or constipation is removed, its cause being removed; the stomach is now supported, and its nerves now sustain or are sustained by the original combination of surrounding rela- tions. Of course, all the sensibilities and secretions are car- ried on, the stomach is sustained when empty as when full, the bile also is poured out into the duodenum (or second stom- ach), at a proper time, by the surrounding pressure. By all these means (everything respecting the habits'being equal and right), the gastric juice is plentifully supplied, and of a good. and active quality. Thus every part or stage of the process of digestion is carried on and completed. Or, to say the least, the groundwork of physiological action is right. But there may have been other causes acting in causing and keeping up the derangement which the morbid relations have instituted or perpetuated. First, the patient may have been in the swinish habit of daily surfeiting, whereby the stomach is over drawn upon; or he may have habitually indulged in improper articles for aliment, or, at improper times, imposing thereby burdens that are not within the laws of physiology to perform. Diet.—On the subject of diet I will simply say, that, first of all, he must make up his mind to be a man, and act up to what he knows, or might know, respecting proper articles of food, and their quantity, and the time of using them. Second- COMMON SEVSE. 137 ly, I say that his observation-must make up the particular, and sometimes the general rules, as what suits one temperament or constitution, often does not suit another. ' I first recommend the leavitig off of all narcotics, as tea, coffee and tobacco, and opium in every form of use. To do this, you may find yourself unequal at the first onset; but you must do it, aud your repeated failures to accomplish it will prove its necessity. Secondly, I say'that you should, in the main, select a vegetable diet. But I warn against distending the stomach with anything, or, in other words, warn rather against the quantity than the quality. Never eat of anything, however mild, until you can eat no more, or want no more ; this would be to eat as long as the swine do. Next, I say, do not select a poor, impoverished diet; the stomach has to labor harder to get its pittance, than it would from a richer or more nutritious one. Therefore, let the diet, whether vegetable or animal, be such as is light, and will both sit and digest easy. In this manner the stomach has less to do, and is more likely to do it well, than when analysing a mess of slops to nourish the system. For a vegetable diet, I like the Graham bread, or the rye and Indian, or the Indian alone. Milk often suits well; where it does, use it. Potatoes, baked or roasted, are good; onions, tomatoes, and all this class of vegetables are wholesome. But- ter must be watchec". But I must say, that I approve of a mixed diet with flesh, say of mutton, or rare beef, when the stomach is very irritable, and when it receives and faithfully disposes of it. Mutton chop I consider to be the best dish of animal food. Baked ■meats are not good: much fat meat does not digest well. Again, be regular and systematical in the number of meals per day, and the intervals between them. Three times per day are as often as you should eat, and take no lunch between meals. Let the breakfast be lijrht, dinner the heaviest, and supper the lightest meal. Never eat within three hours of going to rest:—better fast. Thirdly, of rest or sleep. On this point I shall only say, re- tire early, and rise early. Sleep on a mattress, and not on or under feathers. Fourthly, of exercise. Upon this point much should be said, but it is not within the scope of this work to be prolix or volu- minous on any point. I simply remark, that to be active in body and mind is all important and imperative, if you intend to be cured as well as relieved; for this is the great guaranty to energy, activity of fibre, and nervous influence. The first exercise needed, is for the weak abdominal mus- cles, and the motion of the abdominal organs ; thus restoring both the support and the movement of the organs. This can- 12* 138 COMMON SENSE. not be so well effected in any way, as by exercise oh the body, rather than by the body operating on something else. Mr. Halsted, of New York, established the most successful and rational treatment on this score that is extant. It consisted 'in laying the patient on his back, and kneading him violently some two or three times a day. Also, by placing the hands at the lower belly, and violently elevating and depressing them, so as to shake the whole abdominal furniture within. These two exercises are to be increased in violence by degrees, until you can pommel the abdomen with great force. In conjunc-, tion with the lace I have never known constipation, tenderness of the abdomen, or indigestion, that is, torpor of the stomach, to resist the influence of this violent exercise upon the abdo- men ; indeed, almost immediate relief is generally experienced. While on this head, I would speak favorably of stimulating baths, and> the vigorous use of the flesh brush, or a crash towel. As to general exercise, pertinent and important directions might be multiplied, but I shall be brief, only wishing to be distinctly understood, that activity is indispensable. Walking.—This exercise, though very useful and impor- tant, does not answer the end proposed, especially as it is re- sorted to as a remedy by those of sedentary habits, as ministers, lawyers, or students, who have not die ordinary exercise for the muscles of the arms and trunk. This exercise only gives exercise to the legs, or locomotives, and but very Utile to' the muscles of the trunk, the very place where it is especially requisite. It fatigues the limbs, often without providingenergy. Akin to this, is riding in a very easy carriage, where no ex- ercise really is given, through the elastic movemeut of the springs. There is no jolting, concussion, or shaking ; and the principal benefit derived from this sedentary exercise, is the change of scene and air, which is not inconsiderable. I there- fore recommend walking to be practised, of course, and not to be omitted, but not to be relied on as sufficient. I must re- commend horse, rather than carriage exercise; and let the horse have some movement not calculated to lull one to sleep ; I prefer a trot to any other gait. The patient will, at first, ex- perience pain, but will soon endure it with pleasure. But if he prefer exercise on wheels, select a lumber wagon, or one that has some jolting movement about it that makes the whole system shake. The advantage of this is obvious, and very great. Calisthenic and Gymnastic Exercises.—Swinging by the hands from a rope, jumping the rope, sawing wood, chopping or threshing, all in moderation, are excellent, in lessons of one- half an hour's duration, increasing as you can bear it. But many may fear that we wish to urge the necessity of work; COMMON SENSE. 139 and therefore demur against the above directions. To such I would say, that it matters not to me or you whether you work or play, so that the proper amount of exercise is enjoyed by every muscle or organ; and, to any who have a special re- pugnance to work, would recommend cahsthemc and gymnas- tic exercises. I can conceive«of no excuse for the neglect of these exercises, as they (especially the former), are within the reach of all. In a previous chapter I have given a few simple exercises in calisthenics, which I urge upon all to use with vigor, on retir- ing to, and rising from rest. I also impress upon every father the benefit that will accrue to his son by permitting him daily to practise in a gymnasium. These exercises give energy to every fibre, and great beauty, rotundity and symmetry to the body. But let not the dyspeptic think to do up all his exercise at once, and then, by over-fatigue, frustrate the design through his indolence; but let him make up his mind to become a man of system and order in his exercise. In this way he will love it, and prevent by it a return of the disease, instead of barely obtaining relief. Indeed, let the dyspeptic know that he has entailed upon himself this malady by bad habits, among which (as a general rule), indolence, in some respect or other, and indulgence in appetite, stand pre-eminent, and that he must travel back the very way he has come, in the use of a proper quality and quantity of diet, partaken in a proper way, and at a roper time. Next he must know that he must reform in the ind of indolence he has indulged, and that it is the work of time and patience, for which money cannot stand as a substi- tute. Also, let such remember, that no one thing, however good, is to be depended on for the entire cure; but that the whole range of means, as indicated by the facts in each case, are to be patiently and judiciously employed. We now proceed to detail, faithfully, a few of many cases of the different degrees and varieties of this malady. We shall do this honestly, and only with a view to establish a fact, and to bring that fact into use, to the incalculable advantage of the afflicted. Case 1. Mr. C, of Philadelphia, was brought up to the business of printing. From boyhood he was dyspeptic, so that the family were often disturbed at night with watching, for it seemed that his distress would destroy him. Near the age of twenty-one he left his vocation and went into other business, not that best calculated to restore him. I saw him when about the age of thirty, he having returned home, unable to attend to business. He was a mere wreck of a man; his flesh gone, his skin and extremities cold. His fcwm was nat- urally straight, but now it was crooked ; his shouklers humped 140 COMMON SENSE. and drooped; his chest contracted; his stomach sunken and retracted, or gone, and his abdomen very soft and flat in its upper region, but hard and tumid at its base, as in Fig. 4 The tenderness, or sense of pulling or tightness, was severe at the stomach; the same was also the fact at the lower belly, accompanied with swelling. His constipation was surprising. He could not sit comfortably without lounging on the sofa. His stomach refused almost everything. But his more trouble- some peculiarities were, the most intolerable gloom or melan- choly He felt a perfect aversion to seeing, much more to con- versing with his friends, and his answers were monosyllables, and irritable at that He was cross and perfectly misanthropic. He said that he had often put off all important business, be- cause it was too great an undertaking to go up stairs for ink. But I cannot tell all his feelings and actions; he was anything and everything that a miserable dyspeptic could be. The piles were exceedingly tormenting to him also. It would be almost impossible to enumerate the variety and amount of medical treatment he had received, but all to no purpose. He had become disgusted with the profession, and would not endure interrogatories, from thein concerning his complaints. In this situation, the lace was applied. In one moment he looked up aud said, " That does touch the spot." I directed him to wear it "a few days on trial. But soon he left the city. In about one month he returned, looking aud acting like a new man ; his countenance was bright, his eye looked brilliant, and his manners were courteous and social. He passed evenings now cheerfully in the presence of the family. On first return- ing, he drew up his chair to me and said, " I have the pleas- ure of bearing testimony to the efficacy of your lace; I have shown it to several,* and they were like to take it from me." His appetite was improved ; his strength much increased; the tenderness of his stomach diminished, and the enlarged, tumid state of the lower abdomen nearly removed. Case 2. Mrs. T., Peimsylvania, married, aged forty, had been medicated eighteen months for dyspepsy. She was emaciated and relaxed beyond measure, and was tired of the profession, and of life also. Her form was that of Fig. 4, emphatically so. The chest was perfectly retracted and stom- ach very much depressed—said it was gone. On sitting up had a tendency to faint, from the " pulling " at the stomach; could eat but one or two articles, and that in the recumbent posture, for on eating erect, the load or weight was so distress- ing that she was compelled to take to the bed immediately, to be relieved. In this case the atrophy, or laxity of the abdom- inal fibres sfcemed to be extreme, so that I grasped a handful of the integuments with ease. COMMON SENSE. 141 The lace was adjusted to this lady, and to my surprise, she arose, and, in the act of rising, exclaimed, " Why, my stomach is filled up." She walked to the fire, at first very crooked and cautious, as usual, as though she would fall to pieces, but soon stood erect; then sat and conversed cheerfully, for the space of three-quarters of an hour, which she informed me she had not done for five consecutive minutes, for six months, previously. Her appetite immediately improved, and she could eat ordinary food, in the erect posture, and sit up during its digestion. She soon went into the air, and rode out to some advantage. The dizziness of the head and gloom of spirits were dissipated, and as her husLand said to me, they had " different times at their house" after Sat. The change in her actions and appearance was astonishin *, and produced much affect on the mind of die community. Very many are the cases whice I might bring forward in de- tail, but they are all similar in their description and success. Suffice it to say, that in no case has there been a failure. Nor do I believe there ever will be one, where there is no organic lesion, and where all the above remedial agents are judiciously used. I content myself with the relation of two more cases, and leave the reader to his own cogitations. Case 3. Mr. E., of New York city, a young man who grad- ually declined, and became horribly dyspeptic : when he called to see me he was afraid to look or to speak, he thought him- self so worthless. He had no confidence in himself or his friends; no peace nor hope; all was black without and within; what he ate, he " watehed to see if it went to the right place." Constipation, despite of medicine, reigned ; from his head to his hips, he felt a sense of weight hanging or dragging, or pull- ing at the stomach, sides, faintness about the chest; his voice was very effeminate, and tremulous and hesitating. Said he wanted to die. Had done all that a distressed man could do, and to no avail. I examined his frame, apd found his stomach sutiken, abdomen pendulous and hard at its base. He was continually disposed to sit lounging on one hip, or doubled up to prevent a sense of bearing and vacancy at the stomach. The lace was applied. He felt better^and his voice was stronger be- fore he left the room. In a few days he called, said his bow- els were regular, perfectly, could eat like others, with impunity —had returned to his business. His countenance also tohi the change as plaiuly as his tongue. Case 4. Mr. M., a Swede, was returning to his country for his health, called to see me. His case was about exactly as the one above—all was gloom, and despair in his appearance; movedc arefully to prevent jolting ; said he felt great weakness in his breast, sides, stomach and bowels ; was perfectly costive ; had no energy. I saw his form was like Figs. 4 and 8, with 142 COMMON SENSE. die lower belly distended with flatus, sounded on snapping it with the finger. He applied the lace, and nothing else, felt comforted before he left the room, returned the next morning and was much changed, friends had inquired what was the matter, said three hours after he left, the bowels moved freely with much wind, from that day said no man could do more business than himself—energy returned, and cheerfulness of spirits. Reader, I have not exaggerated, nor colored, nor even come up to the declarations of the patients themselves". But all cases of dyspepsia are not thus happily and suddenly benefited, in some it is more general; and in a very few cases—not bene- fited at all. The truth is, the lace should be tried by all, and seconded if necessary by constitutional and hygienic influences. We are here only pleading for a proper consideration of thia principle among other things. CHAPTER II. AFFECTIONS OF THE LIVER--DYSENTERY AND CHRONIC DIARRHfEA— CHRONIC PERITONITIS, OR GENERAL TENDERNESS OF THE ABDO- MEN--CONSTIPATION OF THE BOWELS--PILES OR HEMORRHOIDS— PAIN IN THE LEFT SIDE, OR CHRONIC INFLAMMATION OF THE SPLEEN--RETENTION AND TOO FREQUENT DISCHARGE OF URINE --AFFECTIONS OF THE SPINE--CASES SHOWING THE SUPERIORITY OF THE LACE OVER THE BRASS CORSETS--EFFECTS OF THE LACE ON WEAK CHILDREN--HABITUAL COLIC--INFLUENCE OF THE LACE DURING PREGNANCY--THE INFLUENCE OF THE LACE IN CHILD- BED--THE USE OF THE LACE IN UTERINE HEMORRHAGE AND PROFUSE MENSTRUATION--LEUCORRH03A, OR WHITES--OEDEMA, OR SWELLING OF THE LOWER EXTREMITIES--VARICOSE VEINS— OBESITY OR FATNESS—THE USE OF THE LACE ON SUBJECTS PRE- DISPOSED TO AND AFFLICTED BY HERNIA OR RUPTURES—PROLAP- SUS UTERI. Affections of the Liver.—This term also is very indefinite, and is daily much abused, as it really expresses varieties of red diseases, and is often applied to states where it does not belong, and consequently much mischief is done by prescribing for a liver affection, when, probably, the morbid sensation and affec- tions of the liver are but the reflected effects of remote causes, which are unsuspected. It may be said to cause dyspepsy, 01 COMMON SENSE. 143 to be the effect of dyspepsy : or it may exist without any con- nection with it. My present object is only to touch on those cases where it is the result of, or accompanied by, disarrange- ment, or a descent of the lower organs, leaving the liver sus- pended, in lieu of being supported; thus necessarily and very materially changing the relations and state of the liver, accord- ing to views presented in foregoing chapters of this work. Or, in other words, I wish to show, that not half the cases of supposed liver complaints are such in reality, but only a func- tional derangement, caused by general, mechanical and tangi- ble infringement on the sensible, and consequently, on the in- sensible properties of that organ. Should the above opinion be practically true, is there not a fearful amount of medication bestowed upon diseases that are mechanical, and not under the cognizance of medicine ? Is there not thus terrible injury done? The following cases, in con- nection with the reasoning of this whole work, will show this alarming fact. Case 1. Mrs. L., of Philadelphia, had for twelve years been under treatment of a very active character, for an affection of '.he liver. For years she was salivated several times, and bled once a month. Her form was such as you may imagine it to have been, viz., drooped, curved, aud relaxed in every part. Naturally beautiful, her countenance showed that she, in her primal days, was very interesting, but now it expressed a general flabbiness and laxity. The abdomen was perfectly re- laxed, and inverted as to shape ; the stomach had no tone, and was very much retracted. She had, for the twelve years, complained of pain in the right side and shoulder. These, together with trie other usual symptoms, indicated, as was supposed, liver affection, for which she was treated, and through which it is rather wonderful that she should live. She was well informed, and very intelligent. She was con- stantly declaring that she had no liver complaint. Her doctor would say, " Child, what do you know about it.'" Sometimes there was tenderness of the liver, and sometimes not; more generally she was inclined to lean toward the affected side, and to press upon it, receiving thereby some relief, indicating that there was no primary inflammation, either acute or chronic. She gave for her reason that she had no liver complaint, " that her liver did not feel side," but that it felt as though " it was lunging from where it was hitched," and had done so for twelve years. This was eloquent, because it expressed the fact as it was. The pain being occasioned by the tensioirof the hepatic ligaments from the diaphragm and convex surface of the liver, occasioning not a severe, darting, pungent, or acute pain, but a dragging, hanging, or pulling and weighty sensation; the 144 COMMON SENSE. occasional tenderness being accounted for only by the irritation induced by this unnatural position of things. On placing my hand at the lower abdomen aud back, giving the abdominal mass an elevation toward the stomach, she said, " That hanging from where it is hitched is gone," and "that the side was perfectly easy." The lace was applied, aud the permanent result may be guessed at; viz., that she was able to go about with comfort, when before she could not leave her room. Though the greatest names in Philadelphia had been her attendants, yet she could scarcely speak with patience of them, in view of all that she had suffered, when her case was so simple. This case is a host of itself, and is a just representation of a majority of the cases of common liver complaint, and exhibits the difference between real and apparent liver affections, and also between the proper and the popular treatment of the same. But we pass on to give one more of the many cases which we have relieved by the la-e. Case 2. Mrs. H., of Ct., had for years complained of almost everything. She had an incessant cough, pain in the back. ' swelling of the feet and legs, paiu in the stomach, and great teuderness in the right side. These are the only symptoms necessary to mention; others there were, embracing an almost endless variety. She seemed fast sinking into the grave, and was unable to walk beyond a very few rods a day. She came to consult me—said that some of her doctors decided that she had dropsy, some consumption, some spinal disease, others dyspepsy, and others still liver complaint; but it was concmded that a livei affectiou was her disorder. Her form was miserable; the whole truncal relation was disarranged as in figure 4. It is therefore easy to see why some said dropsy, dyspepsy, con- sumption, spinal disease, &c.; because there were, indeed, symptoms of each and all. But there was a mechanical cause that would induce all of the present appearances. I should add, that, in connection with the above, she was borne down with the most oppressive nervousness, gloom, grief and des- titution of earthly a^d religious comfort, that I ever saw. I inquired if the pain in her side was very severe, deep-seated, or sharp ? or if the side was hot, or painful on pressure ? She answered me " no" in every case, excepting that sometimes it was sore to the touch. She said the pain, in the main, was dull, dead, heavy, hanging, dragging, or pulling, causing her to lean to that side and press it with her hand. The laee was applied, and in less than one minute, she arose, and peace and tranquillity were in her whole countenance. She drew a full inspiration, said she could breathe easy, her stomach was sup- COMMON SENSE. 145 ported, could speak without pain (and even laughed), her back felt better, aud as to the side, the weakness and pain were gone She left the house feeling like a new being, and on the n«xt day rode forty miles with ease. With reason the neigh- bors wondered at the change. This effect was only the natural tendency of the support The organs were all lifted up, thereby relieving the female or- gans below, and supporting the intestines, liver, s(omach, spleen, heart and lungs. Or, in other words, the whole wheels of the machine wTere put and kept in place, the nerves of organic life were pacified, and went on with their wonted functions. « I shall rest these views on affections of the liver here, adding one single remark, viz., that jaundice, in some of its forms, should always have the lace tried, as a stimulant to a torpid, or an anodyne to an irritated liver. Dysentery and Chronic Diarrhcea.—In speaking of these often potent and distressing diseases of adults and children, I mean not to lay down a system of treatmeut for them, but to offer and impress some suggestions. It is well known that there are many causes which" produce diarrhoea and dysentery suddenly, without any reference to any displacement of the organs, and that diey require a treatment which operates with philosophi- cal adaptation to the cause or the state of the system. But it is also evident that if they continue to rage, whether chronic or acute, for days or weeks, they must diminish the volume of the viscera, and that, of course, they will recede from the ab- dominal walls, by this means depriving themselves of support, and consequently will fall to the bottom of the belly, producing the same suspending and dragging sensations that a relaxation of the muscles always causes. This also removes the stimulant or tonic influence of the muscles, pressing on the viscera. Now, in view of the doctrine of this work', and in view of its developments of the weak and irritable state of the stomach and walls, and of the nerves of organic life, is it not plain to see that there must be a want of support, or a serious aud irritating effect produced, causing all such patients .to bend forward, walk with caution, or lie coiled up in bed to prevent a sense of dragging or tension at the stomach, and of pulling, generally, and of weight, at the lower belly ? Would uot this state be just calculated to keep up or perpetuate all the characteristics of these diseases ? The following instance will show the truth of our remarks. Case 1. A certain vessel in the East India trade had her crew indiscriminately attacked with dysentery. Those who survived were left with a continual discharge of watery stools. What .they ate was not digested, but carried away whole, after remaining but a short time. The dejections were thin and ino- 13 146 COMMON SENSE dorous, and were ejected by a spasn odic effort of the muscu- lar coat of the bowels. So frequent was this, that they " went about alinos. in a state of nudity." There was not one left to stand before the mast, and they were forced to drive before the wind. It seenied as though life could continue in them but little longer. They had no capacity of abdomen, and the most they complained of was, a faiutness at the stomach and sense of weightirom head to foot. From some reason or other (perhaps instinct), one man put an a Russian belt, and was able, on that day, to do some things about the ship. He told his doctor that he had been in trouble but eight times that day, and said he felt stronger. A belt was then placed upon every sailor, and they lost no more of the crew; the plague was immediately dried up. This instauce is full of instruction, induction and inference. First. It shows that after the acute state of dysentery is over, if the disease do not cease, the patient should be supported by a lace, lifting upwards and backwards, maintaining the proper apposition of all the parts—consoling them by mutual support, quieting their nerves, and taking away every tangible difficulty. Secondly. It shows that in old and severe diarrhoea the same indications will prevail and should be carried out, and that we should never wonder at our ill-success, until a proper support has been used, in conjunction with other appropriate remedies. But my attention will now be directed to cholera infantum. May not these little sufferers be relieved by support ? I there- fore recommend that a swathe be applied to all of the above cases, and if it is indicated or admissible, 1 advise the sprink- ling thereou something stimulating to aid in the indication. As children generally have fuller abdomens than adults, per- haps a flannel swathe will do, without a lace ; but in adults, the swathe does not lift enough ; they require a lace to counter- poise the downward pressure of the organs. Chrome Peritonitis, or general tenderness of the abdomen.—This is common to dyspeptics and hypochondriacs, or sedentary people. It is generally characterized by somewhat of a tumid abdomeu (especially at its bottom, as in figure 4>, and tender- ness felt on walking, the patient being very careful to step softly, to prevent concussion He carries his abdomen in his hand, leans forward when he walks, aud complains of some prickling pains, ever and anon. This disease has too often been treated by bleeding and cupping, with counter-irritation, in conjunction with cathartics, but without success. Now, what is the patiiology of this state of things? Why, look and see. The belly is tumid, the abdominal contents are pendent, and the peritoneum is put on the stretch. This membrane is very vascular and irritable, and illy calculated to sustain this weight with impunity. Its surface is extended, an undue quantity COMMON SENSE. 147 of blood is thereby invited to it, creating heat, tenderness and pain. The muscles are relaxed and permit this descent, and the bowels he a dead weight on the lower ligaments and the bones of the pelvis. They have thus fallen below the axis of muscular support, so that if the muscles do contract in this condition, they will only press down the bow els more and more. Also, the elliptic action of the muscles, whereby the bowels are gently lifted up, is lost, and they now sink like a dead weight, subject to concussion on the slightest motion of the body, producing the sensation of pain and bearing down at the bottom of the belly, and of pulling at the stomach. This shows that a great share of the supposed cases of functional affections of the peritoneum are not such, directly, but merely mechanical displacements. I have seen the most astonishing relief from such affections, which had'been intoler- able for many years, immediately given by the use of the lace, operating, as one might suppose, merely by changing the re- lations and bearing of the organs and parts. I will not adduce particular cases here in illustration of the above view, because that almost all the common cases of pro- lapsus, or dyspepsy, are attended by this affection, and are all relieved. I- therefore regard the above affection only as an effect, not as a disease ; as a general rule one that does not admit of a specific treatment, but will be relieved by attention to the general mechanical state. Constipation of the Bowels.—This malady is generally present, and helps make up the aggregate sufferings in dyspepsy. But, nevertheless, I choose to consider it as a distinct affection, as it may exist without the other phenomena of dyspepsy, or even be the very cause of them. Constipation implies an improper extension of the faeces, and an imperfect evacuation of them; but not a deficiency of them. What is its pathology ? Let us see ? In the first place, we find most constipated patients somewhat of the form of fig. 4, with the stomach retracted, the size of the abdomen inverted, tumid and hard at its base, the abdominal muscles relaxed, the original flexible pressure lost, the common motion to the viscera gone, whereby the vital action of the organs in assimila- tion is destroyed, or depreciated. Of course the secretions will be deficient and imperfect, and the muscular coat of the intestines will be torpid from the same cause. The reader will also see that the visceral mass (a mass of organs) is now resting, to a great extent, on the lower, large bowel, where it passes into the pelvis, and that it is thereby shut up, and the decent of the f;eces mechanically impeded. By this means the colon, or large bowel, will be largely distended, its secretions being absorbed by the haated mass, the folds of the lining mem- 148 COMMON SENSE brane are torn open, and the whole is thrown into an infelici- tous state for the process of defecation. The qusstioii now is, is it medicine of any kind that will cure this affliction, or do anything more than gain temporary allevia- tion ? Surely medicine cannot cure such a case. For it is evident that two things are necessary, viz., the mechanical replacement of the organs, and the increase of nervous energy; and it is also plain that the latter will be effected by the accomplishment of the former, through the pressure of each organ against the other, by the power that elevates the whole. I therefore say, that, let the costiveness be ever so bad, we have no business to attempt a cure by any constitutional remedy, previous to having applied a lace, or some other efficient mechanical appliance for restoring the original and mutual relations among the organs. I shall therefore not prolong my remarks on this subject, but simply say, that abdominal elevation and support are the philosophical and rational, as well as successful, applications for constipation of the bowels, in every degree and variety of it. Very many have been the cases that have tested this principle, and none of them have failed; and should this be true (as it is), and be univer- sally known and applied, who can tell the result to mankind ? Subjoined are a few cases among many, which I say honestly, may be considered as fair representations of*ali others where the lace has been tried. Case 1. Mr. C, of Connecticut, a man of great intellect, had for many years been so afflicted with costiveness that it was common for him to pass eight or ten days without an alvine evacuation. His feet were always cold, his head always hot, dizzy, confused and pressed; his mind had become much im- paired, so that he ceased to write, argue, reflect, or transact any business but of a bustling kind out of doors. The com- munity even whispered it about extensively that C. was fail- ing, and becoming imbecile and childish. He told me that he thought so himself, and was afraid of idiocy or insanity. He was very irritable and irascible, gloomy, hypochondriacal, and had thoughts of suicide. His abdomen was tumid and indo- lent, large at its base and very hard. The lace was applied; in one moment he said he felt better at his stomach and head, and was exceedingly happy for some days; after which, for some time, I did not hear from him. When he afterward came, said he, " I thought I was going to die. My abdomen became tender, and the lace put me in torment. 1 concealed it, and determined to stick it out; but at length could not bear the weight of my clothes. Finally, I was suddenly called to the stool. This was followed by a most violent faecal efflux, and upon this the tenderness subsided and the bowels went on en- joying a daily evacuation. The coldness of the feet, and heat, COMMON Sl'vsf;, 149 confusion and throbbing of the head ceased, and the mind be- came vigorous and flexible." This case shows that the pressure, finally, but by degrees, excited in the bowels a perfect storm, because they had been so very low that an ordinary stimulus could not produce an ordinary excitement, and therefore when it did come it came like a whirlwind. This effect was uncommon, but perfectly in keeping with the circumstances of the case; and even had the case not terminated well, and the inflammation been a morbid effect, the natural tendency of the lace, it proves a some- thing, viz., its power to produce an effect; and if we can prove an effect, we can prove a favorable one by modifying the cir- cumstances of the application. The end of tiiis case was very satisfactory. Case 2. Mrs. F., of Ct., married, aged about 31, a teacher. Seldom had an evacuation oftener than once per week. Her head ached always, and she experienced all the other affec- tions of the head usual in such cases. She also complained of an intolerable weight at the pubes, and great tumidity of the abdomen there. She had for many years been afflicted, and every female derangement was attendant upon her, so that she could not stand without resting one foot upon a stool or chair. The lace was applied in her case, and in a moment she ex- perienced relief from every symptom but that of costiveness. She afterwards informed me that from that day she had been happy in every bodily respect; that the costiveness was en- tirely removed, and she felt as though a new life was before her. Case 3. Mr. F., of Ct., a tailor, was dyspeptic to a great ex- tent. Emaciation and constipation were very predominant, in his case. He knew nothing of the privilege of natural faecal evacuations, and was harassed with every feeling and temp- tation that any poor hypochondriac and dyspeptic could have. I hesitated about applying the lace, as it seemed that he hardly had abdomen enough to support, but on its application, he found immediate relief. His bowels were perfectly restored, their daily evacuation was set up, and his health, appetite, rest and mind, all returned to their wonted state. Case 4. Mr. R., Ct., had for twelve years been so severely afflicted by costiveness. that when anything passed him it seemed like " matter" (as he termed it). He was meantime afflicted with the most dreadful gloom and melancholy. He endured every kind of treatment from -many physicians, but still grew worse. His case excited universal sympathy and regret. The lace was applied to this patient without much hope, but to my astonishment, his own, and that of all who knew him, he was relieved entirely—cured from that day, and resumed 13* 150 COMMON SENSK. his wontet vigor a id cheerfulness. It was a matter of com- mon notoriety and wonder throughout the neighborhood. I considered this case among the great triumphs of the princi- ple, and so great was his gratitude and confidence in the sys- tem, that he rode from one village to another to tell those of his cure who were similarly affected. Case 5. Miss F., Vt., aged 20, had always lived a sedentary life, and was now broken down entirely. Her bowels were very constipated, and her abdomen pendulous. This patient suffered everything that any one could from the direct and re- flected effects of constipation. The lace at once relieved every symptom, and restored perfect regularity of peristaltic action, from the day it was applied, Case 6. Mr. C, of Vt., aged 40, was habitually costive, without any regularity at all in that respect. The lace was ap- plied to him for other affections, which were relieved ; but he said that he was now compelled to pay daily attention to the calls of nature, since wearing the lace. But why multiply cases, there is a sameness in them all; hundreds of them are at hand, and of the most aggravated character, all of which the above truly represent. Of Piles or Hemorrhoids.—This is a most distressing malady, and is of more common occurrence than is supposed. It should be placed along side of costiveness, as eight-tenths of the cases of the piles accompany or follow costiveness; and indeed, we have shown, in the pathological part of this work, that constipation explains the usual nationale of piles. This we here repeat in short, before we proceed to the treatment, and detail of cures. We find in constipation that the mucous membrane is dis- tended and irritated by the foreign mass, which is hard and dry, inducing congestion in the lining membrane. We notice also, that in the exit or expulsion of die mass, while the mass and membrane are in a dry state, there must be a forcing dowi! of the membrane, a tearing open of its folds, and a thrusting of it into the world before the excrement. This membrane. at first, may be drawn back before the sphincter muscle (muscle contracting the a7ius, or oudet of the bowel) con- tracts upon it, but soon it will lose its tone, become Congested and relaxed, and be prolapsed at every defecation, or evacua- tion (and perhaps between), upon the slightest straining. To aid in this, the bowels are pressing down on the rectum, oi lower bowel, continually bearing it down, aud perpetuating the tendency to its inversion. By this pressure, also, the veins returning the blood from the intestines will be compressed, producing an enlargement of them. If this state exists long, there will arise tumors on the mucous membrane, which will be shut out of the body by the sphincter muscle, or anus, which COMMON SENSE. 151 will be very sore, and often require an operation. Now, what are the indications of cure ? We say, that they are obvious, viz., to take the weight off from the bowels by raising them up ; to restore activity by pressure, and draw back the re- laxed rectum by the elevating power of the lace,- thus, when at stool, the bowels may be rested upon the pad of the lace, and not upon the rectum. I do aver that eight cases out of ten will be cured or relieved by this means immediately, or very soon, and that, no one need wonder why he is not cured, till he has tried the lace. I subjoin some faithfully reported cases, as representatives of numerous ones that have been treated by the lace. Case 1. Dr. Kellogg, of Pa., who was afflicted by bilious or spasmodic colic habitually, until he was broken down, as in fig. 4. He was unable to ride without a recurrence of it. . He applied a lace. His abdomen before was peculiarly tumid at its base, and tender; the stomach retracted and sore, and the waist diminished. On the evening of the first day after its application he called to say that he had done more rid- ing that afternoon than he had done for months, and had accomplished it with perfect ease. But he stated that what most surprised him was, that he had been, for the last six months, so seriously afflicted with the piles that it was tor- ment for him to ride, but that he had not felt the least symptom of it that day. Moreover, six months after he in- formed me that he had not been visited by them. The idea was new to me; but, on reflection, I saw the reasonableness of the thing, and from that day instituted a set of experiments on that point, expecting that something of importance would be the result, in which I have not been dis- appointed. Case 2. Mr. C, of Philadelphia, who had labored for very many years under an aggravated dyspepsy, by which he was brought near the grave, was also afflicted Avith piles, to his great inconvenience, and had been for many years. This gentleman made trial of the lace, and other physical remedies for relief from his complicated complaints, in which he succeeded, and found that the piles were among the first difficulties to give way. His was an obstinate case Case 3. Miss E., Vt., milliner, among other female difficul- ties, was sorely afflicted with piles, so that to sit was often impossible. Her bowels were always very costive, producing the usual long train of afflictions consequent on that state. This lady applied the lace, and was immediately relieved of all her afflictions, but more especially of the piles. Judging from her own expressions, she was about entirely relieved. Case 4. Mrs. G., Vt., aged forty, had been an #ld and ha- bitual sufferer from piles; they were constant and very pain- 152 COMMON SENSE. ful. The constipation of the bowels was great, and agg,*- vating in many respects. This lady applied the lace, and, notwithstanding she was of so very irritable a constitution, and so restive -that she could not bear the pressure of a gentle lace for more than two or three hours at a time, she declared, that, from the hour of its application, she felt relief. This patient entertained the pleasing prospect of incalculable relief, just in proportion as she could be able to endure the pres sure of the lace. . Case 5 Mrs. B., Vt., aged forty, was a lady of great intelli gence and enterprise. She had for very many years been sub ject, or predisposed, to the piles, and had succeeded in par- tially ridding herself of them. But her doctor, through fear of a pulmonary affection, re-established them by aloes, designing, by their irritation, to draw away the action from the lungs to the lower bowel. The effect on the rectum was intolerable; the piles returned in a* fearful force, so that the mucous mem- brane was extensively inverted, exceedingly congested and enlarged. She had endured two or three operations, or ex- tirpations, with considerable relief; but, when I saw her, she had been making ready her affairs to submit to another ope- ration, and the following was her description of the case. She said that she was not costive, but that she had great trouble in her alvine evacuations. The calls were as regular as was desirable, but the efforts only partially successful. Each evacuation would be accompanied by great straining, also by a dropping down of the folds, or '• bladders, of the inner coat of the bowel," as she called them, seeming to obstruct the descent of a portion of the faeces. In a short time she would be again called to the stool, with the same efforts and results. This would, in general, have to be done three times each morn- ing, when it would seem that the evacuation had been com- plete, and all was perfectly easy again until thenextday. She also stated, that after every fecal effort, she was always obliged to lie upon the floor with the hips elevated, and, with manual effort, return the bowel. She seemed like a lady, and one of uncommon firmness and resolution, but her countenance and manner indicated that she was about worn out. In this situation she superintended her concerns, and with how much comfort you can judge. The lace was applied to this lady in the morning; in the evening I called to see her. She seem- ed like one anew created; her countenance showed it, but her tongue told it. She said her family told her that she was crazy. Two days after, I called to see her again, and found her doing well. She informed me that she had been able to evacuate her bowels at one natural effort with ease, and to pass the tb>y without any of the former torment, and that she could do anything, as well as ever. Formerly she couid COMMON SENSE. 153 not lift, rea. h, or stoop, without a prolapsus; but now it was not so. She said, in illustration, to-day, I have helped to tack down the carpet, which, for years previously, I have not been able to do. Let these suffice on this point; a large number of similar cases are still at our hand, but these are sufficient to exhibit the correctness of our theory, and the remarkable success of our mechanical remedy. We will not conceal our opinion upon the subject of abdominal support, but candidly aver that the world have yet to learn (in our estimation) the thousandth part of its importance, in a preventive, or remedial point of view. Of Pain in the left side, on Chronic Inflammation of the Spleen. —The spleen is liable to a variety of diseases wnicn, are common to other visceral organs,—such as acute or chronic inflammation, arterial or venous congestion, enlargement or diminution of its volume, &c, &c. The affections may arise from local or constitutional causes, and be either of a primary, direct, or indirect character. This organ is situated in the left side, under the short ribs, and is the seat of much difficulty, and tluit generally of a chronic character. It must be ac- knowledged by the profession, that what is called an affection of the spleen, or pain in the side, has baffled us much, and been more unsuccessfully treated than the affections of any other organ. The view which we have taken respecting the chronic and mechanical relations of this organ shows, that a majority of the supposed real affections of the spleen are not real, and explains the cause of our ill success. The more common affections of this organ are, lameness, some tender- ness, and a dead, dull, deep and contiuua! pain in the leftside, for which cuppings, leechuigs, issues, and every variety of counter irritation are applied, and that too, often without per- manent or radical success. Were this disease such as it is supposed to, be, viz., some degree of inflammatory affection, it would, and must, generally be relieved materially by this treat- ment. But Dr. Dewees has confessed that his success was not at all satisfactory on this point We now see that the spleen is pendent from the diaphragm (if the patient have at all the form of fig. 4), and that its liga- ments are put on the stretch. It also appears evident, that, in this case, the remedy is to elevate the abdomen, and keep it so by the firm, gentle, and flexible agency of the lace. Again, it Is scarcely ever that these affections of the spleen occur, ex- cepting there be signs of a relaxed state of the abdominal muscles, or, in the female subject, of prolapsus, &c. Dr. Dewees states this in his practice, and also states tnat they almost universally give way to a proper treatment of the prolaps is. • 154 COMMON SENSE. 1 shall not detail any cases on this point in particular, as they are so numerous, and so connected with other affections, and will only say, that let no man proceed to treat this affection (under the case here supposed), by the usual remedies, until he has tried the influence of support, percussion, friction, and the morning cold bath, and evening tepid saline sponge. I have never known a case of the kind referred to, combined with a relaxation of the abdominal muscles and its effects, tc fail of immediate and entire relief in the use of these means Retention and too Frequent Discharge of Urine.—These two states may have one cause, although they are so opposite in their phenomena. The first of them is exceedingly painful and dangerous ; the latter less so, but very inconvenient and troublesome. Often the same case will alternate from one to the other difficulty. It is highly worthy of remark, that very many, or most of these cases, are dyspeptics, hypochondriacs, or cases of prolapsus, whose forms correspond quite accurate- ly with figure 4; or, in other words, we find that retention, or misretention of urine is attendant on, or attended by, pro- lapsus, and all the above results of mechanical pressure. The past view of the subject explains what may be the cause in many cases, viz., that the abdominal organs are fallen on to the bladder, permanently, either inverting it, forming an acute angle in its neck, obstructing the flow of the urine, or com- pressing it, diminishing its capacity and ability to retain the proper amount of fluid, causing the more frequent emission of it. In this case it is plain that the difficulty is not in the urinary organ, or its appendages, but in the neighboring re- lations which the organs hold to it. How inappropriate, then, would be any internal remedies foi retention, or incontinence, under such circumstances; yet many cases of this kind exist for years, and never are sus- pected—the patient doing and taking everything but the right thing. I have become so used to this, that I hav% detected it in many cases that have baffled the ingenuity of the best prac- titioners, and have had the pleasure of seeing them yield to abdominal support. Pregnancy is often a fruitful cause of this difficulty, and it is then ascribed to the proper cause, but not suspected in the slim, gaunt subject. Let every practitioner, and every patient thus afflicted, before proceeding to medicate for either of these affec- tions, first look at the form, and inquire if there be not a tan- gible cause—some mechanical displacement. If you have the form of Fig. 4., and feel a sense of weight at the base of the abdomen, and have other symptoms of muscular relaxation, let him apply a lace, and very likely an immediate amelioration may be effected.' It is often astonishing what relief is experienced, even in COMMON SENSE. 155 old and obstinate cases. This point is so obvious, and the cases so common and interwoven with other diseases, that I shall not take time to detail cases in illustration. But the reader may rest assured that there is no lack of them. In various cases of the prostate-gland, the abdominal sup- port has done much when there was constant tenderness and pain from the superincumbent weight on the diseased and irritated part; although it cannot cure, still it removes a great source of irritation. Affections of the Spine.—We have seen that the spine is made and arranged to sustain the whole trunk, and that it does it with ease only when all the relations are perfect, and accord- ing to the view laid down in the preceding chapter of this work, whereby the body is balanced on the spine, or its axis, and all the abdominal organs thrown as nearly into the centre, or axis of the body, as can be, when the body is in the healthy state and erect posture. In this set of relations we see that there is but little leverage on the spine, and that the effect of gravity is only to make the posture the more firm and easy. We have also seen that a crooked posture, and relaxed muscles, wholly disarrange this set of relations, inducing a correspond- ing change of operations, of a serious and afflictive character. The weight of the body is then thrown on to the substance or body of the vertebrae, or spine, in lieu of the processes, thus relaxing the abdominal muscles, letting the abdominal contents fall and roll farther from the axis, thus increasing their leverage on the spine, and putting an increased and perpetual burden on the muscles of the back. They must naw carry the whole to a great disadvantage, producing the necessary results, viz., every degree of pain and disease of the back, genuine spinal irritation from pressure on the cartilages, &c, and also spinal or muscular weakness from exhaustion, which may exist alone, or in combination with real irritation. It is well known that spinal irritation can and does often pro- duce every affection of the viscera; and that it is often not. suspected until fruitless efforts have been made to cure the symptoms, as primary diseases ; then all is often suddenly re- lieved by a cupping, or some counter irritation to the back. But let it be remembered that spinal irritation calling for de- pletory treatment, must have some degree of inflammation present, and that when there is this, there must be a sensitive- ness on pressure, and the reduction of this inflammation only relieves, but to allow of a return, unless the pressure of the body be in some way removed from the susceptible parts. This accounts for the frequent failure in the common treatment by depletion. ^ The practitioner should always, then, after his patient does not entirely recover by the common practice, put on a lace, to 156 COMMON SENSE. restore the proper relations—the axis of the body—and support the trunk on its own organs, by elevating them. I have been astonished to see certain patients immediately recover from very old, genuine irritation, by the lace alone, after years of suffering and disease, and treatment also. But it seems to me that, as a general rule, the topical, counter-irritating treatment and the lace, should always be combined. In this way the cure will be hastened and pain saved. This idea may be said not to be new, as so many bandages, jackets, shoulder-braces, ami metal splints have been devised for such cases. But a moment's reflection will show that diese are no support at all, properly considered, and operate by merely acting as screws to squeeze, or as posts to hold the body, or for it to lean upon, doing in this way much hurt, by compressing the muscles, or by inducing increased activity in the muscles of one side and torpor in those of the other, thus destroying their equilibrium, that true power by which our symmetry is preserved. The effect of the lace is very different, as it does not compress or confine any muscle, but supports them, and elevates or lifts the whole trunk as it were, the hips being the pivot of action. I, therefore, in all cases of protract- ed spinal disease, advise the immediate application of the lace, and the cultivation of the erect posture by calisthenic ex- ercises. Should this fail, then I would put on the cups or leeches, until the tenderness is reduced materially, and follow- ing them by counter-irritation, if necessary;—(I speak of chronic, or standing cases.) I shall not prolong my remarks on this point, but proceed to give a detail of cases illustrating the above principle. Before doing it, however, I will speak of spinal weakness, or muscular weakness of the back, either alone, or in combina- tion wnii the irritation, as was noticed in the pathological part of the work. This weakness has often, too often, been mis- taken for inflammation, or genuine irritation of the spine, and treated accordingly, without success, to the exhaustion of the patient, and great suffering also. This state is distinguished from the former by the want of that intense tenderness of one or more of the spinal bones, and sometimes the reflection of the pain to some of the organs in the trunk. The patient on pressure answers moderately as to the amount of pain produced —" 'Tis tender, sore, or it aches"—in lieu of cringing suddenly. But this weakness may exist in combination with the irritation The treatment for the weakness alone, by topical and counter- acting applications, will always irritate the xiatient, as she is more likely to bear tonics than depletion. It has been truly surprising and gratifying to see how such protracted, exhausted cases—mistaken cases—do immediately recover vigor by the simple application of the lace. Indeed, I regard this distinction COMMON SENSE. 157 between spinal irritation and muscular weakness to be one of the most important points that is comprised within the con sideration of spinal diseases. A prominent object in the following cases is, to show the superiority of support at the back and not at the top of the trunk, or at most, that in all cases where superior support is requisite, the lace must be peculiarly so, to give efficiency to the former. Case 1. Miss H., Ct., a young lady, had for four or five years been afflicted with spinal irritation, so much so that the gentle passage of the hand up and down the spine produced a general horror or shuddering, with a snapping of the eyes, and strange feeling in the head. She had been unable to walk or sit erect, but drooped on one side. The head ached continually, and the mind was always confused, and could not endure mental application. The stomach was retracted, the lower abdomen tumid, and respiration short; the figure that of number four. I had no faith that anything could be done in her case, as it was extensive and severe, and had been treated by all the eminent men of the profession in the vicinity. But the lace was applied; and astonishing to tell, she exclaimed, before she arose from the recumbent posture, " I feel better;" and on rising she said, " My head has not felt so clear for a year." All uneasiness was gone; she sat and stood erect with ease, and she was after- wards able to apply herself to her studies and various manual duties with pleasure. Case 2. Cure of Curvature without Irritation.—Mr. A., of Ct., was a large and fleshy man ; his form was greatly bent to one side, so that one shoulder was much the lowest; his spine was much curved, but with no tenderness or pain. The abdo- men was full, heavy and pendulous; he was unable to walk more than a few rods, on account of great weakness in the back, or giving away in it, through the weight of the trunk ; it falling and pressing out of the axis of the body, the equilibrium of muscular action was broken. So great was his deformity that I considered him a hopeless case : but I found that he could straighten the curve when in the recumbent posture, or by hanging to a hook or rope. The lace was applied ; he arose and stood firmly on his feet, and erect, too, and said that he felt strong and well. This effect continued to be permanent. In this case the lace took the burden, and relieved the spine of its load, whereby the remaining muscular energy was able to carry its charge erect. This shows that curvature should not be treated by compression, but by support, and the cultivation of equal exercise in the antagonistical muscles. Case 3. Miss F., Vt, a tailoress, had been afflicted for years with serious spinal irritation, inducing the bent posture, and all the complicated effects of relaxation and displacement, more 14 158 COMMON SENSE. especially ou the lungs, leading herself and her doctors to ap prehend an organic affection of them. The" back was very weak and sore, and could in no wise hold her up or bear pres- sure with the finger. The lace was applied to her, and instan- taneous comfort and growing relief was the result; her form was improved, her respiration and her general strength also She afterwards (six days) paid the price of the lace, and with a smile said, " There, doctor, you have my thanks, I assure you; that is but a small compensation for the comfort I have already received from your counsel and the lace." "Case 4. Mrs. M , Vt., had been a plague to all the faculty, and to herself and friends for years. She was afflicted with a most obstinate spinal irritation, affecting the spine, the heart, brain, and everything else. Every degree of cupping and counter irritation was used, and every variety, but all to no effect; the intended remedies even seemed to wear her out, and finally all were worn out with the case, aud it was given up. In this dilemma the lace was applied, expecting only to relieve the suffering from the spinal disease, but more especially to relieve the prolapsus, leucorrhoea, costiveness and dyspepsy She was advised to try the cups and irritation, in conjunction with the lace, to see what might he done In this her physi- cian (Dr. R.) agreed with me. He called to attend to it, but found the patient indisposed to submit, as not only were all the com- mon troubles relieved, but the weakness of the spine also. She immediately set about her domestic concerns herself, and with a pleasure and ease before unknown. This case astonished the faculty, and made much impression upon them in favor of the lace. Case 5. Miss C, Vt., was one of the oldest, most compli- cated, extensive, and obstinate cases of spinal irritation in Addison County. I need only say that all that friends could advise, or ingenuity invent, had for years been assiduously tried, and with no relief; perfect irritation and perfect weak- ness were present. Her trunk could scarcely be sustained by the spine. Every female debility set in; the heart partook largely of the effect, and also the brain. She seemed to be a wreck of matter and arrangement; she could walk but a few rods, and sit but a short thne. The whole length of the spine and surface of the back was tender, and ached sorely, The lace was applied. I would also state that her abdominal walls were peculiarly flabby and relaxed, and seemed to afford no more real support to the viscera than a large knapsack would. She was immediately able to stand or sit erect, walk near a mile, and enjoy herself, as she said, well. This was a case where no radical cure was effected, but where there was great and invaluable relief obtained, and such relief as no combination of treatment could afford COMMON SENSE. 159 Case 6. Miss L. and Miss M., two young ladies, milliners, were unable to labor in consequence of a universal tenderness of the spine. The mind, the heart, the stomach, bowels and uterus all shared, to the full extent, in the derangement, con- stituting them two most miserable beings, without comfort 01 prospect of it. Let it suffice to say, that the application of the lace removed all the aggravating symptoms, aud restored them immediately. Case 7. Miss C, Mass., was among the most pitiful cases of spinal irritation that I ever saw. It had bleu of three or four years duration. She had been in the hospital many months, unable to turn herself; her mind was wrecked, and almost gone ; she was childish, though not idiotic. The back was one extended line of inflammation ; the body was bent forward ; the heart was subject to the most dreadful palpitations, even to swooning on the slightest, excitement of body or mind; the res- piration was short and labored ; the stomach could bear almost nothing; the bowels were constipated, and prolapsus and leucorrhoea was severe. This is but a faint description of the case. Her back was one extended cicatrix from cups, leeches, the moxa, and other counter irritations. As to her treatment, it had been the best, and everything any respectable authority could suggest, but none could help her bevond the ability to walk about gently. She said, that if she could breathe once more, and stand erect, Bhe would not ask any farther aid. The lace was applied, and, to her ecstacy, she did straighten up immediately, and exclaimed, " I am straight once more ! I am straight once more !" She breathed freely and with ease, the heart's morbid action was allayed, the costiveness, prolap- sus and leucorrhoea also were subdued. Her acquaintances wondered at the change, as she ran through the village to tell the joyful news in child-like simplicity. She found this relief to be real, so that she entered the cotton factory (her former place of labor), on the next week. Case 8. Miss I.,*N. H., had many months been severely afflicted with spinal disease, so that for much of the time she could not move or be moved, without great inconvenience and pain. She underwent the usual and proper treatment of local depletion and counter irritation. In the course of time she improved so as to walk a few rods, and sit up considerable of the time. She was very constipated, and labored with the usual attendants on this symptom. Her back was very pain- ful and weak. For months she had not gained at all, nor was she like to, as there was no more call for the usual treatment, or prospect of benefit by it, and nothing else was being done; and almost every attempt to exercise was followed by an ag- gravation of the symptoms, because she was in an ineligible 160 COMMON SENSE. state for its prosecution; at the same time she was suffering with want of it. The reasons for this must be obvious, when we recollect the true phUosophy of erectitude of body and its advantages, and the unnatural load on the weak abdominal and dorsal muscles, also the increase of pressure on the al- ready inflamed vertebra. At this juncture the lace was applied, giving instantaneous relief to the back and stomach. She immediately resumed her proper attitude with ease and pleasure ; her limbs moved with cheerfulness, ihd in three days she walked to church and home again, a distance of about half a mile, and was refresh- ed by it. In the short space of one week she was both able and as disposed as usual to romp freely. Case 9. Miss C, N. H., had for years been severely afflicted by a serious spinal difficulty. For a long time she could neither sit nor stand, so irritable was her back. She under- went scarifications and all sorts of counter irritation by the year, and was only relieved temporarily, the inflammation be- mg reproduced, and the muscular weakness kept up by the weight of the body on the diseased vertebrae and the already worn out muscles. The heart partook largely of the reflected influences, and the mind was exceedingly gloomy and des- ponding. At this period I saw her. She could stand upon her feet a minute or two. I applied the late, and in one mo- ment she felt relieved. She walked the room, stood and sat straight, felt her respiration improved, her head clear and mind cheerful. In the course ot two or three days she rode several miles to hear me lecture, and in a" few days more called at my room, and was, to say the least, a changed person. She, on parting with me, clasped my hand, and said, I shall ever re- member you as the means of my restoration to health. Her case produced much feeling in the surrounding vicinity, as she had been so long treated by a reputed man, and got nothing better. Case 10. Mr. C, N. H., had for several years been affected with hemiplegia, till he was now, and had been for a long time, almost helpless. One arm was motionless, and the other partially so; he was hideously distorted by the muscles of the opposite side. His bowels never moved without the most powerful cathartic influence, which influence was now very hard to excite. By the aid of his mother (a strong lady) he could crawl or draw himself across the room. His sense of soreness at the stomach, pain in the centre of the breast, and weight at the bottom of the abdomen, was very great and inconvenient. Ir this case the question was not whether the hemiplegia couh be cured by support, but whether he could be made stronger by lifting up the much sunken belly, and of course, taking its weight, to a great extent, off from the spine, and by support- COMMON SENSE. 161 ing the^ atrophied flabby muscles of the back. The lace was applied and in the same hour lie walked across the room with great difficulty, to be sure, as must every distorted, paralytic man. lie breathed easier, rose from his chair easier, and was much comforted ih many other respects. In the space of two days, his bowels were moved by the resources of nature, and have continued to do so ever since. His attendants say that he is now not near the trouble he formerly was. This case learns us much, in many points of view. It learns us that apart from the disease that dissolves our house or clay tabernacle, the natural weight of it not being abated, comes in and acts as a consummation of the dissolution, it acting now to a great disadvantage on the building, which has changed its ^bearing to this passive principle; so that hi these cases, when the philosophical arrangement is destroyed by the want of mtegrity in some one jonly of the parts concerned in the normal arrangement, the mere weight of the body is often our greatest incumbrance in the way of either relief or partial comfort. It learns us that when the machinery as a whole be- comes deranged, that very beautiful thing becomes our clog, our load, which we may well long to lay down, as is express- ed by the poet. It learns us that two things are always to be kept in view, viz., to cure, and to alleviate," or make endura- ble ; or rather, to place the body under the most advantageous circumstances to bear the incurable disease, and that for two reasons, viz., that we remove all aggravating tendencies, and give temporary comfort. Case 11. Mr. G. H. had for many years been perfectly para- lytic in his lower extremities. He seemed to have no irritation of the spine, of any kind. He had undergone every variety of treatment that the oldest and ablest of the faculty could perse- veringly apply, with but very little benefit. .He could not beai his weight on his limbs. He seemed to have no disease, eithei local or constitutional The lace was applied, which commen- ced a gradual improvement, so that iu three weeks he could sit erect and walk across the floor by the aid of his crutch and cane. His spirits and courage improved, and the last I knew of him he was on the gain. This case was a most striking illustration of the power of gravity on a paralyzed man. It pressed down his little re- maining resources. It also shows the power of the anti-gravi- tating influence of the lace, iu encouraging nature to exert her flagging powers for the restoration of her functions. The following cases show the truth of my views on the philosophy of attitude, and also that when the body is weak and droops, it is not from weakness of the spine, but of its muscles, or a part of them. It also shows ( vhat others have also shown, but not urged practically, as wa- needed), that the 14' 162 COMMON SENSE. way to cure curvature, or inability to sit or stand, is not to fix a leaning post for the patient, nor to put her in the screws so that she cannot fall; for in this way, the muscles are more palsied, by doing for them what nature should do ; in the other case, it compresses the muscles and prevents their action. In these cases ihe patient straightens, because she cannot crook, stands because she cannot fall, and the weak muscles are gaining nothing by exercise and partial support. We see then that steel or brass jackets, in the main, only tend to perpetuate the evil (i. e., when there is any energy of the muscle left). She depends entirely on it. She leans on her shoulder brace, and when it is removed, she is lost and droops down again. But by the lace the weight is taken off the spine, through die* lifting up of the body, causing the abdominal organs to press back the chest, rather than drag upon it. Also the muscles of the back are strengthened and made more tense by pressing them in towards or on to the spine, causing them to pull back the shoulders, thus causing as much weight to rest behind the axis of the body as before it. In this way we see that the body is now in its normal state, resting on its axis or pivot, viz., the 6pinal processes of the bones of the small of the back, the weight being equal on all points. We also see that all the organs in this posture must preserve their mutual bearings, by the thus made tenseness of their surrounding walls. We also see that where this is accomplished it is not done by depriving the muscles of their use and proper exercise; they are all at liberty, and in an eligible situation to act under the will and force of circumstances. Or," in other words, the lace is injurious to no muscle, but only acts as prompter to their action, which is to be gently drawn away, as the resources of the system in- crease. And here let me remark, in justice to truth and my- self, that there is all the difference between assisting and gently encouraging a muscle, by artificial support, and perfectly taking the work out of nature's hands, rather encouraging the difficulty than relieving it. Case 1. Cases s/wwing the superiority of the Lace over the brass corset.—Miss P., a young and beautiful lady, had lost one sister of irritation and distortion of the spine; she died under the ordinary treatment of brass stays and severe lacing and press- ure. She herself was verging to the same condition, and had visited an institution which gav special attention to these complaints. She wore a brass o 'et or jacket, which nearly reached round her; it covered hei vffiole back. When it was well laced on she could remain quite straight, by leaning on it, bat on removing it she was *' lost and gone," as she said. The lace was applied in her case, and in one moment she declared that the actual support that it gave was greater than that of the corset. She also had nore liberty and ability to move, and to COMMON SENSE. 163 call the palsied muscles into use. She continued to use the lace, declaring great preference in its favor Case 2. Miss E., of Southbridge, Mass, had been an inmate of an institution for the treatment of spinal affections, and had yom the corset for several years. It completely emaciated her and weighed several pounds, and served truly to hold her up considerably, for she was terribly deformed. On hear- ing me lecture on the philosophy of spinal curvature and the proper manner of applying support, and of its action, she deter- mined to try the Lace. The corset was removed and the lace only was applied. She instantly observed that she felt stronger, though she felt lost without her corset. She rever re-applied it. Her form actually improved and her strength also. The secret of the whole was, that now the weight was re- noved from the curved spine and weak muscles by means of the lifting agency of the bowel pad of the lace. 2d. That the sn \11 or moveable part of the back was pressed forward and sustained there by the back pads. 3d. That the shoulders were drawn back and held so by pressing the elongated muscles to the back. Want of room prevents citing any more cases in point. Now when we see that the brass corset holds the body up, and the lace makes the body hold itself up, we must discover that the latter is to and should be preferred in all cases of spinal weakness, and I give the few following reasons, viz.:—1. It does all that any instrument can do. 2. It does all it does do without any undesirable contingence. 3. Because it is so light, so convenient, and so easy of application and removal. 4 Because it affords its aid sooner han anything else. But why multiply cases; I might make a book of them. The above are only a true and faithful representation of a most numerous class of cases—the fag-end of practice. From these cases we learn, that in irritation, or weakness of the spine, it is not bracing, or holding strength that we want, but lifting, or that the weight be taken off from the spine, aud the muscles left at -liberty, whereby they can exercise them- selves, and thus rouse their dormant powers; and that, when this is done, then depletory and counter irritating treatment, if required, may be used, and with a good prospect of success. Let us also learn, that the way to cure curvatures is not to shut up the body, or compress it, or hold it up like an inert post; but to remove the continually gravitating state, and extend en- couragement to the flagging powers. Let those who begin to feel the pains and weakness of the back, flee to the cold spring, or the saline sponge and friction, with calisthenics. Let them see to their habits early, and correct the evil in the bud. Let them resort to exercise in the open air, and apply the lace before they are so miserable that they cannot live without it. 164 COMMON SENSE. (and hardly with it) ; let them use it as an accompaniment, a convenience and body reserve for times of need and exposure. Effects of the lace on weak children—But 1 cannot close this part of the work without adverting to the influence of a certain re- laxation on some children. There are a great number of child- ren, especially in cities, among the rich, who early show signs of debility by their pale skins and soft muscles. As a general thing, their minds have been cultivated too early, and have become too much developed for the body's welfare. But this debility and general laxity are sometimes seen in children of two years of age and upwards. They complain of fatigue and languor, too early in the morning, and manifest a disposition to lounge upon the sofa, &c. They soon are drooped, shoulders rounded, stomach contracted, and abdomen generally tumid or emaciated. The breast, perhaps, is pushed out like rickets, the lungs give some evidences of predisposition to disease, and the bowels are either constipated or lax. The child goes on— perhaps grows too fast, or perhaps the reverse. This state is more common to the age of from ten to four- teen, but occurs in every period previous. The parents are concerned about the decline of the child, and too often have reason to be so, as this is a kind of turning point, whether their vital energies shall prevail or not; and, should they not pre- vail, the Rubicon will be past, and the termination be too often unfavorable. At this juncture, a gentle influence in nature's favor, aiding her organic relations, will cast the die in favor of the patient, and put it on the ascent. The patients above alluded to more commonly are giris. I have often been consulted for such patients by anxious and indulgent parents, and I repeat, that they too often are pre- cocious, either in mind or body, or both, thereby making too great a draft on the vital resources. Hence such patients love the house, and assume manly and womanly attitudes and manners, physically and intellectually; show an indisposition to romp or gambol, and complain of prostration and head- ache on attempting it. When you come to examine these pa- tients critically, scrutinizing every organ, you will probably find no organic or primary derangement. But take a natural and superficial, yet understanding view of them in the light ot tangible science, and you will see the trouble plainly before you. The fibre generally is soft and flabby, and the body is being crushed by its own gravity. Place your hands to the ^ack and abdomen of such patients, and lift up the latter wnile you press the former, and the child will breathe easier, and feel better. I shall detail but three cases on this head, as COMMON SENSE. 165 i have not many marked ones in my journal, but these cases are bright ones, aud will serve to illustrate the point in hand. Case 1. Miss H., aged 13, was a beautiful and interesting girl, of lymphatic form and temperament, skin very fair, and flesh plump and soft. Her limbs were always weak, her back always tired, and her head generally aching. Her ambition was great, but it turned to music, literature, and womanly em- ployments, rather than childish sports. Her abdomen was tmnid, and her bowels costive, or lax alternately. She had considerable#cough, and pain in the chest. Much alarm was excited about her, and consumption was the dread, which was evidently waiting its opportunity. But no primary disease of any organ could be detected. I decided the case to be one of general organic laxity, calling for support, fresh air, frolicsome exercise, and entire abstraction from intellectual effort. All this was properly attended to, and the lace was applied, which at first created some irritation, but soon became com- fortable. In one week's time she was a changed child; her spirits had returned, her countenance had lost its gloom, the pain of the nead, breast, back and limbs, was gone, and she could endure any amount of frolic and fun that others could. So great was the change in one week, that the anxiety for her fate was given up, and lost in parental fondness. Case 2. A lady residing at No. 405 Hudson street, New York, writes as follows to the Editor of the New York Tri- bune :— "Mr Editor -It is well known that childhood is the period when the foundation is laid for feebleness and dis- tortion in youth; also, that a successful antidote or reme dy has not become generally known. My daughter, now 12 years of age, has ever been- feeble, intellectually inclined, and both unable and indisposed to recreation or labor; was easily prostrated on the slightest exercise ; her body leaned ov drooped on sitting or standing. At length, a progressive d» formity of a shoulder and hip insidiously commenced, which has mocked the best appliances from the most eminent coun- sel. Having heard much of Dr. Banning in such cases, also oi his Brace, I applied to him, and by the aid of his easy and gentle body Brace or Lace, the most happy results have en- sued. My child is now improved in form and attitude; her strength and powers of endurance have very much increased, so that she plays freely and can walk like other children The change is evident; and my heartfelt gratitude to Providence I give expression to by this act of philanthropy. I believe that thousands of distorted and enfeebled beings might he remedied and relieved by a timely resort to Dr. B. and his directions. The great advantage of his appliance over others is, that it acts by lifting and supporting, and not by compressing Jtfi 166 COMMON SENSE body—by not compressing any muscle or impeding any mo tion. It is applied at the base, and not the top, of the sinking pile A Mother, 405 Hudson street." New York, May 1, 1845. Case 3. Master M., N. Y., was much distorted, weak and indisposed to exercise; easily fatigued—when he stooped oi bent, he leaned to one side; back ached much. On applica- tion of the " Brace," he instantly remarked how strong he felt His form, strength and condition are much improved. I could follow these cases with a large number of others of this city and from Boston,; but the above must suffice. Judge ye, pa- rents, between the Lace, a support to the abdomen, and buck, and the shoulder brace, which is so insidious in its evils, and so deceptive as to its good. Let these cases, and others like them, teach us that medicine is not the thing for the constitutions of children who are dying of physical, moral and mental oppression, and that the danger of omitting to take the above precautions and remedies, in analogous cases, is very great. Of Habitual Colic.—Many are troubled with an habitual col- ic, or a colic which becomes habitual. In most of such cases you will find the patient's form like that of figure 4. The shoulders will be curved, the head drawn down, the form, or rather waist, will be retracted or slim, aud the abdomen will be tender—often very tumid. The patient will feel a dragging throughout the trunk, and weight at the bottom of the abdo- men, which will be aggravated hi walking or riding. Sooner or later a fresh paroxysm of the colic will be the result of any effort which shakes the body, and calls upon the tone of the abdominal muscles. The truth is, that in t^ese cases, all of the mechanical derangements, displacements and infringe- ments described iif this work, do exist and act, inducing the perpetual recurrence of the disease, which no medicine can cure, but which may be remedied by applying support to the spine and abdomen, as has been fully proved by an extensive practice and observation. I cite one in illustration. Case 1. Dr. K., of Pennsylvania, was habitually subject to the most dreadful attacks of colic, which would last for days with pertinacious obstinacy and severity. In the interim be- tween the attacks he was feeble, and could only move around with great difficulty. His form was peculiarly that above de- scribed, his voice was feeble, his movements careful, his bowels were sluggish, and his horseback exercise was pe- formed always with some degree of pain, or sensitiveness, con- sequent on jolting, besides a paroxysm of die colic was often the result of such exercise. The lace was applied to this gentle- man at noon of a day when he was compelled to ride nnu h. At evening he called to tell me that he was a new man, that COMMON SENSE. 167 h« »■.« invigorated by his exercise, and that he had performed it with ease and pleasure. He said that he could stand up like a nan, and felt like a man. The dragging at the stomach, and soreness consequent on jolting, were removed, and he felt that he was about to enjoy life again. In such cases as these there are several reasons why the lace will act as au antidote to the recurrence of the paroxysms. A.mong them are these : first, they are accompanied by relaxed abdominal muscle, inducing a pendent state of the abdominal organs : second, the frequent recurrence of the paroxysms (in connection with the relaxation) gives rise to a neuralgia, or sensitiveness of the visceral tissues, depreciating their powers of endurance. The lace removes the pendent state, and pre- vents the jostling consequent on riding, and thereby the pa- tient avoids the ill effects of the morbid sensitiveness. Indeed, as a travelling accompaniment for corpulent or delicate ladies and gentlemen, the lace has been found to be invaluable, pre- venting that fatigue and weariness which so nearly wears out the feeble. Influence of the Lace during Pregnancy.—This period, so full of ii/terest to mankind in general, and especially so to the sub- |ect of it, h> is well known, is beset with a full share of troubles, 60 tiiat it may well be called a journey over a thorny road. Among these troubles are, pain and weakness of the hips and limbs, from pressure on the sensitive and ligamentous tissues; pain in the back, with great weakness; also a darting .sensa- tion up the spine into the head, inducing confusion of mind, dizzuess, ringing of the ears, and strange feelings, threatening fits, from irritation of the spinal nerves, and compression of the vena cava and arteria innominata, or main arteries and veins of the trunk ; cramps of the abdominal muscles ; pain, weight and distension ; costiveness and urinary incontinence or reten- tion from compression of the rectum and bladder or its stem; finally, varicose veins and swelling of the limbs from compres- sion of the lymphatics and veins in their ascent. These, in their combination, wear ont the patient, induce abortions, or make life a terror. They have hitherto been treated by cathartics, paregoric, and the lancet. In my prac- tice I have bled my patients nearly to death to prevent their dying, when they absolutely were suffering for want of blood, and were likely to need it still more in the hour of and period after parturition, or labor. I have given cathartics and laxa- tives, turning the stomach upside down, and wearing out the sensibilities, when the cause was mechanical, and not under the co{ uizance of medicine. Now it is evident, that the cause of most or all of the above and ot. er complaints of pregnancy is mechanical, and that (hstens e of COMMON IENSE 187 prolapsus, and general malposition of the abdominal and pec- toral organs, aud that external support, like that supplied by the lace, will relieve these effects; or else, that the more healthy the muscles of the abdomen are, the more perfect will be the prolapsus. This latter conclusion would be so ridiculous, that no one would consent to its tenability. But we are met here by another objection of'a very grave character, which has an actual existence in theory, but not in practice, in the case under consideration, to wit; it is admitted, say some, that ex- ternal support does give immediate relief, but that it does it iu an unscientific manner, and in opposition to a known law of the vital economy; i. e., they say, that a temporary relief is gained at the expense of a permanent evil; to wit: that if you ao mechanically or artificially perform the function that an organ should perform vitally, you will increase the torpor of that or- gan ; its stimulus for action being withdrawn, it will rest on the support, and finally lose its tone entirely. This is phy- siologically aud theoretically true, and in accordance with a law of the human economy, and when applied to muscles in health, as when the farmer or blacksmith lay by their calling, and bandage their muscles up to support their bodies, and take no exercise, they will dwindle, and become weak ; or if you apply support to a patient, and compel him or her to take no exercise to strengthen the system, and give her not the ad- vantage of every invigorating circumstance, of course the present relief will be followed by the effect stated in the ob- jection. But in the present case, the situation is far different; we come not to a well person, but a sick one, who is laboring under both local and general muscular relaxation, and its effects; these effects have become very aggravated, and now both the effects and the cause co-operate, enfeebling the patient very much; so much so, that the very exercise that is calculated to relieve her (even the most gentle carriage exer- cise), aggravates the difficulty, and increases the patient's misery ; and that too, just in proportion to the effort she makes. The fact is, she is ineligible to those most efficient natural cu- rative means, and something must be done to give her the ad- vantage of the means that nature has pointed out to relieve her. Now, how shall we do this? Common sense says, bind her up, that she fall not to pieces ; hold her comfortably together, by imitating the primitive relation, and by this means she will bear to be moved briskly into the air, and into society. and soon will endure bodily exertion, and unconsciously will find every fibre gaining tone. But again, the well ones, say you, will get into a habit ot wearing it ? What would our patients say to us, were we to address them iu the following language, which is the spirit of di" acieutific objection ? This is it. My friend, you now are 188 COMMON SENSE. laboring under great distress, and have heen for years, in con- sequence of a loss of vitality and energy in some of your organs, producing general displacement of all the organs of your trunk. You have been thus ill for a long time, and 1, among others, have tried my utmost to render efficient relief, by pessaries, tonics, anti-sj>asmodics, and all other remedies that promised relief; but I am compelled to say, that my re- sources are exhausted To be sure, I know of a very simple and comfortable remedy, that would afford instantaneous relief to you; relieve your spirits, relieve your pains, and enable you to exercise, and go into the air, and into society, and while vou use it, almost make you forget your troubles. But I must warn you against its use, for there is great danger of your getting into a habit of depending on it, and finally can't go without it.—Now considering that she has for years had no- thing but a habit of enduring pain, and no prospect before her but to keep that habit, having been kept scientifically sick all this time, and all this in sight of comfort, only for the danger of the habit of being comfortable,—what language would ex- press her indignation at this savage, scientific inconsistency? Or if a patient,"convalescing from an intermitting or remitting fever, had got able to walk into the invigorating air, by the aid of a cane, should be told,. Not so ; you must wait till the pow- ers of the system are able to carry you, or you will relax your weak muscles by depending on your cane, depriving them of the stimulus of exertion ; you will also get in a habit of using it, and lasting evil will be the consequence. Who would not be indignant at this ? or who would father such a position» Yet the opposers of judicious abdominal support do actually lie under the same dilemma. But they say they do not, as the cases of the most protracted prolapsus are not thus ineligible to exercise, even without support. We say they are; and the perpetual sighs of millions continually say that they are; and common observation says they often are; and anatomy says they may be; and the success of the lace, in relieving the oldest and most obstinare cases of prolapsus, proclaims the childishness and obstinacy of those that oppose this simple and mechanical means of relief; opposing it simply because facts run contrary to sainted antiquity, high names, and the speculations of science. These things are very pretty, but they cost too many lives, too many groans, and too much suffering and pain to be any longer cherished. O that I had the power of tearing away the hypothetical veil, and of showing in cap- tivating relief, the full ranks of facts, as they have occurred in the world, in opposition to die usages of former writers. We now assume the offensive, and proceed to prove that these last objections are futile and reprehensible What is the course and view of those who advocate the COMMON SENSE. 189 objections just attended to? It appears to be this; that pro- lapsus is a primary disease, existing in the uterus or its liga- ments ; and that all the attendant affections of the stomach, side, heart, lungs and head, and in fact the whole nervous system, are the result of sympathy, and not of natural and tangible causes, as explained in our physiological and patho- logical remarks; consequently they say that it is a local disease, and that the remedies should be applied to the seat aud origin of the complaint; and that as descent of the uterus is characteristic of the complaint, of course, to elevate the organ, is the true indication. Of course, then, the only means of elevating this organ is to place a prop below, to sustain it, thereby carrying it to its natural position. Indeed this has been the practice for many years, and extolled by the loftiest heads, and proudest names of the profession,—and in many cases, where the case was not aggravated, or of long standing, or accompanied with general torpor, or atrophy of the muscles, this means, in conjunction with infigorating constitutional remedies and exercise, has done much good; but this does not prove its expediency or validity ; and as we proceed, we will show that the probability is, that it has done more hurt than good in the point of health, to say nothing of other objec- tions to its use, which we will attend to. Now if this be correct, efficient, and scientific practice, let us examine into the condition of things. First, the objection to our supporting the viscera by mechanical means was, that it tends to weaken the powers of life, by doing mechanically what, should be done vitally. Now let us candidly examine how it is that the pessary produces its boasted relief. Does it not do it by mechani- cally doing for the uterus, what its ligaments ought to do vitally ? Does this not constantly tend to weaken those liga- ments, by doing away the necessity for their own action, allowing them to become more torpid ? for it is alleged that their previous debility was the cause of the descent. Most certainly this is the case in one instanc'e as well as in the other. So we see that the stupid objection on physiological grounds, applies as much to the pessary as to the external support. Then, so far as the danger of mechanical support is concerned in the argument, the matter is neutralized ; leaving the decision to be made up from facts and other points in the case. Agaiu, it is said that the vagina is the principal support, of the uterus, by contracting itself, like an India rubber tube. For argument's sake, we say, let it go at that, and we will pass on to scrutinize a little further. If, when there is prolapsus, there is generally a relaxed and dilated, vagina., and this state of that organ will stand as the cause of the descent, what is the natural effect or action of the pessary on these parts? It appears to be this; that it perpetuates and aggravates the cause, 1. e , the relaxa- 190 COMMON SENSE. tion of the vagina, by occupying the utmost diameter of this organ, destroying its elasticity,and addiug to its primary relaxa- tion It also acts as a foreign substance there, irritating the nerves of organic life, and provoking thein to an unnatural action ; this is followed by fluor albus which in turn, acts as an exciting cause, both of itself and of the relaxation, perpetuating procidentia and general debility. Now we ask, which course looks the most rational? Which course holds out the most natural prospect of relief, and acts the most in accordance with the normal relations of the system ? Which course seems best calculated to conciliate the deranged nervous system, and to beckon back the powers of life to their wonted relation and action? Or, to say nothing of the amount of relief effected, which produces the wonted relief at the least expense, or with the fewest evils ? The facts in the case, and reason, instantly reply, that our rational view should be preferred-, until it is proved to be of no avail. Again; let us view tfte comparative merits oi" the two prac- tices, to wit, by external support and exercise, or by constitu- tional treatment and the introduction of a pessary, in another point of view, and see if in this view there can be but one voice on the subject, even allowing that one mode of treatment is not paramount to the other in point of efficiency. First, constitutional treatment—what is it ? It is but an application to some of the reflected or extended effects of the physical and primary cause. But of the pessary, what is associated witii it in all its considerations? The very nature of the subject pre- cludes a full examination of its peculiarities and associations. But who are they who must wear the pessary ? The mothers and the daughters, the fair sex, the virtuous, the modest, the diffident; those who hold female peculiarity as a pearl, depos- ited in the secret archives of the female cabinet. Who are they ? They are our mothers, our wives, our sisters, and our daughters. And again we a6k, who are they ? Ask your ob- servation of things and* events, and you will see who and what they are; something which, constitutionally, intellect- ually, morally, and intrinsically, is better conceived of than described. But to make the matter perfectly obvious in its comparative merit, let us slightly contemplate what is embraced in die use of the pessary. First, it implies as a general rule, tha both mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, on susjiicion of existing prolapsus, must submit to an actual inquisition (not exactly ocular, but next to that); this itself seems like an unhallowed entrance within the veil, i. e., of female sanctity. But by whom is this inquisition instituted ? by her, or them- selves, who often blush at the contemplation of themselves? No. Is it by a father, or a husband, or a brother? No; but by a stranger; perchance a devd, with no sympathy for his pa- COMMON SENSE. 191 tient, or sense of moral obligation; and what gives edge to the matter is, that it does not take place under imminent danger or racking pain; but iu a state of exalted nervous sensibility, and comparative health, at all times and hours of the day. But again; the bitter part is to come; for it is now a fact, that the unmarried, from fifteen years upward, as well as married females, labor under the class of diseases under consideration, and require the same means of cure. Now, to say nothing of the mental torture of the poor aud chaste virtuous girl,—are even rough fathers, brothers, and husbands, prepared to like it? No, it- is always attended by a sort of submissive, but humbled pride. Again, considering it in its moral tendency, it is truly demoralizing in its nature. Previous to submission, the poor creatures would give everything if th -y could avoid it, they feel as though they were about to be ruined; yea, to be offered on the altar of degradation; but once done, the die is cast, the relief obtained or not, the mental anguish is over, and the matter sinks in her imagination; it becomes a necessity, a common occurrence ; she now has the outer strong door to the beautiful temple of chastity broken down, or severely tried ; I mean the door or bar of female delicacy and suspicion. Her acute feeling is blunted, fine feeling put to sleep; whatever the doctor says, soon becomes a law, and a matter of course; and the sprightly, roguish, and blithe countenance of the young girl, is exchanged for the premature gravity and tameness of the mother, who has been stricken by all the accumulated and incidental exigencies and peculiarities of the connubial state (I only speak of tendencies). But I leave the subject now; it is enough; when the matter is duly considered, there will be but one voice. As this subject has been shown, not only does it appear that we, by the use of external support, avoid these moral objections, but we instantly, and'more perfectly, obtain the desired object; extending not only to the "local affections, but to the reflected and extended associations also. I now proceed to detail a few out of the hundreds of suc- cessful cases of the application of die lice iu the different de- grees and varieties of this affliction. The cases are so numer- ous, and all so satisfactory, that I am at a loss how to detail, or what selection to make. Case 1. Mrs. C, Pennsylvania, married, had aborted once, and had been for years confined to her bed, and could not be moved but in the horizontal position. She could not sit up w.thout a tendency to faint, and complained of all the symp- toms peculiar to prolapsus. Everything that talent and inge- nuity could suggest, or money procure, had been tried, but nothing seemed to afford more than temporary relief. The .'ace was applied, and in the space of one day, every difficulty was relieved, and in the space of a week, by aid of her hus"- 192 COMMON SENSE. band's arm, she walked to a neighbor's. In a few months she did her own work, and in one year bore a fine boy. She has since been as smart as other people. Case 2. Miss J., of Pennsylvania, unmarried, aged 19, was beautiful,*"had been the devoted chUd of pleasure, and the ob- ject of admiration. By degrees she became pale and weak, bowed forward, dyspeptic, and unable to endure much. Her limbs wrere extremely weak and tremulous, also bloated at times; her back ached continually, her hips were very weak, and subject to cramps on the slightest motion, and the groins and lower abdomen experienced great sense of pressure and weight. The stomach partook largely of the effect of the dis- placement, and so great was the nervous disturbance, that she could uot ride in a chaise, and scarce walk the floor, without fainting. All treatment failed, and she'was supposed to be doomed to consumption. The abdomen was very flaccid and fallen, as in Fig. 4. The lace was applied, and in an instant the pain in the back was relieved, and she was able to walk comfortably In four days after, I called, and she was about well, so far as ease and ability were concerned. She is now a hearty girl, and restored to society. This case was the as- tonishment of the neighborhood. Case 3. Mrs. B., of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, married, was a miserable case of prolapsus, and had been so for years. She informed me that she had felt alarmed for the influence of her countenance on her rising family, as it was so despairing and horror-stricken by continual gloom and pain. Her limbs were almost powerless, and she " had not walked to church in the city for four years." Had such a pain hi her back, and bear- ing down upon the lower extremity of the back bone, that she could not sit without raising her feet up on the table, and tilting back the body, thus taking off the weight of the organs from the parts fcelow. The flabbiness of her abdominal walls was very remarkable. The lace was applied, and in the space of an hour, she walked to the market and back, without any fatigue or pain. She has since informed me that one thousand dollars per year would not purchase the privilege of wearing her lace. Case 4. Mrs. C, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, had for years been unable to attend to her domestic concerns, and was un- der medical treatment almost continually, but to no avail. The stomach was much retracted, the abdomeu exceedingly flabby, the bowels lying on the bones below, the weakness, or sense of separation in the hips was great, the limbs were almost use- less, the whites excessive, the costiveness very great, and the sense of weight and bearing down was insufferable in the sit- ting or standing attitude. The lace was applied in her case, and I knew no more of her COMMON SENSE. • 193 for about one year, when I called on her, and found her re- stored to health, and attending to, or rather superintending, a large public establishment. Her husband informed me, that the price of that lace had done more for her than' all the hun- dreds he had ever paid for doctoring before. Case 5. Mrs. L., and Miss M., Philadelphia, were two cases exactly alike. So extreme was their general muscular laxity, that they could walk but few steps; and so great was the general displacement, that it appeared that they both must be, or have been laboring under consumption. The heart partook very largely of the effects, and the stomach also. All the symptoms and effects of prolapsus were extreme. In these cases the lace was applied, and in two weeks they were nearly restored. Their lips had become red, their countenances flushed, their forms erect, their respiration full and easy, the heart quiet, and the strength and locomotive powers were much improved. Case 6 Mrs C, Connecticut, had been confined to the bed or house for two years, had spent a large amount of money, employing the best and most reputed of the faculty of the country, and had rather grown worse. Her doctors told her that she must leave the sea air, which she was preparing to do At this time she could walk across the room with great effort but serious inconvenience was always the consequence She had also worn some of the most popular supporters, and to fen wearing one. I applied the lace, after finding that the feel and form of the body seemed to exactly call for it. She arose at once and walked across the room, and around it several times with such ease, that she exclaimed, ' Are you a witch?" and the little daughter followed behind with dasped hands, and a countenance full of joy, saying that "She would lend her pink dress to the doctor's little girl, betusl he haTcured mother." .In the space of two or three davs she was cheerfully visiting in thei village. Case 7 Mrs K, Pennsylvania, had for years been confined to her house, and for six months had not been able to stand She of aU cases, was most perfect in laxity and >ts consequent ^Ul «ehnr' I^sSt^TieSer of^pemartreatment; sometimes for liverd^W™£ timeS/dr e^re^etc ^^^^^^^'1^ spinal disease, etc., etc. "er. *" of one of her friends, feet laxity, and to ^^uage o ^ ^ ^ ^S^X sfok,PbPuet S if they would let her see them 17 194 • COMMON SENSE. dissect a human subject, she could tell them where and what was the difficulty. Says she, " it is a hanging or pull- ing feeling which seems to draw everytiiing down." The lace was applied to her, and she rose and stood upon her feet, to her own perfect astonishment. Soon she walked, aud became a comfort to herself and others. Case 9. Mrs. B., Vt., had for fourteen years been confined to her bed ; she could not sit, or bear the jolting produced by walking across the floor. Her mind was terribly depressed, almost to mania. Her muscles were nothing but a mass ot tissue, almost without any animate action. The hand could grasp up any quantity of them. The sensation on attempting to sit was that of inexpressible horror, dragging, and all the other symptoms heretofore delineated. She had been untiring in her applications to the best of the medical faculty, and to no good purpose, until her confidence and hope were exhausted, and her comforts all fled. To aggravate her misery, her friends and gossiping sisters whispered that "she might do better it. she pleased." Her repugnance to seeing any doctor was great, and her unbelief very obstinate, so that it was only in com- pliance to the wishes of her kind husband that she consented to have the lace applied. It, however, was applied, and she rose to a chair immediately, and exclaimed, " Now, for the first time, I sit without feeling such a death-like sickness or goneness at my stomach !" In the space of one week she walked the room and dressed herself, a thing which she had not done for many years. Her spirits were improved, her courage in- creased, and her hopes were reanimated. In about .six weeks she was able to walk the house, and in two months commenced attention to her domestic affairs, as I am informed. This case made much excitement, and was the topic of much gossip, and the cause of the returning hopes and health of many desponding people in a like condition. But why prolong the detail, since the cases are endless, and the salutary issue so uniform. In all cases of this nature, and, indeed, in all cases requiring the use of the lace, though benefit will be received from the same, yet with a view to entire recovery, and to the laying aside the lace, patients should be vigilant in the practice of those physical exercises (previously described), they being calculated to restore the flagging energies of the organs in fault, and ena- ble them to perform their proper tasks, by and through theii own inherent power to do it. COMMON SENSE. 195 CHAPTER III. THE PROPER EXERCISES, OR PHYSICAL AND HABITUAL TREATMENT OF THE BODY--THE PERNICIOUS TENDENCY OF MODERN PRACTICES IN MANY ITEMS OF DRESS--MALE DRESS--FEMALE DRESS. In closing this interesting subject, i. e. muscular relaxation, what shall I say ? I see that millions in our world are labor- ing under some degree or variety of this malady, producing al- most everything else, for which the patient takes any amount of constitutional remedies for affections supposed to exist, but which-do not, lingering out a cheerless, useless life, which might be rendered useful and happy by a simple mechanical support. I am depressed in spirits and sick at heart. I behold many such medicated to death, while, at the same time, the cause and perpetuity of their affliction is not under the cognizanqe or within the orbit of internal remedies, or any thing that ope- rates through the living susceptibility only. But this world is, and ever has been, bent on seeking far from home for knowledge, practically acting out the conduct of Naaman, the Syrian, who was angry with the holy prophet because he prescribed so simple a cure, so easy of acquisition, so cheap and unassuming. Or, in another view, they carry out the old adage, that whatever is far-fetched and dear-bought is the best. Let us, then, cease wrangling and speculatmg about the vital principle and other points about which we know nothing, and employ and ply our gross senses on things and topics that are tangible to them, and upon which we can bring some action to bear, after having arrived at some correct prin- ciples to act upon. Let us not be too high-minded, but let us be busy in picking up the little things which make up the elements and aggregate of the great. Let observation of facts and coincidents be the great study; then let us lay these along-side ot Teason and hypothesis, and if they will agree, then so be it; but if they do not, then let the facts and coincidents stand; yea, I say—stand Or, in other words, let us not " despise the day of small things; and let us «take the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes." Let us learn that the secret of health is to preserve it, and that by an active prudent and virtuous life, directed by the laws of nature and of our chemi- cal, mechanical and vital economy Let us learn alsothatlife and health is a beautiful chain, made up of .^thousand bnto and natural dependencies, and that one of them being broken modifies and disturbs the functions and beauty of the whole. 196 COMMON SENS&. Let us not forget that when disease has come, it has generally been the result of a violation of the above material considera- tions, and of course is the rather to be remedied by those means that are naturally calculated to soften die effects, and restore the primitive, tangible relations. Or, in other words, let us practically bear in mind that in all cases there should be some analogy between both the cause, operation, and cure of a disease. The pernicious tendency of modern practices in many items of Dress.—On this subject book* might be written, but I shaft here only glance at some of the mistakes in modern fashion: nor do I now have any reference to the practice of lacing, but desire to show the natural tendency of the fashionable cut of many garments which are commonly worn in society. And before particularizing, I will briefly present to the reader the general intentions of nature with reference to the reciprocal bearings of all the truncal organs. We have seen, in the prosecution of our subject, that nature has ordained that there should be a physical levity as well as a rnoral one. Or, in other words, that both our souls and bo- dies should war against gravity. We also see that such is our physical arrangement, that all of our organs are crowded to- gether, and that from below upwards, through the elevating agency of the elastic abdominal muscles. By this arrangement we see that in proportion as the abdominal muscles are active, they must compress the abdominal organs, and of course lift them up, correspondingly diminishing the size of the abdomen; or, in other words, diminishing it at its lower region, and en- larging it at the waist or its upper region, thus producing an in- verse action on the chest or upper trunk, by supporting the heart and lungs, pressing apart the opposite ribs. We of course see that all our actions, habits and dress, should tend to imitate and sustain this proportion, as to size and state, or at least we see that these should not exert the least reverse tendency. I will now make a few general remarks on the striking con- trast between the cut and operation of the different garments of this and the former century. I have reference to their ne- cessary tendency on the mechanical physiology. Male Dress—The Pantaloons.—We find that they, in former generations, were made with flowing fullness, admitting of free and perfect motion in the knee. We next find that they seldom wore suspenders, but had the body part of the pants cut short, so as only to cover the hips. Again, we find that they buttoned snugly around the lower trunk, below the bilge of the abdomen, acting thereby as a support to the whole mass, and also the inguinal openings, where ruptures (or hernias) protrude, and it is a curious fact, that, in by-gone generations, there were but few instances of hernia, dyspepsy, or hypo- COMMON SENSE. 197 chondria; but now, they are the order of the day. Let us compare this garment, cut and worn as it is in the present day, with the former fashion and effects. We now see the legs cut small, prescribing the motions of the limbs. We see them strapped down, producing too much perpetual pressure on the surfaces of the knee joint. We next see a long body part, rising and buttoning above the bilge of the abdomen, around the short ribs, and held up by suspenders,, thus tending to approximate the head to the feet. We see again how differ- ent is the effect on the form of the trunk and the primitive re- lations of the truncal organs; for if they touch the trunk at all, tiey press downwards, putting the abdominal muscles upon the continual tax to resist the downward pressure ; yet, never- theless, this pressure will succeed in overcoming the efficiency of the muscles, and urge gently, yet surely, the organs down- wards, producing all the specific effects of such an action. We also find that it is assisted in this work of derangement by the straps, which most effectually keep the belly pressed in. Again: it is not difficult; to see what must be the slow, but sure tendency on the organs of the chest. First, it tends to draw down the shoulders and compress the chest, confining it in a depressed condition, thereby compressing the lungs, prevent- ing their free expansion through the use of the intercostal muscles. Just observe, then, how the whole order of mechani- c al physiology is perseveringly undermined, and not a single i omfort gained in return. The Vest.—In old times this garment was cut loose and long, more like a wrapper, adapted in its length to the cut of the pants. But now it comes only down to a point just above the proper place of the abdominal bilge, and is worn at least so tight that it tends to crawl upwards, and look very undignified, aiding in the unfortunate action of the pants, to restrict the development of the size and functions of the chest, and to depress the abdomen. Or, in other words, producing a partial separation between the pectoral and abdominal organs—a very unnatural dissolution, by the bye. The Coat.—This garment in olden time partook of the con- venience, utility and dignity of the rest of the apparel. It was large, loose and flowing, not pinching or compressing any- where, giving the middle-aged and venerable men a patriarchal look and mien, that commands reverential respect to this day. But how is it now-a-days ? Why, it must be what is called a close fit, a perfect frame, compressing the chest, acting like an outer band to strengthen the two inner ones, thereby the more effectually inverting every physiological arrangement of a tangible character. Female Dms.—On this subject I am not so competent to spe- cify, as I have never acquainted myself with the peculiarities 17* 198 COMMON SENSE. of oriental female dress, neither have I the privilege of know- ing all about the articles of female attire, at this day; but one thing I do know, that once female health was something real, but that now we can scarce find enough of it to serve as a sample of what it might or should be. I, however, happen to know enough to awaken both my regret and disgust. The Quilt or Skirt.—This garment is generally quite weighty, and, commonly, two or three are worn at a time. Now-a-days they are not suspended by either the hips or shoulders ; not by the shoulders, because then there could not be enough of the beautiful neck exposed, without exhibiting the uncouth shoulder strap; but they are bound around the waist (above the bilge of the abdomen), so tight that the form of the body prevents their falling or drooping. This, we must see, is continually warring against nature, and perpetually antagonizing the force of the abdominal muscles, in their attempts to preserve a small ab- domen, and large waist and chest. We know that by degrees this will increase, and make an abdomen like Fig. 4. It also tends both to compress and depress the" chest, especially at its largest and most flexible part. In this way there is a gradual separation between the organs of the chest and abdomen brought about, giving Tise to an in- version of the diaphragm, and consequently to all those feel- ings and effects heretofore delineated. The Jacket.—Of these, I believe, there are several kinds, but there is one general tendency in the whole of them, viz., to compress the chest, and push down the abdominal organs, more especially those which are made long, sa as to make a long waist, and large appearing hip. These, because the natural shape of the body makes theni slip up, are armed with whale bones, so as to keep them down. Their lower ends press into the sides and abdomen, coinciding with the other things just mentioned. Thus the to be dreaded effects of gravitation in the organs are gradually brought on. The forms of nearly all females now demonstrate the fact. Besides, all the unfortunate effects of compression on the lungs are being cultivated and brought to maturity, and the poor de- luded creature is more than fortunate, if the fruits of the culture do not ripen in her bosom. The Board.—Next comes the harmless board, passing down the centre of the chest, and reaching about below the bilge of the abdomen. How does it operate, or do the desired good ? Why, let us see. If at all, it must be by supporting the abdo- men, and preventing its drooping. This it does in the follow- ing manner; viz., the-inferior extremity of it resting on the most compressible part of the abdomen, is to act as a lever, to enable the other extremity of the board to allow the chest to lean upon it. This pressure, it will be seen, plies on the very Common 6ense. 199 place that wants support from below. Nor is the comfortable feehug, at first, or absence of pain, a proof that the bitter harvest of these tendencies will not come, more especially in the form of those bearing down symptoms, spoken of in pro- lapsus uteri. Believe me, deluded girl! the full fruition of causes and effects, in their natural order, must be realized in time, sooner or later, and though it tarry, yet it will come like a whirlwind. Use your reason, not your feelings, as the guide in these matters. Look at natural tendencies, under the influence of common sense, and behold in the vista the sure result of mad and thoughtless fashion. The Dress Waist.—In the present day (if I mistake not), a great reform has been effected in the cut of the dress waist, that is, it is not bon ton to wear them very closely round the waist. But the panic to have a slim and long waist is such, that the aid of the splints in the jacket and bodies of the dress, all gently acting on the compressible part, is called into requi- sition, of the downward tendency of which we have all along treated. Meantime the poor female, because she can pass the hand between the dress and her body, is deceiving herself; and sure that no injury can result from such a course, for she does not lace tight. The truth is, my dear friends, that lacing does not consist in any given amount of girting or pinching, but anything is lacing that in the least infringes on the expansion of the lower chest and its free motion, or which presses on the upper abdo- men, disuniting the abdominal and pectoral organs, and crowd- ing the former into the pelvic or female organs, effecting any amount <5f terrible trouble. You, by this time, are prepared and compelled to see, that there is but one species of lacing for the human trunk that will do at all, viz., to lace upwards, as nature indicates, and not downwards. I, therefore, in view of all I have said, would again say,—let us take the foxes, the little foxes, which spoil the vines ; for our vines have tender grapes. I have to regret that the subject of physical education has again been crowded out of this edition: it was unavoidable. In my opinion, let that be properly attended to in infancy, childhood, and adult age, and there would be little room or reason for books, or* anything else, with reference to bodily health. Should time and health permit, perhaps a more perfect work may be brought before the public, being more particularly full on this point EXPLANATION OF THE PLATES. These plates are not meant to represent anatomical correctness in all things, but to show some general points, combinations and bearings, and to illustrate some principles. Hence several anatomical errors of the artist have not been corrected, as they do not inter- fere with the points of demonstration. FIGURE L Figure 1 represents a straight, square figure, with high shoulders, ^B^ThSnds hanging by the side, and not in front of the body. FIGURE II. Figure 2 represents exactly the reverse of Figure 1, having low shoulders, narrow chest, and general contraction of form. A A Curved spine, from the curved posture. " B B The hands hanging in front of the body, and not at the siaes; Bee Figure 1. FIGURE IIL Figure IIL represents the human figure, giving a perfect specimen of a perfect form. A A. High head and shoulders. C. Full, plump stomach. D. Hands hanging at the sides of the body it * FIGURE IV cigure IV. presents a perfect specimen of an imperfect torn. A A. Low shoulders, and flat, narrow chest B. Sunken, flat stomach. C. Pendant, sunken abdomen. D- Hand dangling in front of the body FIGURE V. Figure 5 represents an internal view of Figirre 3, showing tne relative and comparative view of the organs in the healthy subject. A A High, broad shoulders. B B Arms hanging by the side. C Full rotund state of the stomach. Here the action and bearing is upward, preserving the form of Fig. 3. FIGURE VI Figure 6 gives an internal view of the organs in Figure 4, or the re- verse of Figures 3 and 5; that is, the general downward pressure. B B Low, narrow shoulders. A Enlarged abdomen at its base, as in Figure 4. G Descended stomach, spleen and liver, and retracted form at tna pit of the stomach. FIGURE VII. * Figure VII. represents an internal view of Figure III. A- Perpendicular line touching the breast, but not tne abdo men, which is drawn back by the erect posture and th« active state of the abdominal muscles. B B. Form of the Spine of an erect person. C Elevated Diaphragm, supporting the lungs and heart. D." Hollow back of the erect and well-formed man. G Urinary bladi'.er at liberty, and uncompressed By the abdo- minal oigans. H Uterus or womb uncompressed. L Rectum or lower bowel uncompressed by the superior oigans. Figure S is the reverse of Figures 3, 5 and 9, and the counterpart of Figures 4, 6 and 8. A Depressed Diaphragm. B Sunken stomach. E Straight back. C Pendent belly. F Depressed urinary bladder, from the falling of the abdominal organs. J Uterus depressed from the same ccuse, I Compressed rectum, or lower bowel. FIGURE IX. _ Figure 9 represents the natural form of the chest, and position of the (.laphragm. ■ R £ X0W? h0v.W mUch smaller the uPPer Part of the chest proper is , BU 1 he diaphragm very convex above, and concave belo w. FIGURE X. Figure 10 is a side view of Figure 3- A A Straight abdomen, arid the rectus musc'e. • B Transversalis muscle. C Natural position of the ribs. D Shows how prominent the shouldefrs should be behind the small or hollow of the back. E Full or prominent breast bone. w*