* Prosper Alpinus: "De re Medica Egyptorum, 1591." Regarding ancient European mechano-therapy, see C. Keyser's Latin translation of" Flavius Philostrates," Heidelberg, 1840; "CEuvres d'Oribase, Bussemaker and Daremberg," Paris, 1851; Pagel,"Einfiih-rung in d. Geschichte d. Medizin," Berlin, 1898.

+ "De Medicina" - the work of Aulus Cornelius Celsus, in German, by B. Ritter. Stuttgart, 1840.

From the thirteenth century we have two rather important works, one by Johan de St. Amand of Tournay, the other by Petrus of Apono, who discussed the hygienic and therapeutic value of physical exercise. In the fourteenth century anatomy began to free itself by degrees from the traditions of Galen, and reached during this and the two following centuries a comparatively secure position. One of the conditions for the development of mechano-therapy was thus fulfilled, and it was not long before various signs of new life were apparent in this field. The great Ambrose Pare (1517 - 1590) warmly upheld mechanical treatment, and tried to base it on anatomical and physiological grounds, a fact of greater importance than the favour shown at the same time towards gymnastics by the brilliant charlatan Paracelsus. We find, moreover, in the sixteenth century many scientists and doctors who may be considered worthy of mention in a historical survey of this kind : Leonard Fuchs in Germany, Timothy Bright in England, Champier du Choul and Faber de Saint Jory in France, Antonius Gazi, Prosper Alpinus, Andreas Lacuna, Hieronymus Mercurialis, and Fabricius of Aquapendente in Italy. The last-named, in common with several other people, has been regarded by many as the originator of massage. The best-known work of this time is "De Re Gymnastica Velerum," by the renowned Hieronymus Mercurialis (1569).

Here, too, we find traces of the mighty genius and versatile activity of Lord Bacon of Verulam (1561 - 1626), and it is very interesting to see his wonderful acuteness asserting itself even on this subject. From one of his countrymen, Murrell, I quote Lord Bacon's opinion on massage : "Frictions make the parts more fleshy and full, as we see both in men and the currying of horses. The cause is for that they draw greater quantity of spirits and blood to the parts, and again because they draw the ailments more forcibly from within, and again because they relax the pores and so make better passage for the spirits, blood and ailment; lastly, because they dissipate and digest any inutile and excrementitious moisture, which lieth in the flesh, all which helps assimilation." It is easy to translate these words, written about 300 years ago, and almost as much an expression of the dim and erroneous ideas of the time as of his own natural clear-sightedness, into the scientific language of our time, and to find in them at least surmises of the power of massage to counteract atrophy, to hasten the circulation, to promote the absorption of pathological tissue elements, and to improve general nutrition.

The literature of the seventeenth century, especially of its latter half, shows many scattered signs of the use of physical treatment, although not to the extent one might have expected, judging from other phenomena of this time. The mechanical view of physiological processes began to assert itself more and more, and the "gymnasts" of this time rendered considerable service here as well as in the advance of anatomy. But their therapy was remarkably little affected by their theories, and neither gymnastics nor massage can be said to have gained very much from their work. Borelli (1608 - 1679) meanwhile wrote his famous book, "De motu animalium," a bulky work which came out in 1670, and in which the mechanics of movement and of respiration were fully set forth. This work must have had some influence on the development of rational gymnastics. Another Italian, Baglivi, was much addicted to treatment by movement and friction, "which give tone and suppleness to the limbs and tissues." In England, according to Tissot, massage made marked progress during the seventeenth century, and evidence of this is found in literature. Sydenham lays stress upon the value of exercise in constipation, gout, etc. In 1666 a remarkable work was published by Dr. Henry Stubbe, a doctor practising at Stratford-on-Avon, with the illuminating title " An account of several marvailous cures performed by the stroaking of the hands of Mr. Valentine Greata-rick." It is worth noting that Sir William Temple (the father of the Triple Alliance), who, whenever he had a presentiment of clouds in the political heavens or otherwise found the troubles of a statesman's life too heavy, was in the habit of retiring to "his little nest at Sheen" to divide his time between gardening and literary work, - this cautious gentleman I say, wrote an essay on "Health and Long Life," as well as much else, in which the value of massage is considered and in which it is specially recommended for the treatment of joint affections. Guyon wrote in 1615 his "Miroir de la beaute," in which he calls massage to the service of beauty (for which it can seldom be of much use). J. H. Meibom produced in 1639 a work "Von der Niitzlichkeit der Geisselhiebe in medi-zinischer und physischer Beziehung." Another curiosity from this time is the well-known "Flagellum-Salutis" (1698), in which Paullini praises massage for many things, but especially for pleasure. Paullini was a poet, that is to say, and it is to be hoped that the services he rendered to poetry were greater than those to mechano-therapy. He takes up an extremely naive standpoint, and is one of the first in the wearisome list of uncritical dreamers who regard massage (with him equivalent to tapotement) as being able to cure all possible complaints, not excepting syphilis.

Between the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries we come across a great German name, Friedrich Hoffmann (1690 - 1742, "Dissertationes physicomedicae," Halle, 1708). Hoffmann pronounces gymnastics to be the best form of remedy, owing to its influence on the circulation, appetite and general condition, etc., and also discusses massage, following the example of Hippocrates, Celsus and Galen. There is no doubt that he contributed in a marked degree to the development of mechanotherapy in Germany, England and France during the eighteenth century. In Germany, in the earlier part of the century, we find the smaller works of Stahl, Wedel, Alberti and Buchner, in 1748 Boerner's "Dissertatio de arte Gymnastica" and Gehrike's "De Gymnasticae medicae veteris inventoribus" were printed in Helmstadt, and in 1749 Quellmatz's "Programma de frictione abdominis" in Leipzig. In England we find a work "Medicina Gymnastica, or Treatise Concerning the Power of Exercises"; in Scotland (1788), a treatise "De Exercitatione," by Sherlock. In France mechano-therapy had a period of real prosperity. Andry, in 1741, printed in Paris his remarkable "Orthopaedics"; Window, also a well-known Parisian doctor, employed mechanical treatment for deformities (Dally); Rousseau recommended brisk exercise and gave a strong impulse to educational gymnastics; the renowned Tissot (a Swiss) wrote his "Gymnastique medico-chirurgicale" (Paris, 1780), and therein discussed massage in detail ("wet" or "dry," with weak, medium, or strong friction). Dr. Tronchin of Paris, a man in high general esteem, used gymnastics and massage assiduously in his enormous practice. These were both in fashion at that time in the French capital.