This name is given to a process of rubbing, friction, kneading and percussing the body-when it is practiced on the whole body, Dr-weir Mitchell gives the following particulars:

"An hour is chosen midway between two meals, and the patient lying in bed, the manipulator starts at the feet and gently but firmly pinches up the skin, rolling it lightly between his fingers and going carefully over the whole foot; then the toes are bent and moved about in every direction; and next, with the thumbs and fingers the little muscles of the foot are kneaded and pinched more largely, and the interosseous groups worked at with the finger tips between the bones. At last the whole tissues of the foot are seized with both hands, and somewhat firmly rolled about. Next the ankles are dealt with in like fashion, all the crevices betweeen the articulating bones being sought out and kneaded, while the joint is put in every possible position. The leg is next treated, first by surface pinching and then by deeper grasping of the areolar tissue, and last by industrious and deeper pinching of the large muscular masses, which for this purpose are put in a position of the utmost reekirby.

fDr. Clifford Allbutt.

laxation. The grasp of the muscles is momentary, and for the large muscles of the calf and thigh both hands act, the one contracting as the other loosens its grip. In treating the firm muscles in front of the leg, the fingers are made to roll the muscles under the cushions of the finger-tips. At brief intervals the manipulator seizes the limb in both hands and lightly runs the grasp upwards, so as to favor the flow of venous blood-currents, and then returns to the kneading of the muscles.

"The same process is carried on in every part of the body, and especial care is given to the muscles of the loins and spine, while usually the face is not touched. The belly is first treated by pinching the skin, then by deeply grasping and rolling the muscular walls in the hands, and at last the whole belly is kneaded with the heel of the hand in a succession of rapid deep movements, passing around in the direction of the colon.

"It depends very much on the strength, endurance and practice of the manipulator how much good is done by these manoeuvres. At first, or for a few sittings, they are to be very gentle, but by degrees they may be made more rough, and if the masseur be a good one, it is astonishing how much strength may be used without hurting the patient.

"The early treatment should last half an hour, and should be increased by degrees to one hour; after which should follow one hour of absolute repose.

"After the first few days I like the rubber to keep the parts constantly lubricated with cocoa-oil, which is agreeable in odor, and which keeps well even in warm weather, if a little lime water be left standing on the top of it. Vaseline is also a good lubricant, and both of these agents make the skin smooth and soft and supple.

"As soon as a part has been manipulated, it should be at once wrapped up.

"In men who are hairy, it is often needful to have the limbs shaved, because the constant pull made on the hairs give rise to very troublesome and painful boils.

"The early use of massage is apt, in some nervous women, to cause increased nervousness and even loss of sleep; but these symptoms may safely be disregarded, because they pass away in a few days, and very soon the patient begins to find the massage delightfully soothing, and to complain when it is omitted. Women who have a sensitive abdominal surface or ovarian tenderness, have of course to be handled with care, but in a few days a practiced masseuse will by degrees intrude upon the tender regions, and will end by kneading them with all desirable force. The same remarks apply to the spine when it is hurt by a touch, and it is very rare indeed to find persons whose irritable spots cannot at last be rubbed and kneaded to their permanent profit.

The daily massage is kept up through at least six weeks, and then, if everything seems to me to be going along well, I direct the rubber to spend half of the hour in exercising the limbs as a preparation for walking. This is done after the Swedish plan, by making movements of flexion and extension, which the patient is taught to resist.

"At the seventh week the treatment is used on alternate days, and is commonly laid aside when the patient gets up and begins to move about."

Dr. Weir Mitchell says, that the cases in which he employs massage include that "large group said to have chronic nervous exhaustion of which spinal irritation is the prominent symptom, and in which, besides, anaemia and wasting, emotional manifestations predominate, and are called hysterical, whether or not they exhibit ovarian or uterine disorders." Dr. Playfair has given prominence to its use in the treatment of several confirmed cases of nervous diseases. It is a useful remedy for neuralgia, spinal pain, and infantile paralysis, and in convalescents from wasting diseases. In progressive muscular atrophy, chronic affections of the joints, contractions and deformities, persistent and long continued it is one of the best methods of treatment. It is also employed to relieve wakefulness and nocturnal restlessness. In these cases it appears to have an extremely soothing effect, and may often be resorted to in place of chloral; gentle and long continued friction of the extremities should for this purpose be adopted.

Action of Different Medicines on the Mental Faculties.

All stimulant and exciting medicines increase the quantity of blood that is sent to the brain. If this quantity exceeds a certain amount, then most of the faculties of the mind become overexcited. Nevertheless, the degree of this action is observed to vary a good deal in different cerebral organizations; and it is also found thacertain stimulants exercise a peculiar and characteristic influence upon special or individual faculties. Thus ammonia and its preparations, as well as musk, castor, wine, and ether, unquestionably enliven the imaginative powers, and thus serve to render the mind more fertile and creative. The empyreumatic oils are apt to induce a tendency to melancholy and mental hallucination. Phosphorus acts on the instinct of propagation, and increases sexual desire; hence it has often been recommended in cases of impotence. Iodine seems to have a somewhat analogous influence; but then it often diminishes at the same time the energy of the intellectual powers. Cantharides, it is well known, are a direct stimulant of the sexual organs; while camphor tends to moderate and lull the irritability of these parts.

Of the metals, arsenic has a tendency to induce lowness and depression of the spirits, while the preparations of gold serve to elevate and excite them. Mercury is exceedingly apt to bring on a morbid sensibility, and an inaptitude for all active operation.

Of narcotics, opium is found to augment the erotic propensities, as well as the general powers. of the intellect, but more especially the imagination. Those who take it in excess are, it is well known, liable to priapism. In smaller doses it enlivens the ideas and induces various hallucinations, so that it may be truly said that during the stupor which it induces, the mind continues to be awake while the body is asleep. In some persons opium excites inordinate loquacity. This effect is observed more especially after the use of the muriate of morphia.a

Other narcotics are observed to act very differently on the brain and its faculties. Belladonna usually impairs the intellectual energies; hyoscyamus renders the person violent, impetuous and ill-mannered. Conium dulls and deadens the intellect, and digitalis is decidedly anti-aphrodisiac. Hemp will often induce an inextinguishable gaiety of spirits; it enters into the composition of the intoxicating drink which the Indians call bauss. The use of the amanita mus-caria is said to have inspired the Scandinavian warriors with a wild and ferocious courage. Tobacco acts in a similar manner with opium, even with those persons who are accustomed to its use; almost all smokers assert that it stimulates the powers of the imagination.

If the psychological action of the medicines were better known, medical men might be able to vary this exhibition, according to the character and mental peculiarities of their patients. The treatment of different kinds of monomani-acal derangement also might be much improved; and Jit is not improbable that even a favorable change might be wrought on certain vicious and perverse dispositions, which unfortunately resist all attempts at reformation, whether in the way of admonition, reproof, or even correction.

There is a hysteria of a psychological nature if properly treated would avoid much scandal, and great unhappiness. The subject may be an attractive, intelligent, virtuous, young girl, often in high life, that may become singularly infatuated with a notoriously bad man; he may be a coachman, or even a negro, as is sometimes the case. The final winding up of this unnatural relation may be a clandestine marriage. The girl is evidently not in her right mind, in all probability caused from some undue uterine exaltation. This malady may sometimes be found in married females. These unfortunate victims, as is characteristic in hysterical affections, lose all control of themselves; they have not the least idea as to their morbid condition, and may even not always be conscious of sexual feelings. If the latter does occur, they may plunge themselves into the destructive tide of prostitution.

Patients subject to any form of hysteria are hardly responsible for their very strange fancies and conduct. Those that are carried away by a hysterical amour should be placed under medical treatment.