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diff --git a/old/54553-0.txt b/old/54553-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index fc46047..0000000 --- a/old/54553-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,4255 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Zone Therapy, by -William H. Fitzgerald and Edwin F. Bowers - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Zone Therapy - Relieving Pain at Home - -Author: William H. Fitzgerald - Edwin F. Bowers - -Release Date: April 15, 2017 [EBook #54553] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZONE THERAPY *** - - - - -Produced by Thiers Halliwell, deaurider and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - -Transcriber’s notes: - -The text of this e-book has been preserved in its original form apart -from correction of several typographic errors (listed at the end). -Inconsistent spelling, punctuation and chapter numbering (mixed -Arabic/Roman numerals) remain as in the original. Some illustrations -have been moved nearer to the relevant text. Italic text is denoted by -_underscores_ and bold text by *asterisks*. - - - - - ZONE THERAPY - - OR - - RELIEVING PAIN AT HOME - - - BY - - WM. H. FITZGERALD, M. D. - - AND - - EDWIN F. BOWERS, M. D. - - Author of “Side Stepping Ill Health” - “Alcohol--Its Influence on Mind and Body,” etc. - - - COLUMBUS, OHIO: - I. W. LONG, Publisher - 1917 - - - - - COPYRIGHT, 1917 - BY - I. W. LONG - - - - -CONTENTS. - - - CHAPTER I. PAGE - - Relieving Pain by Pressure 15 - - CHAPTER II. - - That Aching Head 24 - - CHAPTER III. - - Curing Goitre With a Probe 32 - - CHAPTER IV. - - Finger Squeezing for Eye Troubles 43 - - CHAPTER V. - - Making the Deaf Hear 50 - - CHAPTER VI. - - Painless Child Birth 61 - - CHAPTER VII. - - Zone Therapy for Women 76 - - CHAPTER VIII. - - Relaxing Nervous Tension 84 - - CHAPTER IX. - - Curing Lumbago with a Comb 93 - - CHAPTER X. - - Scratching the Hand for Sick Stomach 104 - - CHAPTER XI. - - Hay Fever, Asthma and Tonsillitis 111 - - CHAPTER XII. - - Curing a Sick Voice 120 - - CHAPTER XIII. - - A Specific for Whooping and Other Coughs 129 - - CHAPTER XIV. - - How a Phantom Tumor was Dissipated 138 - - CHAPTER XV. - - Dr. White’s Experience 142 - - CHAPTER XVI. - - Zone Therapy--for Dentists Only 148 - - CHAPTER XVII. - - Zone Therapy--for Doctors Only 171 - - CHAPTER XVIII. - - Food for Thought 186 - - - - -INTRODUCTION - - -Thousands of lives are lost annually from diseases which could have -been prevented. Hundreds of thousands, because of some preventable -ailment, which partially or totally incapacitates them, are today -living only a small part of their lives. Millions of dollars yearly are -squandered on medicines, doctors and undertakers--much of which might -have been saved by a right knowledge of the laws of health and hygiene. - -Even among the comfortably situated, or even well-to-do, robust, -vigorous health is the rarest of possessions. The most rugged-looking, -on being closely and sympathetically catechised, will admit to a -“touch of rheumatism”; a chronic stomach, liver, or kidney trouble; -nervousness, headaches, neuralgia, constipation, or something that -tends to prevent his attaining completest physical power and mental -efficiency. And the weaker sex more than justify their descriptive -adjective. For 80% of those not directly under a physician’s care, or -taking some medicine or form of treatment for something, should be. - -Conditions are improving, however. There is a dawn of hope for -humanity. For good health is being made a fetish. It is becoming a -gospel--a gospel preached in schools, newspapers, magazines, churches -and theatres. Accurate knowledge concerning sanitation, sexology, food, -clothing, exercise, sleeping, resting, and all hygienic measures, is -becoming more and more widely disseminated. - -Humanity is awakening to the fact that sickness, in a large percentage -of cases, is an error--of body and mind. Ignorance of the injurious -effects of wrong foods, drinks, habits and methods is gradually being -overcome. - -Foremost among those engaged in educating the public away from paths of -ignorance, and the disastrous consequences of this ignorance, is the -medical fraternity. The noblest and most self-sacrificing profession -on earth is the one most industriously engaged in sawing the branch -between itself and the tree of Financial Gain. The doctor is the -philanthropist most impressively employed in killing the geese that lay -his golden eggs with one hand, while he cuts his pocket-book’s jugular -vein with the other. - -For he catches and segregates--constructing prisons for them, if -necessary--all cases,--or even suspected cases--of contagious -disease,--disease which, if permitted to spread broadcast, would net -him a horde of ducats. - -He sees to it that no infectious disorders are imported into the -country--the spreading of which would give him much practice. He traces -every typhoid case to its ultimate dirty barn, or infected water -supply, and counts that day well spent whose low declining sun has seen -him stamp out a possible typhoid epidemic at its source. - -He vaccinates all--willing and unwilling--lest he be kept horribly busy -attending a huge army of small-pox patients. - -He instructs gluttons, and others, as to the grave dangers of -overeating, or of eating the right food at the wrong time. - -He teaches mothers to sterilize their babies’ bottles, and thereby keep -the bugs of war at bay. - -He thunders against exposure, against spitting in or on public places; -he has Health Ordinances passed, covering every conceivable method -whereby disease might develop. - -Untiringly and without intermission--except during a few of the worst -blizzards--he inculcates the doctrines of flies, in their relation to -fingers and filth, and hurls Phillipics against mosquitoes, ticks, and -the insect world generally--not forgetting bed-bugs, lice, and other -disease-breeding vermin. - -He extols the benefits of bathing, the rich rewards of fresh air, -exercise, and the relief of constipation. - -In fact, he takes pride in doing all that within him lies, in order to -teach the world to do without him. - -Thanks to doctors, we are learning about plumbing and posture, -mastication and measles, outdoors, deep breathing, poisons and poise. -We are finding out what bad teeth do to good health, how to work, play -and sleep so as to get the greatest physical good from each. - -We are warned against overweight, alcohol, common colds and tobacco, -and the evil possibilities in marrying one’s cousin--or some one else’s -cousin who has, or has had, syphilis, feeble-mindedness, a drunken -ancestry, epilepsy, or some tendency to “hark back” and “revert to -type”--as did Mendel’s beans, or the black Andalusian pullets. - -The subject of life and health conservation is “in the air.” Only -recently a president of the American Medical Association made this -theme the subject of his inaugural address. Hardly a medical journal -but has one or more articles devoted to it in each issue. We are being -specifically instructed in how to avoid disease. - -Now, however, we are to learn how, in many instances, diseases, many of -them most grave and life-shortening, may be cured. This, by measures -which conflict with no other form of treatment, and so simple as almost -to appear ridiculous. For Dr. William H. FitzGerald, the discoverer of -zone therapy, is to tell us how he instructs his patients, under his -guidance and direction, to cure themselves. - -Dr. FitzGerald’s position is one that commands respect. He is a -graduate of the University of Vermont, and spent two and a half years -in the Boston City Hospital. He served two years in the Central London -Nose and Throat Hospital. For a like period he was in Vienna, where he -was assistant to Professor Politzer and Professor Otto Chiari, who are -known wherever medical text-books are read. - -For several years Dr. FitzGerald has been the senior nose and throat -surgeon of St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, and is an active member of -most of the American medical societies. - -I have known Dr. FitzGerald for many years. He is able and honest, a -skillful and competent surgeon, and a student. No matter how foolish, -how ridiculous his methods may seem, they are most decidedly not the -vaporings of a dreamer or a charlatan. They are the calmly digested -findings of a trained scientific mind. - -And so Dr. FitzGerald is to give us specific details of one of -the most wonderful and perplexing things connected with the art of -medicine. This, because a physician’s premise is to teach--as well as -heal. Because publicity concerning the prevention and cure of disease -is a duty he owes mankind: not as an altruist, but as a human being. - - Edwin F. Bowers, M. D. - - Sept. 1, 1916. - - - - -PUBLISHERS’ NOTE. - - -The chapters comprising this book were first published as special -articles in the “Associated Sunday Magazines”, and “Every Week”. -Accompanying the introductory article was this comment by Mr. Bruce -Barton, the able and critical editor of these Magazines. It explains -itself: - -“For almost a year Dr. Bowers has been urging me to publish this -article on Dr. FitzGerald’s remarkable system of healing, known as -zone therapy. Frankly, I could not believe what was claimed for zone -therapy, nor did I think that we could get magazine readers to believe -it. Finally, a few months ago, I went to Hartford unannounced, and -spent a day in Dr. FitzGerald’s offices. I saw patients who had been -cured of goiter; I saw throat and ear troubles immediately relieved by -zone therapy; I saw a nasal operation performed without any anesthetic -whatever; and--in a dentist’s office--teeth extracted without any -anesthetic except the analgesic influence of zone therapy. Afterward -I wrote to about fifty practising physicians in various parts of the -country who have heard of zone therapy and are using it for the relief -of all kinds of cases, even to allay the pains of childbirth. Their -letters are on file in my office. - -This first article will be followed by a number of others in which Dr. -Bowers will explain the application of zone therapy to the various -common ailments. I anticipate criticism regarding these articles from -two sources: first, from a small percentage of physicians; second, from -people who will attempt to use zone therapy without success. We have -considered this criticism in advance, and are prepared to disregard it. -If the articles serve to reduce the sufferings of people in dentists’ -chairs even ten per cent., if they will help in even the slightest -way to relieve the common pains of every-day life, they will be amply -justified. - -We do not know the full explanation of zone therapy; but we do know -that a great many people have been helped by it, and that nobody can -possibly be harmed.” - - THE EDITOR. - -[Illustration: Diagram of *Anterior Zones* on one side of the body. - -Both right and left sides of the body are the same. - -Each numbered line represents the *center* of its respective zone on -the anterior part of the body. - -The tongue, hard and soft palate, posterior wall of the nasopharynx and -oropharynx, and the generative organs are in ten zones, five on each -side of the median line. - -The middle ear is in Zone 4. - -The eustachian tube and middle ear combined are in Zones 3 and 4. - -The upper surface of the tongue is in the anterior zones. - -The teeth are in the respective zones as indicated by passing a line -antero-posteriorly thru the respective zones. - -The viscera are in the zones as represented by a line passed -antero-posteriorly thru the respective zones. - -FIG. 1.] - -[Illustration: Diagram of *Posterior Zones* on one side of the body. - -Both right and left sides of the body are the same. - -Each numbered line represents the *center* of its respective zone on -the posterior part of the body. - -The under surface of the tongue is in the posterior zone. - -FIG. 2.--Posterior view, illustrating individual zones. It will be -observed that what is commonly called the back of the hand is really -the front of that member, whereas the palm of the hand corresponds to -the sole of the foot.] - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -RELIEVING PAIN BY PRESSURE. - - -No illustrator would ever think of drawing a picture of a boy with -a green-apple colic, unless he represented that boy with both hands -clasped fervently over the seat of war. Nor would he picture a pain -anywhere else, without showing the attempts made to relieve this pain. -For no one would believe his illustrations, if he omitted these details. - -Now, while we know the fact of pain relief, through laying on of the -hands, or by kindred measures, we know only a part of its reason for -operation. There are several of these. They are, first, the soothing -influence of animal magnetism, experienced when we tenderly, if not -lovingly, rub the bump, accumulated in the dark of the moon, by -collision with a tall brunette side-board, or a door carelessly left -ajar. It does soothe. This we know. - -Next, the manipulation of the hand over the injured place tends to -prevent a condition of venous stasis--a state in which the injured -surface veins dam back the flow of blood, and produce that lurid -discoloration known euphoneously as “black and blue.” - -Also, pressure applied over the seat of injury produces what Dr. George -W. Crile, of Cleveland, calls “blocked shock,” or “nerve block,” which -means that by pressing on the nerves running from the injured part to -the brain area we inhibit or prevent the transmission to the brain the -knowledge of injury. In other words, the hurt place can’t tell the -central telegraph station anything about the accident, because the -wires are down. - -Dr. Crile, and surgeons generally, now utilize this knowledge to -prevent shock during operations, by injecting cocain, or some -anesthetic solution around the course of the nerve trunk leading from -the place to be operated upon to the brain. - -But there is yet another reason, which we have found out only -yesterday. And this is zone analgesia. Pressure over any bony eminence -injured, or pressure applied upon the zones corresponding to the -location of the injury, will tend to relieve pain. - -And not only will it relieve pain, but if the pressure is strong -enough and long enough it will frequently produce an analgesia, or -insensibility to pain, or even a condition of anesthesia--in which -minor surgical operations may be successfully done. - -This, of course, is not an infallible or invariable result. Specialists -in zone therapy have found pressure effective in obliterating sensation -in about 65% of cases; while it will deaden pain, or make it more -bearable, in about 80%. - -In the hands of many who have tried these methods the percentage often -is much lower--because they haven’t learned how to apply it. For if the -operator doesn’t “hit” the proper areas or focal points he misses them -completely--and also misses results. - -In attempting the relief of pain by “working” from the fingers it -should also be emphasized that it makes a difference, too, whether -the upper and lower or the side surfaces of the joint are pressed. A -physician experimenting with the method was ready to condemn it because -he was unable to relieve a patient who complained of rheumatic pains -which centered on the outer side of the ankle-bone. The doctor grasped -the second joint of the patient’s right little finger and pressed -firmly for a minute on the top and bottom of the joint. (See Fig. 3.) -The pain persisted, and the doctor jeered at the method. - -[Illustration: FIG. 3.--Illustrating method of applying anterior and -posterior pressure to the finger joint.] - -A disciple of zone therapy smiled, and suggested that while the doctor -had the right finger, he had the right finger in the wrong grip. -The doctor was advised to press the sides of the finger (See Fig. 4), -instead of the top and bottom. This was done, and the pain disappeared -in two minutes. - -[Illustration: FIG. 4. Illustrating method of applying lateral pressure -to the finger joint.] - -This pressure therapy has an advantage over any other method of pain -relief, inasmuch as it has been proved that, in contradistinction to -opiates, when zone pressure relieves pain it likewise tends to remove -the cause of the pain, no matter where this cause originates. And -this in conditions where seemingly one would not expect to secure any -therapeutic, or curative, results. - -For instance, I recall a case of breast tumor, with two fairly -good-sized nodes, as large as horse chestnuts. This lady had made -arrangements to be operated upon by a prominent surgeon in Hartford, -but had postponed her operation a few weeks on account of the holidays. - -Meantime she had been instructed to make pressures with a tongue -depressor and with elastic bands (See Figures 17 and 5), for the relief -of the breast pain--which relief, by the way, was quite complete. After -a few weeks, this lady returned to her surgeon for further examination -and to complete arrangements for operation. Upon examining, however, -the surgeon found the growth so reduced in size that he expressed -himself as unwilling to operate, as he saw no necessity for operating. -The tumor has since completely disappeared--under these tongue pressure -treatments. This patient, and the name of the surgeon who saw her -“before and after,” are at the disposal of any physician who may regard -this plain unvarnished tale as an old wives’ chronicle. - -A small uterine fibroid made a similar happy exit, as a result of -pressures made on the floor of the mouth, directly under the center of -the tongue. This patient next made a regular practice of squeezing the -joints of her thumb, first and second finger, whenever she had nothing -else important to do. And the result infinitely more than justified the -means. - -Lymphatic enlargements, as painful glands in the neck, arm-pits, or -groin, yield even more rapidly to this zone pressure than do tumors. -And while no claims are made to the effect that cancer can be cured -by zone therapy, yet there are many cases in which pain has been -completely relieved, and the patients freed from the further necessity -of resorting to opiates. And in a few cases the growths have also -entirely disappeared. - -[Illustration: FIG 5.--Showing method of “rubber-banding” the fingers -for trouble in the first, second and third zones.] - -The growth of interest in this work is most encouraging. Dr. -FitzGerald and other physicians using zone therapy in their practice, -have had scores of letters from patients they have never even seen, but -who have written, expressing their appreciation for the relief secured -through instructions from some of their patients, or through following -out some suggestion from my articles in the magazines. - -I have reason to believe that there are now upwards of two hundred -physicians, osteopaths and dentists, using these methods every day, -with complete satisfaction to themselves and to their patients. - -And the number of laymen, and especially lay-women, who are preaching -the doctrine in their own households, and among their circle of -friends, must be legion. The adoption of the method is attended with -absolutely no danger or disagreeable results, and may be the means -of lengthening short lives and making good health catching. I, for -one, hope that the numbers of those who may be inclined to learn and -practice these methods upon themselves and upon the members of their -families may ever increase and multiply. For this is a big idea, and a -helpful one. Therefore, the more who make it their own the better for -the human race. We shall now let Dr. FitzGerald continue the argument. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - -THAT ACHING HEAD. - - -The next time you have a headache, instead of attempting to paralyze -the nerves of sensation with an opiate, or a coal tar “pain-deadener,” -push the headache out through the top of the head. It’s surprisingly -easy. - -[Illustration: FIG. 6.--Palate-pressor Electrode may be used with or -without electricity.] - -It merely requires that you press your thumb--or, better still, -some smooth, broad metal surface (See Fig. 6), as the end of a -knife-handle--firmly against the roof of the mouth, as nearly as -possible under the battleground--and hold it there for from three -to five minutes--by the watch. It may be necessary, if the ache is -extensive, to shift the position of the thumb or metal “applicator” so -as to “cover” completely the area that aches. - -Headaches and neuralgias, of purely nervous origin, not due to -poison from toxic absorption from the bowels, or to constipation, or -alcoholism, tumors, eye-strain, or some specific organic cause, usually -subside under this pressure within a few minutes. - -’Tis as easy as lying. Many patients cure their own or their friend’s -and relative’s headaches or neuralgic attacks in this manner. In their -own headaches they use their right or left thumb--depending upon -whether they are right or left-handed. In treating others, they use the -first and second fingers, pressing firmly under the seat of pain. - -Their “points of attack” may extend from the roots of the front -teeth--for a frontal headache--to the junction of the hard and soft -palate--for a pain in the back of the head. Or from the roots of the -right upper molars to those of the upper left molars, if the pain be in -the region of the temples or the side of the head. - -Only temporary results should be expected--or even complete failure--if -the pain is due to costiveness, eye-strain, or some persistent organic -condition--although even here the severity of the attack can usually be -modified. - -In those headaches excited by dental operations relief can almost -invariably be secured. Dr. Thomas J. Ryan of New York, and others -familiar with zone therapy (the science of relieving pain and curing -disease by pressures in the various “zones” affected by pain or -disease), almost uniformly cure headaches or neuralgias in their -patients in this manner. In medical practice the results are even more -miraculous. - -One of the worst cases yet treated by zone therapy was that of a lady -who had suffered from persistent headache for more than three years. -She had been to all the most prominent nerve specialists in the East, -and had also consulted several European experts. Her heart was in a -very dangerous condition, owing to the amount of antipyrin and other -headache powders she had taken. - -Her pain was located most generally in the forehead, and during the -height of the attacks extended up as far as the top of the head. - -It was not relieved by sleep--indeed, it was worse, if anything, after -such poor and inadequate sleep as she was able to get. This fact -eliminated eye-strain as a cause, for eye-strain headaches are almost -invariably better after a night’s rest. - -Every organ in the body had received a most thorough overhauling, and -still those headaches held the fort. So the diagnoses settled down into -“pain habit.” - -Christian Science, magnetic healing, faith cure, and most of the modern -medical fads had all been tried, without success. She was on the verge -of suicidal melancholia. - -The afternoon I first saw her she was almost in hysteria--her pain was -so acute. For when telephoning for her appointment she had been told -not to take any opiates--as they might “mask the symptoms,” and confuse -the diagnosis. - -Without stopping to question her, I washed my hands in an antiseptic -solution, placed the tips of the first and second fingers of my right -hand close against the roots of her incisor, or front teeth, held her -head rigidly with the left hand, and pressed firmly for two minutes. I -then moved my finger tips an inch further back on the hard palate, and -repeated the pressure for another two minutes. - -Releasing her, I stepped back, much as an artist might, in viewing a -piece of work that pleases him. That I was justified in so doing was -proved by the fact that, for the first time in three years, except when -under the complete influence of an opiate, this lady was absolutely -free from pain. - -I instructed her husband, who accompanied her, just where to make -the proper pressures when the pain returned, and within a week had a -report from him that there were now no further attacks of the neuralgic -headaches. This relief has persisted for more than a year. - -Headaches frequently respond to pressures exerted over the joints on -the thumb or fingers, or sometimes it may be necessary to “attack” it -from the inside of the nose, or from some other point of vantage in the -zone affected. - -As an illustration of how pain can be squeezed out of the head through -the fingers, a typical case, reported by Dr. George Starr White, of Los -Angeles, California, may be helpful. - -A lady suffered from a very severe headache on the top of her head, -which had persisted for more than three weeks. She had consulted -several doctors, who had given her “coal tars,” opiates, and -hypodermics, but the relief was only temporary. - -Dr. White told her nothing of what was contemplated, but took hold of -her hands, and began firmly pressing on the first, second and third -fingers--the pain being diffused over the frontal regions--at the same -time engaging her in conversation concerning her condition. - -After about three minutes he asked her if she would locate with her -hand just where the pain was. She hesitated, looked up, and said, “Do -you use mental therapy?” Then, after blinking perplexedly for half a -minute, she added: “For the first time in three weeks, except when I’ve -been under the influence of narcotics, the pain is entirely gone.” - -Dr. White told her to have someone repeat these finger pressures, at -the same time emphasizing that if she failed to get relief from this -method to come back. He has not seen her since. - -But the same condition in the same patient may not be cleared up from -the same point every time. For instance, if the pain is in the second -zone of the forehead, at one time we may stop it by “attacking” the -forefinger. The next time, however, pressure upon that finger might not -have the slightest effect, and we would have to go to the tongue or the -roof of the mouth to get results. Another time we might be successful -only from the nose--or by pressing the teeth of an aluminum comb on the -skull, above or below the seat of pain--and so on. - -Now, physicians have for many years, been consistently teaching our -patients and the public how not to get sick. Why not carry this -teaching to its only logical conclusion, and teach them how, by -perfectly safe and harmless means, they may, if sick, cure themselves -of their minor ailments? - -It would add marvelously to the sum total of health, happiness, and -economic efficiency if all headaches, for instance, which could be -cured by zone therapy were cured and kept cured--by spreading the -knowledge of how to keep them cured. - -We feel certain also that the medical profession, as soon as it is -generally informed concerning zone therapy, will eagerly welcome -the opportunity to promulgate the advantages of a safe and harmless -method of relieving headache and pain. And also of doing away with the -necessity for longer resorting to dangerous antipyrin or phenacetin -tablets and powders. This is a crusade worthy of their highest altruism -and noblest self-sacrifice. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - -CURING GOITRE WITH A PROBE. - - -One of the most obstinate disorders that afflict humanity--and one -which seems to be rapidly on the increase--is goitre. Goitre is a -general condition, in which the thyroid gland becomes progressively -enlarged, producing an unsightly swelling low down on the front of the -neck. - -Associated with this swelling--whether as a cause or as an effect no -one knows for a certainty--is a distressing state of nervousness, -apprehension, and general discomfort. - -Frequently the case becomes “exophthalmic” in type, running a pulse -of 150 or more to the minute, and later developing irregularities in -the heart’s action. In this form there is also a marked protrusion -of the eye-balls, from pressure behind the globes of the eye, due to -disturbances in the local circulation. - -Many causes have been assigned for goitre, but no one knows for certain -which is the correct one. Because of its prevalence in Switzerland and -in other mountainous regions, where the inhabitants are obliged to -depend upon water which was originally snow for their drinking supply, -it was thought that the condition arose as a result of the lack of lime -and other mineral salts ordinarily found in water which had been more -intimately in contact with the earth. Yet the feeding of these mineral -salts to those afflicted with goitre made no appreciable difference in -the condition of these patients. - -Other observers have ascribed goitre to the influence of -the nervous tension, under which we live in this era of -break-your-neck-to-get-there-and-do-it. Others locate the seat of this -disease in the brain itself, in the blood vessels, and in the blood; -others, who favor the so-called “mechanical theory,” ascribe the -symptoms to compression by an enlarged thyroid gland of the nerves and -vessels in the neck, although they neglect to tell us how the gland -became enlarged, in the first place. - -Many authorities claim that the trouble originates most frequently as -a result of eye strain. They insist that the visual centres, using as -they do, one-third of all the brain energy, are overworked, in our -intensive modern life, and react upon the body to produce the toxins -of fatigue. The thyroid body, one of whose functions it is to secrete -a product which tends to neutralize these toxins, works overtime on -the job, and not knowing when to quit, keeps right on working--with -the result that the system is overcharged with thyroid extract. This -thyroidism, as it is called, ultimately produces the goitrous symptoms. - -Other clinicians contend that the disease is of microbic origin--which -is quite unlikely--because when the glands have been brought to the -autopsy table and the pathological laboratory, microbes have not been -found in quantity sufficient to cause these grave symptoms. - -But what interests and discourages those afflicted most is that if the -cause is known, the successful treatment is even more unknown. - -Medical men have treated these conditions on the general supposition -that there was either too much or not enough thyroid extract secreted -and discharged into the circulation by the thyroid gland. - -So they gave thyroid tablets, made from the dried and pulverized glands -of sheep. If these diminished the intensity of the symptoms, the -doctors knew that the gland was deficient in its functioning powers, -and that furnishing an additional supply from the glands of our woolly -brothers would tend to restore the thyroid deficiency in us. - -If, on the other hand, thyroid medication aggravated the condition, -the physicians figured that the patient already had more thyroid -substance than he knew what to do with. Hence they administered iodine -in some of its combinations--generally as iodide of potash--in order to -bring about a more active condition of the glandular system, and assist -in the elimination of this extra thyroid secretion. - -If the gland still grew, and the symptoms became worse, there remained -the alternative of ligating or “tying off” the lobes, in order to -diminish the secreting power of the organ. Or, more radical, yet hardly -more generally effective, an operation was made--extirpating (cutting -out) a considerable portion of the body of the thyroid. - -This, as may be imagined, is a very serious operation, and fraught -with considerable danger. Not so much from the operation itself, as -from the consequences of the operation upon the psychological and -mental condition of the patient. Not infrequently the entire nature and -disposition of an individual may be changed by the apparently simple -procedure of removing a few cubic inches, or less, of tissue. - -So, on the whole, goitre has been a bugbear--most unsatisfactory -from every angle. Yet, with the proper application of the principles -of zone therapy, goitre--including the most advanced forms of -exophthalmic--is one of the many conditions we are most certain of -curing. - -Almost from the first treatment, the feeling of suffocation, the -distressing nervous symptoms and the pulse rate are favorably -influenced. In from two to eight months the “pop eye” and the swollen -gland are progressively reduced to normal. - -Up to this writing, I have had more than thirty cases, every one of -which, with two exceptions, have been cured and discharged, or are well -on the way towards a cure. The tape measure shows that in some of these -patients the swelling decreased three inches in as many weeks. One very -responsive case was reduced from 14-1/2 to 13 inches in less than three -days’ treatment. The photographs accompanying this chapter speak for -themselves. (See Figures 7 and 8.) There is no possibility of doubting -the actual accomplishments of this method in the face of these visual -demonstrations. And, as with all matters detailed in these pages, the -original patients and data may be seen by any medical man who is fairly -interested. - -[Illustration: FIG. 7. - -FIG. 8. - -FIGS. 7 and 8.--Photographs of patient from New Hampshire, who -consulted me April 1st, 1914, with well-marked bilateral goiter of -two years’ standing. Patient had had constant pressure and frequently -pain over sternum for three months, but responded quickly to distal -pressures, and was agreeably surprised to learn that the pain and -discomfort would disappear for hours after pressure as depicted in -illustration. Twice daily the patient exerted pressure on the posterior -wall of the epipharynx via the nostrils with a cotton-wound applicator -moistened with spirits of camphor--for its antiseptic effect merely. - -Patient returned to New Hampshire the first of May, after one month -treatment, or fifteen visits, considerably benefited. The growth had -entirely disappeared by the middle of June. The last photograph was -taken in Hartford, July 1st. Pressure through the thumbs and index and -middle fingers of both hands, (inasmuch as only three zones on a side -were involved), and pressure on the posterior walls of the epipharynx -with metal applicator alternately, which she continued at home, was the -only treatment she received.] - -The explanation for the non-relief of the two cases which did not -improve under treatment is simple--and very conclusive to those -familiar with the method and its workings. One of these two -non-benefited cases refused to carry out her “home treatment”. The -other was a patient suffering from an uterine tumor. This produced a -pathological condition in the goitre zone. Hence the goitre would not -yield until all other conditions influencing this zone were removed. I -sent this lady to a gynecologist and it is quite certain that, after -this tumor is removed, she will, under appropriate treatment, entirely -recover from her goitre. - -Dr. Reid Kellogg and Dr. Thomas Mournighan of Providence, R. I., Dr. -George Starr White of Los Angeles, Dr. Plank of Kansas City, and a -number of other medical men, have reported that they have the same -uniformly favorable results in treating goitre that we have here. - -Dr. Kellogg has had a dozen cases, all of which have been, or are -being, cured. It is interesting to note that one of his cases, also, a -lady suffering from a slight erosion of the neck of the womb, made no -progress until this condition was cleared up by proper local treatment. - -Dr. Mournighan has also reported on fifteen cases--eight of which were -of the exophthalmic variety--all improving or discharged as recovered. - -In treating goitre by zone therapy a thin probe, (See Fig. 9), the -point of which is wrapped in cotton dipped in a little alcohol, spirits -of camphor or camphor water (these seem to increase the “impulse”) -is passed through the nostrils to the posterior or back wall of the -pharynx. Pressure is made in various spots “low down” on this wall -(a little practice will soon determine almost the exact “spot” to -probe), until a definite sensation is felt in the region of the goitre. -Sometimes this is “metallic”. Or it may be a sensation of cold, or -tickling, or like an electric current, or else a mild pain. - -[Illustration: FIG. 9.--Special type of nasal probe used for attacking -the posterior wall of the nasopharynx.] - -[Illustration: FIG. 10.--Dr. White’s Uni-Polar Post-Nasal Electrode for -Zone Therapy. May be used with or without electricity.] - -This pressure is held for several minutes--repeated three or four times -daily. It can be done just as well by the patient himself, if he has -the courage to hurt himself a trifle. In addition to the treatment -on the pharyngeal wall, pressures may be made upon the joints of the -thumb, first and second fingers, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Or, if -the goitre is a very broad one, and extends over into the fourth zone, -the ring finger must also be employed. A moderately tight rubber band, -worn upon these fingers for ten or fifteen minutes, (see Fig. 5), -three or four times daily, will also help. Rubber bands may also be -worn with benefit upon the toes governing the zones involved. But -the treatment must be persistent. It must be the intent to keep the -goitre zone “quieted,” never allowing it, except during sleep, to come -completely out of the influence of the pressure. And even during sleep -in aggravated cases, moderate pressure should be continued. - -I would especially emphasize the importance of seeing that the teeth -are put in a perfect condition before attempting the cure of any case -of goitre. For there is no doubt that the evil influence of bad teeth -is not, by any means, confined to the throat and tonsils, as many -observers contend. Indeed, I do not recall having ever seen a goitre -case in which there was not something wrong with the teeth. I therefore -make a routine practice of sending all goitre patients to their -dentists for a thorough overhauling of their teeth when commencing -treatment. - -Also, it may be interesting here to note that if the theory of eye -strain causation of goitre is true--and it seems quite likely that, -in many cases, it may be--pressure therapy may logically be looked -for to give satisfactory results. For the effects of eye strain can -undoubtedly be relieved by pressure exerted on the first and second -fingers, as we shall show in the next chapter. - -So one of the most puzzling and unsatisfactory conditions with which -physicians have had to deal can now be said to be almost invariably -curable. And the only instruments we need to operate these grave -conditions are a straight steel probe, a few rubber bands, and the -patient’s fingers. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - -FINGER SQUEEZING FOR EYE TROUBLES. - - -If your eyes pain, close them lightly--or leave them open, if you -prefer--and squeeze tightly the knuckles of the first (or index) -fingers of both hands. Occasionally, if the eyes are set far apart and -extend over into the third zone, the second (or middle) finger must -be included in this digital embrace. But as a general rule pressure -on the upper and lower surfaces, as well as on the sides of the first -and second fingers will, within five minutes, relieve the pain of eye -strain. Understand, I say “relieve”, not “cure”. For if the eye strain -is the result of a too constant attendance at “movie” shows, and due -to the fact that the little eye muscles are expanding and contracting -hundreds of times a minute in an attempt to “focus” upon the -flickering screen, the only cure for this strain is to “cut out” these -entertainments, or else patronize a movie house where the flicker has -been “cut out.” Of course, if the eye strain is the result of imbalance -of the muscles of the eye it will be necessary to properly adjust this -faulty focus by reinforcing the lens of the eye with a supplementary -one made of glass. - -But for temporary relief firm pressure over the joints of the first -and second fingers, continued for several minutes, will usually give -results. - -Eye strain and muscle tire are largely under the control of the nervous -system. If the nerves are fatigued, the muscles function imperfectly. -If the muscles are wearied the nerves sympathize, and make the fact -known by raising a wail of distress. - -And so it follows that a skeptic is legitimately entitled to say “Yes, -you zone therapists cure eye strain by squeezing fingers or toes, but -as the condition is primarily a nervous one, you really cure it by -suggestion.” - -This, notwithstanding the fact that frequently the patient has no idea -as to what is being attempted, and doesn’t, until his pain is relieved, -know why any one should want to squeeze his fingers. - -Also, I would urgently recommend any believer in the “suggestion” or -“mental” response of eye pains to omit pressures over the first and -second fingers to try and help this condition by squeezing the thumb -and little finger, and see what they accomplish. - -However, accepting the extreme position of some of our friends, -and admitting that all eye strain is imagination--or an error of -the mind--I would ask them to consider the pert, prominent, and -resolutely determined stye--which is certainly not imaginary, nor -merely suggested. Also inflammatory conditions of the conjunctiva--the -membrane of the eye and lids--and that irritating and extremely -annoying affliction known as granulated lids. - -It might be considered a crucial test of imagination to dissipate and -clear up these conditions, yet zone therapy does just this. For sties -and such eye conditions as conjunctivitis and granulated lids are -completely relieved by pressure exerted upon the joints of the first -and second finger of the hand corresponding to the eye involved. In -sties the relief is frequently complete in one or two treatments. In -other inflammatory conditions of the mucous membranes of the eye it may -be necessary to give treatments three times a week for several weeks. -Also, a bandage fastened around the index fingers, and soaked with -camphor water, frequently relieves itching and congestion of the eyes. - -Favorable results are almost routine in these troubles, and usually -without employing any other measures. For facilitating treatment, -however--unless the results of the exclusive use of zone therapy are -desired for experimental reasons,--it might be well to use hot boric -acid compresses, or other indicated measures, in addition to the -pressures. - -To go still farther I might state a fact that every doctor will -immediately admit. And this is, that inflammation of the optic -nerve--optic neuritis--is most decidedly not imaginary, nor is it, -so far as I know, cured by telling the patient that there is nothing -the matter with him. As a usual thing, whether treated or not, one -afflicted with optic neuritis goes on to complete blindness. - -Yet we have cured optic neuritis by making pressures over the first and -second fingers, and over the inferior dental nerve--where it enters the -lower jaw bone. - -One patient I have in mind, who had been treated without benefit -by several competent medical men, using conventional and accepted -methods, received no other form of treatment--no local applications, no -antiseptics. Yet relief followed almost immediately after the pressures -were made. The woman was treated twice the first day. That night she -slept without taking an opiate--something she had not done before in -several weeks. - -A complete cure of her condition was brought about within a week, and -now, after the expiration of six months, there has been no return of -her symptoms. - -For the benefit of physician readers I should like to add that in -treating eye strain, conjunctivitis, sties, granulated lids, and -eye conditions generally, pressures made with a blunt probe, (see E -Fig. 11) on the muco-cutaneous margins (where the skin joins the mucous -membrane in the nostrils) affects the second division of the ophthalmic -nerve, and assists materially in bringing about a favorable influence -in eye troubles. - -I would also emphasize the importance of seeing that the condition of -the eye teeth was perfect, as frequently some chronic inflammatory eye -trouble may be caused by an infection from the roots of the canine -teeth. - -In order permanently to cure anything its cause must be removed. And it -stands to reason that if a patient persists in poisoning himself with -coffee, tobacco, or alcohol; or suffers from an impoverished condition -of the blood, or from a brain tumor, lead poisoning, or an injury, or -has some constitutional or organic disease or some spinal lesion, which -is the basis for his eye trouble, permanent relief will not follow -unless these causes are removed or corrected. - -[Illustration: Non-Electrical Applicators Useful in Zone Therapy - -_*A*_ is an ordinary surgical clamp which can be used for clamping the -tongue. - -_*B*_ is an ordinary eye-muscle retractor. This can be used for -intermittently retracting the posterior pillars of the fauces. - -_*C*_ is a special type of nasal probe used for attacking the posterior -wall of the nasopharynx. - -_*D*_ is a regular palpebral retractor which can be used for -intermittently retracting the soft palate, especially in the region of -the fossa of Rosenmüller. - -_*E*_ is a regular flat applicator bent up at one end. This is useful -about the throat and fauces. It can be used as a pressure applicator -for the posterior wall of the oropharynx. - -_*F*_ is an ordinary aluminum comb used for attacking the fingers or -toes either at the tips or about the joints. - -FIG. 11.] - -But if he has a condition due to an excess of nerve or muscle -tension, or if he has trouble produced by faulty circulation from -any cause, squeezing his fingers will come nearer to curing him--and -more expeditiously and satisfactorily--than any other treatment. If -you don’t believe it, try it. It costs nothing but a few minutes’ -intelligent effort. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - -MAKING THE DEAF HEAR. - - -Too much knowledge is a dangerous thing. For it keeps one thus -afflicted from acquiring more. - -Of course it seems outlandish and quite beyond the pale of reason, to -ask a man who can minutely describe the semi-circular canals of the -ear, or bound the internal labyrinth on the north, south, east and -west, to believe that by pressing with a blunt probe behind the wisdom -tooth, or at the angle of the jaw on the upper surface, the hearing -of the adjacent ear can be materially benefited. Or that a similar -result would follow squeezing upon the joints of the ring finger, -or the toe corresponding to the ring finger. And this, after every -other scientifically accredited method, administered by the world’s -greatest specialists, had failed. Yet such is the fact. For it is the -experience of physicians, familiar with the practice and principles of -zone therapy, that nine out of ten cases of otosclerosis (thickening -or chronic congestion of the membranes of the ear) can be improved -from 25% to 90%. And, that ringing in the ears and “ear noises,” or -catarrhal deafness, can be relieved in an even larger number of cases. -If there is any hearing left at all, these methods are almost certain -to improve it. - -General practitioners, osteopaths and dentists, who do not know so much -about the geography of the ear as does the ear specialist, have no -hesitation in “trying out” these methods, frequently with astonishing -results. - -One dentist of my acquaintance, whose knowledge of the ear is merely -academic, has cured or materially improved the hearing of more than -twenty of his patients. This he did by instructing them to tuck a -“wad” of absorbent lint, or a handkerchief, in the space between the -last tooth and the angle of the jaw, and “bite down hard” upon this -substance for several minutes, repeating this procedure two or three -times daily. - -Some medical men cause these patients to “work” on the ring finger on -the side involved, and do almost as well. - -It may better serve our purposes, by way of illustration, were I to -cite a few specific cases, and detail their exact manner of treatment. -It may then be easier to put the teaching into practical application, -following exactly the treatment as outlined. - -A lady, the wife of an ear specialist, was recently brought to me for -deafness. The doctor, having tried unsuccessfully every accredited -method, was constrained to “see what zone therapy would do.” - -For thirty years this patient had heard nothing with the right ear, -and very little with the left. I stimulated, with a stiff, curved -cotton-tipped probe (instrument shown in Fig. 6 may be used), the -area lying between the last tooth and the angle of the jaw--carefully -“covering” all the gum surfaces--sides as well as biting surfaces. - -In addition, I hooked an instrument behind the soft palate (see D, -Fig. 11), and “stretched” it gently forward. This, I have found, -powerfully stimulates the circulation of the “ear zones,” and is most -helpful--particularly in catarrhal deafness. After two treatments this -patient could hear a small tuning fork one-half inch away from the -right ear, and one inch from the left. After a few more treatments, her -hearing so wonderfully improved that she could hear a whisper with the -right ear. This after being “stone deaf” in that ear for thirty years, -and after having visited “all the noted aurists in this country and -abroad.” - -A young soprano, member of a leading Hartford church choir, suffered a -progressive loss in hearing, which finally became so pronounced as to -make it almost impossible for her to “sing on the pitch,” or harmonize -with either the organ or the other quartette members. - -She received treatment similar to that employed on the aurist’s wife, -supplementing the same by “home treatment.” This consisted in “tucking” -a wad of surgeon’s gauze (it has since been discovered that a solid -rubber eraser gives even better results) in the space back of the -wisdom tooth, and having her bite forcibly upon it, repeating the -procedure several times daily--especially immediately before singing -or rehearsing. In a few weeks this girl had completely recovered her -hearing, and was able to accept an engagement with a traveling concert -company, a position very much more remunerative than the church -position she resigned. - -I have had to date possibly fifty cases of deafness of one kind or -another, almost all of which have been materially helped. - -One patient, a minister afflicted with otosclerosis (this supposed -thickening of the membranes of the inner ear) for twenty-five years, -could barely hear loud talking. - -After working for five minutes upon the joints of the third (ring) -finger, and to a lesser degree, upon its two neighbors, it was found -that the reverend gentleman could hear a whisper twenty feet away. - -As proof of this it was whispered to him “Will you kindly close the -window above your head?” He rose immediately from his chair, and -“obliged.” - -A New York physician had a relative who had been unsuccessfully treated -for deafness in one ear (the right) for the past sixteen years, by -the most famous aurists in New York, London, Paris, Berlin, Dresden, -Vienna, and other centers of medical learning. X-Ray treatment had at -one time made this case at least twenty-five per cent worse. With the -left ear this patient could hear a loud voice “close up.” - -Dr. Reid Kellogg volunteered to “show the Doctor something,” using this -case for demonstration purposes. - -The Doctor, like Barkis, being willin’, our friend took his trusty -aluminum comb from his pocket and exerted pressure for five minutes -with the teeth of the comb on the finger tips of the patient’s left -hand, (see Fig. 12). He then used a tongue depressor on the hard -palate, and on the floor of the mouth, for six or seven minutes more, -and then on the tongue for an additional five. - -The Doctor then stood ten feet away from his relative and talked to -him in an ordinary tone of voice. The patient distinctly heard, with -the left ear, every word spoken. - -[Illustration: FIG. 12.--This illustrates one method of treating the -bones and deep seated conditions generally. Pressure on the tips of -the fingers influences both anterior and posterior aspects of second, -third, fourth and fifth zones.] - -Our pupil then started to work on the other hand. The patient insisted -that this was merely a waste of time, as the “biggest” ear specialists -in Europe had failed upon this. However, the attempt was made, and -within ten minutes the patient heard a clock a foot away, a watch held -three inches distant from his ear, and he further was able to repeat -words spoken loudly two feet away. During the experiments with his -right ear, the left was tightly plugged with cotton, still further -wedged in the canal by the physician’s finger. So this was a rather -conclusive test. - -A lady, aged forty-nine, deaf since she was six years old, came to the -office of a specialist who had studied zone therapy. When the physician -applied a comb to one hand, she put the other to one side of her -lips--the side the doctor was on--and whispered to her friend “Crank.” -Twenty minutes later, being then able to hear ordinary conversation, -she whispered again. This time she said “Wizard.” A few days later she -asked a friend riding with her in a street car if the bell always rang -when the conductor pulled the strap. She was hearing it for the first -time in her life. - -One lady came to this doctor with her husband. They were both deaf. -But the baby in her arms was not deaf--and most decidedly was not dumb -either. In less than a fortnight’s treatment both parents could hear -the baby cry every night, which was a great satisfaction to them--in -one way. But they don’t know yet whether to laugh or cry about it. - -Dr. Thomas Mournighan has given me the details of two remarkable cases, -one a veteran of sixty-eight, who, since the Civil War, has been deaf -from gun concussion. This man had never heard through the telephone, -the perfection and general use of which dates since the war. - -After making pressure with a probe (applicator shown in Fig. 6 may be -used) on the gum margins near the angle of the jaw this gentleman was -able to hear through a ’phone--the first time he had ever experienced -this pleasure. That it was a pleasure was evidenced by the fact that -the old soldier danced around the office in a perfect transport of glee. - -The Doctor’s own father, whose condition was similar to that of the -other patient, also developed a very material increase in his ability -to hear. - -It is but fair to say, however, that the patient’s “home treatments” -must be persistent in order to maintain this improvement. If these -treatments are discontinued for any appreciable length of time the -condition seems to relapse. We are not yet prepared to say why this -should be so. - -I would emphasize also that, in ear trouble, the condition of wisdom -teeth be carefully looked after. For, I am convinced, many cases of -loss of hearing, or middle ear trouble, have their origin in some -pathological condition of these teeth. - -It may be of interest here to note also that one of the most effective -ear-ache cures we possess is a spring clothespin fastened for five -minutes or thereabouts on the tip of the ring finger. (See Fig. 13.) -Any manipulation over this zone is effective, but hollowed-out spring -clothespins and rubber bands have been particularly so. - -[Illustration: FIG. 13.--Showing method of applying hollowed out spring -clothespins for the relief of pain and to desensitize the teeth for -dental operations.] - -To illustrate: During a recent medical convention in the West one of -the physicians attending complained of a severe ear-ache. A physician -present, well versed in zone therapy, requested permission to examine -the ear-ache doctor’s fingers, alleging that by pressing intermittently -on the finger nails, he could estimate the degree of blood pressure, -and perhaps suggest a course of treatment which might permanently cure -the ear trouble--if not caused by an abscess. - -The doctor extended the hand on the side of the afflicted ear. - -The zone therapy man squeezed the tip of the fourth finger, raised the -finger nail, and let it settle back a dozen or more times, “to see how -the circulation reacted,” as he said. After three or four minutes -he said “By the way, Doctor, which ear did you say is giving you the -trouble?” - -The Doctor looked up in blank amazement, felt his ears, shook his head, -and said, “You don’t mean to say that that darned foolishness cured my -ear-ache, do you?” - -It does seem silly, and yet it “works.” And anything that works is -beneficent and helpful, and deserves encouragement. For deafness and -ear troubles are common, and seem to be becoming more so. - - - - -CHAPTER 6. - -PAINLESS CHILDBIRTH. - - -Any method, no matter how improbable-seeming it may be, calculated to -render labor or operations upon women less of an ordeal, is worthy of -consideration by physicians, midwives, and the laity. Therefore there -may be something well worth “trying out” in the “pressure” method of -inducing relief from pain. - -A number of physicians have reported results that, if confirmed by -further experiences, warrant us in believing that zone pressure -promises to be a boon to womankind. - -To those who have had experience with pressure analgesia in dentistry, -and in the relief of rheumatism, lumbago, neuralgia, and other painful -affections, mitigating--or even entirely relieving--the pains of -childbirth seem quite within the bounds of possibility. In any event, -it will not be difficult to put it to a broad conclusive test. And it -is absolutely harmless, there is no danger to mother or child in its -employment, and no indication that it might be responsible for a “blue -baby.” For in almost every case in which it has been tried, labor has -been accelerated six hours or more--instead of retarded. - -[Illustration: FIG. 14.--This shows method of treating lumbago and -pains in the back of the body, affecting all the zones.] - -The methods are so simple that they can be utilized by any one--even -by women who may, in their hour of labor, chance to be remote from -medical attention. Two combs (broad aluminum combs about four inches in -length have been found to be the best) to clench the fingers and thumbs -over (see Fig. 14), and some sharp or edged surface to press the soles -of the feet against (see Fig. 15), are all the instruments that are -required, altho a clamp has now been devised (see Fig. 16) which can -be fastened on the hands to include both surfaces and all zones. It is -applied when contractions begin, and is kept in position intermittently -until delivery is completed. Rubber bands, bound around the great and -“index” toes, also afford a gratifying help. - -To relieve the after-pains and facilitate the expulsion of the -afterbirth, it has been found that “stimulating” strokes, with the -teeth of the aluminum comb, or the “bristles” of a wire hair brush, are -most effective. It may require that these strokes be given from ten -minutes to one-half hour. But they assist wonderfully in contracting -the uterus. - -[Illustration: Valens Disc Zone-Analgesic with Rope Attachment - -An extension rope can be used on these applicators and attached to -the foot of the bed so a patient, during confinement, can grasp one -applicator in each hand and make traction. - -This device can also be used in Zone Therapy for Sciatica by having the -patient place the foot over the wooden discs and “hang on to the rope” -with the hand. - -FIG. 15.] - -[Illustration: FIG. 16.--This is the hand clamp used with such -extraordinary success in relieving the pains of childbirth.] - -Dr. R. T. H. Nesbitt, of Waukegan, Ill., is one of a number of -physicians who have had practical experience with pressure analgesia -in childbirth. He sends this very interesting report: - -“During the past week I have been attending the lectures of Dr. George -Starr White. In this most interesting and helpful series, Dr. White -explained and exemplified biodynamic diagnosis by means of the magnetic -meridian (a remarkable discovery of Dr. White, which enables one to -diagnose diseases otherwise undiagnosible. This by means of changes -in the “tension” of organs--which occurs when a properly grounded -patient is turned from North or South to East or West). Dr. White also -demonstrated zone therapy. He asked if any of the doctors present -expected a confinement case soon. If so, he wished to give them some -suggestions in zone anesthesia in connection with delivery. - -“As I was expecting a ‘call’ every hour I told Dr. White, and he gave -me some special points concerning this work. Last night I was called -to attend what I expected would be my last case in confinement, as I -have been doing this work so many years that I intended to retire. From -my last night’s experience I feel as if I should like to start the -practice of medicine all over again. - -“The woman I delivered was a primipara (one who had never had a child -before, and who therefore, because of the rigidity of the bones and -tissues, has a more difficult labor), small in stature. - -“When severe contractions began, and the mother was beginning to -be very nervous and complained of pain, at which time I generally -administer chloroform, I began pressing on the soles of the feet -with the edge of a big file, as I could find nothing else. I -pressed on the top of the foot with the thumbs of both hands at the -metatarsal-phalangeal joint, (where the toes join the foot). I exerted -this pressure over each foot for about three minutes at a time. -The mother told me that the pressure on the feet gave her no pain -whatsoever. - -“As she did not have any uterine pain, I was afraid there was no -advancement. To my great surprise, when I examined her about ten or -fifteen minutes later, I found the head within two inches of the -outlet. I then waited about fifteen minutes, and on examination found -the head at the vulva. I then pressed again for about one or two -minutes on each foot, the edge of the file being on the sole of the -foot, and my thumbs over the tarsal-metatarsal joints as before. In -this way I exerted pressure on the sole of the foot with the file, and -pressure on the dorsum of the foot with my thumbs, doing each foot -separately. The last pressure lasted about one and a half minutes to -each foot. Within five or ten minutes the head was appearing, and I -held it back to preserve the perineum (the tissue joining the vagina -and the rectum). It made steady progress, the head and shoulders coming -out in a normal manner. Within three minutes the child--which “weighed -in” at 9-1/2 pounds--was born, crying lustily. The mother told me she -did not experience any pain whatever, and could not believe the child -was born. She laughed and said, ‘This is not so bad.’ - -“Another point that is very remarkable is that after the child was -born, the woman did not experience the fatigue that is generally felt, -and the child was more active than usual. I account for this on the -principle that pain inhibits (prevents) progress of the birth, and -tires the child. But as the pain was inhibited, the progress was more -steady, and thus fatigue to both mother and child was avoided.” - -A Massachusetts doctor supplements this case with several -others--equally ridiculous or revolutionary--depending upon our -viewpoint. To insure brevity and accuracy I quote the Doctor’s own -words. - -“Case 1. Multipara (a woman who has had previous confinements)--mother -of four. Shortest previous labor eight hours. Had had a laceration -of cervix (neck of the womb) with her first child. Also one forceps -delivery. - -“When labor commenced she was given two aluminum combs to hold (as -shown in Fig. 14), and instructed to make strong pressure upon them, -with a view of inhibiting pains, particularly in the first, second -and third zones. These combs were four inches in length and slightly -roughened on the ends, so that the lateral (or side) surfaces of the -thumbs could more effectively be stimulated. - -“Was called at four a.m., arrived at 5:05, and the babe had just -been born. The patient reported that she had been in bed for only 15 -minutes. There had been only one severe pain. This was when the head -delivered. - -“There was no exhaustion following, as with her previous labors, and -she said laughingly, ‘I believe I’ll be able to get up this afternoon. -Doctor.’ - -“The afterbirth delivery seemed to be stimulated, and the pains -controlled by stroking the backs of the hands with the teeth of the -combs. She became relaxed and drowsy from this stroking, and finally -fell asleep and slept almost through the night--perfectly free from -pain. - -“Case 2. Primipara, thirty-seven years old. This woman had a badly -retroflexed uterus (a womb which is tilted back), which seemed to -retard the advancement of labor, for she required five hours for -delivery. - -“She also used the comb pressures, and, in addition, was provided with -a rough-edged shallow box, upon which she pressed firmly with the soles -of her feet. - -“Four hours after delivery she had sharp afterbirth pains, which were -controlled by the stroking method before described. This seemed to give -complete and satisfactory relaxation. - -“There were three other cases, all of which responded equally well to -treatment by zone analgesia. - -“It should be added that, while the pain was inhibited, there seemed to -be no diminution in the strength of the uterine contractions.” - -Dr. Thomas Mournighan, of Providence, R. I., has been, for more than -two years, one of the staunchest advocates of my methods. He has -had phenomenally successful experiences in goiter, deafness, female -irregularities, and in the relief of pain and cure of conditions in the -general practice of medicine. - -Dr. Mournighan has also had almost uniformly successful results with -zone analgesia in childbirth. I quote from a few of his cases. - -“Case 1. Primipara, nineteen years of age. Suffered from furious -attacks of vomiting at the beginning of her pregnancy. Her family -physician wanted to abort her, fearing for her life, unless the attacks -were checked. - -“She finally came under my care. I instructed her to bite her tongue -as hard as she could, about one-third the distance from the tip--thus, -as you see, ‘attacking’ the entire zone connection. This procedure -controlled the vomiting almost immediately, and instead of becoming -accustomed to it, thereby losing its beneficial effect, she became, if -anything, even more susceptible to its influence. - -“When she came to term I placed a rough-edged box in the bed, for her -to press the soles of her feet on. I also provided her with a sheet, -tied to the bed post, which she gripped and pulled upon during pains. -This, I feel certain, helps pain relief by zone analgesia--as well as -by assisting in the mechanics of labor. She made traction upon the -sheets and pressed her feet on the box as the condition seemed to -require, and, as she expressed it, ‘got great comfort from it.’ - -“When the second stage of labor came on--that stage where I generally -resort to chloroform--I made strong pressure over the feet, sinking my -thumbs well in over the articulation of the toe and foot joint. She was -delivered in less than five hours. The afterbirth came away without the -slightest pain. I was peculiarly struck by the almost complete absence -of labor exhaustion.” - -“Case 2. Mother aged forty, ninth child. She had had ‘the devil’s own -time’ with the last three or four, the attendant having been compelled -to use forceps in these births. With her last child she had had a bad -laceration of the cervix, which, however, had been skillfully repaired. - -“I gave her two aluminum combs, the edges of which I had nicked with a -file, so as to roughen them for the thumb to press over. There being -no box handy I covered a coal shovel with a towel, and, when the pains -became severe, let her press the soles of her feet against the sharp -edge of this. - -“Within 3 hours she was delivered--without forceps this time--of a -10-1/2 pound boy--as clean a delivery as I ever saw. - -“I know it seems crazy, but any method that will, practically without -pain, stimulate women who were formerly in labor for from twelve to -fifteen hours to complete delivery--in many instances within three -hours--is a good method. I shall continue its use, no matter how -foolish it may appear.” - -Another physician, who has had a large and successful experience with -zone therapy, writes: - -“In obstetrics I have almost completely discarded chloroform at the -close of the second stage, where I used to almost always use it. In the -first stage, zone therapy relieves the nagging pains without retarding, -but rather promoting dilatation. In the second stage delivery is -hastened. Women seem so quiet and easy one would think ‘there was -nothing doing,’ until on examination, you are surprised to see what has -been accomplished. For this work I use a serrated strip of aluminum -1/16 in. thick, imbedded in a piece of wood of convenient size, or else -I use a seven inch aluminum comb, pressing the teeth against the inner -part of the sole of the foot, or near the ball, alternating from one -foot to the other. When I have an assistant both feet are manipulated -at a time, and that aids very materially. I exert as much pressure -as the patient can bear without pain. When I have an assistant well -trained I am going to try zone therapy for instrumental delivery.” - -In connection with the subject of confinement and operations upon women -this report from Dr. G. Murray Edwards, of Denver, Colorado, is of -peculiar interest: - -“Mrs. McK., age 35; pregnant four and a half months; multipara. -Placenta praevia (a grave condition, in which the afterbirth precedes -the child in delivery), aborted Dec. 5, 1915, curettement (scraping -out of the uterus), Dec. 7, 1915. Temperature 99, pulse 80. This -case occurring during Dr. White’s lecture course in Denver, when Dr. -Fitzgerald’s pressure method of analgesia was being discussed, I -decided to try it out for the first time on this patient. She being a -very nervous woman, I felt a little reluctant in the experiment. I did -not tell her, however, I was going to use a new method, but quietly -placed three elastics, an eighth of an inch wide, on each foot, one -around the large toe at the first joint, and one around the others -similarly in pairs. - -“After fifteen minutes, preparing my instruments in the meantime, I -told her we were ready, and while we did not intend to use chloroform, -instructed her carefully to tell me immediately if she felt any pain -whatsoever. The curettement was conducted in every detail as though she -were under general anesthesia, and as I questioned her frequently as to -pain, she always came back with a smile and a negative reply. - -“We removed fully a teacupful of placental tissue in about ten minutes, -while the patient passed the time joking, and when finished assured me -she felt much better than when we started, as she was nervous looking -forward to the anesthetic. This I consider a typical case, and have no -misgivings as to its working generally.” - -In similar strain scores of letters tell of the successes attending the -employment of this method in labor, and in operations upon women. - -Now, I do not contend that a few score, or a few hundred swallows make -a summer, but their presence undoubtedly indicates that summer may be -well on the way. - -All this may sound foolish in the extreme. Yet there are many other -things equally foolish in the practice of medicine. And if zone -analgesia will do what we claim for it, it may well be taken gently -by the hand, lifted out of the foolish class, and placed among the -ultra-sensible procedures--where, by right, it belongs. - - - - -CHAPTER 7. - -ZONE THERAPY FOR WOMEN. - - -In the eternal fitness of things there would be something radically -wrong if zone therapy did not offer some especial and particular help -to women. It is a satisfaction to state that the eternal fitness of -things is right, as usual. For zone therapy is as unique in this -connection as in most of its other applications. - -Many of the things it does are positively startling. And yet they -become commonplace, after one has been in the work for a time. One of -the most striking cases that has yet come to my attention came in the -form of a letter of thanks from a mother of a young girl. I never saw -either. The mother, however, wrote me that her daughter, who had not -menstruated in ten months, was, some time ago, instructed by a patient -of mine to take the broad handle of a tablespoon and make strong -pressure upon the tongue (a tongue depressor shown in Fig. 17 would be -more appropriate), as far back as she could stand it without gagging. - -She did so, and within five minutes was menstruating profusely, yet -without the slightest pain or discomfort. In the several months which -had since intervened, she “came around” regularly every twenty-eight -days. The mother who feared that her daughter was going into a -decline, could not refrain from writing me a most heartfull letter of -appreciation for what my patient, through my instruction, had been able -to do for her daughter. I call this good preventive medicine. - -[Illustration: FIG. 17. Tongue-pressor Electrode. May be used with or -without electricity.] - -Painful menstruation (dysmenorrhoea), also yields like magic to the -potent pressure of a probe applied to the posterior (back) wall of -the pharynx. But the tongue pressures are, in the majority of cases, -quite as effective. For pain in the back or thighs, preceding or -during menstruation, pressure with the tip of the index finger on the -posterior wall of the pharynx on the median line and to the right and -left of same, will almost uniformly give relief. - -A broad, rough-surfaced tongue depressor (see Fig. 17) is best for the -purpose. But if this is not available, the handle of a large spoon or -the handle of a tooth brush may be used. - -This should be applied to the tongue three-quarters of the way back -and on the median line. The patient’s head should be held rigid, and -the lower jaw supported, to the end that stronger pressure can be -made. It is well to have the physician or some male member of the -family officiate in this, as the patient may not be inclined to use the -requisite amount of force. - -The pressure should be held firmly for two minutes. Then it should be -relaxed and the point of focus changed slightly. Or the instrument may -be turned or rotated from side to side, at one minute intervals. - -Many patients who are obliged to go to bed for two or three days each -month, after a course of this treatment, are completely relieved of -all distress. Indeed, some of these hardly knew they were “coming -sick.” - -It might be added that pressure exerted on the thumb, first and second -fingers of both hands helps materially in this work. And one of the -most comforting factors in the practice is that patients are usually -quite as well the next morning as they are even directly after the most -successful treatment. - -Occasionally the use of the metal comb on the back of the hand, -“combing” thoroly the region of the thumb, first and second fingers as -far as to the wrists--has given best results. But the tongue pressures -are most uniformly successful. - -While I have seldom heard of a miscarriage being induced by these -pressures, yet I believe a note of warning should be sounded, -cautioning against the use of the tongue pressures, particularly during -the early months of pregnancy. - -For it is quite conceivable that abortion might follow drastic tongue -treatment. It would be far better during these months to depend upon -the finger pressures or the comb for treatment of these zones. - -Also, if there is a too-profuse and too-frequent menstruation, severe -tongue pressures should be avoided. In these conditions gentle stroking -on the backs of the hands with a wire hair brush or the teeth of the -metal comb has given best results. And this same procedure may be -confidently resorted to to prevent threatened abortion. - -While not confined to women, yet women are by far more generally -afflicted with constipation and hemorrhoids than are men. Their -sedentary habits, tight lacing, and repugnance to water drinking make -them peculiarly susceptible to the costive habit--which in turn, -through engorgement of the hemorrhoidal veins, causes piles. - -I mention these subjects here because the treatment for constipation -and hemorrhoids is identical with that given for painful or suppressed -menstruation. - -The results in constipation are, in some instances, absolutely -astonishing. I know of one woman, constipated for fifteen years, who -never knew what it meant to have a natural movement of the bowels. She -grasped the chair seat with the tips of her fingers and thumbs, putting -all her strength into this grip--so as partly to desensitize the -pain of tongue pressure, and thereby be able to stand a more drastic -treatment. Then the tongue was firmly pressed for nine minutes in the -manner before described. - -Her bowels moved within fifteen minutes afterwards, and for a year or -longer she has never had to take another cathartic. Another case was -cleared up two years ago, and has had no return of the former trouble. - -These, however, are the extraordinary and exceptional cases. -For routine treatment it may be well to use the pressures for a -considerable period of time, so that their stimulating effect may -tend to create a “habit” in the peristaltic muscles of the bowel. For -the cure cannot be considered complete until this “habit” is firmly -established. - -The pain, bleeding and swelling of piles is also helped by these same -procedures. - -The point to be most emphatically dwelt upon in connection with -the treatment of these conditions is that “absent treatment,” or -lick-and-a-promise namby-pambyism, isn’t of any avail. The pressures -must be made by some one who has more sympathy with the patient’s -ultimate good than he has for her present temporary discomfort, and who -will administer a good honest treatment--preferably while the patient -does all she can--by tightly clasping the hands on the interlocked -fingers, or by grasping the chair or a table with the finger tips--to -reduce the sensitivity of the zones operated upon. - -If zone therapy is used in this manner, the results will amaze and -delight. For no method yet evolved for the treatment of these disorders -even remotely approximates zone therapy in point of efficacy. - - - - -CHAPTER 8. - -RELAXING NERVOUS TENSION. - - -Perhaps you may not do it. You have such splendid control over -yourself. But you know many people who, when angry, or when suffering -great physical pain, sink their teeth into their lip. Sometimes they -bite hard enough to start the blood. Others clinch their teeth and -hands, and double their toes up in their shoes. Why do you suppose -they do this? They do these, and many other natural and apparently -inevitable things, because they are instinctive and scientific, and -because Nature knows her business. We have done and shall continue -to do them involuntarily and automatically, because they relieve -pain and nerve tension, because they produce a form of analgesia, or -pain-deadening, similar to that which follows the injection of water or -some anesthetic solution into a sensory nerve. If you stop and think -for a moment many examples of this inhibition--as it is called--will -recur. - -One of the most interesting, from our standpoint, was that of a young -school teacher, subject to cataleptic fits, who, when she felt one -of her fits coming on, stepped on her right toes with all the weight -she could throw on the left foot, at the same time grasping the right -wrist firmly. Often those near--if notified in time--would produce the -pressures for her. In this way the young woman managed to break up or -prevent all except severe and sudden attacks. - -It was subsequently found that this patient had a chronic irritation -in the right ovary, and also a strained condition of the muscles of -accommodation in the right eye. When these conditions were cleared up -by proper remedial measures and correction, the cataleptic attacks -ceased. - -The fact of relief having followed in many instances her “inhibiting” -the right-sided zones indicated the possible source of trouble. And -by painstakingly examining the organs in these zones the cause of her -condition was located and finally overcome. - -So, as a means of diagnosis zone therapy has an immense value. Its -curative effects, however, are most valuable and significant. Many -of the gravest nerve conditions--conditions which failed to respond -to the most skilled medical treatment obtainable anywhere--have been -completely and permanently cured by the application of the proper -pressures--properly made. - -I recall a very grave case of neurosis--a writer’s cramp--accompanying -a neurasthenic condition. This lady--unusually alert and -intelligent--was a physical and nervous wreck. Sleepless, harassed by -“nerves” in their most aggravated form, she was unable to hold a pen, -or to write more than a few minutes at a time, until, on account of -the pain and twitching of the arm, wrist, and fingers, she was forced -to desist. She could no more have picked up and threaded a needle--let -alone have sewed with it--than she could have operated an aeroplane. -She was also nearly deaf from a middle ear trouble. - -Several months’ treatment, using the aluminum comb across the front and -back of the hands and on the finger tips, and daily employment of the -tongue depressor for four or five minutes, brought about a complete -change in the patient’s condition. - -It relaxed the terrible nervous tension--which was particularly marked -along the course of the spine--enabling her to sleep at night, and -awake thoroly rested and refreshed in the morning. The writer’s cramp -was also completely cleared up. A number of other conditions were also -corrected, and the hearing was improved quite 50%. - -This lady has since resumed her occupation as a private secretary--a -position she was forced by ill health to relinquish more than two -years ago--and now writes for hours at a stretch, without any return of -the cramp in the hand and arm. - -And, most convincing of all, she can now not only pick up, thread, and -hold a needle--something she had not been able to do for years--but -she can sew steadily for two or three hours, and feel no disagreeable -effects from this feminine debauch. - -A peculiarly satisfactory characteristic in all these cases is that -the improvement is even more apparent the “morning after” than it is -immediately after the treatment. - -Another case of neuritis in the arm and shoulder (brachial neuritis) -for more than six years had been unable to raise his arm higher than -the shoulder. For the two months previous to treatment he had been -obliged to carry it in a sling. The slightest movement of the arm -brought about a paroxysm of agonizing pain. - -A number of hollowed-out spring clothespins were clamped on the fingers -of the affected arm (see Fig. 13), and left there for twelve minutes. -At the expiration of this time the clamps were removed. - -The patient gingerly took his arm from its support, and after a minute -or two spent in experimenting with it, moved it freely up behind his -head and swung it behind his back in a sweeping motion. - -It was subsequently found that this man also had an osteopathic lesion, -which was reduced by Dr. Reid Kellogg, and after a few weeks’ “home -treatment”--consisting of five minute applications of moderately tight -rubber bands around the ends of the fingers--he reported himself as -well--and has remained so for more than ten months. - -For sciatic neuritis it is found that deep pressures with the teeth of -an aluminum or steel comb made upon the toes are much more effective -than when made upon the fingers. When pain is most severe on the back -of the leg pressures should be made upon the ball (sole) of the foot. -(See Fig. 18.) When the front of the leg pains also, the top of the -foot should also be pressed. - -While we are on the subject of sciatica, I might emphasize the -importance of a careful examination of the condition of the wisdom -teeth. For very frequently we have found this to be the origin of the -sciatic nerve trouble. - -Another interesting case, successfully treated with clothespins, was -that of a young man suffering from hand tremors, insomnia, and nervous -exhaustion. - -He had his finger tips clamped daily for a week. Then three times -more, at intervals of three days. After the eighth treatment he had -no further trouble with tremor, slept like a baby, and was apparently -relieved of all nervous symptoms. - -[Illustration: FIG. 18.--Showing a method of treating rheumatism or -sciatica by treating all five zones on the back of the leg and body.] - -We have found it helpful, if the patient has a good set of teeth, to -have him clinch the teeth, and also the hands, for several minutes at a -time, three or four times daily. This produces an exaggerated degree of -relaxation, which is most helpful in overcoming nervous conditions. - -Most of our patients are also instructed to “yawn prodigiously,” and -stretch. This stimulates a healthy action of the sympathetic nerves -in all the zones, and cannot fail but be most beneficial. Sometimes -the insomnia of neurasthenia may be effectively overcome by tightly -clasping the hands--interlocking the fingers as shown in Fig. 19, or -pressing the finger tips firmly together, and holding this position for -ten or fifteen minutes--unless sleep should come before this and relax -the clasp. - -Also, the clinching or wriggling of the toes is of benefit to a -neurasthenic. In fact, I am convinced that the method of relieving -fatigue in marching troops, discovered by Drs. DeFleury and Jacques--of -the French army, is largely an application of the principles of zone -therapy. - -The French surgeon’s idea is temporarily to expel the blood from the -legs by raising them. The soldiers remove their shoes and lie prone on -the ground, close to a tree or wall, with heads slightly elevated. They -then raise their legs against the wall, stretching upwards as far as -limb limitations permit. - -[Illustration: FIG. 19.--Patient seventy-two years of age with -carcinoma of left side of tongue, jaw, and pharynx. Two days before -this picture was taken the patient was unable to open his mouth. -The folded hands and open mouth indicate not only relaxation of the -jaws, but the method in which it was brought about. Dr. J. W. Hogan -painlessly extracted eighteen teeth for this patient under pressure -anesthesia.] - -[Illustration: FIG. 20.--Patient with right hand in this picture is -indicating with index and middle finger the location of his pain, and -how he is overcoming it thru pressure on the arm of the chair with the -tips of the thumb and fingers of the left hand. We seldom are obliged -to resort to drugs for pain, even in malignancy.] - -In this attitude the toes and ankles are worked or “wriggled” briskly. -Then the knees are flexed and extended a half dozen times or more. A -body of men, apparently in the last stages of exhaustion, recuperate -their energies with from five to fifteen minutes’ exercise of this kind. - -It can readily be seen how, by these exercises, all the zones in the -body would be stimulated to a normal condition. And the fact that the -exercises practiced are successful on a wholesale scale proves the -principle sound. - -One of the most important things Americans have to learn is how to -relax. Anything that will teach them to do this should prove a boon. - -Therefore I feel certain that, before many years, the principles and -practices of zone therapy will be as familiar and universally applied -as are now the principles of domestic hygiene or the practice of -sterilizing baby bottles. And then zone therapy will add to the depth -and breadth, as well as to the length of human life. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - -CURING LUMBAGO WITH A COMB. - - -There is a solid and substantial satisfaction in having lumbago. For we -know, without being told, that we have it, and we don’t have to work -our imagination overtime providing it with symptoms. - -Also, lumbago offers less encouragement to mental or psychological -healing than most anything ordinary we could gather up--except a broken -leg, a crop of boils, or an abscessed tooth. And the same thing applies -to its sisters-in-laws, rheumatism and sciatica. - -Therefore, anything that cures lumbago, rheumatism, sciatica, or -similar afflictions, must be able to “deliver the goods.” - -On this basis zone therapy must be considered one of our most valuable -methods for treating these obstinate conditions. Naturally it is not -always successful. Neither are the salicylates, hot mud baths, porous -plasters, nor having teeth pulled. And this is no more an apology for -zone therapy than it is for medicine. - -Lumbago, as a rule, responds very quickly and kindly to zone therapy. -Cases which come to the office “all doubled up” are straightened -out--frequently in one treatment--and wend their homeward way rejoicing. - -The weapon which has given us best results in attacking lumbago and -kindred affections is a common, dull-pointed aluminum comb, such as may -be procured in most bird stores for dog-combing purposes. The teeth of -this are pressed firmly on the palms of the hands and on the palmar -surface of the thumb, first, second and third fingers. In order to get -the best results the pressures should be continued for from ten to -twenty minutes. Occasionally it may be necessary to work also on the -“web” between the thumb and first finger, and also between the first -and second finger. - -Some zone therapy enthusiasts prefer to begin operations on the tips of -the thumb, first, second and third fingers--gradually working up the -palms of the hands and spending five minutes--for good measure--on the -wrists. - -Remember always that the palmar surfaces of the hands and fingers are -to be attacked for pains anywhere on the back, and the top or (back) -surfaces of the hands and fingers for any trouble on the front of the -body, arms or legs. This may seem rather confusing at first, but a -little thought will make clear why, what are commonly known as the back -of the hands are really the front or top, and correspond with the front -or top of the feet. The palms of the hands correspond with the soles of -the feet. - -It is also interesting to note that frequently there are found areas -which are extra sensitive to the pressures of the comb. - -These areas correspond to the most painful zones in other sections of -the body. For instance, if firm pressure on palmar surfaces of right -hand elicits more pain through the third zone in the hand, if the -patient has already complained of pain in his back, such pain will -usually be found in the third zone, and this holds good where pain is -concerned throughout the body. - -If these sensitive areas are found, by commencing gently and gradually -increasing the force of the pressure, toleration can be established. In -developing this toleration, the lumbago is usually relieved. - -Some perfectly amazing results have been reported from the comb method -of treatment, particularly in lumbago. One case, a minister who, for -weeks, had been unable even to turn in bed without assistance, was, -after a twenty-minute treatment, able to arise and walk unaided. He was -entirely relieved of pain and discomfort within a few hours, and the -next day was “up and around.” Relief almost always follows the first -treatment, apparently irrespective as to the cause of the lumbago. I -recall a recent case which had persisted for more than three months. -This gentleman had taken practically every form of treatment that -could be recommended by the most able specialists, had even been to -Hot Springs, without any except transient benefit. He was bent almost -double, and for many weeks had not been able to stand erect. This -patient was given two aluminum combs and told to squeeze them for ten -or fifteen minutes, while waiting in the ante-room. After being brought -into the office, his hands were thoroly “combed” by pressure, from -finger tip to wrist. - -He straightened out completely after this first treatment, and -expressed himself as entirely relieved from pain. He received a similar -treatment the following day--after which he went his way rejoicing. - -These results are practically uniform. I know of many scores of -patients thus cured with a comb. - -Sometimes equally good results follow from fastening hollowed-out -spring clothespins on the tips of the fingers (Fig. 13), corresponding -to the zones in which the lumbago holds forth. Or even from binding -heavy bands around these fingers (Fig. 5)--leaving these in position -five or ten minutes at a time--unless the finger becomes badly -discolored sooner, in which case the pressure must be temporarily -removed. - -One zone therapy enthusiast, who claims that “Treat It By Zone Therapy” -should be hung in every doctor’s office, while on a pilgrimage to a -Shriners’ Convention, noticed that the conductor of the train walked -“all doubled up” and seemed to be suffering great pain. It developed -that the railroad man had a “misery in his back,” had given up work, -and had been in a sanitarium for three weeks--without obtaining much -relief--and also that for the three days prior to his resuming work, he -had not been able to “straighten up,” nor make any sudden move, without -suffering excruciatingly. - -He was invited to come into the smoking compartment for a few minutes, -where the doctor put rubber bands on the thumb and forefinger of each -of the trainman’s hands, and at the same time made firm pressure with -his thumb-nails on these ligatured fingers. - -The conductor was not informed of the purpose of this procedure, so his -imagination had nothing to work on. - -After holding his fingers in this manner for about ten minutes the -whistle blew, and the conductor had suddenly to leave his chair. He -straightened up and went out “on the run.” - -When he came back he laughed and said: “This is the first time in six -weeks I’ve gotten up or moved without pain. What in thunder have those -little rubber bands to do with lumbago, anyway?” - -The doctor saw this man before leaving the train two hours afterwards, -and the trainman volunteered the information that “so far as the -lumbago is concerned I have no more feeling than a fish.” And these -results can be duplicated by any one who will study the zone charts -(Figures 1 and 2), and apply the simple technic outlined. - -Naturally, in sciatica, and in articular or joint rheumatism, the -results have not been so uniformly favorable. For sciatica may be due -to hip joint dislocation. Indeed, one of our most famous bone surgeons -claims that all cases of sciatica result from a twist, or subluxation -of the hip joint which certainly is not true of those cases cured with -a comb, or by electricity, or by some medical measure. - -In treating sciatica particular attention must be given the “hip area” -of the hand on the same side as the sciatica. This means that the -palmar surface of the ring and little finger and the palm of the hand -on that side, as well as the “edge” of the palm, running up over the -top of the hand must be thoroughly “combed.” - -But the best and most rapid relief for sciatica is usually secured by -“attacking” the soles of the feet--using the comb in the same manner -and for the same areas as described for the hands. In other words, by -manipulating the zones in the feet corresponding to the zones in the -hands. - -Dr. George Starr White, of Los Angeles, California, has invented a -mechanical device for this purpose, consisting of a piece of hard wood -about five inches in length, cut with deep screw-like threads (see -Figures 16 and 18). A heavy, smooth rope is attached to each end of -this implement of battle, and the patient uses it with a long, strong -pull for five or ten minutes at a time--repeating the maneuver several -times daily. Possibly any rough-surfaced, home-made device might give -equally good results. - -In acute articular rheumatism, where there are no gross pathological -changes or stiffening in the joints, splendid results have followed the -use of combs. It should be remembered that the hip area corresponds -with the shoulder on the same side, the knee with the elbow, and the -ankle with the wrist, etc., and pain is often overcome more quickly by -attacking corresponding parts with pressure or stimulation. - -One old lady who suffered terribly in the joints of both hands, and who -had not been able to sleep for weeks without an opiate, experienced -complete relief after a half dozen treatments with the comb over the -tips of her fingers and thumb (Fig. 12). And she was able to sleep -soundly thereafter without the use of her usual hypnotic. - -A very interesting case of gonorrheal arthritis was reported recently. -This man’s right knee joint was so painful that he could not bear to -have it touched. To bend the right leg at the knee was out of the -question. - -Two minutes’ pressure on the top and bottom, as well as on the tip of -the big toe, completely relieved the pain, and upon testing the joint -the soreness seemed to have vanished. The doctor then began carefully -bending the knee, and to his surprise, and to the amazement of the -patient--who hadn’t the slightest idea what was being attempted--the -knee could be flexed (bent) perfectly, without any pain whatever. - -As this doctor makes a specialty of treating painful joints by means of -heat, light, mud baths, and electricity, and has had a great deal of -experience in this work, we were much gratified to hear him say that -of all the cases he had ever treated he never had anything seem so -miraculous as this. He further stated that he had tried all his methods -of treatment to alleviate this man’s pain and to be able to flex the -knee, but without avail; yet zone therapy, applied at the proper zone, -brought about almost immediate results. - -As demonstrating a peculiar phase of zone therapy, and showing how -great aches from little corns may grow, here is a very interesting and -instructive case. A patient, suffering from rheumatism in the left -shoulder and arm, had, for more than three weeks, been unable to sleep -on account of the pain. He had a small callous growth on the tip of his -left thumb, corresponding to the zone in which the pain was located. -This was removed, and pressures were made with a comb on the place -where the finger corn had formerly held forth. Within four days he was -completely cured. - -And this reminds me that a corn doctor is a valuable aid in pressure -therapy work. For time and again I have seen pains as far away as -a headache relieved by clearing up the zone occupied and irritated -by a large pugnacious corn, which was the actual cause of the -headache--foolish-sounding as it may seem. - -A little boy with an aggravated case of “wry neck” had, for months, -slept upon sand bags to give him neck support. I cauterized the necks -of his teeth (always look to the condition of the teeth in wry neck) -with a fine platinum point cautery (which is merely a direct way of -stimulating all the zones), and in a few days this youngster was up and -running around as well as ever. - -Other cases of wry neck have been quite as readily cleared up by -combing the appropriate fingers on the palm of the hand of the side -involved or by pressing with a cotton-tipped probe on the proper zones -on the posterior wall of the throat, or on the under surface of the -tongue and on the floor of the mouth under the tongue. - -Most medical men, without stopping longer than two seconds to think -about it, will affirm that all these things are ridiculous and absurd. - -This, you remember, was what contemporary scientists told Galen and -Harvey, and also what the astronomers told Galileo. - -We spoke in a similar strain of radio activity, the fourth dimension, -wireless telegraphy, and aerial navigation. - -Many erudite members of the medical profession claim that zone therapy -and zone analgesia might be interesting if found in Gulliver’s Travels -or Munchausen’s Romances, but that emphatically they have no place in -medical literature. For every one knows that an egg cannot be made to -stand on end. - -Yet we are standing this medical egg on end every day. - -And there is no reason in the world why any intelligent man or woman, -let alone any intelligent doctor, cannot do likewise, and put these -simple and helpful methods into practical application. For it doesn’t -even require faith. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - -SCRATCHING THE HAND FOR SICK STOMACH. - - -Many of us know that if we are threatened with sneezing and we press -the upper lip tightly against the teeth with the fingers, that we can -usually stop the sneeze. Also, that if we drop a cold piece of metal -down the back, or press a piece of ice against the back of the neck, it -will frequently check nosebleed. - -But not many of us know that the reason these things are thus is -because, by these actions, we are stimulating normal function in the -first zone. - -Were we to press our cheek over the wisdom tooth--which is in the -fourth zone--or, rub the ice on our third zone ear, the sneeze and the -nose bleed would pursue uninterruptedly the even tenor of their ways. - -If you never had heard of these things, you would probably say “pish,” -and look around with some trepidation for your informant’s keeper. Yet, -in all earnestness and sincerity, I would, if you are one of those -whose stomach is easily upset, urge that the next time you board a -train or boat you arm yourself with a wire hair brush and a metal comb. - -When the first faint qualms, premonitory of an eruption or some other -seismic disturbance in your interior are felt, get busy with the comb -and brush--not on your head--but on your hands. - -For sickness of the stomach is quite generally relieved by steady -pressure made over the first and second zone on the backs of the hands -with the teeth of a metal comb. The comb should be pressed firmly -over the areas running from the thumb and first finger of both hands, -including the web between the thumb and first finger--which seems to -have a very intimate connection with the stomach. If there is no comb -handy, the finger nails will do good substitute work, but the metal is -best, as it seems to stimulate an electrical contact that helps the -“impulse.” - -This procedure is to be used only where the stomach is irritated -and threatens convulsive contractures, or where there is pain, or -distention from gas. Relief of these conditions may generally be -expected in from five to ten minutes. - -[Illustration: FIG. 21.--When I first saw this patient (January 9, -1913), the enlargement in the neck, pronounced cancer, and inoperable, -by some of our best men in New England, was stony hard and exceedingly -painful to the touch. She had not been able to lie down for nine -months, and had not taken any solid food for three months; could open -the mouth only slightly, and with great difficulty. We induced speedy -relaxation of the neck (it was absolutely relaxed in four treatments) -through pressure with a dry cotton-wound applicator and also with -a pencil moistened with trichloracetic acid in varied strengths -from twenty-five per cent to a saturated solution, throughout the -appropriate zones in the mouth, nose and epipharynx. This patient -responds quickly to pressure, and accurately traces sensations of glow -or numbness from the mouth to the extremities and vice versa. These -sensations are almost immediately followed by lines of anesthesia. -Note the neck of this patient (see Fig. 22) fourteen months later. -Patient through pressure on fingers of zones involved keeps side of -neck constantly anesthetized, and therefore free from irritation, with -constant absorption of growth.] - -If, however, the stomach is “dead”--the doctors call it “atonic”--when -it lies inert and unambitious after a heavy meal--or even a small -meal that is heavy for that stomach at that particular time--the best -results are found in gentle stroking or scratching with a wire hair -brush, or with the teeth of the comb. If these are not available -scratch with the finger nails, but, as with the pressures, the most -favorable results follow the use of metal. - -[Illustration: FIG. 22.--Photograph of patient in Fig. 21 seventeen -months after her first treatment. After three years improvement still -continues.] - -Remember that scratching stimulates, while deep pressure with the teeth -of the comb, finger nails or wires of the hair brush relaxes. - -Also the next time the baby is restless and inclined to double up and -yell murder, instead of doing a slippered constitutional up and down -the room with him, scratch the backs of his hands. If he’s had too -much to eat this may quiet him. If, however, his little “tummy” is -“working,” try some pressures on his hands or feet, and see how soon -the “tummy” will knock off work. - -And, for the same sufficient reasons, try the same thing on yourself -and the family, instead of “banging” the stomach over the head with a -dose of dope. - -The morning sickness of pregnancy yields quite uniformly to deep -pressures on the backs of the hands, and it is much safer to try and -control this nausea from the hands than it would be to resort to the -severe pressures on the tongue. For these latter, if too drastic, might -produce a miscarriage. - -Also, while it isn’t exactly zone therapy, it might be interesting -here to note that eating salted popcorn has a tendency to help correct -the nausea of pregnancy, car sickness, and indigestion. Many patients -of mine keep a bowl of it on a chair right alongside their beds, and -commence to eat it so soon as they awake in the morning. A handful -of popcorn, thoroughly chewed, seems to help pacify the otherwise -rebellious stomach. - -Zone therapy pressures are valuable not only in nausea and vomiting, -but also in indigestion, gastric catarrh and all forms of stomach -disorders. It has even been successfully employed in gastric ulcer, -with dangerous hemorrhages and the other distressing symptoms of this -painful malady. Dr. Reid Kellogg has cured three of these cases, one -in ten treatments, the others in two or three months. Two of these -patients had had an acute condition for two months--no food whatsoever -passing through the pylorus (the exit of the stomach). They had been, -of course, fed by the rectum. - -Dr. Kellogg used the probe (Fig. 9), low down on the posterior (back) -wall of the pharynx, and used pressures over the thumb, first and -second fingers of both hands with the aluminum comb. - -In less than a dozen treatments these patients were able to retain -food taken into the stomach, and practically conduct the entire -subsequent course of their own cure. - -To disabuse the minds of any who may evolve the idea that zone therapy -is of value only in conditions that “don’t matter anyhow,” I want to -emphasize that these cases were most grave, and that they had received -skilled medical attention for many weeks--without apparent benefit. - -It has been current knowledge--even before those halcyon days when the -banqueter retired to have his throat tickled by a dutiful slave--that -by touching definite areas in the throat and at the base of the -tongue--vomiting could be induced. - -And now we have discovered how to put the reverse English on the -tickle, and keep it down when it wants to come up. Which discovery -should also help increase the sum total of the world’s health and -happiness. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -HAY FEVER, ASTHMA AND TONSILITIS. - - -If the United States Hay Fever Association, and all individuals who -suffer from hay fever, will read carefully, and then apply this -chapter--as directed--the ravages of these catarrhal cataclysms, I feel -sure, will be beautifully lessened. - -For zone therapy has an especial and peculiar message for -hay-feverites. It has mitigated, if not entirely relieved, the red-eyed -misery of hundreds of them. And none--except those who have been -victims--can know what a real relief this is. - -Nobody knows for certain what causes hay-fever, and, judging from -the textbooks, they know even less regarding any definite method of -relieving it. - -It is possible that repeated “colds”--generally from dust -infection--result in a chronic irritation of the mucous membrane, -followed by a thickening (or hypertrophy) of the tissues. - -This thickened tissue dams the circulation of blood in the membranes, -and presses upon the delicate nerves of the nose, thereby irritating -them, which irritation proves to be the last straw. So the nerves of -the nose throw up both hands with a despairing moan. - -An acute inflammatory irritation is established, setting up a vicious -circle. For the pressure causes nerve irritation, and the nerves -retaliate by still further disturbing the circulation, thereby causing -more pressure. - -Then, if really it is pollen that causes the physiological -conflagration we call hay fever, the mucous membrane is so susceptible -that it will readily respond to the action of the pollen. Which is -probably also true of those cases that develop similar conditions from -the odor of roses, horses or cats. - -It is significant, however, that of all the hundreds of hay-fever -patients that have ever come under my care not one had an absolutely -normal nose. Invariably there were bony spurs, protruding turbinate -bones, cartilages twisted out of proper alignment, an inflamed and -thickened mucous membrane lining, or some other pathological condition, -one usually requiring surgical interference. - -So if you have, or expect to have, hay fever or any other abnormal -condition of the nasal mucous membranes, see a specialist and have -your nose placed in as near a perfect condition as surgical skill and -your physical shortcomings will permit, not forgetting also a thorough -stretching of the soft palate. This the surgeon will accomplish by -means of a finger inserted in the throat and a hooked instrument in the -passage back of the nose. By enlarging the contracted parts of this -passage normal drainage and circulation in these tissues is established. - -The best results are obtained by operating during the height of an -attack. If sometimes even a needle be thrust through the congested -mucous membrane, so that the blood flows freely, the attack can be -broken up, and the condition frequently eradicated for that season. - -Then use any combination of the following procedures, which experience -may prove helpful, remembering that here no fixed rule can be laid -down, and that what “works” magically in one case might have but little -effect in another. - -First, make steady firm pressures on various points in the roof of the -mouth with the thumb. Be careful to “cover” the region directly on a -line with the nose. These pressures should be maintained for from four -to eight minutes at a time, and repeated a half dozen or more times -daily. Those experienced in zone therapy claim that the pressures have -an immediate and powerful effect upon abnormal conditions in this zone. - -At the same time the upper lip should be firmly forced against the -teeth with the first finger. This usually has a most discouraging -effect upon sneezing. - -Pressures with a cotton-tipped probe on the back wall of the pharynx -(the inside junction of the nose and mouth), as well as upon the mucous -membranes of the nose, give, in the hands of physicians, the quickest -results. The cotton-tipped probe may be dipped in trichloracetic acid, -or some pungent agent, which will lend “punch” to the contact impulse. - -A curious feature in connection with this probe therapy is that if the -patient, by coughing, resents the presence of the instruments, the -effect seems to be dissipated. In other words, the transmission of the -nerve impulse is partly inhibited. It is fair to say, however, that -patients become rapidly accustomed to what at first frequently caused -irritation. - -The use of a tongue depressor, covering the center of the tongue fairly -well “forward,” has also been found most helpful, if pressed down and -held firmly several times a day for three minutes or more at a time. In -fact, it is expedient to use the tongue depressor in almost all nose, -throat and stomach troubles--or, in fact, any condition occurring in -the “front” of the body. - -The wearing of moderately tight rubber bands upon the thumb, first -and second fingers for ten or fifteen minutes (or less, if the finger -tips become purple) repeated several times daily, seems also to help -materially. Indeed, some physicians report that they get their very -best results by having their patients wear the bands as continuously as -possible, removing them only as required to prevent blood stasis, and -then replacing them again. - -Pressures exerted with the finger and thumb over the joints of the -thumb, first and second fingers or toes have given excellent results. -Three or four-minute pressures with an aluminum comb on all surfaces -of the thumb and first finger--repeated several times daily--have also -given satisfactory relief in hay fever. - -Always the breath should be taken through the nostrils. If the mouth -persists in opening at night, strap it shut with isinglass plaster cut -in thin strips. - -The treatment of asthma and other affections of the respiratory -passages is very similar to that of hay fever, excepting that, instead -of pressing the tongue, more generally the floor of the mouth is -manipulated for this purpose--as the impulse is thus more “direct.” - -Some of the results in asthma have been little short of miraculous. One -patient suffering with bronchial asthma had been unable to lie down for -three years, what little sleep she secured being taken propped in a -chair. Her sole relief consisted in the hypodermic injection of fifteen -drops of adrenalin solution, practically every morning and night. - -I made pressure on the pharyngeal wall, at a point “low down,” where -the “metallic sensation” was reflected into the bronchial region. Also -I used the probe on the floor of the mouth, directly beneath the root -of the tongue. - -Within five minutes this lady--for the first time in three years--was -relieved of all pain, tightness, hoarseness, and shortness of breath. -In two months of this treatment she gained fifteen pounds, and now -sleeps through the night. Also, she has been enabled completely to -discontinue her use of adrenalin. - -Another bronchial asthmatic suffered so severely that he had made all -arrangements, even to packing his trunks, to retire from business -and seek health on the Riviera or in Egypt. His “wheezing” was so -pronounced that he could be heard clear across a twenty-foot room. -This gentleman was advised by Dr. D. F. Sullivan, senior surgeon of -St. Francis Hospital, to see me before leaving the country. - -I pressed on the floor of the patient’s mouth, under the root of the -tongue, with a cotton-tipped probe, and made strong pressure on the -first and third zones of his tongue with a tongue depressor. In three -or four treatments this man was entirely well, and informed us that he -had indefinitely postponed his trip abroad, and “was going back to work -again.” - -Zone therapists have found in throat and chest cases that painting the -tongue with iodine on the upper and lower surfaces for about one-third -way back is most helpful. - -But one of the best of all methods by which the patient may help -himself consists in biting the tongue as hard as comfortably can be -borne, holding that member between the teeth for several minutes at a -time, three or four times daily. - -Also, it is well carefully to examine the condition of the teeth, -throat and pharynx in asthmatic cases, as frequently the asthma does -not clear up until some defect in these organs is remedied. - -A twelve-year-old girl of my acquaintance, a physician’s daughter, -has developed considerable technic in zone therapy. Only recently -she relieved the pain of a bad case of mumps by fastening spring -clothespins to the first, second and third fingers of both her hands, -leaving them on until the finger tips became quite purple. - -The little lady proudly demonstrated her control over the condition by -taking a mouthful of vinegar as a gargle. This, as every doctor knows, -is quite a crucial test. - -In tonsilitis good results almost invariably follow pressure over the -inferior dental nerve, at a point where it enters the jaw bone. It -requires considerable skill to find this foramen (as it is called), so -this advice is really for doctors only. - -Pressure may also be made with the finger on a probe back of the -anterior pillars (membranes situated in front of the tonsil). - -Yet much may be accomplished merely by squeezing the joints of the -second, third and fourth fingers, and using a tongue depressor on the -extreme sides of the tongue. - -And this reminds me that a certain minister of my acquaintance has been -teaching his Boy Scouts zone therapy methods, with especial reference -to curing themselves of coughs and other common ailments. The boys -also find it valuable in their “First Aid to the Injured” work. I -can readily understand that the analgesic effects of zone pressure -should be effective in the camp, as well as in the home, or in the -dead-of-night emergency. - -Zone therapy opens up a tremendous field. So the more experimenters we -have the sooner every one will know just how tremendous and useful and -marvelous it is. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - -CURING A SICK VOICE. - - -We all remember the gentleman in one of Moliere’s plays who was -astounded to learn that he had been talking prose all his life. This -verdant reminiscence has an almost universal application. - -For instance, Umberto Sorrentino, the gifted Italian tenor, has, for -a number of years, relieved the “tight,” inflexible throat, which is -the bane of vocalists and speakers, by grasping his tongue firmly in -a handkerchief, pulling it as hard as could be comfortably borne, -and wriggling it slowly from side to side. This, he says, eases up -throat tension, and frees the voice. It also has a tendency to abort a -beginning cold. - -He was led to adopt this practice from observing the beneficial effects -of massage of the throat in stimulating and otherwise improving the -circulation and releasing the muscles from the bound condition, which -invariably (in his case) foreruns a cold. He reasoned that if external -massage was beneficial, internal massage should be even more so; hence, -the “wriggle.” - -Also, Miss Mabel Garrison, one of the new lyric sopranos of the -Metropolitan Opera House, has won the appreciation and gratitude of -various members of the company, by curing stiff, inelastic sore throats -through pressures made upon the vocalists’ tongues. - -There is a hint in these significant facts that no singer, lawyer, -actor, clergyman, mother of a family, or business man can afford to -ignore. For almost everyone suffers occasionally from defects somewhere -in the delicate mechanism that shapes air currents into beautiful -sounds, and molds breath into speech. - -Although they probably are not aware of this, both Signor Sorrentino -and Miss Garrison are employing zone therapy in relieving these vocal -ills. For they are exerting pressures on the first and second zones, -the region which governs the function of the vocal chords, the pharynx, -larynx, and the respiratory passages. - -And while their results have been very remarkable, and eminently -satisfactory to themselves and their fellow artists, they would be even -more striking were the pressures made more “direct.” - -[Illustration: SIGNOR UMBERTO SORRENTINO, - -the noted tenor, who relieves “tight” throat by making strong traction -on the tongue. By pressure on the anterior third of the tongue, and -by stimulating the outside lateral aspects of the fore fingers (which -distinctly govern the vocal cords) Sorrentino has relieved himself and -many of his friends of what promised to be serious throat conditions.] - -In other words, if, instead of squeezing and making strong traction -on the tongue, or of using a depressor on this member, they were to -do these things and, in addition, apply firm pressure on the floor of -the mouth, beneath the tongue, with a cotton-tipped metal probe (see -Fig. 6), dipped in spirits of camphor or alcohol (to increase the -“impulse”), their results would be far more certain and satisfactory. - -In all cases of hoarseness, huskiness, or in loss of voice due to -irritation or strain--as in clergyman’s sore throat--these practices -almost invariably give relief. I remember a case of a soprano whose -upper register was completely lost through long-continued strain. The -floor of her mouth--directly under the tongue, and up to the roots of -the lower incisor teeth, was “prodded” intermittently for a period of -fifteen minutes, with the metal probe. The cotton on the tip of the -probe was dipped in some pungent agent, for the purpose, as before -stated, of increasing the nerve “response.” - -Marked improvement followed the first treatment. She was, however, -cautioned not to attempt to use the voice, except for a moment or two -after treatments--to observe the effect. - -The singer also carried out “home treatments,” consisting in -five-minute firm applications of a tongue depressor (see Fig. 17) on -the center of the tongue. This was done every four hours. In addition, -she squeezed the sides of her thumbs. This action, especially if -accompanied by digging the finger nails into the inner side of the -thumb--which area is distinctly in the vocal chord zone--has a -specific effect upon the vocal chords. Within three days this lady had -completely recovered, and was able to return to her company. - -Zone therapy has, in innumerable instances, restored speaking voices -that were as lost as the Lost Hope. Indeed, it is of common occurrence -to have a clergyman, a lawyer, or a business man who has become aphonic -(voiceless) from long dictation, or some other vocal strain, come to -the specialist in zone therapy, unable to speak above a whisper, and -within a half hour go his way rejoicing--practically as “good as new”. - -This, by application of the probe on the floor of the mouth, pressures -on the tongue, and sometimes pressures on the thumb and fingers, any -and all of which procedures can be successfully used by any intelligent -man or woman in the relief of their own troubles, or in curing these -troubles in their family. - -Respecting the finger pressures, it must be borne in mind that it is -necessary to work on the particular zone involved. For instance, it -would be useless to make pressures over the thumb joints if the cause -of the throat trouble should happen to be a congested tonsil. The -third, fourth and fifth fingers would have to be invoked for relief in -this zone. - -It is, however, perfectly remarkable what these finger pressures alone -will accomplish. One of the earlier experimental cases was a patient -who had been speaking on and off all day at a Sunday School Convention -held in a grove. This grove must have been an ideal spot for a nice -open air meeting. But the leafy bowers, the sylvan glades, and the -bossy dells were not built for acoustic purposes. - -The consequence was that, when the shades of night were falling fast -our hero was “all in”. He couldn’t speak above a whisper. He had such -contraction of the muscles that he couldn’t even open his jaws--let -alone communicate intelligent information through them. - -This was his condition when he presented himself the following noon -petitioning relief. He had had nothing to eat since late lunch the day -before, although, whether he knew it or not, he had had enough then to -last him a week. - -Of course, as he could not open his mouth it was not possible to treat -him by pressures on the floor of the mouth, and on the tongue. So he -was provided with an aluminum comb, and shown how to make pressures on -the back of his hand, extending up from the thumb to the wrist, and -over to the fourth finger, and left to his own devices for twenty-five -minutes. - -At the expiration of this time he had relaxed the tension of his -jaw muscles and relieved the irritation in his throat to such an -extent that he went out and had a comfortable lunch. Returning to the -specialist’s office, pressures were made with a padded probe (see -Fig. 9) on the wall of the pharynx--the probe being introduced through -the nostril. - -Also, he was given instrumentation on the floor of the mouth, -underneath the tongue, and a conscientious treatment with a tongue -depressor. This weapon he took home and used, carrying out also the -combing of the back of the hands. Three days afterwards he sang in the -choir as well as ever. - -Deep massage with the fingers on the muscles of the throat, and a -“plucking” of the voice box are also helpful procedures. Where the -irritation or the inflammation is not extensive it might be well -to include them as routine measures in most throat troubles. Where -there is active congestion they are, of course, not only useless, but -actually harmful. - -A very frequent cause of vocal ills, and a condition most generally -associated with a congested throat, is a “stuffy” nose. Also, it is -quite impossible to get a perfect vocal resonance if the membranes of -the nose are swollen and congested with “cold” or catarrh. - -The tongue and finger pressures do much to relieve these conditions, -but perhaps the surest and quickest method of curing them is to -“pencil” the nose with a probe, using the uncovered steel for this -purpose. And, I may here remark, that the patient’s own saliva is one -of the best and least irritating lubricants for this probe work in the -nose. - -The steel should be left in each nostril several minutes, and gently -moved back and forth from time to time, for the tonic “penciling” or -“ironing” effect. The curative influence of this on chronic nasal -catarrh or other pathological conditions of the nose is sometimes quite -remarkable. - -Also, it might be well here to add that atomizers are useless, except -temporarily--as after exposure to a horde of sneezers or coughers. In -this event, an alkaline antiseptic may be of value. - -But the constant washing away of the natural secretion of the mucous -membrane, or the perpetual coating over of the air passages with a film -of oil--which prevents the natural secretion from being natural--is -distinctly injurious. For it tends to provoke, perpetrate and -perpetuate all forms of catarrh, and none should use them--except under -physician’s instruction--and then for a short time only. Stimulate -normal function with a probe or sound, used at night before retiring, -and in the morning on arising, and cure the condition instead of making -it chronic. - -It wouldn’t be difficult to get affirmative evidence to the fact that -a sick voice is one of the sickest and most disheartening things that -can befall one who must depend upon it for a living. But, with a little -patience, and an intelligent application of the principles of zone -therapy, it is a “cinch”. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - -A SPECIFIC FOR WHOOPING AND OTHER COUGHS. - - -For years eminent scientists have been spending much valuable time -and money in seeking a cure for whooping cough. Still the whoop -persists. The distress, the after effects on the bronchial tubes, and -the weakening influence--frequently leading to the later development -of tuberculosis--remains uninfluenced. The disease runs its course, -irrespective of any or all treatments. - -Yet whooping cough is one of the simplest and most easily-cured -diseases with which zone therapy has to contend. An ordinary case of -whooping cough, which has persisted for weeks, can sometimes be cured -in from three to five minutes. Rarely are more than four or five -treatments necessary. Case after case is recalled in which, after the -application of a cotton-tipped probe--held down firmly on the back of -the throat (the post-pharyngeal wall), little patients who had whooped -themselves into a state of nervous and physical exhaustion, never had -another paroxysm of coughing. - -If the savants of the various research institutions throughout -the country are really sincere in attempting to discover a -cure for whooping cough, asthma, goitre, and a score of other -conditions--conditions successfully treated by zone therapy--it will be -easy to put this method to the test. - -If they do not themselves care to make the experiment, I will come to -New York and demonstrate the method on one or one hundred cases, and -show that, in from one to a half dozen treatments with a steel probe, -whooping cough can be effectively and permanently overcome. This may -or may not be worth the attention of these gentlemen. I can do no more -than make the offer, which, I emphasize, is made in perfect good faith -and in the interest of humanity and science. - -The most remarkable feature of a brand-new discovery is very frequently -its hoary-headedness. For this reason, when we come to think about -this matter of the mechanical relief of cough, we are struck with its -antiquity. From time antedating the memory of man, humanity has pressed -its second finger in its pharynx (that space which spreads out from the -back part of the mouth and throat up into the nose) or the larynx (a -continuation of the pharynx), for the purpose of loosening a dry cough -or to facilitate expectoration. - -All grandmothers, ever since there were grandmothers, have put their -fingers in babies’ throats to give them relief in croup. Some of the -wisest of these grandmothers used to press the handle of a spoon on -the back part of the tongue, in order to abort a beginning cold, or -cause a profuse secretion of mucus in conditions associated with a dry, -metallic cough. - -Our old-time cure for hiccoughs has the same reason for its existence. -For, when we grasp the tongue of a hiccougher, and with a long pull, -a strong pull, and a pull all together, haul the offending member to -tongue’s length--and hold it there--we cure the spasmodic contraction -of the diaphragm (the cause of hiccough) by influencing the zone in -which the trouble originates. This is the principle by which we cure -whooping cough, or indeed any cough that originates in any portion -of the respiratory tube. But, we have found in these cases that -spots in the vault or wall of the pharnyx, if pressed firmly with a -cotton-wrapped probe, as large as can be comfortably passed through the -nostrils, gives the quickest and most definite results. - -For the “reflex”--the sensation of pain, tingling, or cold, which -is transmitted along the nerve zones by this contact,--can be -definitely traced by the patient to the exact spot where the irritation -seems to originate. - -By slightly raising the handle of the probe, and thereby altering its -point of contact on the business end, this influence can be directed -with almost mathematical precision to the area we desire to influence. - -When the exact “spot” is pressed--and a little practice will soon -make the finding of this almost automatic--the pressure should be -firmly held for several minutes. The throat may feel slightly “lame” -afterwards--but this soon passes off. If it does not, pressure -brought to bear upon the appropriate thumb or finger will relieve the -“lameness.” - -In an experience with several hundred cases of whooping cough we have -not yet seen a failure from the proper application of zone therapy. -This, I believe, is more than can be truly said of any other form of -treatment. - -A very few treatments only are necessary to relieve even the most -aggravated case of whooping cough--or any cough which originates in the -respiratory passage in that zone. - -In other words, a tubercular cough, which has its cause in a lesion on -the extreme right or left of the lung would not respond to pressures -in the middle zones. Likewise a cough which was reflected from a -congested liver, or from some other organ not in the first and second -zones, would fail to respond to pressures made as here described. Any -intelligent man or woman can apply these pressures--and with almost the -same success as would attend the effort of the most famous specialist. - -It sometimes assists very materially if the tongue, for about a third -way back, is thoroly painted above and below with tincture of iodin. -The mild irritation from the iodin tends to stimulate the normal -function of all those zones interested in keeping up the cough. - -[Illustration: FIG. 23--Anterior quarter of tongue coated with tincture -of iodin--both surfaces.] - -[Illustration: FIG. 24--Four minutes after complete absorption of the -iodin (see Fig. 23) has taken place. The patient is indicating the -sensation of heat or reaction over several zones in the chest where -it is most pronounced. Few patients experience these sensations, but -all patients experience the benefit. This reaction does, as a matter -of fact, extend over the entire body. It is easily demonstrated that -the tongue, when firmly compressed by the teeth, will often produce -relaxation of the entire body, for the mouth is also divided into ten -zones. These illustrations indicate the possibility of the speedy -absorption of toxins from inner surfaces of neglected teeth and gums.] - -If the use of the probe through the nostrils seems too much like a -surgical operation, very good--though not so rapid and effective -results--will follow the application of firm pressures on the front -part of the tongue, and on the floor of the mouth directly under the -tongue. - -Also moderately tight rubber bands should be worn on the thumbs and -first fingers of both hands for five or ten minute intervals, several -times a day. This might be supplemented also with strong pressure with -the finger and thumb over the bridge of the cougher’s nose. - -If there should be a frontal headache associated with the cough--a -very frequent symptom if the cough has persisted for any length of -time--the finger and thumb should be moved up to the very root of the -nose. This shall be pinched gently for several minutes, right at the -place where the nose ends and the eyes begin. - -One of the most remarkable things zone therapy has yet done (although -I am not surprised at anything it may do) was to cure a forty-year-old -cough, originating in a tracheal (or wind pipe) irritation. The patient -received one treatment with a probe (Fig. 9) on the back wall of the -pharynx. - -She experienced relief after the second treatment, and continued to -improve until, at the expiration of three weeks, she was discharged as -cured. Now, after 15 months, there has been no return of the cough. - -Another patient with bronchial cough associated with lagrippe, under -my instruction, relieved herself by pressures made with the finger and -thumb over the bridge of the nose, and by the wearing of rubber bands -around the thumbs and first fingers of both hands. - -This lady reported the following morning that she had enjoyed the -first night’s sleep she had had in more than five nights, and that a -persistent and most annoying headache had also cleared up. - -These results are quite uniform, and can be duplicated by any one who -will try patiently and painstakingly to duplicate them. - -Indeed, so simple is the procedure that I have repeatedly seen -bronchial and other coughs, resulting from irritation or congestion at -some point in the air passages, completely cured, merely by pressure on -the tongue with the handle of a tablespoon or a toothbrush. And many of -these had persisted for a long time. - -I believe the time is not far distant when every one will be his own -cough doctor; when mothers, instead of doping their children with -dangerous opiates or stomach-destroying nostrums will, with a tongue -depressor, or a probe, do successfully in a few hours what now (to -perpetrate an Irish bull) is done inadequately or not at all in many -days. - -Here is the knowledge. There are no patents or restrictions upon it. -Every one is free to use it to the fullest and most helpful possible -extent. - - - - -CHAPTER 14. - -HOW A PHANTOM TUMOR WAS DISSIPATED. - - -Last June the New Hampshire Dental Society held a convention at Weirs, -on Lake Winnepesaukee. One of the residents of the summer colony was -brought before the convention on the evening of June 23d. Her serious -condition baffled the local physicians. It was hoped that among the two -hundred scientific men, gathered there from all parts of the East, some -might be found who could help her. - -She was a woman about thirty-five years old, well nourished and -apparently healthy, apart from a large swelling in the front of the -neck. Manifestly the thyroid and other glands had become enlarged -through some unknown inflammatory cause. She was suffering great pain. -The slightest touch caused agony. Swallowing was impossible. Not even -a drop of water had passed down her throat since the preceding Friday -night. This was Wednesday night. - -A healthy human being can exist from seven to ten days without water. -This woman had been without water for five days, suffering mental and -physical torture. Her physician insisted, as the only means of saving -her life, that an operation be performed at once. The half dozen or -more physicians who had been called in consultation concurred in this. -There was nothing left but to perform an intubation--the insertion of -a tube in the gullet, through which water and food might be passed, -pending some possible measure of relief. - -The heart was racing along at one hundred and fifty beats a minute, and -there were all the peculiar symptoms usually associated with thyroid -disturbances. Inasmuch as the whole trouble had developed in a week, it -was most unlikely that the condition was goitrous. - -As it was probable that the trouble was associated with the thyroid, -a physician present decided to try zone therapy, because it could be -applied instantly, and promised immediate results if successful. - -Calling one of the dentists to make strong pressure over the first -joint of one thumb, the doctor grasped the other thumb. This simple, -apparently foolish, treatment was maintained for three minutes. The -patient began to show signs of relief. The drawn lines on her face -softened. She could bear without shrinking the touch on her neck. - -The doctor sent for a glass of water, and held it to the patient’s -lips. She took a sip of water, which she swallowed with much difficulty -and pain--the first drop in five days. - -“It is the most delicious thing I ever tasted,” she whispered. - -She was able to swallow about a third of a glass upon her first -attempt. The pressures were continued intermittently for about an hour, -and within that time she was able to drink four glasses of water and -a glass of malted milk. A light rubber band was placed over her thumb -joints, as shown in Fig. 5, and she enjoyed her first night’s sleep -since the inflammation had developed. - -The next morning she reported that she was almost entirely relieved. -The swelling was hardly perceptible, and she could bear reasonable -pressure over the glands without discomfort. She had no difficulty -in swallowing. In a few days she was fully recovered, and has had no -return of the trouble. - -With the relief of nerve tension--consciously or unconsciously -exerted--there necessarily follows a relief in either the constricted -or the congested condition of the lymphatic glands or ducts, the -thyroid and other ductless glands, and also of the vasomotor nerves, -which control the flow of blood through the blood vessels. - -This action, no doubt, accounts for the marvelous results which zone -therapy has produced in the treatment of glandular and circulatory -diseases--whether due to nervous, or physical causes. - -In the famous “globus hystericus”--that big lump comes up in the throat -of an hysteric--there is no speedier or more effective treatment than -zone therapy. Merely take the hands of the hysterical individual, -squeeze them as hard as she can bear the pressure, and maintain this -pressure for several minutes. Almost immediate relaxation of all the -zones will follow, and with this relaxation a disappearance of the -great lump in the throat. - -The combs or the wire hair brush may be used, if preferred. Or, if -none of these are available, merely scratch the back of the hands with -the finger nails. It will help materially, of course, if suggestion be -employed, using the voice in a soothing manner. - -But the results are quite as effective--although not as rapid--if the -patient has no idea concerning what is being attempted. - - - - -CHAPTER 15. - -DR. WHITE’S EXPERIENCE. - - -One of the most thoro and able diagnosticians in America, if not in the -world, is George Starr White, M. D., of Los Angeles, Cal., discoverer -of the bio-dynamic method of diagnosis. I reproduce a small portion of -his experiences in zone therapy and zone anesthesia--as detailed in his -Lecture Course. - -“A few years ago, while experimenting on the anesthetic effect of the -Tesla current, I observed that by giving a current that produced a -severe shock to the fingers, I was able to pierce them with needles and -not feel pain. I did not realize why these results were obtained. But -experiments on animals gave me a hint. For one of my horses backed into -a window, and got a large piece of glass into the sacral region (near -the tail). We tried, without success, to put her into a narrow stall -and tie her legs so we could operate, as a large incision had to be -made to extract the foreign body. Finally one of our men suggested that -we tie a slipper-noose, which he called a ‘twitch’, around the horse’s -nose. He made this ‘twitch’ out of a piece of thin rope, put it on the -horse’s nose, and we started to operate. The result was a collision -between the horse’s hind legs and my abdomen. I told the man to put -the ‘twitch’ on again, tie it tightly, and hold it for two or three -minutes. Then, altho I made a deep incision to take out the glass, the -horse did not flinch. - -“I realize now that we used zone anesthesia, as the sacral region and -the nose are in the same zone. At other times we have had occasion to -do minor operations on cows and pigs on my experiment farm, and have -noticed that, by putting a ‘twitch’ on the nose, the animals did not -seem to experience any pain. - -“Also, before anesthesia was so well known, I remember seeing surgeons -do minor operations on individuals who would take no chloroform. Almost -always the patients closed their teeth, or clinched their hands on some -rough substance. Then ‘they could stand anything.’ - -“Later I heard Dr. William H. Fitzgerald explain zone therapy. Then I -realized that we have always used zone therapy, although we did not -know it. - -“After spending a few days with Dr. Fitzgerald, I met at a dinner -party, a lady who had a severe frontal headache. Obtaining her -permission to try a new ‘cure’, I exerted pressure upon the thumb, -first and second fingers, and within five minutes the headache had -disappeared. I had similar success in treating a toothache. - -“I shortly afterwards called on a New York physician who had previously -been one of my pupils, and asked him if he knew anything about zone -therapy. He said he did not, but had read about it in some of the -journals, and thought ‘it must be all imagination.’ I then held his -fingers, pretending I was trying to see how much resistance there -was in his muscles. Within three minutes I laid a button hook on his -eyeball without his flinching. I took a stickpin from his cravat, and -pushed it into his cheek, and put several pins into his face, without -his feeling them. He could not bear the touch of a pin in any other -zone. He called his wife, and she was horrified when she saw him so -‘stuck up.’ I withdrew the pins and sterilized his face. He is now a -staunch believer in zone anesthesia. - -“At several of our lecture courses in Chicago and elsewhere, I had -an opportunity to show these methods, and made some very interesting -observations. We found that light would not contract the pupil of the -eye that had been attacked through the finger zones to the same degree -as the pupil of the eye that had not been so attacked. - -“One of the doctors in a Chicago class, on hearing of zone anesthesia, -told me that about two years previous he was suffering from inguinal -hernia (rupture) and a radical operation was advised. He went to the -hospital, and the anesthetist began to prepare him for the anesthesia. -He told them that he wanted no anesthesia, as he was going to have -the operation done without taking anything. The surgeon was loath -to operate without some kind of general or local anesthetic, but he -told him he wanted nothing, as he thought he could control himself. -The surgeon consented, but had ready chloroform and a hypodermic with -cocaine. The Doctor clinched his teeth and hands with all his might, -and put himself into as powerful a tension as possible for about three -minutes before lying on the table. He then laid down, relaxed, and -said ‘go ahead.’ From the beginning to the end of the operation all he -noticed, he said, was that there was something going on, but he felt -absolutely no pain. I looked at his teeth, and saw that the occluding -(biting) surfaces were very good indeed, which accounts in a great -measure for the efficacy of the zone anesthesia. - -“Dr. Fitzgerald has treated many cases of cancer and tumor, and has -had some extraordinary successes with some of them. He carefully -avoids any reference to the value of zone therapy in these conditions, -but, to my mind, the results achieved warrant mention. I saw two most -interesting cases in his practice. One, a lady, about 55 years of -age, had a growth on the side of her neck, diagnosed as cancer. By -the bio-dynamic method, I confirmed this diagnosis. This growth was -as large as an ordinary sized orange, and very hard and unyielding. -The lady told us that, until she began being treated by means of zone -therapy and zone analgesia, she had not slept for months without some -opiate. For more than two years now she said she had taken no opiates, -and had rested without any pain when zone pressure anesthesia was used. - -“When I saw this lady the size of the growth had diminished from -this treatment, until it would not be recognized except by palpation -(feeling with the fingers). I also saw her photograph, taken before she -began treatment, and the improvement was certainly remarkable. I do not -know whether zone therapy will ever cure this case, but we do know that -it is making life endurable to the unfortunate victim. - -“Several of my pupils have used the Fitzgerald method for operation -on turbinate and other nasal obstructions, as well as upon obstetric -(childbirth) cases, with most gratifying results in all of them. - -“Two or three cases out of ten will not, it seems, respond to zone -therapy. But the majority will. There is no doubt a good reason for the -failures, such as blocking of the ‘zone paths’ in some manner--as by -a tumor, growth, pus condition, or obstruction. Or again, failure may -be due to faulty technic. Better results will no doubt come with more -experience. It only requires that the method be tried out on a huge -scale, and by a large number of competent observers. Then the collated -results will furnish us a basis for accurate application of these most -wonderful and helpful principles.” - - - - -CHAPTER 16. - -ZONE THERAPY--MAINLY FOR DENTISTS. - - -There are four reasons why zone analgesia--as we call the -pain-relieving properties of zone therapy--are not more generally used -by dentists. One is that the dentist doesn’t wish to put himself in the -embarrassing position of suggesting such a foolish-seeming thing to his -pain-racked patient. Another is that the patient herself thinks she’s -conferring a favor upon the dentist by permitting him to spend five or -ten minutes’ valuable time in attempting to alleviate her sufferings, -and make the ordeal of cavity preparation or scaling comparatively -painless. - -Also, to press over the roots of a tooth for three, four, or more -minutes--exerting, after toleration is established, all the force of -which the operator is capable--is hard work. It’s much quicker and -easier, and less likely to numb the dentist’s thumb and finger, to -“slap” a gas cone over the patient’s nose, or inject cocaine around -the gums--which, to my mind, hurts almost as badly as having the tooth -extracted. - -There is yet another reason, however, which partially justifies -the previous three. The analgesic results of zone pressure are not -sufficiently uniform to “bank” on. In other words, a dentist, led by -previous successes, might be tempted confidently to assure a patient -of the painlessness, under zone analgesia, of a certain operation. But -when he commenced to work he might almost lift the top of his victim’s -head off. To obviate this do not limit the pressure to three minutes -only, and do not attempt to operate or extract until a puncturing test -with a sharp instrument shall prove the part to be desensitized. - -Also, I would here emphasize that there is no use in attempting, with -zone analgesia, to relieve pain if it is desired to remove a nerve. We -do not pretend to explain why it is possible, for instance, to work -thirty-five minutes, (as demonstrated before the Mass. Dental Society -by Dr. B. A. Sears, of Hartford) and cut the jaw bone all to pieces in -order to remove an impacted wisdom tooth, while we are unable to thrust -a nerve broach into a root canal. But the fact remains, and some time, -when pathologists and other experts have studied these problems, we -may know why. But for the present, we must be content to be guided by -dearly-bought experiences. - -There is no known way of telling in advance, just what degree of -analgesia success is assured. Dr. M. W. Maloney, of Providence, R. I., -and Dr. Wm. J. Hogan, of Hartford, Conn., claim successful results with -about 80% of their cases. Dr. Everett M. Cook, of Toledo, Ohio, writes -that he is easily successful in 75% of his cases. Dr. Thomas J. Ryan, -of New York, is quite uniformly successful in desensitizing the gums -for pyorrhoea treatment. While other dentists range on down to as low -as 50% of successes, or even to zero. - -There are probably very definite reasons for this, although it may be -difficult to convince the average dentist that such exist. First, it -requires a fine technic to find the various dental nerves, and, by -commencing gently, and gradually increasing pressures, to anesthetize -them without hurting the patient more than the operation might have -hurt him. In which case he has the pain of the operation plus the pain -of attempting to analgesize his unresponsive nerve points. - -Next, when pressures are made over the fingers, especially where no -clamps or rubber bands are used, there is a tendency to skimp on the -time devoted to the finger squeezing. The dentist or his assistant will -give the job a “lick and a promise”--and let it go at that. They don’t -use sufficient time or sufficient force really to accomplish anything. - -And third, they won’t take the time properly to learn the zones and the -teeth relations, and apply in a serious way the knowledge so acquired. - -However, for the benefit of those dentists who may be interested in -learning how to desensitize cavities in sensitive teeth, or do some -of the necessarily painful scaling of tartar and other deposits in -pyorrhea, and for the particular benefit of several million of their -patients throughout the country, I would say that pressure by an -assistant exerted over the joints of the thumb (the assistant would -do better completely to “cover” the joint, using thumbs and fingers -of both hands for this purpose), will mitigate or quite control the -pain in the incisor and occasionally the cuspid teeth of the side -corresponding to the finger being squeezed. - -Never let the patient do this for himself, unless you provide him with -clamps or wide rubber bands for the purpose, as he cannot be trusted -to make the pressures long enough or strong enough to accomplish -satisfactory results. - -Pressure exerted over the first or second joint of the first finger -will control pain in the cuspid and bicuspid teeth. The second finger -is related to the two molars, but sometimes the third (or ring) finger -must also be employed for this region. - -In other words, pressure upon the thumb, fore-finger, middle, and -ring fingers of either hand will control correspondingly pain in the -incisors, cuspids and bicuspids and the two molars on either side of -the median line, providing that there is no great inflammation or no -abscess in the vicinity of the corresponding teeth. - -Occasionally the “control” over-laps, in which case it is necessary to -use also the finger next to the zone finger, and in the case of wisdom -teeth, to get the best results it is sometimes advisable to use both -the third and the little finger--as the fourth and fifth zones merge in -the head. - -A very successful method practiced by some experts--particularly where -extraction must be done--is to grasp the offending tooth as near the -apex of the root as is practicable, and with the thumb and finger make -firm pressure for three, four, or more minutes--by the watch. This -usually produces a degree of anaesthesia lasting about one half hour, -although pressure can, if necessary, be reapplied at any time. - -Other dentists and oral surgeons get excellent results by pressing on -the “heel of the jaw”--the point directly back of the wisdom tooth, -ponderously known as “the tuberosity of the superior maxillary.” This -produces a very complete and lasting anaesthesia of the entire jaw of -the side affected, and permits of the painless extraction of teeth -living in the immediate neighborhood. - -[Illustration: FIG. 25--Pressure at I, Fig. 4, with thumb and finger -will anesthetize both thumb zones, inasmuch as the pressure is brought -directly on the median line and to the right and left of it. - -Pressure at II (pressure on inferior dental and lingual nerves) will -anesthetize not only entire jaw on side compressed, but to a greater or -less extent the entire half of the body. - -Pressure at _a_ with thumb and finger will often anesthetize that -zone sufficiently for painless extraction. Any tooth may be prepared -similarly. - -Pressure at _b_ with thumb and finger anesthetizes bicuspids and -occasionally molars. - -Pressure at III will aid materially in anesthetization.] - -With the lower front teeth, it has been found that to press or hold -the inferior (or lower) dental nerve, where it enters the ramus (or -groove) of the lower jaw, gives good anaesthesia. Also pressure with -the finger on the inferior dental nerve, where it exits from below the -bicuspid tooth (called by doctors the mental foramen) will usually -anesthetize that half of the jaw. - -Many operators, the better to “focus”, prefer to use the blunt end -of an instrument (the handle of an excavator is excellent) upon this -inferior dental nerve. - -The proper application of these principles cannot fail to be of immense -value to the dentist and oral surgeon in their daily practice. In -relieving toothache and neuralgia, in removing deposits, in extracting -teeth, and in fact in most painful operations which dentists are called -upon to perform, this pressure technique should prove invaluable, as -many dentists are learning every day. - -And further, the application of these principles will inevitably -encourage public interest in dentistry, and will materially diminish -the sum total of pain and suffering that humanity is called upon -to endure. Indeed, it is common--and highly gratifying--among many -dentists now using zone analgesia--to have sensitive patients--those -upon whom, because of past exhausting and nerve-racking experiences, -they have always dreaded working--say “Well, Doctor, if you never hurt -me any more than you did today I shall never again fear to come to you.” - -[Illustration: FIG. 26--Pressure at IV will not only anesthetize the -third and fourth zones, but frequently also that half of the upper jaw. - -Pressure at V with finger covering the median line and counter pressure -with the thumb on the outside of the jaw, or even on the lip directly -opposite the finger, will usually anesthetize the incisors sufficiently -for painless extraction.] - -Mothers will find this method a safe and certain means of relieving -themselves and their children of an immense amount of pain and -discomfort. For, while they cannot, of course, hope to possess the -technical knowledge enabling them to find and exert pressure upon the -nerves themselves, it is a comparatively simple matter for them to -rigidly grasp the roots of an aching tooth between their thumb and -finger, and temporarily relieve pain--at least until they can take -little Alfred or Alice to the dentist. - -If this may not seem feasible, they can, by remembering the fingers -that correspond with the particular zone it is desired to influence, -do much to relieve distressing conditions in that zone until such time -as the doctor or dentist can be visited, by squeezing, or by applying -rubber bands around the proper fingers. - -For example: At a dinner party the other night one of the guests -complained of severe pain in the right upper first molar. I told her to -squeeze firmly the joint of her second or middle finger, which advice -she considered a very ill-timed and pointless joke. Insisting that I -was serious and helpfully disposed, she obeyed instructions, and in a -very few minutes beamed complete relief from her dental anguish. - -Another instance in which toothache was relieved in what might be -called an _outré_ manner was reported by Dr. J. F. Roemer of Waukegan, -Ill., who operated with a pair of rubber bands upon the aching teeth -of a young traveling man. Dr. Roemer writes that this man came to -the office with an extremely painful and sensitive condition, -chiefly affecting the incisor teeth. As the knight of the leather bag -explained it his teeth were so “sore” that he could not eat any solid -food whatever, and he didn’t much relish the food he drank. It was -impossible for him to close his teeth together without causing great -distress. A dentist who had examined the salesman could find nothing -wrong with the teeth, from the dental standpoint. - -Dr. Roemer, however, examined him in a characteristic zone therapy way. -He searched the patient’s fingers with a metal comb to find out what -was the matter with his teeth. This search disclosed the presence of -“spots” on the insides of the thumb and first finger which were acutely -sensitive to pressures from the teeth of the comb. - -The diagnosis established, the treatment was simplicity itself. -Commencing with light pressures upon these sensitive areas the doctor -gradually increased the force applied to the comb, at the same time -engaging the owner of the thumb and teeth in conversation relative to -his business, and to the political situation--this latter a perennial -source of interest-absorbing conversation in the West. - -After about ten minutes of this operation the doctor looked up -and asked his victim “how the teeth were getting along.” After -cautiously testing their sensitiveness by means of various biting -pressures, the patient responded that “while they were still a little -‘sore’ the pain had entirely left.” - -The doctor then issued instructions as to how to apply rubber bands -in order to make the proper pressure, which is to use one-fourth -inch bands about two inches in length, bind them around the first -joint--counting from the tip--of the thumb and first finger, leave them -on until bluish discoloration appeared, then remove, and re-apply after -a few hours. - -The traveling-man reported the following day that he had enjoyed a good -night’s sleep--the first for many nights--and after forty-eight hours -of this treatment he telephoned that all pain and sensitiveness had -completely disappeared. - -In neuralgia and other painful conditions of long standing, where -there are no decayed teeth--or other dental causes for the pain--many -permanent cures have been effected by pressure treatment. Almost it -would seem that whatever tends to reduce the pain would also help -remedy its cause, no matter how remote. - -As illustrating, in detail, the successful “home treatment” of -neuralgia, another case of Dr. Roemer’s is most interesting. The -Doctor says “I saw recently a patient with tri-facial neuralgia of two -years’ standing. Nothing had relieved permanently. The attack which -brought him to me was of four or five days’ duration. During this time -he had been unable to eat. Even the attempt to speak would bring on -an acute paroxysm of pain of a sharp piercing nature, which radiated -over the entire left side of the face, extending from the lower and the -upper jaw, and up into the left eye. These paroxysms left him as ‘limp -as a rag.’ - -“He had been advised to have the nerve cut, as offering the only relief -for his trouble. - -“I applied rubber bands on the joints nearest the tip of the thumb and -forefinger of the left hand. In less than ten minutes my patient was -talking and laughing, and we had quite a visit. - -“I told him nothing about what was being attempted with the bands, so -he wasn’t ‘hypnotized.’ After we saw results, however, I instructed him -to apply the bands every half hour if the pain continued, and as it -decreased to lengthen the interval of the applications. - -“When next I saw him, several days after, he laughingly said, ‘Oh, I -apply the rubbers once a day now, as I don’t want that pain to come -back.’ He is now enjoying life better than he has for years, thanks to -‘those fool rubber bands,’ as his daughter called them.” - -Many dentists secure a very satisfactory degree of -analgesia--sufficient for excavating or treatments--by compressing -firmly the lip or cheek immediately over the tooth that is to be worked -upon. (See Fig. 27.) But as a rule, for extraction purposes, they -prefer pressure over the roots, or directly upon the various branches -of the dental nerves. (See Figs. 25 and 26.) - -[Illustration: FIG. 27--Patient anesthetizing the left jaws in the -first zone, by firmly pressing the lip directly opposite, between the -thumb and index finger of left hand, indicating the area with the right -index finger.] - -[Illustration: FIG. 28--Stickpin firmly imbedded in a section of the -anesthetized area shown in Fig. 27.] - -One of the most significant facts in connection with zone therapy is -the intimate relation between morbid dental conditions and pain or even -pathological changes in practically every section of the body. It has -been demonstrated beyond a shadow of doubt, that points--or foci--of -infection within the mouth, or in the teeth, frequently manifest -disturbances most remote from their point of origin. - -This is one reason why many physicians and surgeons, using the method, -make a routine practice of sending every patient, in whom dental -disease is even suspected, for a thorough overhauling by a competent -dentist. - -Another reason for striving to keep all our original teeth in their -places is that nature intended to preserve the continuity--if it -may be so termed--of our various nerve zones. Sound, healthy teeth -and roots in their normal occlusion, seem to assist in the normal -functioning of the entire zone chain of which they are important links. - -Asthma, congestions, headaches, neuralgia, conditions affecting -the nerves of the head or the ears, or even partial deafness, have -been materially improved, and many times completely cured, by the -application of a galvanic cautery around the necks of the teeth, by -pressure on the teeth themselves in the zone affected, or even by -having the patient “grind” the particular teeth related to those areas -which it is attempted favorably to influence. - -In several instances, chronic frontal headaches in children have -been cured by correcting faulty occlusion of the front teeth by that -branch of dentistry known as “Orthodontia.” When after several months’ -treatment, the teeth were restored to their normal alignment, and -continuity of the nerve zone was re-established, the headaches cleared -up, and there has been no return of them. - -[Illustration: FIG. 29--A prominent Connecticut dentist anesthetizes -the entire left half of his body through pressure on left inferior -dental nerve. See following cut.] - -[Illustration: FIG. 30--We might have covered the left side of the body -with stick-pins without his knowledge, as far as pain was concerned, -during the period of fifteen minutes of anesthesia which followed his -pressure of one minute with the finger on the left inferior dental -nerve. Note the stick-pins in ear, finger and leg.] - -Occasionally it happens that a patient will go to a physician who -uses zone analgesia to be prepared for the services of a dentist -who doesn’t. Only recently a man suffering from indigestion and -rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatism of the joints with progressive -stiffening) was advised by his physician to have his teeth removed, the -doctor insisting that because four wisdom teeth were the only teeth -he had that were not decayed and completely broken down, nothing else -would cure his indigestion and rheumatism. - -His heart action was such that it would have been dangerous to -administer cocaine--much less a general anesthetic. - -Therefore, for the removal of his 27 teeth and stumps, the pressure -method was decided upon. His physician accompanied him to the dentist, -and doctor and dentist, for the next twenty minutes made the proper -pressures on the fingers and on the inferior dental nerves. - -All the lower teeth were then removed--without a particle of pain. -Pressures were then repeated on the fingers and the palatine nerves, -and the teeth in the upper jaw were likewise removed. - -Of the entire 27, only two gave much pain on extraction, and these -were most strongly attached to the bony processes (the sockets and -attachments by which teeth are held in place). Bleeding following this -wholesale extraction was very slight. - -It may be interesting to know that after the gums had healed and the -patient had worn artificial teeth for a few months, his appetite and -digestion improved, he began to gain in weight, and there was an almost -complete relief from the rheumatic symptoms and the joint stiffening. - -In some instances physicians have applied the pressures in their own -offices, and have then sent the patients--with rubber bands bound -tightly around their finger joints in order to maintain the analgesic -influence--to the dentist, where their extraction or cavity preparation -has been painlessly done. - -And occasionally great pleasure and satisfaction is afforded both -patient and doctor when some sufferer calls up on the ’phone at two -or three in the morning and inquires what finger to press to relieve -the pain of a certain tooth, especially when the advice given has been -followed by relief. - -[Illustration: FIG. 31--Hand and arm, left eyelid and chin, decorated -with stickpins after the patient has anesthetized the left side of the -body by pressure on the left inferior dental nerve.] - -[Illustration: FIG. 32--A lighted match is held beneath patient’s right -great toe, anesthetized through pressure on the inner surface of the -jaw in the first zone.] - -It has been for many years a quite general piece of knowledge among -dentists that the application of menthol to the mucous membrane of the -nose, on the same side as an aching tooth, would very frequently stop -the toothache. If dentists will now apply a slight elaboration of this -bit of zone analgesia technic they may possibly save themselves many -gray hairs. What their patients will save in agony, apprehension, and -the drain on their vitality cannot be even estimated. - - - - -CHAPTER 17. - -ZONE THERAPY--FOR DOCTORS ONLY. - - -We grind and grit our teeth during paroxysms of pain. When we bump our -shins against a rocking-chair that has taken point of vantage directly -in our path, immediately we clasp the offended shin. - -In the days before the blessed era of nitrous-oxide and local -anesthetics, when the muscular dentist leaned toward the door with our -pet tooth in the firm embrace of shiny forceps, we helped him to the -utmost by gripping the arms of the chair with vise-like clutch. This -maneuver seemingly had no more connection with tooth extraction than -have the effulgent rays of the moon upon the pumpkin crop. But we felt -our duty, and we did it. - -When fury and anger sweep us in their red flame, and gentle, familiar -aspects of nature take on the hue of blood, we clench our fists until -the nails are driven deep into the flesh. In the first shock of the -agony of bereavement, or during those cruel dragging hours when we are -adjusting ourselves to living with our hearts torn asunder, we clasp -our hands in frenzy. - -For ages we have been doing these things because they are natural and -apparently inevitable. We did them automatically, without knowing why. -But now we know we do them because they are instructive and scientific. -We do these things involuntarily and automatically because they relieve -pain or nerve tension--because they produce a form of analgesia, or -pain-deadening, similar to that which follows the injection of water or -some anesthetic solution into a sensory nerve. - -Six years ago I accidentally discovered that pressure with a -cotton-tipped probe on the mucocutaneous margin (where the skin joins -the mucous membrane) of the nose gave an anesthetic result as though a -cocaine solution had been applied. - -I further found that there were many spots in the nose, mouth, throat, -and on both surfaces of the tongue which, when pressed firmly, deadened -definite areas to sensation. Also, that pressures exerted over any bony -eminence, on the hands, feet, or over the joints, produced the same -characteristic results in pain relief. I found also that when pain -was relieved, the condition that produced the pain was most generally -relieved. This led to my “mapping out” these various areas and their -associated connections, and also to noting the conditions influenced -through them. This science I have named zone therapy. It is somewhat -complicated in many of its aspects, but I shall try and make it as -clear as may be. I would emphasize, however, that to master it requires -long study and patient application. - -In zone therapy we divide the body longitudinally into ten zones, five -on each side of a median or central line. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) The -first, second, third, fourth and fifth zones begin in the toes and end -in the thumbs and fingers, or begin in the thumbs and fingers and end -in the toes, if you prefer it this way. For instance, the first zone -extends from the great toe up the entire height of the body, including -the chest and the back, and down the arm into the thumb. The other -digits are related to their particular zones, in like manner. - -The tongue is divided into ten zones. Pressure on the dorsal (top) -surface of the individual zones on the tongue affect the corresponding -anterior (or front) sections of zones everywhere throughout the body. -But firm pressures on the tongue, continued for several minutes, affect -both back and front zones. The hard and soft palate (forming the roof -of the mouth) and the posterior walls of the pharynx (the back of -the throat) and epipharynx (where the back of the nose and throat -join) are divided in the same way, and posterior pressure or contact -affects posterior sections of zones; while anterior pressure or contact -affects anterior sections of zones. Traction (or pulling with a hooked -probe--see B, Fig. 11) on the soft palate in the epipharynx affects the -anterior zones, and traction on the anterior pillars of the fauces, -(pillars in front of the tonsils) affects zones one, two, three, four -and five, especially in arms and shoulders in the posterior sections of -zones. Pressure on the anterior surface of the lips and the anterior -surface of the anterior pillars of the fauces affects the anterior -surface of all zones. Pressure on the posterior surface of the lower -lips affects the posterior sections of all zones. - -Pain in any part of the first zone may be treated and overcome, -temporarily at least, and often permanently, by pressure on all -surfaces of the first joint of the great toe, or on the corresponding -joint of the thumb. Should the pressure be limited to the upper surface -of the great toe, the anesthetic or analgesic effects will extend up -the front of the body to the fronto-parietal suture--where the bones -join on top of the skull. They will also extend across the chest and -down the anterior surface of the first zone of the arm and thumb, and -often to the thumb side of the index finger. Should pressure be made on -the under surface of the great toe, the effects will extend along the -first zone in the sole of the foot and up the back of the leg, thigh, -body and head in that zone to the above-named suture; also across the -back and down the posterior surface of the first zone of the arm and -thumb, and frequently the thumb side of the index finger. - -Firm pressure on the end of the great toe or tip of thumb will control -the entire first zone. Firm pressure on the tips of the fingers or -toes control individual zones. Lateral or side pressure on thumbs and -fingers or toes will affect lateral or side boundaries of the zones -pressed, and also transverse extensions to nostrils, lips and ears. - -A limited amount of anesthesia may often be established by pressure -over any resistant bony surface, in any zone compressed, and often the -mere momentary contact with the galvanic cautery, or pressure with -a sharp-pointed applicator, or with the thumb or finger-nail, will -produce the same result. Contacts, especially with aluminum combs or -pointed instruments, may be momentary, if frequently repeated, but -protracted contacts are often necessary. - -Prolonged pressure with an aluminum hair comb is fast becoming a -popular method, but similar pressures with the nails of the thumbs and -fingers are likely the method Nature intended. Pressure with bands -of elastic, metal, cloth, or leather on the fingers, toes, wrists -and ankles, as well as on the knees and elbows, are often useful in -overcoming pain in an individual zone or group of zones. If these -pressures are resisted by pathological processes elsewhere in the -zone or zones, pain is sometimes excited. In other words, if there -is an abscess or some active inflammatory condition present,--as in -middle-ear trouble, pressure often aggravates or stimulates the pain to -renewed endeavors. It usually however, overcomes the pain momentarily. -Zone pressure has, for this reason, become a diagnostic factor of -great value in disclosing hidden pus conditions or inflammatory -processes--particularly in the roots of teeth, the ears, appendix, -ovaries, or in other organs. - -Pain anywhere in any zone may be overcome more quickly by pressure with -an applicator, or with cautery contact at certain points throughout the -corresponding zone or zones in the mouth, pharynx, epipharynx and nose; -but the finger and toe pressures may be relied upon very often. What -applies to one zone applies to all. - -Pressures average from one-half minute to four minutes or longer, -depending upon the susceptibility of the patient. - -Heat or cold waves in varying degrees, depending upon the solution or -instruments used, may often be dispatched to the extremities from the -mouth, nose, etc., and similar waves of heat or cold will manifest -themselves in the mouth, nose and pharynx of susceptible individuals -from pressure or contact on the extremities. The most susceptible -patients will describe them accurately. For instance, if a cotton -tipped probe be dipped in camphor solution, or alcohol, the patient -will describe the sensation reflected along the particular zone pressed -as “cold.” If in nitrate of silver, or trichloracetic acid, he says it -is “hot.” - -The majority of patients say that, while they are unable to detect -these sensations--only extra-susceptible individuals have this -faculty,--their pain is disappearing, or has already disappeared. -Patients who are most susceptible to pressure or contact will trace -heat or cold from an individual hair of the head, or an eyelash, to -the margin of the finger-nail or toe-nail, and if a hair or eyelash -be quickly pulled out, the sensation of numbness is often quickly -registered beneath the finger-nail or toe-nail of the invaded zone. -But to give these delicate results the subjects must be very -responsive. - -Pressure or contact upon the occlusal, or biting, edges of the teeth -affect the innermost parts of practically every bone in the body. We -believe that the teeth, being the most accessible, are the natural -guardians of the bones throughout the body. The heat waves from the -application of a fine point cautery contact on the biting edges of -the teeth, are dispatched through the centers of all bones, and their -therapeutic, or curative effect is disseminated through the bones and -tissue in the zones treated. Naturally, the therapeutic effect is less -marked as the surface of the body is approached. - -Pressure or contact on the anterior surface of the teeth affects the -anterior surface of the bones in the anterior sections of bones, and -to a greater or less extent the tissues of the same zones in the -corresponding sections. Pressure or contact on the posterior surface of -the teeth affect the posterior surface of the bones in the posterior -sections of zones treated, and to a greater or less extent the tissues -of the same zones in the corresponding sections. - -An asset not generally recognized in normal occlusion of a natural -set of teeth is the ability of the patient to relax practically every -part of the body through firm, biting pressure for two or three -minutes on all surfaces of the upper and lower teeth. In this manner -pain may frequently be relieved in any section of a zone, or group of -zones, throughout the body, and occasionally even anesthesia may be -induced through firm occlusion of the teeth for two or three minutes -in these zones. This is at least one reason why all the teeth should -be preserved, if at all possible, and why normal occlusion should be -brought about if it does not already exist. If one be deprived of -the third molar teeth, for instance, his ability to prevent, relieve -or overcome pathological conditions in the fourth and fifth zones is -restricted; and this naturally applies to the various individual zones -or group of zones where teeth have been extracted. - -You would hardly believe that offending corns or warts or bitten -finger-nails, where inflammatory processes have been excited, may be -responsible for rheumatism or neuritis, but we are daily proving such -to be the case. - -Toe-nails and finger-nails must be respected and as well taken care -of, for health’s sake, as any other section of the individual zones. -There is not a section of a finger-nail or toe-nail that may not affect -(under stimulation or pressure) the most distant parts of the body. - -Also, it might be of interest here to note that while enough pressure -is good, too much is mild murder. This can be testified to by all who, -by means of new shoes, foolishly apply constricting pressures to their -toes. There ensues, after the lapse of an appreciable length of time, -a condition made up of equal parts of bodily weakness and nervous -irritability--an actual physical and spiritual fatigue--relieved only -by removing the pressure--in other words, by relieving zone pressure -inhibition. - -Tight belts, corsets, or collars will develop similar, or even worse, -effects, inasmuch as their influence embraces not only the undue -irritation of the nerve zones, but also the constricting influences -upon glands, blood vessels and internal organs. - -All zones must be free from irritation and obstructions to get the best -results. For instance, if there be pain in the head, chest, abdomen, or -extremities in one or more zones, it may be relieved or quite overcome -by pressure on resistant surfaces anywhere in the zones affected. If -the pain be relieved for a few moments only, and repeated pressures -do not overcome it, it is safe to assume that the pain is due to some -abnormal pressure or irritation, as gas, pus, impactions, necrosis, -etc., somewhere in a zone or group of zones, which demands medical or -surgical interference. - -We are repeatedly called upon for the theory of zone therapy. Many -theories are interesting but not conclusive, and rather than be obliged -to retract theories, we are not going to advance them, except very -superficially, at the expense of clinical facts. It is certain that -control-centers in the medulla are stimulated, as has been suggested, -but I believe that it is shock more often than stimulation. Some -theorists have pointed out, perhaps rightly, that “these functions may -be carried out by the pituitary body (a ductless gland at the base of -the brain) through the multiple nerve paths from it.” - -We know that we induce a state of inhibition--a state which prevents -the transmission of the nerve impulse from the brain--throughout -the zone where pressure is brought to bear. We know that when this -inhibition of irritation is continuous, many pathological processes -disappear. We are certain that lymphatic relaxation follows pressure, -and the lymph stimulated to flow normally in its channels. - -The theory advanced by Dr. Bowers: “that inasmuch as there are -ultra-microscopic bacteria--bacteria not seen through even the -highest-powered lenses,--it is more than likely that in the light of -this work there are ultra-microscopic connections analogous to those -we call nerves,” may contain some elements of plausibility. - -Let the physician or the dentist, who ascribes these phenomena to -suggestion, attempt to relieve an aching, left incisor, for instance, -by pressing the little finger of the right hand of his patient, or -exercise his persuasive powers on a throbbing molar by pressing the -thumb of either hand. He will find himself up against a stone wall, so -far as results are concerned, for only by exerting proper pressure, on -the proper zone or zones, for an adequate length of time, will the pain -disappear. Anticipating such contentions, and to avoid the merest hint -at suggestion, we have purposely refrained from giving many patients -any idea that we were even contemplating the relief of pain, and the -first and only suggestions have been from the patient. He will tell -that he experienced pain in his jaw, eye, small of back, knee, foot, or -shoulder before pressure was made on his fingers, teeth, or elsewhere, -and will ask, “where has the pain gone? Have you done anything to -relieve it?” - -Pathological conditions from irritation in the nose, epipharynx, -pharynx, mouth, vagina, rectum, etc., may be responsible not only for -annoying local manifestations, but for obscure pathological changes in -the most remote sections of the body; and their course can usually be -traced through an individual zone or group of zones. There is not an -existing pathological condition that cannot at least be relieved, and a -large proportion can be cured by zone therapy. - -This shows how necessary it is that the physician and surgeon should be -capable of diagnosing and treating disease in all parts of the body, -especially if his practice be limited to the country, where he may be -unable to consult with specialists. If the pathological condition he -has treated does not “clear up,” the case should be referred to the -specialist or dentists, for, to secure results, all parts of the zones -or group of zones must be free from obstruction and irritation. - -Zone therapy demonstrates the co-relation of all parts of the body, -also the manner in which pressure or contact upon certain zones is -effective in the relief of pain or disease. - -Diagnosis of the cause of pain may be worked out quite perfectly over -or through any zone or part of zone. If a patient complains of pain, -and indicates that the right eye is involved, and you overcome the pain -by pressure on the front of the right index finger, it is absolutely -certain that his disturbance is excited by congestion or irritation in -the anterior section of the zone; but if it be necessary to look to the -palmar surface of the index finger for relief the cause is certain to -exist in the posterior section of the zone or zones. - -We have never suggested this work as a panacea, but finding it -helpful in the treatment of human ills, we consider it an asset to -our knowledge of medicine and surgery, and have been glad to offer it -gratuitously to physicians, surgeons, and dentists, and to all who can -make use of it in the relief of afflicted humanity. - -[Illustration: Valens Metronomic Interrupter (Style D) - -(For Producing Dr. White’s Pulsoidal Current) - -FIG. 33.] - - - - -CHAPTER 18. - -FOOD FOR THOUGHT. - - -When “Professor” Robert Fitzsimmons delivered the famous punch in -the solar plexus that laid the mighty James Corbett upon whatever -it is they cover a boxing ring with, he demonstrated to everybody’s -satisfaction--except perhaps Mr. Corbett’s--that there is a group of -nerves in the “pit of the stomach” which has an intimate and most -distressful connection with the brain. And now every doctor knows the -functions and connections of the pneumogastric nerve. - -Gunmen, pugilists, and “bouncers” also know that if the temple, or -the angle of the jaw, be even lightly “tapped,” the tappee is usually -placed hors de combat for an appreciable period of time. General -knowledge of this weighty academic subject is comparatively recent--as -time is reckoned. - -And the Japs, in their uncanny knowledge of nerve anatomy, exemplified -in their proficiency in jui jitsu, have shown that, by pressure upon -certain nerve terminals, or upon plexuses of nerve groups they are -able to do almost everything except murder a victim. Perhaps they could -do this, also, if they were sufficiently industrious and persevering. - -Indeed, for many years they have been aware that there are certain -nerve centers in the neck and under the angle of the jaw, pressure upon -which will temporarily suspend consciousness. In fact, their methods -were tried by surgeons, prior to the discovery of anesthesia; but were -discarded, owing to the fact that no one could guarantee that the -patients would wake again after the operation. - -Also, as showing how great oaks from little acorns grow, and how mickle -and mickle makes muckle. Professor William Halstead, more than a dozen -years ago, was operating upon a man with a rupture--under cocaine -anesthesia, as he thought. It was found, however, after the operation -had been painlessly completed, that the moon-stricken assistant, had -forgotten to put the cocaine tablet in the syringe. - -So that all the anesthetic the patient got was sterile water. However, -this was enough, for the pressure of the water injection into the -parts, had blocked the nerve tract, and inhibited the transmission of -the message of pain. - -This experience may or may not have given Dr. Crile the clue to his -interesting and vastly important discovery of “nerve block,” but, in -any event, we learned something new about the human body. But--and this -is the point I wish to emphasize--we are not through learning about it -yet. - -So, if some time a doctor tells you that a woman of sixty-nine, -suffering for years from one-sided paralysis, made pressures twice -daily with an aluminum comb on the top (or front) of the hand, favoring -the thumb side--and in two weeks noticed a decided improvement, and -after five months can now lift her foot free from the floor and walk -without a cane, don’t sneer. - -If another tells you that a case of infantile paralysis, of five years’ -standing--after several months’ treatment with a probe on the back wall -of the pharynx, can now kick as high as his shoulder with either foot, -don’t scoff. For that doctor has photos of the boy, showing him in the -act of doing just this identical thing. - -It may also be that catarrhal appendicitis is helped. For in unorthodox -ways three cases of catarrhal appendicitis were apparently cured by -pressures exerted with a comb over the first, second and third finger, -and carried up as far as the wrist. These cases were diagnosed as -catarrhal appendicitis by several competent medical men. They showed -all the classical symptoms, including pain on pressure over McBurney’s -point, vomiting, and digestive disturbances. They were treated three -times daily for several days, and in the interim, treated themselves -at home along the same lines. In ten days to two weeks, there was an -apparent cure of all three cases. And now, after six months, there has -been no return of the condition. - -And, speaking of appendicitis, it is interesting to note that if pain -is relieved by zone pressure, and returns after a short time, we can be -morally certain that there is pus present, and that the case demands -immediate operation. This same thing, as we before observed, applies to -abscesses in the ear, teeth, tonsil, or anywhere else. - -The injunction to “prove all things and hold fast to that which -is true,” is as applicable and pertinent today as it was when -first dropped from the lips of the old sage. So, if some time your -progressive doctor should tell you to rub your finger nails together, -and scratch the front of your hands and arms, and thereby cure falling -hair, don’t laugh--because he may be repeating to you only what numbers -of his patients have told him they did--and stopped their hair from -leaving its moorings. - -Also, if he tells you to use a wire brush on the front and back of the -hand, and also press with the aluminum comb on the palms of the hand, -to cure cold feet, he may not be nearly as crazy as he sounds. He may -be merely a little ahead of your time, as were Harvey, Semmelweis, -Horace Wells, Lister, and hundreds of others, who have suffered the -slings and arrows of ridicule. - -And so, we who believe in zone therapy now understand why we grind our -teeth. It is because the action relieves nerve tension, and diminishes -the pain in all the zones of the body connected by those invisible and -as yet undiscovered nervous wires strung through the telegraph poles of -the teeth. - -When we grab our bruised shins we check the transmission of pain in the -irritated nerve trunk lines of that zone. When we grasp the arm of the -dental chair, and hang on like grim death, we are unconsciously going -through motions that, if continued long enough, would have made our -trial comparatively painless. The only fault in our preparation for the -ordeal was that we should have started our pressure grip three or four -minutes earlier. But our intentions were good. - -When automatically we clench our fists in furious anger, we are -relieving our terrific nervous excitation, and thereby perhaps -preventing the bursting of a blood vessel. When we clasp the hands of -one sorely stricken and in the throes of despair, we are, in addition -to supplying him with comforting magnetism and physical solace, -producing a distinctly analgesic and quieting effect upon his entire -nervous system. - -And when we clasp our hands or press the fingers tightly together in -supplication, we are ministering to over-wrought nerves, and thereby -perhaps bringing ourselves into closer harmony with the great Cosmic -Force that envelopes us all in a mantle of kindness and love. - - -[CONCLUSION.] - - - - -Spelling corrections: - - exopthalmic → exophthalmic - opthalmic → ophthalmic - pres-pressure → pressure - of → or - whatosever → whatsoever - flniching → flinching - mucus membrane → mucous membrane - mucos membrane → mucous membrane - miscroscopic → microscopic - nitrous oxid → nitrous oxide - mucocutaneus → mucocutaneous - it → is - cocain → cocaine - lumbag → lumbago - -Spelling inconsistencies: - - thoro/thorough - thoroly/thoroughly - tonsilitis/tonsillitis - Fitzgerald/FitzGerald - thru/through - altho/although - technic/technique - pyorrhea/pyorrhoea - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Zone Therapy, by -William H. 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