Limbs Drawn-up
Sources:
Papers On Health
We have had many cases of contracted limbs, arising
from various causes. Some of these have been completely cured, even
when the tendons or cords which were contracted were going to be
cut by medical advice. In one case, however, of which we knew, the
medical man ordered the very treatment we employ.
In the first place we must have EXERCISE (see). This may be given by
massaging the back and limbs with a g
ntle squeezing motion for
half-an-hour twice a day (see MASSAGE). Use hot olive oil for this
rubbing, and persevere. If the feet be sweaty, rub them with the
CAYENNE LOTION (see). But the effective cure will be found in the
careful and persevering rubbing and pressure.
Sometimes we find that a failure occurs in the large haunch joint
itself, and that is not only shown by pain and stiffness, but by one or
more sores that discharge matter, indicating that the bone is diseased.
At the same time, the sinews of the limb affected give signs of
contraction, and the heel soon refuses to come to the ground in
walking. There is clearly a lack of vital energy, such as is wanted to
heal the bone and nourish the leaders in this limb: this lack may have
been showing itself for years. Apply the ARMCHAIR FOMENTATION (see).
Soon the sores begin to put on a healthier appearance, and ere long
they heal up. With this and the rubbing, the sinews begin to relax and
lengthen out, so that the heel comes nearer the ground. The limb may
even have become smaller than the other, but it grows so as to come up
with the healthy one: this will be the case though the fomentation is
done equally to both. It is a curious thing that the body is so
constituted that general healthy growth tends to bring on weaker parts
more rapidly than stronger ones, so as to restore proper proportions.
The new force applied to the roots of nerves on both sides of the spine
does not make the healthy limb grow so as to keep in advance of the
weakened one; it makes the weakened one grow so as to come up with the
healthier. You do not therefore need to confine the fomenting to one
side; it is better to apply it equally to both sides, and to leave the
laws of the constitution to arrange all matters as to proportion. These
laws never fail to do so perfectly. In the hands of a really skilful
surgeon, much may be done to remedy diseased bone by the modern methods
of antiseptic treatment and operation, but where these are not
available, the above treatment has most excellent effects, and has
sometimes cured where the surgeon has failed.