University of Virginia Library

DIABETES

Some authors report cases of diabetes successfully treated by mechanotherapy. Schreiber says: "The best effects will ensue when the greatest number of muscles are brought into play. It is necessary to select such movements as will call into action equally all the great muscle-groups.''

In Paris, where diabetes is common, the patients are advised to take very strong bodily exercise. The quantity of sugar secreted must indicate a deficient oxygenation of the materials produced by the liver. Strong bodily exercise, which increases oxygenation in all the membranes of the body, ought to eliminate the abnormal presence of sugar.

The proper exercise for this affection is not yet well determined. When the patient has a constitution strong enough to bear the treatment, use the following movements:

• 1. St. percussion of back.
• 2. L. rotation of feet.
• 3. Separating and closing of arms.
• 4. S. bending of body backward.
• 5. Flexion and extension of legs.
• 6. Raising of body.

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• 7. Flexion and extension of arms.
• 8. Separating and closing of knees.
• 9. Percussion of back.—Strong vibrations of the region of the pancreas stimulates that gland to increased secretion, the function of which is to transform sugar into glycogen.