sometimes hits the patient with green rods which have first been heated at a fire, stopping at intervals to let the pain pass away. The Africans follow the same fashion; and with the Russians, flagellation by means of a bundle of birch twigs is often practised. After the victim has been well-nigh parboiled in a vapour bath, a pailful of cold water is dashed over him, the effect of which is described as electrifying. He is then plunged into the snow, and prepared to endure the rigour of the climate with impunity. The Siberians and Laplanders also are said to indulge in these luxuries.

My attention has been called to a curious work entitled "A Brief account of Mr. Valentine Greatrack's (sic) and Divers of the Strange Cures by him lately performed as written by himself in a letter addressed to the Honourable Robert Boyle, Esq.," and published at the Mitre in Fleet Street in the year 1666. I have perused it with care, but cannot admit, as has been suggested, that it is an early work on Massage.

In the Gazette des Hôpitaux, for 1839, "La Lancette Français " as it was called, I find a

TOOGI-TOOGI.

9

paragraph headed "Massage employé dans l'île de Tonga," in which it is stated that it is the custom when a traveller is fatigued from walking or other exercise, to make him lie down, and then to perform certain operations on him, known as toogi-toogi, mili, or fota. The first of these consists of striking quickly and softly with the fist, the second is a process of rubbing with the palm of the hand, whilst fota means pressing and squeezing the tissues between the fingers and thumb. These operations are usually performed by females trained for the purpose, and they relieve pain and fatigue, and in addition produce an agreeable effect, which predisposes to sleep. When they practise them with the view of relieving fatigue only, the arms and legs are subjected to treatment, but when the pain is localized it is to the part affected or to the surrounding parts that the procedure is applied. For headache the skin over the frontal region and the cranium generally is submitted to fota, and often with speedy relief. Sometimes when the fatigue is very great, they employ young children to tread under their feet the whole body of the patient. Dr.

N. B. Emerson gives a similar account of the TomiTomi of the Sandwich Islanders, and describes it as a luxurious and healthful form of passive motion. bestowed by the Hawaiians as a crowning act of gracious hospitality on the honoured guest or distinguished stranger. Nordhoff, In his interesting work on "Northern California, Oregon, and the Sandwich Islands," says that to be lomi-lomied you must undress and lie down on a mat. The less clothing you have on the more perfectly can the operation be performed. "To you thereupon comes a stout native with soft fleshy hands, but a strong grip, and beginning with your head and working down slowly over the whole body, seizes and squeezes with a quite peculiar art every tired muscle, working and kneading with indefatigable patience, until in half an hour, whereas you were weary and worn out, you find yourself fresh, all soreness and weariness absolutely gone, and mind and body soothed to a healthful and refreshing sleep." These are clearly but primitive methods, and have little in common with Massage as we now understand the term.

ng the early part of this century there is reason

MEZGER AND VON MOSENGEIL.

If

to believe that the true Massage was practised in France, but it was carried on secretly, and the professors of the art were but little inclined to impart their knowledge to casual inquirers. It is to Dr. Mezger, of Amsterdam, that we are indebted for much of our knowledge of the modern phase of Massage. His thesis was published in 1868, and is entitled "De Behandeling van Distorsio pedis mit Fricties." In the preface he states that he commenced studying the subject in 1853, and that he has modified it and practised it constantly since 1861. I may mention incidentally that Mezger has published no large work on the subject, and that his reputation rests chiefly on the undoubted success which he has attained in treating his private patients. He is not now connected with any hospital, and some time ago declined a Professorship in the University.

I was at Amsterdam a short time ago, but I have no intention of describing the method of cure practised there, although I may perhaps venture to transcribe a portion of Mr. G. A. Sala's account of a recent visit to that interesting old city :-" The

other day," he says, "being in the picturesque old town on the Amstel, I strolled into the hotel of that name-a Brobdingnagian establishment in the modern style-and, after traversing a long corridor, found myself in what I took to be the readingroom, but which was in reality the salle d'attente, engaged by Dr. Mezger for the use of his patients. A number of ladies were reading the papers -the popular Nieuwe Rotterdamische and half-adozen other sheets bearing titles so portentous that I hesitate to print them-when, as if by preconcerted action, all sprang to their feet as an elderly, white-haired, florid-complexioned gentleman, clad in a white blouse ('holland,' bien entendu), bustled into the room, nodded pleasantly to this lathy gentleman, 'chaffed' that stout lady, and then retired to the consultation-bureau, ready and eager to give all and sundry that kneading and pommelling which I understand forms the basis of the massage treatment. I had half a mind to have interviewed the Doctor then and there; but remembering the severe punching I endured at the hands of a sturdy Tartar in a bathing establishment