So what if he did? Is there any evidence that the plants talked back? I thought Pat Ober's posting laid to rest (put to bed?) all notions of Twain using vibrators as sex toys, although I still wonder if there might have been a Presbyterian blow-up doll stashed in a closet somewhere. OK, enough of this... those wishing to continue this thread are directed to the recent news report (The Daily News) about a 28,000 year old stone dildo found in a German cave. There is evidence it was also used as a flint striker to start fires. Ouch. It was found in fragments and had to be pieced back together. Ouch, ouch. On another subject entirely... Tina Fey is terrific, but I think Hal Holbrook is the obvious choice for the honor --and the guy who writes his material ain't bad either. Kevin @ Mac Donnell Rare Books 9307 Glenlake Drive Austin TX 78730 512-345-4139 Member: ABAA, ILAB ************************* You may browse our books at www.macdonnellrarebooks.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Graham Durham" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 1:17 PM Subject: Re: Mark Twain and sex toys > This learned research seems to link Clemens belief in newish alternative > me= > dicines=20 > > to our very own Prince Charles =2Cheir to the throne =2Cand noted herbal > re= > medyist.Any evidence that=20 > > Twain ever talked to plants ? > =20 >> Date: Wed=2C 26 May 2010 09:38:38 -0400 >> From: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: Mark Twain and sex toys >> To: [log in to unmask] >>=20 >> I can't add much to the wisdom of Bob Hirst and Ben Griffin and Shelley >> Fisher Fishkin.=3D20 >>=20 >> But let me chip in on this anyway.=3D20 >>=20 >> Medical history can be confusing enough already=2C even without efforts >> t= > o >> sensationalize it and ignore context. >>=20 >> In the late 19th century=2C the idea of depleted nerve force was widely >> accepted as a cause of disease=2C supported by new discoveries in the >> young field of neurology. In summer of 1899=2C the Clemens family >> discovered Henrik Kellgren and his Swedish Movement Cure=2C a type of >> osteopathic manipulation aimed at restoring vital energy. Clemens >> pursued Kellgren in London and in Sweden. Kellgren's treatments seemed >> useful in improving the family's health=2C and Clemens liked it because >> i= > t >> was vigorous exercise=2C "and other people do it for you." Sam and Livy >> Clemens both noted improvement of various symptoms. It seemed to get >> Jean's seizures under control. The enthusiasm continued into the new >> century=2C and in 1901 Clara was under treatment of an American >> osteopath= > =2C >> "getting the bronchitis pulled and hauled out of her." Clemens was >> convinced that Kellgren could cure about anything=2C and would have been >> able to cure Susy's meningitis had he been given a chance. Clemens >> openly supported the legalization of osteopathy in New York=2C and was a >> strong believer in the methods of osteopathic medicine.=3D20 >>=20 >> Electrotherapy (also pursued by Clemens) was an offshoot of this >> thinking=2C based on direct stimulation of nerves to restore the nerve >> force. >>=20 >> Osteopathic therapy was just another route to the same end - stimulation >> of nerve by motion. >>=20 >> Kellgren considered vibration to be an important type of motion to >> energize nerves and muscles. >>=20 >> And none of that has sexual connotations.=3D20 >>=20 >> Considerable insight into the medical thinking of the times can be found >> in the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal [predecessor of the New >> England Journal of Medicine] of Oct 10=2C 1907=2C (vol. 157=2C pp. >> 490-49= > 4)=2C >> where Dr. Edgar Cyriax published an article on "Henrik Kellgren and His >> Methods of Medical Manipulation." I will include some long quotes below= > =2C >> to provide a bit of perspective on the thinking of the era. ("Medical >> gymnastics" can be translated as the osteopathic manipulations of >> muscles and nerves.) >>=20 >> According to Cyriax=2C Kellgren's contribution was that he "perceived how >> much good could be effected through direct stimulation of the nerves=3B >> consequently=2C he gradually developed a nerve treatment=2C consisting >> chiefly of frictions and vibrations=2C which he used in combination with >> improved active and passive (inclusive of duplicate) movements=3B and by >> these means he has treated with unexampled success a number of chronic >> cases of which some had been previously regarded as incurable..." >>=20 >> "Thousands of people owe their health to Kellgren=2C and some still live= > =2C >> who=2C at one time of their life=2C were regarded as utterly incurable. >> T= > o >> how great an extent his successes have contributed to make medical >> gymnastics known and valued throughout the world is incalculable..." >>=20 >> "The great merit of Kellgren has been his correct development of the >> processes referred to=3B in particular=2C he discovered that the main >> poi= > nt >> of importance was not the pressure=2C but the mechanical movement set up >> in shaking the nerves through friction and vibration. And it was he who >> introduced manipulations following the course of the nerves=2C which >> manipulations are called "running nerve frictions and vibrations." >>=20 >> "When we consider how everything in the human body is under the >> influence of the nerves and how many illnesses have their origin=2C not >> i= > n >> the muscles=2C but in the nerves=2C it will easily be understood that >> nothing can be of so great service in these cases as movements of >> stimulative or sedative effect..." >>=20 >> "It was Kellgren who succeeded in working out - one might almost say who >> discovered--this new and splendid method of combating pain and disease. >> He also discovered the method of executing the vibrations in a manner >> involving the minimum of fatigue to the operator=2C so that they could be >> maintained for much longer periods and=2C at the same time with greater >> efficiency." >>=20 >> Cyriax mentioned the use of mechanical vibrators as well=2C even though >> he personally preferred the hands-on approach of a therapist: "During >> the last twelve or fifteen years=2C mechanical vibrators have come >> largel= > y >> into favor. The advocates of these "vibrators=2C" "concussors=2C" etc.=2C >> maintain that the movements are rendered easier of administration=2C as >> they obviate exertion on the part of the gymnast [therapist]=2C that they >> may be administered with perfect regularity as long as necessary=2C and >> finally that they may also be administered more rapidly. Some >> "vibrators" execute up to 200 vibrations per second." >>=20 >> "That a greater rate than twelve per second should be of any advantage >> seems to me very doubtful. It must=2C of course=2C be conceded that a >> "vibrator" makes less demand on the manipulator=2C and its use is >> comprehensible when we consider that in general the vibrations as >> administered at present involve strong contraction of the arm and >> shoulder muscles=2C demanding great physical exertion=2C and are >> consequently only to be maintained for short periods at a sacrifice of >> sureness and delicacy of touch." >>=20 >> So=2C osteopathic medicine used a hands-on approach.=3D20 >>=20 >> Some therapists had devices to assist them.=3D20 >>=20 >> And=2C of course=2C there were all sorts of devices available for home >> us= > e.=3D20 >>=20 >> Considering Clemens's positive experiences with Kellgren and osteopathy= > =2C >> we shouldn't be surprised that he tried the home remedy version. Clemens >> observed in 1908 that the Arnold electric vibrating machine helped >> Lyon's headaches and "cures and limbers lame and stiff backs for me." It >> was a home version of osteopathy that did not require a trained >> therapist. As quoted previously by Bob Hirst=2C Clemens's interpretation >> was that it "stirs up the circulation" and "tones up the nerves=2C" which >> he believed to be "the essential function of osteopathy."=3D20 >>=20 >> Clemens is pretty much talking like Kellgren there. >>=20 >> Oh=2C by the way=2C in 2010=2C we use ultrasound to treat musculoskeletal >> injury. It's supposed to help sprains and fractures heal faster. >> Ultrasound uses sound waves=2C made by a machine=2C and applied through a >> skin probe. The sound waves are of a frequency that that humans cannot >> hear. It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. But I don't think it is >> erotic either=2C and I hope no one suggests next century that it was. >> =3D20 >> Conclusion: >>=20 >> Let's not confuse things by taking things out of the context of the >> medical beliefs of the time.=3D20 >>=20 >> Let's respect the history.=3D20 >>=20 >> And let's respect the people and their motivations. >>=20 >> There are no sex toys here. >>=20 >> There are only human beings with human fears and human pains and human >> illnesses=2C employing the best technology they have=2C to the extent >> the= > y >> understand it=2C in the hope of trying to get a little bit >> healthier.=3D2= > 0 >>=20 >> Not too different from you and me=2C probably. >>=20 >>=20 >>=20 >> Pat Ober > =20 > _________________________________________________________________ > http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/195013117/direct/01/ > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. 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