LUMBAGO PLAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 5, 7 January 1928, Page 22

LUMBAGO PLAGUE

CAUSED THBOUGH WET ENGLISH SUMMER. Lumbago broke out all over England during the month of October and in the early part of November, according to English newspapers to hand, and its victims were to be found in every office and workshop. The fellowship of lumbago sufferers increased day by day, and harrowing tales were told by the victims of agonies cheerfully endured. "The prevalence of lumbago is probably connected with our dismally wet summer," said a physician to a "Daily Express" representative. "It is a muscular affliction similar to rheumatism— indeed, some peoplo regard it as a form of rheumatism. The best remedy is massage and the application of warmth. There is a danger that peoplo may think they are suffering from lumbago when they are suffering from another complaint. If lumbago does not disappear after three days of massage the complaint is probably not lumbago, and the patient should have careful attention. " 'There is nothing new under the sun' applies forcibly to medical treatment, and the old remedy of placing brown paper over tho loins of the lumbago victim, and then ironing the affected part with a hot iron has much to be said in its favour. Warmth and massage are the best remedies. The hot iron and the modern sun-ray treatment have this in common, they both give warmth. "In my experience an attack of lumbago is usually brought about by an unusual movement which puts a strain on certain muscles. The victim has sometimes stooped or bent down to pick up something when he is seized with excruciating pain. The best advice for sufferers is to go to bed and stay there until the attack subsides. Warmth applied to the loins is comforting."