MASSAGE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16508, 25 March 1914, Page 11

MASSAGE.

ITS USES AND ABUSES. (By a Medical Man.) As wo walk down our streets, here and there we come across a house to the door of which is attached a plate, bearing the magic word "-Masseur" 01* " Masseuse." The houses are the abodes of people who at present practise massage. Some of them are skilled people possessed of a good training and of knowledge. But at present) anyone may become a "masseur" hy advertising himself or herself as such. Many who so/ did) themselves are untrained and unskilled. Further they are ignorant of the dangers associated with massage in certain cases and of its absolute inutility in others. Yet it is particularly this class of iguorant person who is ready to treiifc all and sundiy who present themselves for treatment quite apart from tha supervision or approval of a medical. man. Tho public is at present unprotected and so is the skilled and trained masseur from such reckless and dangerous ignorant exploitation. Until a year ago it was impossibleto obtain in New Zealand a training in massage supervised by a responsible ■autbority. It was impossiblo, therefore, to obtain a training here which could be safely regarded by the public as ".sufficient. This state of affairs was done away with, however, when a year ago the school of massage was founded at Otago University. This school is not yot as well known as _ itdeserves to be, nor do many realise that through it a person with, natural aptitude may pass to a reputable and independent calling. The Government proposes to introduce a Bill providing for the registration of masseurs and will he responsible) for examination ajid the issue of a certificate. Arrangements are ponding to provide salaried scholarships at Government Sanatoria where much, massage has to be done. Students who have taken the massage course at Dunedin will, it is proposed, be eligible for these posts. The duration of the course iV eighteen months. The first six months must be spent in Dunedin in order that anatomy and physiology may be efficiently learned. The next twelvn months consists of hospital work and may be put in in any hospital in tlio dominion, where suitable arrangements for work and instruction exist. Anyone who wishes to know more about the. course can gain detailed information by applying to the Registrar of Otago