Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 June 1894 — HOW TO TREAT SPRAINS. [ARTICLE]

HOW TO TREAT SPRAINS.

A "Strong Man” Gives Some Valuable Information. Athletes in all branches of sport are more or less liable in competitions or in training to suffer from over exertion, producing severe sprains of the cords and sinews. Unless properly attended to at once, these injuries often cause weeks and months of pain and suffering, and sometimes result in permanent injury. People generally do not know that the simplest treatment in these cases is the best. I recently talked with Professor Attila,the strong man, now located in this city, and he told me of his personal experience with sprains during his professional career, extending over a period of twenty years. Without doubt the professor is one of the real bona fide strong men of the world. He isa veritable Hercules in strength, and has a record of public performances second to none. He it was who brought out Sandow, and to the latter was due an accident which gave Attila the knowledge of the proper treatment of strains of the fibres of the biceps. The accident in question happened in Europe, while Attila and Sandow were performing together. It resulted in the breaking of a number of cords of the biceps and the severe straining of others, causing the entire arm to turn black, and producing great pain. There was no outward wound, and the eminent physicians and surgeons of the Continent were puzzled over the proper course of treatment to pursue. Finally Attila left the professors in despair, and, at his ow’n suggestion, the injured part was wound about with a firm, soft cloth. The first day after the <jloth was put on he was ftl?le to lift with the injured arm a two-pouhd dumbell. The second day he raised a three pound weight. He kept increasing the weight daily until he could raise the fifty pound bell. Then he knew he had mastered the injury. In a comparatively short time the wound had healed, and Attila, strange to say, was stronger than ever in this arm. In cases of strains of cords in the wrist Attila says the injured part should be tightly bandaged and twice a day held under a faucet, allowing cold water to fall on it from a height of two or three feet. This produces a natural steaming, very beneficial. In a short time an improvement is noticed under this course of treatment. Where the tissues of the muscles of the leg are strained the only treatment necessary is very simple. Bandage the injured part tightly and exercise it daily, a little at first. if allowed to remain inactive the injury grows worse in all cases. The straining of the muscles of the back is best treated by applications of liniment and judicious use of electric treatment.—[New York Herald.