The  history  of  mechanical  vibration  is  brief,
but  as  much  can  be  learned  from  its  development
in  its  relation  to  massage  it  is  well  to  consider  it
in  that  connection.
The  word  massage  is  from  the  Greek  /xao-So).  to
knead;  Sanskrit,  Masch,  to  strike  to  press,  to  con-
dense, and  according  to  Graham,*  includes  '*  fric-
tion, kneading,  manipulating,  rolling,  and  percussion
of  the  external  tissues  of  the  body  in  a  variety  of
ways,  either  with  a  curative,  palliative,  or  hygienic
object  ill  view."    Friction,  rolling,  a  form  of  deep

*  Graham   Massage.      Eef  erence   Handbook   of   the   Medical   Sciences.
2  MECHANICAL  VIBRATION

kneading,  and  percussion,  are  iDroduced  by  the  action
of  many  of  the  mechanical  vibratodes.
According  to  the  Swedish  movement  cure,  mas-
sage should  be  combined  with  various  forms  of  exer-
cise suited  to  the  case — passive,  assistive,  resistive,
or  active  movements.  Such  combination  with  vibra-
tion greatly  enhances  its  field  of  usefulness,  and  in-
creases its  therapeutic  value.  It  is  believed  that  the
*'Shoshruta"  of  the  Hindoos,  used  also  by  the  Brah-
mins, is  the  oldest  work  on  the  subject.  It  was  prob-
ably followed  later  by  the  Chinese  book,  Cong-Fou  of
the  Tao-Sse  which  was  written  hundreds  of  years
before  Christ.  Some  believe  that  the  Greeks  probably
got  their  knowledge  from  the  Hindoos  and  Chinese.
Homer,  about  1000  B.  C,  in  his  masterpiece,  the
''Odyssey,"  notes  that  rubbing  and  anointing  were
used  for  their  invigorating  effects.  The  ancient
Greeks  and  Eomans  of  all  classes  used  massage  as  a
luxury,  to  hasten  recover}^  from  sickness,  or  to  in-
crease their  agilit}^  and  powers  of  endurance.  After
gymnastic  exercises,  it  was  used  in  the  treatment  of
pains  and  as  an  invigorator,  marking  its  early  recog-
nition as  a  therapeutic  agent.
