Medicine: Physical Therapists

U. S. doctors are educated to treat disease chiefly by means of drugs and surgery. Nonetheless, they habitually use such homely adjuncts as hot and cold applications, baths and massage. In recent years some doctors analyzed the therapeutic effect of such physical agents, tried their hands at others. As a result a new specialty of physical medicine gradually developed. Called physical therapists, such doctors treat disease by heat, massage, baths, exercise, rest, work, radiation and electricity. The specialty is still not sharply defined. On one hand physical therapists must combat the tendency of...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!