DIATHERMY IN THE HOME

Diathermy for use in the home has been extravagantly promoted by various agencies. The Journal has emphasized repeatedly that any kind of self treatment without scientific diagnosis may be hazardous because it permits neglect of serious conditions that may require professional attention. In several cities, firms have come into being practically over night, advertised in the daily papers, broadcast over the radio, released high pressure salesmen to sell or rent their products; then they have suddenly disappeared, although in some instances the promoters have appeared in the same role in new firms which repeated this program. Some of these instrucments promulgated to the public have been efficient, others have not! Apparatus for diathermy should have sufficient output to heat the tissues, since heat is the only therapy it provides for which critical evidence is available. If the instrument is efficient, it may be dangerous unless its use is supervised by