The Daily Dispatch: July 19, 1861., [Electronic resource]

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The steel pen disease

--Some of our readers, says the Boston Journal, will recollect a notice which appeared in the Journal last February relative to a theory advanced by President Felton, of Harvard, that the debilitating and sometimes paralytic affections of the hand and arm experienced by those accustomed to write much, were attributable to the use of steel pens. Since the appearance of the notice in question there has been a good deal of speculation regarding the theory it described, and many practice I tests of its readability have been instituted. President Felton has received a great many letters proving the affluency of resorting to the old goose quilt in curing partial and almost complete paralysis of the hand and arm caused by using steel pens. One instance is very remarkable. An eminent publisher in this city, some two years ago found himself unable to steady his hand to write. His hand and arm swelled so that he was forced to employ an amanuensis; and such was his necessity, only at very brief intervals, until he happened to see a description of President Felton's theory in the Journal. He adopted the goose quill instead of the steel pen, and in a month thereafter was able to do his own writing, which he continues to do without any trouble It may save parties the risk of annoying President Felton with inquiries relative to the basis of his theory when we inform them that he has none to explain.