Monday.—Treatment as yesterday; could turn in bed with less difficulty.
Tuesday.—Packing-sheet forty minutes, preceded by a tepid-bath sixteen minutes, with great friction; noon, four rubbing-sheets; evening, loins rubbed with wet hands for half-an-hour.
Wednesday.—Slept well and could turn with ease in bed; three rubbing-sheets and friction thrice during the day with wet hands.
Drank fourteen tumblers of water daily, and wore a bandage night and day.
Thursday.—Perfectly well. By the means here described, patient’s bowels were kept in order; his tongue always clean. Had his treatment failed, the sweating process must have been resorted to.
This is another of those complaints that baffle medical skill, and upon which medical men are at issue as to the cause; some alleging it to be a derangement of the nervous system, others think it is in the humours of the body, which contain an acrimony irritating to the nerves.
The result of my observation is, that if under the Water cure, it is not cured in three months, it is extremely doubtful if it will succumb to that treatment. Dr. Munde doubted if purely nervous Tic-doloureux was curable by any process; but speaks more positively as to that which arises from acrimonious humour. He says, “I speak with a perfect knowledge of this disease, having suffered for three years, and having made observations upon several others who suffered severely from this complaint. Eight months’ treatment cured me after trying all other remedies in vain.”
I knew a patient who had laboured under Tic in his head for fourteen or fifteen years, perfectly cured in three months. His treatment was the same as for Rheumatism.
Another patient put a bandage to her face at night, whilst under a paroxysm of Tic; this increased the pain, the reason of which was, her not having prepared the system first. Next day she underwent the sweating process, and could then wear the bandage with great advantage.
A person, whom I knew, suffering from Tic in his legs, made no progress because of the injudicious use of the Douche. The Douche was abandoned, and the packing-sheet and tepid bath twice a day substituted with great advantage.
Another case of severe Tic came under my notice, that resisted all treatment. The paroxysm was only allayed by very long tepid baths 62°, and great friction.
Obstinate case of Tic in the Thigh.—This case is given to shew the way in which Priessnitz meets extraordinary circumstances.
H. from Berlin, aged 54, had a settled pain down one of his thighs; he was treated for it seven years ago at Gräfenberg. In a few months he thought himself cured. For seven years he felt no inconvenience, and lived as he had formerly done. At the expiration of that period, pain returned; not wishing to devote so much time to the cure as he knew it would require at Gräfenberg, he went to Carlsbad, where the pain became insupportable. In this state he again had recourse to Priessnitz. He has now been there four months, undergoing a vigorous treatment of packing-sheets, baths, rubbing-sheets, and sitz-baths, varied in an infinity of ways, without experiencing much benefit; his sleep, which has been disturbed the last eighteen months, still continues so.
Nearly all the sleep he obtains is in the packing-sheet. In this he lies from his arm-pits down to his thighs, from 9 to 11 o’clock at night, and again from 2 to 4 o’clock in the morning. At 6 o’clock he commences his usual treatment. The last fortnight before I left Gräfenberg, pain had ceased, but his sleeping was as disturbed as usual.
A delicate lady, aged twenty-five: morning, packing-sheet until warm and tepid bath; noon, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath; afternoon, rubbing-sheet.
After a few days’ treatment, catamenia came on, notwithstanding which, as patient experienced no inconvenience, the treatment was continued as before. In two days, pain in the abdomen and hips was felt. All the previous treatment was now discontinued, and three rubbing-sheets a day were prescribed, until pain ceased, when it was again resumed.
Throat, and pain at the chest, were cured in six weeks, and patient had gained eight pounds in weight.
This lady thought she had an affection of the heart. Priessnitz enquired if she felt pain there: she answered no. “Then,” said he, “the heart is sound.” Three years ago, catamenia lasted only five days, but latterly it extended to seven. Priessnitz said, with her it ought only to last three or four days. This was effected. Her husband, who had occasional attacks of bile, gained nine pounds in six weeks. I attended the weighing of these parties, and can vouch for the fact.
Two Hundred Years Ago, Dr. Vanderheyden of Ghent wrote a work in which he declared all fevers curable by cold water. Dr. Sir John Floyer, fifty years later, wrote his work, and then came Drs. Hahn, Smith and others, and finally, Dr. Currie of Liverpool, who by their works supported the same theory. It is true that though where medicine saved its hundreds, their practice saved thousands, the Modus Operandi was somewhat speculative. It was reserved until our own time to witness the application of water reduced to a science. Priessnitz by his packing-sheet has produced the great desideratum, which renders his treatment omnipotent over all febrile disorders; and if he had discovered nothing else, this would hand his name down to the latest posterity.
It is often asked what fevers are curable by the Hydropathic processes. To this it may be answered, except where by age or disease patients are not reduced to the last stage of existence, all are curable. I made constant inquiries when at Gräfenberg—witnessed the treatment of innumerable cases of fever, amongst others Typhus and Brain Fever, and I could not discover that Priessnitz during his long practice had ever lost a patient.
I have frequently treated cases of fever and inflammation myself with the most heartfelt satisfaction; as in every instance on the application of the sheet or the bath, the patient was relieved in the same manner that a plant dying for the want of water, is resuscitated on being supplied with it.
After the number of works published on this subject, all protesting the safety of this mode of treatment, and the total absence of danger, it may be fairly presumed, that the packing-sheet process will ere long take the lead in medical practice.
As almost all complaints trace their origin to fever or inflammation, if these can be allayed on their first symptoms, a host of evils to the human family will be avoided.
It does not require any great sagacity to perceive that when the body is surcharged with heat, if enveloped in a damp sheet, the sheet immediately becomes hot; take it away and you remove with it a certain amount of heat. The oftener this is repeated the more the calorie is diminished, and each sheet requires more time to heat; continue changing the sheet, and the body resumes a normal state. When once the heat is eliminated the patient is cured of the Fever.
The following modes of treatment and cases will enable the practitioner to judge how he should treat his patient as circumstances may arise.
As general rules:—
In the cold fit, use rubbing-sheets well wrung out, with a slight interim between each until the hot stage is produced. In the hot stage packing-sheets should be changed as often as necessary. In Typhus I have known them changed forty or fifty times in a day. The bath which ought at first to be a little tepid and cooled by degrees, should be resorted to at intervals twice or thrice a day, from a quarter of an hour to an hour. Should the heat action be prematurely violent, or likely to end in inflammation, resort to a sitz-bath with or without a foot-bath, instead of the tepid bath, particularly where either the brain, organs of sense, or those within the thorax are at all engaged.
Rubbing-sheets, in certain cases where the vital energies are weak or languid, will be sufficient to suppress a febrile paroxysm. Their renewal and time of application must entirely depend on the age, strength and idiosyncrasy of the case: water should be drunk in small quantities, and frequently.
Where the brain is attacked, water must be constantly applied to that locality, so as not to allow of an increase of temperature.
Where there is no want of bodily strength in the patient, the quickest and surest method of putting an end at once to fever, is as follows. Put him into a bath up to the shoulders, tepid 63° or 64° to begin with, and to be renewed constantly by cold water being poured over the shoulders; two persons rubbing the patient the whole time.
When he is quite fatigued, take him out, dry the body and throw the window open for air; when recovered a little, renew the operation, and so on for the third time if necessary. Then dress and go out to walk. Drink plentifully of water.
If very cold on coming out of the bath, walk without the body bandage, but put a large thick one from the hips to the arm-pits on returning home. Let the patient rest two or three hours; and if fever return repeat the foregoing treatment.
A Mr. B——, who was greatly debilitated, had, for fever, a tepid bath for half an hour to an hour and half; also many rubbing-sheets; on one occasion as many as twenty-nine in a day. If the fever resist the above treatment, then resort to the packing-sheet.
Dr. L——, for fever, ordered, five or six rubbing-sheets in succession. Head bath for a quarter of an hour. Bandage from hips to arm-pits, to be changed often, even in the night; to be much in the open air.
In typhus fever, medical men do not make the distinction between congestion of the venous and arterial systems. They imagine that inflammatory action exists, whereas it is in typhus, venous congestion: therefore, the leeching and severe depletory measures are decidedly wrong; they increase the existing evil, lower and exhaust the vital powers, and if persevered in, lead to death, or a long lingering state of convalescence. On the contrary, Hydropathy acts upon a diametrically opposite system: by the imbibition of water, containing as it does an excess of oxygen, the vital forces are sustained, the blood is decarbonised, the appetite improved, the bowels regulated, etc. etc.
Fever.—An English officer who caught a fever twenty years ago in the West Indies, wrote to Priessnitz that all his prospects in life were blighted, and that existence was almost intolerable. He came to Gräfenberg and was treated as follows:
Early in the morning packing-sheet and bath; wore heating bandage always. Breakfasted at eight o’clock, when, from nine o’clock until five o’clock in the evening, he was ordered to change the waist bandage every ten minutes. At five o’clock packing-sheet and bath.
If ague appeared, which it did sometimes, then rubbing-sheets, well wrung out were applied with great friction until the fit was over.
This patient was perfectly cured in three months.
Nervousness and slow Fever, and disposition to a Decline.—A lady was treated as follows:—
Morning, five packing-sheets and bath, 62°; noon, douche and sitz-bath; afternoon, rubbing-sheet and two sitz-baths.
At first, she was ordered to have a cold bath prepared by the bed-side at night, and when fever and sweating came on, to go into the bath, and repeat it if necessary. She had a bad cough at the time; her friends thought such a proceeding would end in her death; the patient, however, recovered from her fever and cough, and left much improved in health.
On awaking in the morning with distracting head-ache, parched tongue, and all the concomitants of fever, a lady was put into a packing-sheet; in twelve minutes, head-ache ceased. After remaining enveloped an hour or two, rubbing-sheets were applied, followed by a sitz-bath of twenty minutes: she drank water freely. This one application effected a cure.
A young lady had her foot and ankle much swollen from rheumatic gout. Second day, arose with head-ache and pain in all her limbs; and towards evening, had a slight fever. For this, she was put into a tepid bath 62°, and rubbed for forty minutes, when the arm-pits feeling no warmer than the other parts of her body, she was allowed to leave the bath. This application was sufficient.
Typhus Fever requires the same treatment as other fevers. The packing-sheet must be changed every ten or fifteen minutes: I have known it changed as much as fifty times a day. When the patient is weary of lying in the packing-sheet, he should be put into a tepid bath and well rubbed for a time; and then lie quiet, with a packing-sheet doubled several times from hips to arm-pits. Then packing-sheets should be resorted to again. If the head is attacked, apply the head-bath whilst lying in packing-sheet. Drink abundantly of water.
Packing sheets, tepid baths, and cold baths (the former often repeated), are also the treatment for brain fever. When a patient was in a state of delirium, Priessnitz ordered her into a cold bath for an hour.
Teething fever.—Tepid head-bath—water gradually made colder—applied to the back of the head for half an hour.
If this had not had the desired effect it was to have been repeated after a short interval. Heating-bandages were to have been applied from the hips to the arm-pits.
Gastric Fever.—A young man attacked with gastric fever, was treated as follows:—
Two packing-sheets, one after the other, until warm, followed, by tepid bath, in which he was rubbed fifteen minutes, then put into cold bath for one minute, and from that back again to the tepid bath for fifteen minutes; patient was then dried, waited a few minutes, and then the bathing as above was twice repeated.
The whole of the treatment, i. e. packing sheet and baths, was repeated three times during the day; between which, a sitz-bath of half an hour was prescribed.
Patient was cured in two days, and then declared himself stronger and better than he was previously to the attack.
A gentleman aged thirty-four was thus treated:—
Packing-sheets twice a day until warm, followed by tepid bath.
Two sitz-baths a day, twenty minutes each. Patient’s back, shoulders, abdomen and chest to be rubbed the whole time whilst taking the sitting-baths.
Patient having lost his appetite, Priessnitz recommended him to eat plentifully of common unripe plums: these deranged his stomach, of which he was immediately cured; and afterwards his appetite was better.
My servant was seized with violent pains in the abdomen during the night, and in the morning head-ache and fever. Dr. Farr of Nice, who saw the case, said depletion was requisite, and that the man might be well in four or five days. I declared with Hydropathy he might be made to wait at table the same day. He was put into a packing-sheet for an hour and a half, then a bath; an hour afterwards a sitz-bath; wore the bandage and required no further treatment. Dr. F——, until the next morning could not believe that the fever was subdued.
Capt. D—— ordered, in the morning, two packing-sheets until warm, with head in a basin of cold water all the time; followed by tepid bath, renewed with cold; noon, cold sitz-bath one hour; afternoon, morning treatment repeated.
Bilious Fever.—A female attacked with bilious fever, swelled face, and violent tooth-ache. Patient in the first instance, preferred consulting a medical man, who administered a strong aperient; ordered the feet to be kept in a hot bath for an hour, and said the fever would certainly last seven days, if not longer.
I applied a packing-sheet, and changed it after twenty minutes; then two rubbing-sheets. Head-bath 62° for a quarter of an hour: hot-water poultice to face. This treatment completely subdued the fever the second day.
Patient attacked with bilious fever, swelled face, and violent tooth-ache.
Packing-sheet for twenty, and another for thirty minutes; then two rubbing-sheets, twice a day; head-bath 62°, and sitz-bath 62°; hot water bandage to face.
On a return of the same in the spring of the next year: morning, packing-sheet and rubbing-sheet; noon, sitz-bath 62°; afternoon, sitz-bath and foot-bath 62°; the swollen part of the face put into cold water fifteen minutes, twice a day. This treatment answered admirably.
Nervous Fever.—Commencement of patient’s illness was attended with violent headache and excessive weakness particularly in his legs—unable to stand. Ordered four rubbing-sheets, not wrung out, four times a day; head-baths three or four times a day; fever, notwithstanding, increased, and, patient was unable to bear the rubbing-sheet: upon which the treatment was changed to four packing-sheets, renewed every quarter of an hour, followed by a tepid bath for ten minutes. This process was repeated three times during the day.
Head became feverish. He took for this, a head-bath five minutes at a time. In a fortnight, fever left him completely; when only three packing-sheets a day, and cold bath after each, was ordered. In three weeks, patient was out of doors.
In the second week of his treatment, patient, besides several small eruptions, had five large boils, which opened in the first week, and discharged copiously for a fortnight, when his health improved daily; and before the expiration of the sixth week, he was perfectly well.
Remains of Fever strongly resembling Gout.—An artist caught a fever in Egypt. In Rome, his fingers and feet became enlarged, in appearance resembling gout, when he was treated for that complaint. Priessnitz at once declared this a mistake, and that it was the remains of the fever.
In three or four days after beginning the cure, patient had fever, and in ten days another strong attack: his feet and legs became much inflamed, attended with headache and great debility.
His former treatment was now abandoned for the following:
Three packing-sheets, one after the other, until warm; then the tepid bath for fifteen minutes: from that into the cold bath for two minutes, and return to the tepid again for fifteen or twenty minutes. This was to be repeated in the afternoon. When fever subsided, patient renewed his former treatment, and was perfectly cured in three months. I saw him in Rome the next year, when he was perfectly well; and as an act of gratitude to Mr. Priessnitz, he had caused to be painted a picture of the “eternal city,” to send for his acceptance.
Intermittent Fever.—General R—— was attacked with intermittent fever at the siege of Mantua, in 1798. His complaint resisted all remedies: his liver became hardened and enlarged, exhibiting a tumour extending three fingers’ breadth above his navel. Came to Gräfenberg thin as a skeleton, complexion nearly livid, unable to walk without the assistance of two persons. Obstinate indigestion and constipation; no motion for fifteen years, without aid; congestion of blood to the head, and threatened apoplexy; insupportable sensitiveness to cold. Arrived at Gräfenberg in 1839; now restored to health: liver restored to normal size, with merely a slight swelling at epigastric region.
His treatment was:—morning, partial baths (tepid), twenty minutes, with strong friction; no water in the bath when patient first entered it, that being poured over his head and shoulders.
After one month of this treatment, sweating for half an hour, followed by partial bath for five minutes; noon, tepid sitz-bath (70 deg.) for half an hour; repeated in the afternoon.
In two months patient could walk alone. During the third month, sweating for an hour, and partial cold bath for five minutes; and sitz-baths were now cold; eighteen glasses of water, drunk daily; fourth month:—after sweating, the large plunge-bath, and friction by two men; twenty to twenty-four glasses of water, daily. Fifth month:—appetite good; commenced ascending the mountains. The douche found to excite too much: therefore abandoned.
August, 1840:—Left Gräfenberg: his liver softer, though not sensibly diminished. Recommended, whilst at home, to wear heating bandages always, and use cold ablutions, but not to transpire, unless pain of liver occurs.
In January, 1841, eruptions on the skin, and many ulcers, made their appearance.
August, 1841, returned to Gräfenberg, and commenced the same treatment as before: sweating one hour; plunge-bath and two partial baths a day; douche for five minutes every other day.
In November, had fever for twenty-five days, and pains in his hands, with open sores on his fingers for nine months; nails dropped off, and were replaced by new ones; fingers always wrapped in heating bandages. For the fever, six packing-sheets, changed every quarter of an hour, except the last: in this the patient remained longer, preparatory to a warm bath.
This was renewed twice a day.
Twenty-four glasses of water daily.
March, 1842.—Left Gräfenberg: liver reduced to one-half the size it was.
August, 1842.—Returned again to Gräfenberg, when his treatment was:—packing-sheet every morning one hour, followed by two rubbing-sheets; noon and afternoon, two rubbing-sheets.
October, 1842.—Was seen at his residence in health; pains from many old wounds no longer felt.
Patient aged forty-five. Ten years ago; caught cold, which ended in intermittent fever, which resisted the usual remedies; was cured at Gräfenberg as follows:—morning, packing-sheet and plunge-bath; noon, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath; afternoon, as the morning.
Fever and ague returned every fourth day, when treatment was changed. Packing-sheet and tepid bath 62°, ten minutes; then into cold bath two minutes, and back again to tepid, with much friction; at noon, five rubbing-sheets; afternoon, as in the morning. The paroxysm over, resumed the former treatment until perfectly cured.
Fever and Ague.—S—— had fever, attended with ague; took nine packing and six rubbing-sheets, and three tepid baths; two of the tepid baths being followed by cold plunging bath. Cured the same day.
A lady attacked by slight fever and shivering, cured by five rubbing-sheets.
Sudden Fever.—Mrs. H——’s little boy awoke with fever; she kept him in a tepid bath, renewed with cold, until he trembled with cold; then put him to bed, where he immediately fell asleep, and awoke perfectly well. Priessnitz said the mother would have done as well, if she had given him a long sitz-bath.
Catarrh and Fever.—Child restless all night. Tepid bath (nearly cold) for a quarter of an hour; lean back in the bath so that the attendant may well rub the chest and throat. Afternoon, rubbing-sheet and tepid bath for a quarter of an hour.
After each bath, a head-bath for twelve minutes, each side of the head being alternately placed in the water. If this does not succeed, lay the back of the head in water, and well rub the forehead with wet hands. Rub the throat with wet hands three times a day. Eat no meat, and be much out of doors. Child, after first day’s treatment, wretchedly cold; but pain in the head gone, and cough decreased.
Second day, pain in his legs, and weak; which Priessnitz said was the result of the fever. As the cough abated, treatment was moderated. Bath to be tepid. In the middle of the day, throat and chest to be rubbed. In the evening, a tepid bath eight minutes; head-bath as before; these were given in consequence of his feverish state in the night. If the body continued feverish, and the feet and legs cold at night, then heating bandages to the feet and legs, up to the fork, would have been applied all night.
Fever and Diarrhœa.—A Servant of my own, disturbed many times during the night with diarrhœa and fever, and with violent pain in his head and abdomen, was put into a packing-sheet for one hour and a quarter; a rubbing-sheet was then applied, followed by bandage round the waist; at noon, sitz-bath one hour and a quarter. This simple treatment effected a cure in a few hours.
Constipation and Fever.—Patient took tepid-bath, rubbed by three men for one hour and a half, getting out of the bath was dried and walked about the room every half-hour for ten minutes; followed by other treatment.
Second day, the above repeated twice, with the addition of packing-sheets and rubbing-sheets, in the interim.
General laxity of the bowels for several days, rest disturbed for two or three nights; could not rest the last night, diarrhœa and fever, strong pulse (110).
Morning, two packing-sheets, fifteen minutes each. In the first, patient felt (as he said) as though he was in boiling water; on the application of the second he felt cooler, after twenty-five minutes he was put into a cold bath and there remained until heat had left the arm-pits, which required seventeen minutes. Then a large towel was doubled four times and placed round his loins, drank six tumblers of water and went to bed.
At twelve o’clock all fever gone—to put an end to Diarrhœa, I ordered two rubbing sheets three minutes each, to be followed by tepid sitz-bath fifteen minutes, wet bandages and water to be drank as before.
At five o’clock sitz-bath twenty minutes.
Patient passed a good night, and next day found himself well.
P.S. I treated this case myself at Naples.
Cold Shivering by Day, and Feverish Heat when in Bed at Night.—A young man—ordered three rubbing-sheets on rising quite warm from bed in the morning; the same at noon, and in the afternoon drink plentifully of water.
Symptoms continuing—An additional three rubbing-sheets were used previous to going to bed, and when heat commenced in the night, the body bandage, which had been worn from the beginning was changed, and water drunk. If in a state of perspiration early in the morning, a tepid bath. This treatment had the desired effect.
When the lungs are unsound sitz-baths are liable to cause a pain to be felt in that region, probably from causing congestion to them. I knew a case of this kind, and named it to Priessnitz who said, to have relieved this the patient should have been put into a very shallow tepid-bath, water two inches deep, and there rubbed by two men until the pain was removed.
In a case of Gout treated by an inexperienced person—where fears were entertained that congestion had taken place and castor oil was resorted to—he advised the same bath and friction, until it was removed.
A third case, where after being some time under the treatment a practitioner was embarrassed by his patient having fixed pain in his bowels, Priessnitz said, the bath applied with vigour for a considerable time would have been sure of removing it.
If a patient is ever lost in these cases, it is through the want of knowledge and the timidity of the practitioner.
Inflammation of the Lungs.—This complaint originates in some obstruction, and is occasioned by an effort of nature to remove it. By bleeding the symptoms are reduced, but the cause remains, and consequently it frequently happens that under Hydropathic treatment inflammation returns, which then, by producing irritation on the surface, is extracted.
Mr. Priessnitz’ married daughter, this year, returned to Gräfenberg, with her husband, to be cured of an epidemic which raged in Hungary. The husband was cured. The lady, with an eruption, went for two days into the country; on return the eruption had nearly subsided; it had gone to the lungs and inflammation resulted. She was put into tepid and cold baths thirty or forty times during the day. These positive means put an end to the inflammation in one day, and the next she was about as usual, quite well.
This apparently dangerous complaint, without any apparent cause, when taken quite in its infancy, is generally cured by the following simple means.
Place a cold packing-sheet several times doubled over the shoulders, chest, and back of the patient, whilst he takes a cold sitz-bath, for from half an hour to an hour, during the time use great friction to the feet and legs with hands dipped in water. All medical reasoning will be to the effect that this treatment must cause congestion to the lungs; but every day’s practice at Gräfenberg proves the contrary.
Between the application of the above treatment, use a rubbing sheet.
If the head is affected, let the patient lay quiet in bed, with his head in a basin once or twice a day, from fifteen to thirty minutes, or much longer if necessary each time.
If fever, then resort to the tepid bath, until heat disappears under the arm-pits; this may require a long time, but must be persevered in.
The water of the bath must be continually renewed or it will become too warm.
I have known the sitz-bath, applied two or three times a day, completely cure an attack of this nature.
A lady, aged forty, attacked with inflammation of the lungs, was put into a tepid bath 62°, and kept there three hours and ten minutes, cold water being constantly poured over the shoulders, to bring down the temperature. Priessnitz frequently felt the chest and arm-pits; and in answer to patient’s request to discontinue, he said if she did so until all parts were cool alike, her life would pay the forfeit.
After this, she took a cold bath twice a day, and wore the heating-bandage. In two months, she was perfectly cured. It should be remarked, that during the greater part of this times she felt a pain and hardness in the side, but this all subsided.
Spitting Blood and Inflammation.—A young man had inflammation of the lungs at Vienna, which ended in great debility and spitting of blood. Shortly after going to Gräfenberg he had another attack of inflammation of the lungs.
Treatment.—Tepid bath 62°, five minutes, then cold ten minutes, and back to the tepid ten minutes. This change from one bath to the other was repeated for nearly three hours, and ended about nine in the morning; at eleven o’clock, a sitz-bath fifteen minutes; afternoon, packing-sheet and cold bath for five minutes. Next day quite well of the attack; he continued packing-sheet and cold bath, morning and afternoon, and sitz-bath at noon; more heating-bandages on the chest. In ten weeks perfectly cured.
Inflammation in the Wind-pipe.—A lady—Chest, throat, and between the shoulders rubbed for five minutes with hands, and frequently dipped in cold water. During this time water was held in the mouth and changed when warm.
Bandages were applied to throat, shoulders, and waist.
Walked the same afternoon a short time.
Inflammation of the Brain.—Rubbing-sheets, head-baths, and bandages to the nape of the neck, back of the head, and some distance down the back, the rest of the body lightly covered. In an obstinate case, recourse must be had to a tepid bath 64° for a considerable time.
In all cases, whether in fever or not, where the head is attacked, large wet bandages may be applied, and changed every five minutes. Bandages to the whole of the head should not however be applied in general practice. The head ought to be free and the face washed often.
Inflammation of the Gums.—A child suffering indescribable pain, no sleep night or day.
One or two rubbing sheets, two or three times a day. Heating bandages to be applied to the head, as a turban, so that only the face can be seen, and changed every five or ten minutes. The same round the waist, from the hips to the arm-pits, and changed when warm.
If the body is confined, administer a cold water enema; if one is not sufficient, a second should be administered in half an hour; drink plentifully of water. Child out at play the third day.
All partake more or less of the same character; to describe the symptoms, nature, and medical treatment of these complaints, more volumes have been written than there are days in the year.
My object is not to inquire how such complaints arise, but to show how by the most simple and safe means they are to be cured.
Cholic.—This complaint invariably gives way to sitz-baths, clysters, bandages, and drinking plentifully of cold water.
A patient suffering from pain in the bowels for some days, was ordered injections three times a day, notwithstanding the bowels were perfectly free.
W——, taken with sickness and griping pains, could retain nothing on his stomach, supposed that it arose from eating unripe fruit. An injection of cold water was first resorted to; one not being sufficient, a second in half an hour was administered, and during the day ten others. Then two rubbing sheets, followed by a tepid bath, with great friction, and large bandage, three hours afterwards, a sitz-bath, tepid, fifteen minutes.
Again, after a lapse of three hours, the former process. This put an end to the gripes the same day.
An Austrian officer, attacked with violent pain in the abdomen, which extended through to the back. Great heat and pain in the head, with cold feet.
Priessnitz wetted the body all over with cold water, particularly the feet, and without drying the parts thus wetted, ordered the patient to sit quite naked near to the window, which was open, for one hour in a sitz-bath, his servant rubbing him the whole time. Patient was then covered up well in bed to bring on re-action, the pains of which for a short time were worse than cholic. The attack was put an end to by this one application, or it was to have been renewed in the morning.
The singular part of this treatment is, that the body was thus exposed to the inclemency of a Siberian winter, wet and naked, for one hour. When asked why he adopted such positive treatment, Priessnitz said, because there was a great tendency to intestinal inflammation. The patient was out and well next day.
Dysentery and Diarrhœa.—For the information of the general reader, it may be well to state, that Dysentery is brought on by damp, cold, or unripe fruit, and is attended by the evacuation of bloody glaires, violent pain of the stomach, burning at the arms, and spasms of the bladder, a constant desire to evacuate without being able to render anything but glaires. Diarrhœa is attended with many of these symptoms, but there is no blood in the evacuation. Hereafter it will be shewn how both these complaints are to be treated.
Cold clysters, rubbing-sheets, sitz-baths, and bandage, are the chief agents in the cure of these complaints. When attended with inflammation take three or four sitz-baths a day, and change the body bandages every ten minutes.
In Diarrhœa or Dysentery the patient should take but little exercise.
When Diarrhœa is recent, it is sufficient to drink plentifully of water, wear a bandage round the wrist, eat little, and that of farinaceous food.
Diarrhœa is often the work of nature to carry off prejudicial humours; which ought not to be prevented. At the same time it must not be suffered to continue too long without resorting to measures to check it. A patient came to Gräfenberg who had suffered six weeks from this complaint, which had reduced him almost to a skeleton. He was cured in a few days.
Where abundant evacuations of glaires are alternate with constipation, cold injections are a great relief. If patients in Cholera, Diarrhœa, Cholic, or Dysentery, cannot sleep, administer a very cold foot-bath, water only half an inch deep, for fifteen minutes. Let the feet, legs, and thighs be rubbed with wet hands the whole time, then the patient should walk bare-footed in the chamber for ten minutes.
Dysentery.—Begin with one or two rubbing-sheets, then cold injections every quarter of an hour for two or three hours.
Then tepid sitz-bath, rather warmer than usual, for half an hour, followed by a large heating bandage doubled three or four times, from before the hips to the arm-pits, leaving the arms free. Change this every ten or fifteen minutes. Let the covering to the bed be light, but keep the feet warm. Drink large quantities of cold water.
When the bandage has been changed three or four times, if the patient is better, let him remain quiet; otherwise repeat the treatment.
Miss B——, attacked with dysentery attended with great pain; ordered four sitz-baths in a day, one hour each large bandage from hips to arm-pits; changed often.
Took them two days, and one in the night. These chilled her exceedingly, which Priessnitz said was as it ought to be.
Diarrhœa.—A delicate lady, ordered not to drink milk for some days, but sixteen to twenty glasses of water; take but little exercise; at noon wash with cold water; at eleven o’clock, cold sitz-bath, twenty minutes, then walk a few times in the room, with only dry sheet over the person; then sitz-bath again for twenty minutes; repeat this a third time to complete the hour.
F——, had diarrhœa two days, when Priessnitz said, “If you are not in pain, do nothing; if the contrary, take a morning rubbing-sheet, and sitz-bath three quarters of an hour; noon, the same; afternoon, sitz-bath three quarters of an hour; change bandages and walk less; drink plentifully of water.”
A—— had Diarrhœa whilst travelling, as he could not procure sitz-bath, he lay in bed, changed bandages every half hour, and drank freely of water. This treatment sufficed.
Chronic Diarrhœa.—Morning, packing-sheet from hips to arm-pits until warm, then cold bath; noon, two rubbing-sheets and sitz-bath half-an-hour; evening, sitz-bath half-an-hour; or in the morning, sitz-bath for half an hour, then walk, return and take cold bath; drink plentifully of water and wear large bandages.
Pain in the Bowels.—Tepid sitz-bath 62° for three quarters of an hour; rubbing the abdomen all the time; in a simple case this puts an end to the pain at once.
Severe Pain in the Bowels.—Tepid sitz-bath, half an hour to an hour; much rubbing with wet hands on the back, stomach, and abdomen when in the bath; no exertion of mind or body; eat only of one thing; drink much water. When constipated, or had pain in the bowels, extended the period of the sitz bath. Patient’s recovery quite marvellous.
The sitz-bath may be resorted to two or three times a day, and also rubbing-sheet, if the case proves obstinate.
Pain in Bowels and Diarrhœa.—Ordered sitz-bath fifteen minutes, walk gently about the room five minutes, then repeat the sitz-bath fifteen minutes, and again walk for five minutes, and after third time take sitz-bath. Put on a large bandage well wrung out, and change it every quarter of an hour. If not cured in three or four hours, repeat the above treatment. If obstinate use cold injections.
Relaxed Bowels.—Three rubbing-sheets and a sitz-bath on rising from bed, for ten minutes in the morning; one rubbing sheet, and sitz-bath twenty minutes at noon; the same repeated in the afternoon. If not better, a clyster of cold water on going to bed; bandage, and drink water as usual.
A young lady, troubled with relaxed bowels for some days—
Morning, three rubbing-sheets, and immediately after, tepid bath for fifteen minutes; large bandage; at two o’clock two rubbing sheets.
These simple means effected a cure; if they had not, the sitz-bath was to have been resorted to again.
English Cholera.—A Russian General attacked with English Cholera, was suffering extreme torture when Priessnitz came. He ordered three rubbing-sheets, five minutes interim between each; patient then to be put to bed for half-an-hour, and well covered up to promote heat; this was followed by a cold sitz-bath of 30 or 40 minutes; drank plentifully of water and wore a large heating bandage.
This one application effected a complete cure; had it not, the General was to have repeated the treatment in the afternoon.
Mr. Priessnitz thinks that in the great majority of cases consumption is curable until the age of fourteen or fifteen, when the complaint generally assumes a more serious aspect.
Young people are often considered consumptive when they really are not so. A young lady of my acquaintance, having all the symptoms, was ordered to Italy, where, notwithstanding the climate, the malady seemed to increase. She went to Gräfenberg, when Mr. Priessnitz at once declared it was not consumption, that it was a contraction of the chest. Two months’ treatment caused the chest to expand and restored the patient to robust health. Dr. Johnson says, “One thing of which I am convinced is, that the true principle of treating consumption is to support the patient’s strength to the utmost;” and it must be remembered that the great aim and principal effect of the Water-cure is to strengthen the system, thereby giving the inherent curative power the fairest opportunity of doing its own work.
It must however be observed, that when consumption has fairly set in, neither water or drugs will arrest its progress. A friend of mine writes me most sensibly on this subject: “I fully believe,” says he, “if all girls were to wash thoroughly every day, more than three-fourths who now go into consumption would be saved.”
Rubbing-sheets, and rubbing powerfully with wet hands, for a considerable time, particularly the feet, are efficient means of cure; after each application let the patient remain quiet. If the hands or feet become cold, apply friction again to them and the parts affected.
Mr. Brown finding patient nearly dead from Cramp, immediately administered an enema, then a rubbing-sheet with great friction, followed by a tepid bath for nearly an hour, the enema took effect whilst under the friction, rubbing-sheets and baths were repeated three times before mid-day with good effect.
In the afternoon, rubbing-sheets were used, and friction with wet hands.
Cramp-Cough.—I knew a case of this nature which was most successfully treated at Gräfenberg.
Morning, two or three packing-sheets followed by tepid bath; noon, tepid sitz-bath, quarter of an hour; afternoon, morning treatment renewed.
The Crisis was attended with inflammation and ulcers of the throat.
Tepid-baths, were administered twice a day, for ten to fifteen minutes, changing alternately from hot to cold and back to hot. To subdue fever which was very active in the night, the patient took a plunge or two into a cold bath before going to bed.
Bandage on Chest at night, in addition to that round the loins.
Cramps in the Stomach.—Patient’s complaint was cramp in the stomach, weak digestion, great nervous sensibility. Packing-sheet one hour, and tepid-bath in the morning, four minutes, with great friction; then three successive plunges into tepid, cold, and tepid-bath, to remain in the last four minutes; noon, rubbing-sheet five minutes, followed by sitz-bath ten minutes; afternoon, repeat morning treatment, wear bandage day and night, and drink twelve tumblers of water daily.
In a short time, the tepid-bath was relinquished for the cold-bath; and the douche was used for two minutes, as a longer period was found to disagree with the patient. A diarrhœa was cured by the addition of sitz-baths; at which time the douche was not persevered in.
I was astonished at the wonderful effects of the Water-cure treatment, in cases of Asthma. One night, Priessnitz was called up to a patient under the cure, who was almost suffocated.
A tepid sitz-bath for thirty minutes with great friction of the abdomen completely relieved him. This patient was perfectly cured in three months.
A patient whose age was thirty-five suffered from chest complaint, asthma, torpid circulation, and stricture. For some time three rubbing-sheets a day only were prescribed, then a tepid sitz-bath; and when he evidenced the cure of the Asthma, by ascending with ease the highest mountains, the general treatment was resorted to.
In three months the stricture was quite cured. Left Gräfenberg the fourth month.
The following interesting case, came under my especial notice.
Mr. M——, aged 26, afflicted with Asthma for three years, tried all the baths in Germany, and then determined on going to Gräfenberg: en route, he was confined to an hotel for eight days. When he arrived, which was on the 4th January, 1846, he could with difficulty walk a quarter of a mile.
Inclement as the weather was, Priessnitz, at once ordered him into a tepid bath, and stripped him of all flannels; next day he began the following treatment, until warm.
Morning, packing-sheet, tepid-bath; noon, rubbing-sheet, and tepid sitz-bath; afternoon, the same. In a short time tepid water was discontinued for cold.
In about three weeks, two large boils appeared and broke, when he was so much better, as to ascend the highest mountains, his health improved so fast, that, first in the morning, he was seen up to his middle in snow, always without hat, neckcloth or great coat.
He was cured in about four months.
Amputation.—The Surgeon’s profession would be a very poor one if Hydropathy were generally understood.
If a finger, hand, or foot, be nearly severed from the body, they should be put into the best possible form, bandaged, and placed between two pieces of wood; over this a large bandage: the former may be wetted often without being removed.
A friend of mine in Italy had the misfortune, whilst botanising, to fall from one rock to another, where he hung by his foot. This caused a compound fracture, and the loss of his foot. I asked Mr. Priessnitz what ought to have been done,—he said his shepherd would have known better than to have cut off the foot; a stiff one being preferable to none at all. The foot should have been healed as above described, a large bandage applied from the toes up to the top of the thighs constantly wetted; this would have kept the limb cold. As fever or inflammation must proceed from the part afflicted, it is evident if the heat is extracted thence, neither can ensue. The splinters would have come away of themselves, and the patient might have been spared the loss of his foot, and several months of severe suffering and loss of health.
Crushed Finger.—A farmer at Gräfenberg had his finger smashed by a large stone rolling against it; so that it hung by the skin. It was put together, bandaged, and so fixed between two pieces of wood; over this a larger bandage was placed, the under part kept constantly wet. When pain ensued, the elbow was put into cold water for twenty minutes. The finger, though stiffer than the others, was preserved.
Fainting Fit.—Open the window to admit fresh air; unfasten the dress. Sprinkle water on the face and put the feet into a foot pan, with water only up to the instep, and let the attendant rub feet and legs up to the knees.
Effects of Falls.—A young man who came with nervous fever, one day, whilst labouring under violent palpitation, to which he was subject, fell, and so hurt the back of his head, as to be insensible for half an hour. Priessnitz, being sent for, ordered a foot-bath and rubbing with wet hands up to the knee. Opened his waistcoat, rubbed the chest, and threw cold water into his face. The friction and foot-bath continued for an hour, when patient was ordered a sitz-bath for thirty minutes. Bandages to waist and head.
Another party fell and injured his large toe against a stone. Ordered three cold foot-baths a day, fifteen minutes each time, and bandage to be kept continually wet.
Count C. fell down stairs, and afterwards felt pain in his side. Bandaged the part. Next day a tepid bath for one hour. As the Count was not young, this was not persevered in. Sitz-baths were substituted.
A. fell from his horse and injured his elbow and arm.
Arm and elbow placed in a tepid bath for an hour.
Repeated three times a day. Arm bandaged night and day.
Bruised Shin.—Three sitz-baths a day 60°; bandage the leg from ancle to above the knee, and keep it raised. Throw tepid water over foot and leg several times a day.
Foot-baths may be resorted to, if the patient is already under hydropathic treatment: otherwise not, as they draw bad matter downwards, and might prevent the wound from healing.
B. trod upon a nail which entered his foot. His foot was put for an hour twice or thrice a day into tepid water, and he wore a bandage on the part.
In all cases of the kind—either by cutting with sharp instruments or otherwise, put the wounded part into tepid water until it ceases bleeding, then bandage it, and afterwards use cold baths several times a day to the part.
Bandages must extend both ways beyond the wound, to carry off the inflammation from the part. Viz.—If the calf of the leg be wounded, the bandage ought to begin at the ancle, and be continued up to the knee. In all cases take one or two tepid sitz-baths a day. They prevent the head being affected.
Tape Worms.—Rubbing-sheets once or twice a day, bandage always round the waist, cold injections morning and evening, and drink plentifully of water.
For other worms recourse must be had to the general treatment.
Sea Sickness.—Wear a large thick bandage on chest and abdomen; and if it does not prevent, it will mitigate sea-sickness.
Apoplexy and Paralysis.—Instantly put patient into tepid-bath, water about two inches deep, throw cold water over head and shoulders, and use immense friction with wet hands for a very long time. For a wonderful case of cure of Apoplexy, refer to the letter written from Gräfenberg to the New York Tribune.
Lock Jaw.—The same as for Apoplexy.
A Belgian Doctor had a paralytic stroke two months previous to coming to Gräfenberg. In a fortnight he had another; when he could neither speak nor eat, and was too feeble to take the bath.
Sixteen rubbing-sheets a day, four at a time, restored him the use of his faculties in two days.
A crochet-needle was, by accident, driven into the side of a young lady; a surgeon lanced the part and extracted it, when Priessnitz simply ordered a bandage to the part, to be changed every quarter of an hour until inflammation subsided, and subsequently, as often as it became dry. After the first day no inconvenience was felt. A green matter exuded from the wound, which P. said was nothing more than usual in such circumstances.
Scalds.—Put the part affected into cold water, or apply a cold affusion for an hour two or three times a day. Wear a bandage continually wet; when the inflammation has subsided, put a dry bandage over the wet one.
Burns.—If a burn be bad, and the patient cannot endure the application of water, in that case use tow or lint; but if possible, wring a bandage well out, apply it to the burn, and put a dry one over it. Change the bandage often; but if this is too painful, let it remain, and wet it often. A cold bath applied as a derivative will afford great relief; i. e. if the leg is burnt take a foot-bath; if the hand, put the elbow in cold water, &c.
Rupture of the Tendon Achilles.—A friend of mine, running across the road, heard the crack of a whip; and supposed at first that some one had struck his leg with a whip, but he soon found he could not put his foot to the ground, that he had met with an accident called coup de fouet, or a rupture of the tendon Achilles in the calf of his leg. The only treatment for this, which effected an immediate cure, was binding it up in a surgeon’s bandage very tight, and keeping that wet night and day.
Accidents to the Head.—A man chopping wood struck a child a back blow on the forehead; the wound was wetted with tepid water for some time, and then a bandage was applied.
Two tepid sitz-baths were administered during the day.
Another child seven years old, fell against a stone and laid his forehead open.
Bandage applied, and wetted occasionally without being taken off; a dry one kept over it.
Another bandage at the back of the neck, renewed often.
Tepid sitz-bath fifteen minutes, three times a day. Feverish symptoms arose during the night; sitz-bath renewed.
Prince Ruspoli, Lord Anson, and another were galloping along a road at the dusk of the evening, not perceiving a drain, two of their horses fell into it. Two of the party were taken up insensible. On being brought into Freywalden, they were instantly put into tepid baths of 65°.
The prince having fallen on his temple was much stunned; four men rubbed him in the bath, in five minutes he became conscious and assisted in rubbing himself; in ten minutes he felt cold. After being in the bath twenty-five minutes he was taken out, well dried and put to bed, with bandages on his head and back of the neck, and but slight covering. After an hour’s repose, a tepid sitz-bath was administered for an hour. During the night patient suffered great pain in his head. Next day he was out of doors, but took three sitz-baths during the day; in the morning for an hour; the others, half an hour each time. Bandages always to the injured part. In a few days he was quite well.
The prince’s friend was threatened with congestion in the head, and had great pain in the stomach; the fæces were nearly black. He took many injections; three sitz-baths daily, an hour and a half each time, and one during the night. This treatment effected his cure.
Cuts and Wounds.—For a clean cut, it will often be sufficient to close the wound at once, and cover it with a dry bandage, so as to exclude the air.
A bruise, or jagged cut, should be bound up, and covered with a wet bandage; and this, when inflammation has subsided, must be covered with a dry one. Do not remove the under bandage, but pour water on it occasionally, and cover it again with the dry one. Let the bandage extend both ways beyond the wound, to conduct away the heat from it.
Calf of Leg torn off.—Dr. Scontetton, surgeon to the forces at Strasburg, states, “A soldier trying to descend at night from the walls of the barracks, fell, and tore the flesh off the calf of his leg. The doctor put the lacerated flesh together as well as he could, and bound the leg and thigh up in a bandage; a trough was then made in a slanting position in which he placed the leg. Over the man’s head he fixed a cask of water with a tube, from which the man was to keep the bandage constantly wet.6 By this treatment alone a cure was effected in a fortnight, during which time the man suffered no pain, nor was even deprived of his appetite.”
Sprained Shoulder.—A patient fell down an ice-berg and severely bruised his shoulder, so that he could not raise his hand. The bruise was immediately saturated with cold water for an hour, and cold wet cloths applied for a long time. When inflammation had subsided, a heating bandage was applied and renewed when dry. Elbow bath twice a day, fifteen minutes each.
This treatment was repeated two or three times a day.
Accident to the Eye.—A child five years old, ran a knife into the ball of the eye. Cold wet bandages perfected a cure. The blue of the eye ran, but the boy, now fifteen years of age, sees perfectly well.
Swelling of a Vein—Varicose Veins.—A young lady was afflicted with swelled vein just over the large toes of both feet; the swelling in one foot shortly disappeared, the other became more developed, the foot and ancle inflamed.
I wrote to Priessnitz, who advised “a cold foot-bath, three times a day, for twenty minutes; water up to the ancle and not to be changed. After the bath, rub the foot (omitting the affected part) and leg, particularly in front, up to the knee, until heat is restored; then apply a bandage (well wrung out) to the foot and leg up to the knee, always changing before dry. If an eruption or swelling take place on the foot, take a sitz-bath half an hour, twice a day, and the sweating process, followed by cold bath every other day. Do not perspire more than an hour. The foot should be kept a little elevated.”