Frequent rubbing-sheets; packing-sheets, and sitz-bath, cut short the premonitory stage of the disease. In the event of increase of pain and fever, tepid bath 62 to 64 deg. should be used, and patient kept in it until the axillæ are cold. Packing-sheet, after the lapse of twenty-four, thirty-six, or forty-eight hours, when all inflammatory symptoms have ceased, may be had recourse to. Should these symptoms return, the tepid bath must be repeated, and its duration regulated by circumstances.
Put the part affected in tepid water three times a day for twenty minutes; if the fingers are attacked, apply a bandage from the wrist to the elbow; if the toes, from the ankle to the knee, and wear it night and day.
When cold, to be well rubbed with wet hands, but never put into a bath. To cure cold feet, rubbing-sheet to the whole body, and friction to the feet two or three times a day; after which, walk about room, or passage, or cold wet stones, for ten or fifteen minutes, or until heat has returned. Persons suffering from cold feet, on going to bed at night may use the bandage as follows: first bring heat to the feet by exercise or friction; then put a bandage into cold water, wring it out well, envelope the feet in it, and over that place a thick dry bandage.
Rub the hands with snow or cold water and let them dry of themselves; when they are wounded, keep the snow or water away from them. To draw heat or bad matter from the hands, bandage from the wrist to elbow and use elbow-bath, fifteen minutes each time. In ordinary cases of whitlow, rub the finger, hand and wrist often with wet hand, and bandage the finger at night. If obstinate, resort to the same treatment as for cold hands.
A lady aged 45 was ordered—morning, packing-sheet twenty minutes and tepid bath 62°; noon, sitz-bath fifteen minutes; afternoon, rubbing-sheet. Bandage to feet and legs up to the knees at night, and from ankles to knees only by day If the feet are wounded by tight boots, take foot-baths twice a-day and wear a bandage on the feet at night.
A patient derived immediate relief from the following treatment: morning, packing-sheet half an hour, then tepid bath two minutes, cold three or four minutes, and back to the tepid; noon, rubbing-sheet, sitz-bath fifteen minutes and head-bath ten minutes; afternoon, morning treatment repeated. When better, the packing-sheet in the afternoon was abandoned for a sitz-bath ten minutes. On dreary wet days the packing-sheet was to be resorted to again. After the sitz-bath, the feet were to be put into water for two or three minutes and well rubbed.
Away from Gräfenberg, persons are recommended to use the rubbing-sheet twice a-day, take a foot-bath ten minutes, and wear a bandage round the ears at night.
A young man from Hambro’, suffering from deafness, followed up the general treatment for three or four months, when a boil appeared on his abdomen and increased to the size of an egg; this burst whilst patient was taking the douche: from that time he heard as well as ever.
Both these complaints, which are so completely out of the reach of drugs, are always cured by hydropathy.
Don——, late minister from a foreign court to England, through my interpretation, inquired of Priessnitz how long he should be before he was cured of constipation? A twelvemonth. How long of my hernia? Four months. His treatment was as follows:—
Morning, packing-sheet and tepid bath, afterwards changed to cold bath; noon, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath; afternoon, as in the morning; bandage to the hernia and round the waist always.
In about four months hernia was perfectly cured and patient declared that as he eat, slept, and walked well, he considered himself in health, and consequently left Gräfenberg. I heard from him in Rome afterwards, when he continued perfectly satisfied.
Hernia.—A German baron, thirty-five years of age, assured me that nine months before I made his acquaintance, he came to Gräfenberg for hernia: that he had been cured the last two months, but he was waiting to be assured of it.
He was induced to come, from a captain in his regiment having been cured of a double rupture two years before.
Cases ad infinitum might be quoted to show the certainty of the Water-cure effecting cures of this nature.
An English M.D., 70 years of age, was attacked with yellow fever in the tropics, which affected his liver, when indigestion and dyspepsia resulted.
At Rome, being seized with pain in the heart and congestion of blood in the head, he was bled: finding himself no better, he proceeded for the best advice to Paris, where depletion was again recommended. This determined him to go to Gräfenberg.
The doctor told me Priessnitz took a most accurate view of his case: he began by packing-sheets and tepid-bath, morning and evening; rubbing-sheets, sitz and foot-baths at noon.
The treatment caused him varied sensations, but generally a tendency to healthy action. One day he felt unusual pain about the region of the heart, and congestion in the head. Having a gouty tendency in his system, he became alarmed, and sent for Priessnitz, who put a large wet bandage doubled in the form of a shawl over his shoulders, and over the region of the heart, and then requested him to put his feet up to the knees in cold water for half an hour.
The doctor declared to me, that if asked a question as to the danger of such a proceeding, he should have said that he thought death would immediately ensue, and that but for the confidence Priessnitz’ success, as witnessed by himself, had created, no power on earth could have induced him in such a complaint to follow the orders thus given. As it was, however, he plunged his feet into the water at once in presence of Priessnitz, who stood with him the whole time. By degrees the symptoms decreased; in an hour after the operation he was completely relieved, and that night slept remarkably well.
For a slight attack of fever, the doctor was prescribed five or six rubbing-sheets and a head-bath, to walk in the open air, and change his body-bandage in the night. At another time, for blood to the head and great nervousness, he bathed the head after dinner, bandaged the neck and dispensed with neck handkerchief.
When the doctor first came to Gräfenberg, his walks were limited to the piazza in front of his rooms; these were extended by degrees, until even during the inclemency of the winter and the depth of snow everywhere encountered, he extended his walks thrice a day up into the woods, and was always the first to be seen out in the morning. In about nine months, the gentleman was completely cured of all his ailments.
An artisan kept his bed for a long time, his illness is supposed to have originated in a cold. He was almost bent double. In this state he went to Carlsbad, where the waters rendered him so weak that he moved about with great difficulty. In this state he came to Gräfenberg.
Morning, packing-sheet one hour, bath three minutes; noon, two rubbing-sheets and sitz-bath; afternoon as the morning.
Large bandage round the loins, drank twenty tumblers of water before breakfast; and twenty more during the day.
In about three months this patient was able to ascend the highest hills, then he was ordered to carry loads of wood on his head, and put a stick behind his back through his arms at all times, to assist in bringing him straight. He staid all the winter: in the spring his health was perfect, and he was nearly upright when I left him at Gräfenberg.
Priessnitz says it is difficult to prescribe for these complaints at a distance; and that except in young people, or where the disease is in its infancy, a cure is seldom effected. It is however always safe to adopt the following treatment, which will refresh and strengthen the patient.
Three rubbing-sheets, at intervals during the day.
One or two foot-baths, but NO sitz-baths without advice.
If the feet swell, continue the treatment, all the same, rub with wet hands, and bandage the legs, from the ankle to the knee, this will reduce the swelling.
Spine complaint and general debility.—A lady.
Morning, packing-sheet until warm, followed by plunge-bath one minute; noon, douche three minutes, return home and then take a rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath, twenty minutes; afternoon, as in the morning.
Rubbed the back and nape of the neck with wet hands, twice a day.
Patient staid all the winter; during which time symptoms were combated as they arose, she gained strength and flesh.
Spinal affection.—A young lady, after submitting to all sorts of medical treatment for three or four years, came to Gräfenberg. She was clothed in flannel, suffered greatly from indigestion, constipation, and languid circulation, feet always cold, walking a short distance brought on pain in the back.
Second day after her arrival, Priessnitz ordered,—
“Put aside all flannel, go as lightly clad as possible, keep bed-room window open day and night, and sleep with only a single sheet as a covering, leave off stockings and run bare-footed on the wet grass near the house, or on the cold stones of the passage for half an hour before breakfast in the morning.
“Eat black bread and drink sour milk, lie on the stomach and have the spine rubbed several times a day with wet hands.”
First four days, patient had cold feet in and after the packing-sheet, this was then followed by tepid, then cold, and back to tepid-bath, feet well rubbed, previous to going into packing-sheet, and last thing at night; by this treatment head-ache was relieved and the feet became warmer.
In ten days began the douche for one minute; digestion improved; no longer constipated. Bandages always round the body, and to feet and legs at night.
Patient was at Gräfenberg nine months, during which time the treatment was often changed to meet circumstances. One time, suppressed catamenia was relieved in two days by sixteen rubbing-sheets a day. At another, patient met with an accident in the leg; Priessnitz to keep this to the surface, ordered more water to be drunk. This patient left Gräfenberg in excellent health, though not entirely cured of the affection of the spine, that being out of its perpendicular position.
Pain in the Shoulder and Chest.—A lady in the treatment complained of pain in the shoulder and left breast, and down the side.
Ordered, when in sitz-bath the upper part of the body to be well rubbed.
Body bandage to be more wrung out than usual, and extra covering over it.
Pain in the side, Chronic cold in the head.—A German officer aged 50, afflicted as above, and with continued stoppage in the nose, and frequent head-aches, was told by his medical man that he had no chance of being cured, was completely relieved at Gräfenberg, in three or four months.
Packing-sheets and tepid baths twice a day. Rubbing-sheet and sitz-baths were resorted to for a short time, the cold bath substituted for the tepid bath, and to this treatment the douche was added.
Weak Chest and Worms.—A child three years old. Wash with tepid water, 12° once, and after some time twice a day.
Wear body bandage always, and drink water.
Pain in the Chest.—A gentleman had pain in his chest, like the hurt from a blow, about the size of a crown-piece.
Ordered sixteen rubbing-sheets a day, four at each time.
This complaint is always relieved, and if sufficient time is devoted to the treatment, finally overcome by Hydropathy; space forbids my going into details, or numerous cases might be given in proof of this assertion. The reader’s attention may however be called to the letter addressed to a newspaper, and signed by upwards of one hundred patients, giving the case of the son of Prince Leichtenstein, who was cured in a few days of Constipation, which had endured twenty-eight days in defiance of all medical aid. To effect a permanent cure, the treatment must be persevered in for a long time, very often a twelvemonth.
In a recent case. Rubbing-sheets until feverish heat ceases: sometimes four or three suffice; at others the number must be increased to sixteen or twenty, to be immediately followed by a clyster. Then take a walk, and on returning, a sitz-bath fifteen to twenty minutes, the abdomen to be well rubbed the whole time.
Body bandage to be worn always and often changed. This treatment to be resorted to twice a day. Great exercise to be used, and cold light food to be partaken of.
A delicate lady who had suffered from this complaint for upwards of twenty years, was relieved in a fortnight, and had no return of it during her stay at Gräfenberg. Her principal treatment was:—
Packing-sheet and bath twice a day. Rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath at noon.
A second case, which came under my observation, was that of a Russian, who for many years had only been relieved by medicine or enemas. He went to an establishment at Moscow for six months, where he derived great benefit, though he still used enemas. At Gräfenberg he abandoned the latter, his bowels were relaxed and have continued so ever since.
Foul tongue and pain at the pit of the stomach; a lady having tried all other remedies, was ordered the following, which answered admirably.
Three cold sitz-baths a day, for an hour each time, rubbing the abdomen the whole time, eat nothing but brown bread and drink sour milk during three days.
Loss of Appetite, Foul Tongue, etc.—Patient had foul tongue, and loss of appetite.
Morning.—Sweating and tepid bath, stomach to be well rubbed in the bath. Sitz-bath thirty minutes in the afternoon.
It is very essential to drink abundantly of water, and take great exercise.
A child five years old. Pale, foul tongue, loss of appetite, thirsty and awaking with screams. Ablution in the morning, and three tepid sitz-baths daily four minutes each; chest, back, and abdomen to [be] well rubbed all the time; waist bandage day night. Drink as much water as possible. Cured in three months.
Patient’s stomach deranged, food used to return to his mouth: difficult of cure. His second visit to Gräfenberg, cured in nine months. Packing-sheets and rubbing-sheets. Noon, douche, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath; afternoon, packing-sheet and bath.
Morning, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath fifteen minutes. Noon, the same repeated. Afternoon, sitz-bath.
A gentleman of my acquaintance pursued three or four months’ treatment for this complaint, and left Gräfenberg without being cured.
Drink large quantit[i]es of water fasting, rub the part with wet hands and wear a large bandage, changed often, round the waist. If this does not effect a cure, take a rubbing-sheet or two and a tepid sitz-bath twice a day. Nausea and sickness are to be treated in the same manner; if, however, the latter become chronic, then packing-sheets, tepid baths, and sitz-baths must be resorted to. The diet should be brown bread and milk only. The milk should be boiled, if it otherwise disagrees with the patient.
To avoid sea-sickness or relieve it. The traveller should lay on his back, and place a large wet towel on his abdomen, changing it when dry. After a sea voyage take a few rubbing-sheets and sitz-baths. Wear a waist bandage, and if constipated resort to cold water clysters.
Many rubbing-sheets; rub the whole, side for a long time and often. Large bandage. Two sitz-baths a day, fifteen minutes each; rubbing the afflicted side the whole time. A lady afflicted as above was relieved in ten minutes by the rubbing-sheets, and dabbling her feet well in cold water.
Before going to bed, take a shallow foot-bath (only to cover the soles of the foot) for seven to ten minutes, rubbing the feet to above the ankles all the time, then walk about the room bare-footed until the feet are quite warm.
A lady, in the treatment, complained of want of sleep.
Two packing-sheets in the afternoon, the first changed as soon as hot, followed by tepid bath.
Two foot-baths for one hour each, the water only to cover the soles of the feet. Feet to be well rubbed the whole time. When the servant is tired of rubbing, patient should walk about the room with bare feet for a few minutes and then resume the foot-bath.
I attended many cases of this kind with Mr. Priessnitz, where the languid circulation arose from using the head more than the body. In a general way he began with rubbing-sheets in the morning and afternoon for a few days, and then in the morning packing-sheet until warm, and tepid bath, cold bath, and back to tepid bath. Noon, rubbing-sheet and tepid sitz-bath fifteen minutes; afternoon, packing-sheet and tepid baths as in the morning; or a rubbing-sheet. Bandaged always.
A boy aged seven years had ring worm over the eye and behind his knees. Cured in six weeks. Two packing-sheets and tepid baths daily. Bandage to the knees. Child could not endure the douche.
Rub the hands well with tepid water, and particularly the wrist. Put the elbow into cold water for twenty minutes, three times a day. Bandage the whole arm from the arm-pits down to the wrist.
A child two years old had weak eyes, from which there was a constant discharge and an eruption on the face and head; it was treated as follow:—
Packing-sheet one hour and sometimes longer, followed by tepid bath. Large bandage from hips to arm-pits night and day. Dabbed the face often with cold water and bandaged the head at night. In three weeks eyes quite well and the eruption diminished.
If an infant, ablution every morning and bandage the ankles night and day. If an older person, ablution and foot-baths twenty minutes. Morning and afternoon, bandage always.
Immediately after birth bathe the infant in warm water 82°, put a wet bandage on navel, bound on with a dry one, change it morning and evening only. Continue this until the navel is healed. The temperature of the bath to be reduced two degrees every fortnight, until 68°, which is to be used until child can run alone. It may be washed with cold water at three months of age.
If an Infant is uneasy or restless and cries.—Put on a body bandage; if this is not sufficient, give it an extra tepid-bath.
The child of an Hungarian commissioner was born weak and sickly, with great difficulty in breathing. The physicians treated the mother to improve the milk, when the child refused the breast. From three days old it was spoon-fed. On the fifth or sixth day, the father put the child into a packing-sheet until it was warm, when he changed it, and then applied the tepid-bath.
After four day’s treatment a lump appeared on the chest, which increased until it became as large as a man’s fist. On the eighth day it broke, and half a tumbler of matter was discharged. From this moment the child gradually improved and is now the healthiest of his children.
Child-teething, Pain in the Head, and Diarrhœa.—Tepid bath for about five minutes three times a day.
Two head-baths from ten to fifteen minutes each, and one clyster.
A body bandage, and change it often.
This complaint in a general way is not to be cured by Hydropathy; but Priessnitz thinks persons subject to it should use cold baths, and cold water as a beverage. I know a young man who was six months at Gräfenberg, it is now twelve-months since, and as he has not had an attack, he considers himself cured.
A disarrangement of the system, and inaction of the abdomen, cause much uneasiness and discontent. This disease being moral as well as physical, requires pure air, scenery, society, and a complete change in the manner of living. What is so calculated to combat this complaint as Hydropathy?
A patient became hypochondriac, in consequence of chronic derangement of bowels, struck with rush of blood to the head, face became crimson, lost speech and consciousness, had convulsions and spasmodic movement of the arms.
First operation was to put him into a cold bath, and use strong friction for an hour. He was put into a packing-sheet, in which he became delirious; he was then rubbed by four men in a tepid bath, 64°. He was still unconscious and yet winced on being pinched; water thrown on his head caused a slight cry; great heat on the head. On ceasing the cold affusion, pulse though oppressed began to be felt—eyes fixed—conjunctiva inflamed.
Friction continued two hours, then ceased for one hour and a half, and begun again: in an hour spasms ceased, eyes began to move, without seeing. Patient apparently exhausted, pulse gained its power, though still often intermittent, upper part of the body hot, lower extremities could not be warmed all night, consciousness had not returned in the morning, pulse better, but sleep interrupted,—patient groaning. All night wet bandage applied to the head. At 6 o’clock next morning, sweating process, perspiration preceded consciousness, up to which moment patient was insensible to all that had occurred. After half an hour’s sweating, he was well rubbed in tepid bath 66°, and put to bed, when he slept. On awaking he partook of bread and milk.
At 2 o’clock p.m., awoke covered with perspiration, and from that time until next morning, slept at intervals, pulse regular, talked calmly and rationally, bowels in a normal state.
In the morning, packing-sheet; and later, sweating process; both followed by tepid bath 64°—temperature of the body still high. After good night’s rest, appetite returned, and so much better as to renew the treatment to effect a cure of that which brought him to Gräfenberg.
This is relieved by foot-baths, and wearing a bandage on the feet at night; but it cannot be cured without the sweating process.
Sweating and tepid bath, and cold sitz-baths, are generally resorted to in this complaint. If cold water is found too severe, tepid is used for a time; a bandage is always applied to parts affected.
For stoppage of the water, three to six rubbing-sheets; if they fail, resort to sweating process until water comes, then a tepid bath, or rubbing-sheet.
Medical men, to effect this object, put the patient first into a warm bath, and then bleed him until he faints: by these means, the prostate gland becomes relaxed, and water flows; or water is passed by the use of catheters, which at Gräfenberg are always dispensed with.
The treatment must be regulated by circumstances: sometimes sweating, at other times the packing-sheet, tepid bath, and bandage.
A child one year and a-half old had water on the brain, and a large protuberance in the middle of the forehead. Ordered, a tepid bath morning and evening; a rubbing-sheet after an hour’s sleep at noon, and repeated before going to bed at night. Drank water only at meals, and then but little. Bandage from arm-pits down to the knees; was much in the open air. After twelve months, the protuberance went down, leaving a ridge like a pigeon’s breast down the centre; shape of head completely changed, and the boy was perfectly well.
This complaint always succumbs to the treatment; and a cure effected by it leaves none of those lamentable consequences which attend the exhibition of drugs. By Hydropathic means, the virus is completely thrown out of the system through the pores; whilst the administration of mercury is attended with secondary symptoms, which are more fatal than the disease itself. If taken in time, secondary symptoms are also cured at Gräfenberg. It frequently happens, that patients treated for another complaint, find syphilis return, though they imagined themselves cured of it years before. Recent cases of syphilis in otherwise healthy persons, are generally cured in less than two months; but the cure of secondary symptoms is a work of time. There are many sufferers from this undermining malady, who have been at Gräfenberg one, two, and even three years. In health, they, are much improved; but the malady is too deeply seated to be eradicated. One gentleman, when I was there, was refused admittance; he died in a few days, when it was found that mercury had eaten part of his wind-pipe away—a result that never could have been brought about by water. The following is another deplorable case, the result of bad treatment:—Patient aged thirty-five, tall, thin, and bent when walking; supports his head by pressing his hands on each side of it; part of the cranium destroyed. The brain covered over by a skin; the parietal bones destroyed, and thick pus exudes between the skin and bone, and smells horribly. Inside of the left eye is an ulceration with raised borders, which allows a portion of the orbital arch to be seen surrounded with pus; pulse weak and irregular; constant pain. Treated for secondary symptoms, with mercury in 1841; came to Gräfenberg with three ulcers the size of a shilling on his forehead, with burning pains. Packing-sheets and tepid baths morning and evening, with other intermediate treatment. This case is introduced to show the sort of cases Mr. Priessnitz will undertake: of course, a cure will require a considerable time.
Case of a very strong young man:—
For five days—sweating (after perspiration broke out) morning, one hour; afternoon, half an hour; then tepid bath, followed by cold bath and back to tepid. After five days—from sweating went into plunging cold bath; in another week, douched from two to five minutes at eleven o’clock; bandage round the body and on the sores, which were bathed and had water thrown on them frequently; wore suspending bandages; eat sparingly; no meat or butter, and took but little exercise. Perfectly cured in six weeks.
Sweating, followed by bath in the morning; douche at eleven; at twelve, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath; afternoon, packing-sheet and bath; chancres increased to the size of a sixpence then, and in two days cicatrised. Patient cured in twenty-five days.
Gonorrhœa, &c.—Packing-sheet, tepid bath, and sitz-baths were the means used. The complaint continuing, Priessnitz supposed it arose from debility of the parts, and ordered:—
Six sitz-baths of ten minutes, allowing five minutes to elapse between each, twice a-day; packing-sheets to be changed as soon as warm, followed by cold bath.
A young man, immediately on discovering this complaint, who took sitz-baths as above described, injected cold water into the urethra, bandaged the parts and drank plentifully of cold water and lived low; was cured in two days.
Another person was subject to involuntary emissions, by which his strength was wasting away. In a month after he began the cure, he found an old gonorrhœa return (which had evidently been driven into the system and was the cause of his malady); he was now treated for this and restored to perfect health.
A Russian officer, declared cured of chancre three years before, found the complaint return, when he was again treated by mercury. His throat continued to trouble him, his voice was husky, and piles began to make their appearance. After pursuing the Water-cure for a short time, as described in a former case, he had a crisis in his foot, and diarrhœa for a fortnight, when he passed a considerable quantity of blood. After this, the piles disappeared entirely, and his voice became sound and clear. It should be observed that he sweated alternate mornings only; the other mornings, packing-sheets and bath.
A young man aged 23, attacked with secondary symptoms: sore throat, etc., was ordered three packing-sheets and cold baths a-day; rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath.
I knew another strong young man suffering under secondary symptoms, so that he could hardly walk with the use of a stick; he went to Gräfenberg, staid there two months, and returned to England the picture of health.
As there are always at Gräfenberg a large number of individuals labouring under these complaints, cases of cure might be adduced ad infinitum: suffice it to say, that hydropathy in their cure is omnipotent. Buboes and chancres, when taken in their infancy, are eradicated from the system in a few weeks, sometimes days, without the debilitating effects attendant upon other deceitful remedies.
Priessnitz, when asked what he conceived to be the cause of such an increase of scrofula as is said to have taken place of late years, said, he attributed it to vaccination, syphilis and drugs.
When vaccination is performed without producing its desired effect, the virus remains in the system, and when it proceeds favourably, it is a question if it is ever thoroughly ejected.
Every practitioner knows the difficulty that exists of finding children from which to take matter where no taint is in the blood. The child subjected to vaccination is not only exposed to the sins of his own forefathers, but also to those of the stranger.
The consequences attendant upon syphilis, and the evil results of mineral poisons, are such as to lead us to believe that Priessnitz’ opinion is not without foundation. I am doubtful whether scrofula is ever cured,7 though whilst at Gräfenberg I saw many obstinate cases relieved. Children who arrived there perfect cripples, were enabled to use their limbs like other people. I think I may in great truth say, that in all cases the enemy received a check, and the general health of the patient was improved.
A patient states, that previous to inoculation his family were well; but since that operation they have been scrofulous. He came to Gräfenberg some years ago from Dartres, when Priessnitz told him to go home, give up all beverages but water, use cold baths daily, and he would be well; though incredulous, he followed the advice, and in two years was perfectly cured.
For scrofula, the whole treatment must be persevered in for a long time.
Piles are caused by an accumulation of blood in the vessels which merge into the large intestines; they either discharge blood, or are confined to a swelling of the veins, in otherwise healthy subjects. Hydropathy effects a radical cure of this complaint, whilst medical remedies are only temporary, and often lead to serious consequences.
Treatment.—Morning, three rubbing-sheets and sitz-bath, twenty minutes; noon, the same; afternoon, the same, and an additional sitz-bath, making four sitz-baths during the day. At night, a rubbing-sheet but no sitz-bath, as it is too late to walk after it. Body bandage; much water to be drunk; douche four to eight minutes in the middle of the day, if possible.
Out of the general treatment, persons troubled with piles may take sitz-baths and wear a bandage on the part affected.
A patient having piles and sore eyes, was advised neither to take sitz-baths or eye-baths. When Priessnitz was asked the reason, he said, “Because you have too much bad matter in your system, which I am afraid of attracting to those parts.”
In a common attack of piles, two or three sitz-baths a-day, fifteen minutes each, and wearing a bandage upon the part at night, will afford relief.
Persons subject to piles should especially avoid all heating and stimulating drinks.
I knew of a case of double rupture, in an officer 34 years of age, which was perfectly cured at Gräfenberg in three years. Another case of single rupture was cured in nine months, and a recent one cured in four months.
There can be no doubt of the complete omnipotence of Hydropathy over this malady; its cure is only a matter of time. It is difficult to lay down any prescribed treatment, as the chief aim of the practitioner must be to bring his patient into fine health. All organic action is contraction; all strength depends upon the power of the different parts of the body to contract, and nothing will aid the operation so much as the different appliances here made use of. As a rule, I observed that when rupture exudes, the sweating process should be resorted to; when perspiration has broken out, gently rub the part with the hand until the rupture is gone in again. Bandages are worn continually.
Rub the feet or hands affected for a quarter of an hour in tepid water three times a-day, and bandage the leg from ankle to knee if in the feet. If in the hand, the arm from wrist to elbow.
Take a shallow foot-bath, cold, one inch deep, before going to bed, for fifteen minutes; let the feet be well rubbed the whole time, then walk about the room bare-footed for half an hour, so that re-action may take place, or they will be colder than before.
A child had tried sulphur bandages and all other conceivable means:—
Morning, noon, and afternoon, packing-sheet and tepid-bath; the latter after a few days changed to the cold-bath; bandages night and day; cure effected in a few weeks.
Until the age of fifteen or sixteen Priessnitz conceives this complaint to be always curable. Very often when parties are supposed to be consumptive, they are not so. A young lady arrived at Gräfenberg during my stay there. I thought she had delayed it too long; she appeared in the last stage of consumption. Priessnitz however took the case—and, principally with rubbing-sheets, administered three times a-day, effected an extraordinary cure in two months. I saw this lady afterwards at Florence, and was quite surprised to see what an extremely fine woman she had become.
There was also a young lady suffering under the following symptoms:—great debility, very thin, weak eyes, little or no appetite, and a short cough, which would awaken her about four o’clock in the morning, and trouble her the whole day. She was considered by M.D.’s as consumptive. Priessnitz took a different view of the case, and as she was cured in two months he was right. Her treatment was as follows:—
Morning, packing-sheet and plunge bath, the tepid-bath having been used only for a short time; at ten o’clock, douche; at eleven, rubbing-sheet and eye-bath; at five, packing-sheet and bath; chest, waist, and forehead bandaged every night; waist bandaged always.
Consumption of the Nerves.—A gentleman aged 30, came to Gräfenberg in a most deplorable state, supported on one side by his wife, on the other by his servant. Second night he was taken alarmingly ill, with a fever and a stoppage in his bowels. He was too weak for a packing-sheet or tepid-bath, therefore twelve rubbing-sheets were administered within three hours; and two head-baths during the intermediate times. When a change for the better took place, enemas were applied and relief afforded. The next day patient was out of doors. I left Gräfenberg about this time, therefore do not know if he recovered.
Spitting Blood.—A young lady was subjected to spitting blood, pain at the chest, and general debility. Priessnitz doubted if the lungs were affected, and tried packing-sheet and tepid-bath, which patient was found too weak to support. Then rubbing-sheets twice a day; patient still too weak. Then rubbing-sheet, and tepid sitz-bath ten minutes. Feverish excitement and loss of appetite came on. Back of head put into cold water for quarter of an hour; to be repeated several times a day. Bandage at all times down the middle of the breast and round the waist. When spitting of blood came on, then cold foot-baths were resorted to. Patient tried the treatment for a month, but was not much improved by it.
On leaving, Priessnitz advised her to spend the winter in Italy, to eat nothing but bread and grapes, and to use cold ablutions.
This disease, Priessnitz says is curable, when it proceeds from bodily suffering or disease; but when caused by mental suffering or misfortune, is generally incurable. I witnessed the treatment of a case of aberration of mind at Gräfenberg; the patient was put into a tepid-bath, held there, and rubbed for nine hours and a half; he was then put to bed, and next morning awoke perfectly composed.
Hydrophobia.—Dr. Short in 1656, published a work, in which he stated, that with cold water, he had cured the bite of mad dogs and dropsy. Priessnitz says he never treated the human subject for this complaint, but that he had cured a dog, by tying him up and throwing a large number of pails of water over him. At first it caused him to shiver a great deal, proving the absence of fever to any extent. When dry the aspersion was repeated; the shivering diminished at each successive aspersion, until it was entirely allayed. If, on throwing a dog, thus treated, bread, and he will eat it, it is a sign he is cured. Dr. Sully, of Wivelscombe, in a work published some years ago, states, that he dropped water constantly on the wounded part, and that it invariably acted as a preventive. My impression is, that hydropathy is adapted to the cure of this complaint.
Spasmodic or pestilential cholera first appeared in England in 1831, and in France in 1832; great difference of opinion exists as to its cause, and hardly two practitioners agree as to the best way to effect a cure. Some persons think, as many would get well without medical aid as with it; and this conjecture is supported by what took place on its visitation in Dublin. The numbers attacked were so great, that for the humble class, large tents were erected outside the city, and the medical men were so harassed by their own connexions within it, that the poor were left very much to fate. On comparing notes of the mortality that took place, it was found, that the number of deaths of those who received medical aid, and those who were deprived of it, were about equal. Pages might be employed in enumerating instances related, in which the cholera was cured by cold water, though administered without reference to any hydropathic rules. In 1832, Cholera made great ravages in Silesia, when numbers at Freywaldau and the neighbourhood, fell victims. Priessnitz’s patients did not escape, though they avoided its fatal consequences. A friend of mine, who was at Gräfenberg at the time, assures me that in cholera, Priessnitz never lost a case, though seventeen of his patients, and many persons in the neighbourhood, were treated by him. My landlord at Freywaldau, confirmed the last of these statements, and said that his daughter fell a victim, who, he felt persuaded, would have recovered, had she been treated with water instead of drugs.
To ward off this disease, and place the system, if attacked, in the best condition to resist it, we ask the dispassionate reader, are not hydropathic rules in accordance with reason and common sense?
There are three different stages in cholera; the first is that of a common diarrhœa, accompanied with oppression of the chest, anxiety, and collapse of the face; if neglected, it assumes a more serious form, the pulse becomes weak, and there is a difficulty of respiration.
The second stage is ushered in by giddiness, great depression of pulse and of the vital energies, with spasms, accompanied by purging and vomitings.
In the third stage, the patient is suddenly laid prostrate, serous fluid, in large quantities, is discharged from the bowels and stomach, with cramps and spasms, hardly any pulse, and difficult respiration. Under ordinary treatment, this frequently terminates life in a few hours.
To those who have witnessed the wonderful results of the Water-cure treatment in cholic, diarrhœa, &c., it must be evident, that in the primary stages of this malady, the treatment resorted to in those complaints, would be perfectly effectual; and that cholera, in its worst and most fearful form, is to be successfully combated by no other than hydropathic means.
If, after visiting a contagious case, Mr. Priessnitz feels at all uncomfortable, he takes a packing-sheet and tepid-bath.
Asiatic Cholera.—On the first appearance of Cholera symptoms, which are generally those of languor and chilliness, do not wait for a development, but apply most vigorously a rubbing-sheet; then dry the body, and administer a clyster of cold water. In two or three minutes repeat the rubbing-sheet and clyster, wait five minutes and repeat the same a third time. Then a cold sitz-bath, letting two attendants rub the patient with hands dipped in water, particularly on the abdomen, the whole time; water should be drunk whilst in the sitz-bath, until patient vomits; when cramps in the stomach and vomiting have subsided, place a large bandage round the body, and put him to bed well covered up. After sleeping, apply a tepid-bath with friction for some time. If not cured, renew the whole operation.
If, after the sitz-bath, cholera appears on the advance, warm a blanket, and pack the patient as in the sweating process; if he remains therein several hours, and the symptoms do not decrease, renew the whole proceedings, and again try to produce perspiration; when effected, keep it up two or three hours. After this a tepid-bath 62° with friction. The success of the treatment very much depends upon drinking abundantly of water. The bandages used, should be doubled or trebled, and changed often. If patient is unable to stand or sit upright, lay him on a bed, and let several attendants rub him all over with wet hands.
Extract from a letter from Dr. Gibbs to the editor of the “Water-cure Journal.”
“You cannot have forgotten the consternation of the profession when this fearful disease invaded us in 1832. Neither can you be ignorant that the faculty, generally, are as ill prepared to contend with it now as they were in former years; but for the information of those who may not be as well acquainted with such matters as you must be, I beg to make an extract from the minutes of the proceedings at a meeting of the Western Medical and Surgical Association, as reported in the Lancet of September 19, 1846. In the course of a discussion on the treatment of cholera, Dr. Cahill said, that he ‘positively felt a creeping of the skin at the relation of the enormities which had been perpetrated by practitioners upon their patients. When he listened to the recital of practitioners who described the extravagant cases of mercury and of opium which they administered, he could not refrain from fancying that he was witnessing the orgies of so many Indian savages, whilst counting the scalps of their victims. He thought it a pity that the invention of such a system of torture should not experience the fate of the inventor of the brazen bull, and illustrate upon his own person the efficacy of his infernal ingenuity. He believed that in the majority of persons who died of Asiatic cholera, death was the consequence of the treatment rather than of the disease. He had seen above a thousand cases of Asiatic cholera; and in no instance had he seen any benefit from any mode of treatment. On the contrary, he had seen persons die of narcotism, who would have survived if left to the vis medicatrix naturæ. He had seen others die of absorption of air through the veins when the saline fluid was ejected; and he knew many who had had the extraordinary luck to escape both the doctor and the disease, yet rendered miserable for the remainder of life by the effects of the immense doses of mercury which had been given to them during the cholera paroxysms. In fact, it was afflicting to contemplate the sufferings which the rash and empirical practice of the profession in the management of this epidemic had created.’The learned gentleman likewise said ‘With respect to cholera, since nothing was known of its nature, and no treatment had any influence over it, the best plan was to do as little as possible: give carrara, soda, or pump-water, with a little laudanum, perhaps in the diarrhœal stage, and the patient would not be deprived of the chance which nature had given him.’
“It is to be presumed that the doctor had not seen this disease treated by the Water-cure, under the operation of which, if I am correctly informed, and as I can readily believe, results very different from those, which he witnessed, were obtained. It is stated that more than twenty cases were successfully treated by Priessnitz, and between thirty and forty at Breslau, by a clergyman, whose name I regret that I have forgotten; and it is added that neither practitioner lost a patient by death. The treatment adopted by each of them was nearly the same; the principal difference between them being, that the one employed the sitz-bath, and the other the shallow tepid-bath.
[“]If on the appearance of the premonitory symptoms, judicious treatment be promptly adopted, it seems not improbable that the disease may be cut short. Those symptoms may be any combination of the following:—shivering, dizziness, a ringing noise in the ears, a small quick pulse, accelerated respiration, languor, præcordial anxiety, a cold white tongue, nausea, vomiting, severe gripings, and watery diarrhœa. If it be not checked, the disease quickly passes into the second or algid stage; the circulation becomes feeble, the blood is drained of its fluid, the muscles are contracted and cramped, the tongue is colder and whiter, the thirst becomes burning, the lips livid; the features contracted, the extremities shrivelled, and the skin cold, clammy, and discoloured.
“Little is known respecting the nature of this disease; but the most rational opinion seems to be, that it owes its origin to a poison pervading the blood; deranging the balance between the arterial and venous circulation, impairing the nervous energy, and impeding all the functions of the various organs, excepting the secretions from the stomach and bowels; the preternatural excitement of which would seem to indicate an effort of nature to expel the disturbing causes from the system. This opinion obtains additional probability from the fact, which often has been observed, that the more profuse is the diarrhœa, the less fatal is the disease.
“Cholera may suddenly appear without manifesting any, or at least with very slight, premonitory symptoms; especially where the patient is labouring under any serious affection of the brain, lungs, or air-passages, when it will sometimes graft itself on the primary disease, and aggravate all its most various symptoms.
“On the first manifestation of premonitory symptoms, immediate recourse should be had to repeated friction in a wrung-out sheet, as in the earlier stages of fever. This will tend to stimulate the nervous energy, and to maintain or re-establish the balance of circulation between the arterial and venous systems; will counteract the disposition to internal congestion by promoting cuticular circulation; will aid the lungs by freeing the exhalants of the skin, and will forward the elimination of the virus through the same channels.
“But it will not be sufficient merely to attempt to resist the encroachments of the disease; the efforts of nature to expel the cause of it, also claim assistance. To this end cold or tepid water should be freely drunk to facilitate the vomiting, to dilute and weaken the action of the poison, to stimulate the kidneys, and to supply the waste of fluid in the blood. Dr. Rutty, in his synopsis, says, ‘It [the drinking of water] has also frequently been found efficacious in stopping violent vomitings and purgings, partly as a diluent, and partly as a bracer to the fibres; and in violent, deplorable choleras, cold water is recommended by the ancients, and at this time is ordered by Spanish physicians with good success, though Celsus orders it warm.’
“Enemata of pure water, tepid or cold, should likewise be freely administered; the quantity administered to an infant at one time should not exceed two ounces; four ounces would be sufficient for a child six years old; eight ounces for a youth of fifteen, and fifteen or sixteen ounces for an adult.
“But the principal process is long and entire friction, either in the shallow tepid-bath or in the sitz-bath. The latter seems to deserve the preference, inasmuch as it will more directly and powerfully aid nature in her efforts; its primary action being that of a purgative, while a less body of water will suffice, than could be made to fulfil the same intention in a vessel of the shape and size of the half bath; but, if the sitz-bath be employed, then friction with wet hands should be applied to the extremities. Cold water may be used in the sitz-bath, provided that there is nothing in the previous state of the patient to contra-indicate its use; in which case tepid water must be employed. Tepid water about 70° Fahr. may likewise be employed in the shallow bath, as the body of water therein must be greater than the sitz-bath; but warm applications are never indicated. Vapour-baths have been tried to recall the circulation to the surface, but without effect. On this point, Dr. Daun in his ‘Medical Reports on Cholera,’ says, ‘O’Brien lay on the steam couch for three hours before he expired, in a heat that I am convinced would have raised a lifeless body to a temperature nearly, if not equal, to that of a person in health; but his body preserved an icy coldness to the last.’ In this case friction in wrung-out sheets, or in the shallow bath, or perhaps the stimulus of the cold dash, would seem to be indicated.
“Cramps, in the extremities, should be combated with brisk friction, with wet hands to the parts affected. It is often necessary to draw off the urine with a catheter. Before the algid stage sets in, the heating bandage round the body may be very beneficial; but during the algid stage it should be omitted.
“The third stage or that of re-action, is marked by the following, among other symptoms; the pulse becomes fuller and harder, the skin becomes warm, and its livid discoloration disappears; the tongue becomes red and warm, the cramps cease, diarrhœa decreases and stops, and the kidneys begin to act. In this case it is well to encourage moderate diaphoresis in the dry blanket.
“The predisposing causes to cholera are any excess in eating or drinking, the habitual use of alcoholic liquors, unwholesome food, sitting with wet feet, a neglected cold, uncleanliness, impure air, deficient light or ventilation, and violent indulgence of the passions.”
Influenza.—This complaint which commits such ravages, is always easy of cure.
When a person feels heaviness in the head, sore throat, pain in bowels, and lassitude, he should immediately be put in the packing-sheet until quite hot, then a tepid bath for five or six minutes, and be well rubbed all the time. This treatment to be repeated during the day. Drink plentifully of water, wear a bandage round the waist and throat; if cold and chilly, take two or three rubbing-sheets. To relieve the heaviness of the head, resort to a foot-bath 62° for fifteen minutes. Influenza generally succumbs to this treatment in two or three days.
Sore Throat or Quinzy.—On the slightest symptoms of sore throat, rub it well for five minutes with wet hands two or three times a day; hold cold water constantly in the mouth, and with it gargle the throat, and wear a bandage, this generally prevents the complaint proceeding further; if it does not, more vigorous measures, such as those pointed out for a cold, must be pursued. For Quinzy, the sweating process and tepid-bath twice a day also, or two rubbing-sheets in the intermediate time must be used, a bandage several times doubled and often changed, applied round the throat and waist, and much water drank, gargled, and held in the mouth.
Heaviness after dinner.—Pour a bottle of water on the head, and take head-baths occasionally.
Bronchitis.—In all old affections of the throat a cure is doubtful, it requires the discrimination of Priessnitz to determine which will and which will not be benefited by the Water-cure.
I should say the majority of cases of bronchitis are beyond remedy. At the same time, it cannot be denied that very extraordinary throat affections are cured, especially when they arise from secondary symptoms.
Palpitation of the Heart, stitches in the side, etc.—A young lady felt violent palpitation of the heart, and numbness of the whole side of the body. Three-rubbing sheets and a foot-bath with friction, allayed the palpitation, then a body umschlag was applied. Next night the same symptoms returned, and were combated in the like manner, afterwards the patient was treated with packing-sheets, tepid-bath, foot-bath, and douche. Whenever any obstructions of this nature occur, it is always safe to resort to rubbing-sheets two or three times a day.
Erysipelas.—This disease is an effort of nature to relieve itself by the skin; the packing-sheet process in this case is resorted to, followed by a rubbing-sheet or tepid-bath: when the head is overcharged, sometimes the body is placed in a packing-sheet (previously put into tepid water instead of cold) from the arm-pits to the knees, and then a tepid-bath or a bath with very little water in it. Much water should be drunk, and bandages applied to parts affected.
To refresh and invigorate.—A gentleman with no decided complaint, but generally feeling a degree of languor, and want of nervous energy was ordered, a rubbing-sheet in the morning and afternoon, and a sitz-bath in the middle of the day, followed by much exercise.
Another party felt somewhat below his usual standard of health and activity. For years there had been an accumulation of matter in his nose, from which at times there was a free discharge. Priessnitz said it was a sort of safety valve, and had better not be stopped: the patient derived great advantage from pursuing the following treatment for six weeks:—
In the morning, a packing-sheet for twenty minutes, then changed for another for fifteen minutes; this was followed, first by tepid, and afterwards by cold bath; at noon, a rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath for fifteen minutes; head-bath three minutes each side, making in all nine minutes; in the afternoon, rubbing-sheet, sitz and head-bath.