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.
When taken in the commencement, this disease is generally curable; later, a cure admits of doubt.
Princess Esterhazy, who was so long in England, consulted all the leading medical men in Vienna for a cancer in the breast: they could afford her no relief. She went to Gräfenberg and was perfectly cured in seven months. Six years afterwards, one of the family informed me she still continued in perfect health.
A neighbour of Priessnitz had a cancer in his hip; he advised him not to allow of an operation, as it would grow again. The man disregarded this advice, it did grow again, and his life paid the forfeit. A general treatment is required for this complaint.
Our opinion that water, even without Priessnitz’s valuable modes of applying it, is the best remedy—is supported by Dr. Abernethy, who, in his book entitled “Surgical Observations”, mentions a case of a lady (page 200), who had gone up to town for the removal of a diseased breast, who was cured without amputation, the only local application being linen moistened with water. Dr. Abernethy applied water poultices also for glandular swellings, which had the effect of removing the swelling without suppuration—see pages 189 and 192. I know a French lady who cured herself of a hard swelling on the breast: she took a rubbing-sheet every morning, a sitz-bath at mid-day, drank ten tumblers of water daily, and wore a wet bandage, with a dry one over it, on the breast always, until the hardness was removed.
A case of White Swelling.—A letter from Dr. Gibbs to the Editor of the Water-cure Journal.
“My dear Sir, “March, 17th, 1848.
“I have heard even friends of the Water-cure express doubts of its efficacy in the treatment of white swelling. For the benefit of such unbelievers I transcribe the case at foot, from a letter which I received from the mother of the youthful patient.
“The enemies of the system frequently assert that it cures only imaginary diseases; how many would rejoice if it could be proved that white swelling properly came under this category!
“From the details of this case, it appears that, by the advice of Priessnitz, an operation was performed by the late very eminent surgeon, Dieffenbach; and this affords occasion to observe, that Dieffenbach several times remarked, that patients sent to him from Water-cure establishments were in a healthier condition for the knife than others, and more speedily recovered from the effects of an operation.
“‘Until the age of four years my daughter was perfectly healthy, when, at the commencement of winter, she was attacked by cough and wheezing on her chest, which gave the idea that her lungs were affected. Leeches were applied, and medicine given with little effect. She continued to look very ill, and became extremely peevish and inactive. In the spring she was suddenly seized by a pain in her left knee, which rendered her quite lame. The complaint was pronounced to be white swelling. One of our first surgeons assured me the attack was of a most acute nature, the joint of the knee being considerably enlarged, and the suffering very great. By steam-baths and leeching the inflammation was in some degree subdued, and mercury was used in various ways, internally, and externally. In a week or ten days the violent pain subsided, but she could not bear the limb to be moved in the slightest manner. In that state the child continued for eighteen months, during which she had three acute attacks similar to the first, which were got under in the same manner, after each attack the limb became more contracted, and the constitution was evidently sinking, although wine, porter, and fresh meat, etc. etc., were allowed, in order to keep up her strength, but they did not succeed. She was at the sea-side for the benefit of the bathing, which appeared to strengthen her more than anything else, when I learned something of the water system from Captain Claridge’s book, and subsequently from himself. At first, I must confess, I was rather startled at the idea of trying such an experiment on my child, but, as every thing else had failed, I made up my mind to go to Gräfenberg and put her into the hands of Mr. Priessnitz. In the beginning of September he commenced with her, giving her at first two packings up and a tepid bath, and one knee-bath during the day, and compresses on the knee and body. He desired that she should have crutches, and try to move about as much as she could without hurting herself. She continued the same treatment during the ensuing winter, during which she had a constant rash on her entire leg, and subsequently several gatherings on and round the knee, none on any other part of her body. In the spring she commenced the cold bath after the packing up, and the douche bath. Her strength increased rapidly, her looks became quite healthy, and her appetite excellent. The appearance of the knee was very variable until the end of the summer, when it diminished considerably in size, and she could bear to have it moved without any annoyance; but about Christmas it became suddenly nearly as bad as ever it had been. All cure was then stopped, except one packing up and tepid bath, and the knee compresses were changed every quarter of an hour. The inflammation and pain were soon got under, but she continued the slight cure until the spring, when she commenced the packing up and cold bathing twice a day—douche-bath twice, and knee-bath twice, with rubbing with the wet hand, and compresses changed after every operation. During this summer she made a wonderful improvement, and the limb became so strong that she could bear to have it pulled so as to drag her about by it. Mr. Priessnitz said he thought the child was now quite free from all disease, and that I might have an operation performed to straighten the limb, in which opinion several English medical men quite agreed with him. I then took her to Berlin, having been two years at Gräfenberg; the leg was made quite straight by Dr. Dieffenbach, and since then the child enjoys perfect health, being quite strong on her limbs, though still somewhat lame. She continues the use of the cold bath and douche every day. It is generally thought that she will outgrow the lameness. I forgot to mention that from the time the knee was attacked, the chest and cough quite recovered.’”
Swallowing Glass.—A cure effected in the house of the Princess Sophia, by her priest, the Rev. Mr. Klose:—
June 1st, 1843.
A married woman, 26 years of age, in eating, swallowed a piece of glass, which stuck in her throat; after many unavailing efforts, either to force it up or down, she sent for a surgeon, who gave her an emetic, which also proved unavailing; then he tried to extract it with instruments, and applied a number of leeches to the throat, to no effect. The second day, the surgeon declared he could do no more, and she was attacked with inflammatory fever. As a dernier ressort, Mr. Klose determined on trying hydropathy.
She was enveloped and kept in the wet sheet, with bandages round the throat, day and night, both being changed as soon as they became warm.
At the beginning of this treatment, the invalid was unable to swallow even a drop of water, could scarcely breathe, and a horrid smell came from the mouth. Her medical attendant said that mortification had set in, and gave it as his opinion, that she could not live through the next day.
Third and fourth days, the same treatment was continued, with the addition of three enemas, which operated slightly. The packing-sheet, instead of being changed, was wetted with a sponge: moving the body occasioned pain. She threw up a great deal of phlegm and matter, which stank so horribly, that no person could remain near her bed-side.
Fifth day.—Vomiting increased, also the heat of the whole body; the increase of heat rendered it necessary (notwithstanding the pain she felt on being moved) to administer a tepid-bath 18°. Whilst in the bath, her head, throat, and chest, were frequently wetted with cold water, and the abdomen and feet were well rubbed. This bath afforded her great relief, and whilst in it, she threw up much matter with ease and without coughing. She remained in the bath thirty-five minutes, the same temperature of the water being maintained throughout. At the expiration of this time, the body was considerably cooled, but the pulse was still very high; for which reason, recourse was again had to the packing-sheet, which produced a regularity of the pulse. She was now enabled to swallow the first drop of water.
Sixth day.—Mortification pronounced to be subdued, but as she could not take anything in the way of nourishment, four injections of milk were administered, and when fever returned, water injections instead of milk were given.
Seventh day.—Besides the former treatment, a tepid-bath was administered, with the same effect as on the fifth day, viz. much vomiting and decrease of cough.
Eighth day.—Patient much better, treatment in consequence changed, only large bandages being applied to the chest, throat, and neck, and in the afternoon she could swallow some cold thin soup.
Ninth day.—Heat and fever returned, large quantities of matter vomited, and inflammation of windpipe. Treatment changed back again to packing-sheet and bandage and one tepid-bath.
Tenth, Eleventh, and Twelfth days, same treatment.
Thirteenth day.—Fever ceased, vomiting diminished, and patient able to swallow some milk and water.
Fourteenth and Fifteenth days.—Great improvement, could eat a little apple sauce.
Sixteenth day.—Some fever, but she could swallow some spoonfuls of milk without coughing.
Seventeenth day.—After a tolerably quiet night, there was found in the bed a piece of glass, which must have been thrown up by coughing.
Eighteenth, Nineteenth, Twentieth, and Twenty-first days.—Great improvement, and diminution of vomiting, also of bad smell. She drank, and ate some light food very slowly, but without coughing.
Twenty-second day to 8th July.—Every day improvement, recovering strength, and walking a little in the garden.
9th July.—Went to church.
10th.—Resumed her occupations, quite well, except when working she suffered some slight pain, which ceased when she rested.
Mr. Wright’s case.—(Extract from a letter)—“Diseased lungs, breathing organs generally impaired, chest, formerly full and prominent, fallen in, breathing difficult, sleep disturbed, dry cough, sometimes painful, for more than a year; a short walk caused perspiration, 46 years old, formerly robust, healthy, and strong.
“Cold water my only beverage for fifteen years, no alcohols.
“Three years ago began flannels, fur muffles round neck. Used every possible precaution to keep the fresh air from throat, chest, body, and lungs.
“Habituated to cold ablutions, it never occurred to me, that if the body could stand these ablutions, no ill consequences could result from admitting the air freely to it.
“Began hydropathic treatment at Gräfenberg, 10th January, 1843, thermometer at zero. At once abandoned all flannels, and superfluous covering. Linen shirts substituted for cotton ones.
“Treatment:—two packing-sheets, followed by tepid-bath, a day; at eleven o’clock sitz-bath. Waist bandages always. Drank ten tumblers of water before breakfast. Hail, rain, or snow, always walked before breakfast; soon commenced the douche and two rubbing-sheets of an afternoon, instead of the packing-sheets.
“From the first, found the treatment, the exercise and pure air, exceedingly stimulating.
“Neck, throat, and chest, exposed in all weathers. In three months a rash was produced; appetite voracious, breathing improved, cough ceased.
“About 1st April, joints, especially knees, began to grow stiff, sore, and weak—pain in walking, and difficulty of straightening knees after sitting. Low and gloomy in spirits, and altogether disheartened; told by people around it was a good sign; the treatment was taking effect, and so indeed I found it, affecting body and soul.
“Whole body became very sensitive to the touch of cold water; it seemed as if the nerves were laid bare; in fact, had a perfect horror of the treatment, which became more intolerable as the season advanced and became damp. Damp weather of April worse than the cold of January and February. Now became afflicted with throbbing pains in teeth, jaws, and face, attended with sickness, for which I rubbed the back of my head, neck, and face with cold water, and also my knees frequently.
“This,” says Mr. Wright, “was the crisis of my misery. The most enthusiastic hydropathist could not have wished me more wretched than I was. It appears to me, the only way to a cold water heaven, is through a cold water purgatory. I was frequently congratulated on my sufferings, as one making a speedy and radical cure.
“Latter end of April, boils made their appearance on arms, hands, fingers, and other parts of the body. All came to a head, and healed during the month of May, and more succeeded them.
“Continued treatment vigorously, exposing myself to atmospheric changes as much as possible. I now feel, that all disease of my lungs is removed. My chest has resumed its natural fulness, my cough is entirely gone, and my voice is as strong and as deep-toned as it ever was. Altogether my physical nature has experienced a great renovation. I can now walk six or eight miles before breakfast without fatigue. I have walked, on an average, about ten miles a-day since at Gräfenberg. What of life, of usefulness, of health and comfort that remains to me in this world, I owe to the Water-cure under Providence, and to the kind friends who, much against my will, compelled me to come to Gräfenberg. Nothing surprised me so much, as the perfect safety with which I cast off my warm comfortable flannels, mufflers, neckcloth, hat, etc. Inflamed lungs, and an increase of my cough, were the least that I expected; but I was most agreeably disappointed, for although frequently wet through, and my neck, chest, and the hair of my head (as I always went bare-headed) constantly covered with snow, my lungs have always escaped, nor have I had a cold, that a packing-sheet, or one night’s bandage has not removed. I frequently, on arriving at my room drenched with rain, wet, and fatigued, took a rubbing-sheet, which prevented all evil consequences, and invigorated me.
“From what I have experienced and seen in others, I can never again fear cold, influenza, or fevers of any kind, as I feel sufficient confidence to treat myself. The most malignant acute diseases are here speedily and easily subdued, and that by a remedy which leaves no sting behind, whilst drugs often leave an enemy in the system more difficult to expel, than that they were intended to eject.
“It is surprising what confidence all exhibit in the cure and its practitioners. We have just had a case of small-pox, of the most malignant kind. Persons passed through the passage into which the patient’s room opened all day long. The same bath-servant that attended him attended other patients. The latter went into his room constantly to see him. His wife attended him, and yet no one thought of taking the disease; or if he did, had any fear of it, knowing from what we had previously witnessed, that it was entirely under the control of this treatment.
“The patient was confined to his room fourteen days, the disease broke out from head to foot.
“After the fourteen days, he walked out amongst the other patients, and the wonder is, that nearly every trace of disease is passing from his face.
“Treatment.—Packing-sheets, tepid-bath, rubbing-sheets and fresh air were the only remedies.”
“June 20th.
“Before closing, I wish to add, I suffered much from tooth-ache and pain in my jaws. Priessnitz ordered me to rub the back of my head and down my neck often and long. From the first application I found relief, after fourteen or fifteen minutes rubbing. The pain would leave for hours and then return; soon the pain returned at longer intervals, until it ceased altogether.
“The theory of this mode of curing tooth-ache, is based upon true philosophical principles. Who does not know, that all the nerves of the teeth centre in the back of the head? It is evident then, that by rubbing there, the pain will be drawn from the teeth.
“I have now been three months out of the treatment, only continuing the bath and rubbing-sheet; neither of which shall I ever abandon, as I consider them luxuries, and preventives of disease. I would rather be deprived of one of my daily meals, than of either of them. I am now well, and about to return to the field of my labours.
“Whoever is ill and not passed recovery, may, I believe, find health by the treatment administered by Priessnitz, provided he is willing to labour for it, but if any one expects to find it whilst wrapped up in flannels, lounging in easy chairs or on sofas, in confined rooms, or without great self-denial, personal activity and exertion, he will, most certainly, be disappointed.
“Henry C. Wright,
“Philadelphia, U. S.
“June 21st, 1844.”
“To Jno. Gibbs, Esq.”
The Countess of Jennison’s case.—The Countess, who had only been married seven weeks, went to visit the Princess Tour and Taseis, when she joined in skating, dancing, and playing at various games. On her return home, she was seized with a violent head-ache, when a blister was administered to the back of her neck. The pain continuing, a blister was applied to the chest, and subsequently to other parts, all without avail. Several doctors were consulted, whose measures weakened her nerves. A severe nervous fever ensued, which deprived her entirely of the use of her limbs. After seven months’ extreme suffering, and the speculative operations of various medical men, the case was declared a hopeless one.
She made her will, received the sacrament, and was at times quite unconscious of what was passing around. Her debility may be judged of by the fact that she could neither move joint nor limb, nor even close her mouth or eyes. She was mere skin and bones, and her knuckles became black.
Her husband, as a dernier ressort, went to Gräfenberg to consult Priessnitz, the result of which was, Mrs. Browne, a bath-woman, going to Brünn to bring the Countess to Gräfenberg, Priessnitz persisting in it, that by management she could be brought. When Mrs. Browne stated her intention to the M.D.’s in attendance, nothing could exceed their astonishment. The first thing this bath-woman did, preparatory to the journey, was to wash the body with tepid water, and it is heart-rending to hear her account of the manner in which tow had been allowed to fix itself in the hips, elbows, and other parts exposed to pressure; however, little by little she succeeded in cleansing the body of all these medical applications. She then ordered an upholsterer to make a soft, narrow, mattress, with a number of tapes attached to it, and the Count arranged the carriage so that the body might be extended in it.
The next morning, all being ready, Mrs. Browne bound up the arms, the legs, and the whole of the body, in a number of wet bandages, with dry ones over them, by this means there was more pliancy to the whole frame than if it had been confined in one sheet, and it was much easier to exchange the different bandages when they became dry en route.
The Countess was now fixed on the mattrass by means of the tapes, and then placed into the carriage: in this manner she proceeded, night and day, stopping occasionally to change the bandages. Had these bandages become dry, they would not have been endurable. In this way the patient arrived at the Hygeian Temple.
It would be impossible to give a detailed account of the Countess’s treatment during the time she was attaining to convalescence. As a general outline, it may be stated, that when first brought to Gräfenberg, she was constantly kept in a packing-sheet from the arm-pits downwards. Her feet were kept in water, with but slight intervals, day and night for months; even when somewhat better, and able to go out in a carriage, her feet were in cold water. Priessnitz did not wish this, but her feet burned so dreadfully when out of water, that there was no alternative. During the first four months of the treatment, enemas were administered, nature being too weak to assist itself. When she had gained a little strength, her hands were put on the table and pushed on a few inches by her attendant, and the same with her feet. She could not move them herself. After four months she was strong enough for the douche and cold-bath.
The packing-sheets were changed when dry—at times in fever they were hot in ten minutes, at other times two packing-sheets a day were sufficient.
At the end of forty-nine weeks she left strong and healthy, able to walk without sticks, and was three months advanced in pregnancy.
1845.
Four years after I met the Countess again, at Gräfenberg, and was astonished to behold her such a fine, fat, healthy woman. Since being cured she has had three children, one died almost immediately after its birth, the second is a fine child, and for her accouchement of the third, she came to place herself under the care of Priessnitz. She did remarkably well, and left Gräfenberg in perfect health.
I consider this one of the most wonderful cures effected by Priessnitz. Those who saw the complete anatomie vivante, which she was, declared that nothing but a miracle could save her from her early tomb.