the application of damp linen, he could not be persuaded that mischief
arose even from lying in damp beds.
In the Hydropathic practice the body is so hermetically enclosed in the
wet sheet, that not a particle of heat can escape or external air
penetrate, by which means the exhalation is concentrated upon the body;
this may be termed a linen bath or fomentation.
In the case of people being accidentally put into a damp bed, none of
the above precautions are taken; there is no extra clothing, no binding
about the neck to prevent the escape of caloric, and therefore to these
causes must be attributed the mischief, if any ensue.
It is, however, a question, where mischief follows, whether
one-twentieth part of the cases can be fairly attributed to the damp
beds. It is highly probable that Priessnitz's surmise of its being the
development of a disease lurking in the system which under the
Water-cure might easily be met, is correct.
Wet sheets are resorted to in all fevers, and changed until the paroxysm
is abated. In Typhus, the sheet is changed every ten minutes, and as
often as forty or fifty times in a day.
As a general rule, Mr. Priessnitz told me, if unwell, without waiting to
know the ailment--to take a packing-sheet, until warm, twice a day,
followed by a tepid bath.
Packing-sheets may be persevered in for years in obstinate cases. The
usual time employed in their application is until the body is warm,
which will be from twenty-five to forty minutes. It is a great mistake
to suppose the application of the sheet is to produce perspiration. If a
genial heat pervades the body, it is all that is required, unless under
peculiar circumstances, previous to immersion in either tepid or cold
water.
The following anecdote, told me by Major Beavan, is adduced as
corroborative evidence in favour of the use of wet linen to lower the
temperature of the body. In 1821, the Major having to pass through
extensive jungles to join his regiment in the East Indies, a distance of
nearly 300 miles, caught a fever. When at the highest stage of the hot
fit, it occurred to him that he might cool himself as they did wine and
other liquids in that climate. He accordingly had himself wrapped up in
a wet sheet for a quarter of an hour, when, finding himself relieved, he
added a number of coverings, and fell into a most refreshing sleep of
some hours. On awaking, he found mind, body, and appetite restored, all
of which had been prostrated to an extreme degree for several days.
The packing-sheet is the greatest sedative known. It generally occurs
that persons who, from pain or nervous excitement, have not slept for
nights, doze off immediately on being enveloped in the wet sheet.
The packing-sheet brings morbific matter to the surface, and thereby
relieves the capillaries. The ablution which follows acts as a tonic.
The relief afforded to the overcharged system through the pores, by the
application of the packing-sheet, may be compared to the emptying of a
bason with a sponge; each sheet absorbing a certain amount of morbific
matter and superfluous animal heat, until the body is relieved.
In fevers generally, the fœtid odour of the sheet when withdrawn, is
hardly to be endured; and in eruptive fevers, the inclination to scratch
the body is allayed, and very little inconvenient sensation is felt
either night or day.
In the morning, when fever is most felt, wet sheets and tepid baths
allay it; and in the afternoon, any return of it is again subdued as
before. The discovery of the wet sheet alone is sufficient to render the
name of Priessnitz immortal.
But when, by these means, it would be difficult to produce perspiration,
recourse is previously had to a dripping or rubbing-sheet, and then the
patient is packed up; or the blanket is warmed before a fire, before the
body is enveloped in it.
The sweating process, when used, is always succeeded by a tepid or cold
bath, or a dripping-sheet: if a tepid bath, cold water is afterwards
poured over the head and shoulders; but if a dripping-sheet, it is
repeated until the body is cooled.
Every day's practice at Gräfenberg, and elsewhere, shews that no danger
attends going into cold water in a heated state.
But Mr. Priessnitz, whether from having a different class of patients,
or from the difficulty of getting servants to understand when the
patient had perspired enough, or the conviction that the same or better
results attend the packing sheet, we know not, has changed his practice,
and no longer resorts so frequently to the sweating process. The
following extract is from a letter received by the author from a
gentleman who has been a long time at Gräfenberg.
"The object of all Hydropathic appliances may be shortly and
intelligibly defined, as assisting Nature to regain that ascendancy by
which she of her own accord will throw off what is offensive to her. The
practitioner ought therefore to strengthen her in every possible way;
and we have the latest discoveries of science as a guarantee that the
present (the packing or wet-sheet process) method of carrying out the
cure effectuates this end more completely than any other; what therefore
is opposed to that, is so much drawn from the strength which it is the
object to promote, and inasmuch as sweating, however it may tend to
alleviate, undoubtedly weakens, it is a counteracting agency.
"Priessnitz is reaping the benefit of twenty years' experience. He
follows still as he always followed (as far as it was possible for him
to read and understand) the mysteries of his great mistress, Nature.
Chance, I imagine, has in no way guided his choice; it may have assisted
him in interpreting some of the revelations of this great spirit, but he
has always had the same unerring basis on which to establish his system.
Through imperfect light he may have sweated for a time, but the still
small voice of truth has never ceased to whisper in his ear, and it is
highly conducive to his honour that he should now have the courage to
say that in this point he erred. He does this at the risk of reputation
and fortune; he subjects himself to the abuse of high and low; but he
acts up to his conviction, which is that the packing sheet, if to be
persevered in, is better than the sweating process."
Though, however, the sweating process is not now so general, it is not
entirely abandoned. A lady, a friend of mine, had a cold--she was
ordered to sweat lightly twice a day, for two or three days. A gentleman
had a swelling in his mouth; he was ordered the same. Others are
ordered to sweat once or twice a-week, but the greater part of
Priessnitz' patients never sweat at all.
Priessnitz guards people against the use of hot-air and vapour baths;
they weaken and relax the skin. The difference between bringing a great
amount of heat to act upon the surface, and causing the body to develop
its own heat, must be obvious to every one.
XIV.--SWEATING PROCESS.
This process is precisely the same as that which has been already
described, with the omission of the wet sheet. To produce perspiration,
the body is enveloped in dry blankets. This tedious process in
moderately strong people is seldom effected in less than three hours.
In the wet sheet, _no_ water is given--but in the blankets, as soon as
perspiration appears, it should be administered in small quantities; for
this purpose a tea-pot is desirable.
In the Sweating process it is necessary to place a urinal in the bed of
the patient. On proceeding to the bath after either of the operations,
the attendant must take especial care to keep the body well covered, or
his patient may take cold. On throwing off the covering, let the body be
wetted all over instantly. This is an infallible precaution.
When there is a difficulty in procuring a bath, the dripping sheet full
of water is used. If the first sheet does not cool, it must be repeated.
XV.--THE RUBBING SHEET, OR ABREIBUNG.
This, by some, is called "the dripping sheet"; by others, "the wrung
out" or "rubbing sheet." The term "rubbing" is used, because when the
sheet is thrown on the body, great rubbing is used outside of it. It is
a quick and simple mode of taking a general ablution; and, when
frequently repeated, proves most effectual in restoring or increasing
the circulation.
The value of friction to the human body is too well known to require
observation. Hair gloves, hard brushes, or coarse towels cause a glow
and an elastic feeling, though if long persevered in, they irritate and
weaken the skin.
For the daily purposes of life, cold ablutions, and friction with dry
cloths are sufficient; but to rouse the dormant energies, to give
vitality to the system or combat illness, something more powerful is
required.
The rubbing-sheet is a small sheet, soaked in cold water, and afterwards
wrung out. This the attendant throws over the patient naked, who,
standing up, receives it over his head and shoulders. When thus
completely enveloped, the attendant rubs (outside the sheet) the back,
loins, legs, and feet of the patient, whilst he himself rubs his abdomen
and chest. The operation lasts about three minutes; the wet sheet is
then replaced by a dry one, and friction again renewed until the body
becomes quite dry; after which, if one rubbing-sheet only is prescribed,
a waist-bandage is put on, a glass of water drank, and the invalid
proceeds to take the air. If two or three rubbing sheets are prescribed,
after the first operation as just described is over, the patient walks
about the room in the dry sheet, with no other covering, for four or
five minutes, occasionally approaching the window, which should be
opened, throwing open the slight covering, in order to expose his skin
to the air. The second and third rubbing-sheets are applied as the
first.
Rubbing-sheets being used to effect several objects, are accordingly
well wrung out, or not much wrung out, or scarcely wrung out at all. The
first are used where there is a great want of vital energy, slow and
languid circulation; the second is the ordinary mode of using the
rubbing-sheet; the third is adopted where parties have lain in the
packing-sheet or blankets and have no bath to cool them afterwards.
Where there is a superabundance of heat, the rubbings are repeated
perfectly wet, until the body is cooled.
The Rubbing Sheet is one of the safest and most efficacious appliances
in the Water-cure. Every human body has in it 100-1/2 degrees of heat;
this is not diminished by the rubbing; by extracting we increase.
Whenever persons are unwell, no matter the cause (except there may be
eruptions on the body), a Rubbing Sheet is advisable. Where patients
have been too exhausted to endure any other treatment, these sheets will
resuscitate them in an extraordinary way.
Priessnitz perceived that merely rubbing the body with a damp and
afterwards with a dry cloth was beneficial; but he found that whilst one
part was under the operation, the other was exposed to catching cold;
this gave him the idea of the Rubbing-Sheet, with which the whole body
is covered at once.
As a general rule it is safe to begin the treatment of any illness with
these sheets; they refresh the invalid, often ward off the complaint or
develop the malady. In the cold stage of intermittent fever these
rubbings down are persevered in until heat is produced; when the hot
stage ensues, recourse is had to packing sheets, tepid baths, etc.
Where there is an excess of caloric, and fever is not declared,
rubbing-sheets have a cooling effect, and often put an end to the
illness at once. Where there is a want of caloric, as in ague, the
Rubbing Sheets cause a determination of heat from the interior to the
surface, in the same way that friction, or striking, brings heat out of
matter. This may be elucidated by rubbing any part of the body with
snow--re-action instantly ensues.
After great fatigue or a chill, or where persons have reason to think
they have caught cold, two or three of these rubbings-down have an
extraordinarily restorative effect.
They may be used by old or young, strong or weak, with perfect impunity.
In lumbago or rheumatism, or where it is necessary to rouse the vital
energies, rubbing-sheets, four consecutively repeated, four times a-day,
are frequently prescribed. A friend of mine, after getting wet whilst
hunting, sat in his wet clothes, caught cold, and died. I am fully
persuaded, if he had applied the Rubbing-sheets on getting home, the
fatal result would have been avoided.
In some cases where a patient exhibits great weakness, languid
circulation, and doubtful reaction, the sheet is wetted in tepid water,
and sometimes the body is subjected to the action of cold by degrees,
instead of being covered up at once, as is the case with the dripping
sheet. There are invalids who cannot suffer anything cold to touch
certain parts of their bodies; in such cases the tender part may be
covered with a dry cloth, whilst the dripping sheet is applied, and the
sensitive portion approached by degrees.
XVI.--THE DOUCHE BATH.
The douche, of all means employed, is the most powerful in stirring up,
and removing humours from the position they may have occupied for years.
What is understood by a "douche," is a spring of water, conveyed by
pipes through the tops of small huts, from whence it falls in a stream
about the thickness of one's wrist.
At Gräfenberg, there are six douches in the forest, with the falls of
twenty feet, eighteen feet, and fifteen feet, respectively: the douches
for women have a fall of only twelve feet, but no difference is made in
the dimensions of the stream.
Patients are generally some time under the treatment before being
permitted to take the douche. The douche is a most powerful stimulant.
As the sun by repulsion, brings heat out of matter, so the douche, by
repelling, brings heat out of the body, and from the interior to the
surface. It sets up a powerful action in the system, and is an active
and useful agent for the cure of old-standing complaints. The douche
should only be used in conjunction with other treatment.
The douche is never had recourse to in acute attacks; it is useful
principally in chronic diseases. By its agency the body is hardened, and
caused to develop its own force; it strengthens the skin, determines
morbific matters to the surface by the pores, and exercises a powerful
action upon the muscles and nervous system, by the action it provokes.
In arthritic cases and rheumatism, the relief thus afforded is
marvellous. It is so powerful a stimulant, that persons are frequently
known, on coming out of the douche, to declare that they feel as much
elation and buoyancy of spirits, as if they had been drinking freely of
champagne.
A douche should be at some distance from the abode of the patient,
because the necessary walk to it produces a glow of heat, and renders
the body in a better state to produce re-action: no person should douche
if cold or chilly.
The afflicted parts should be most exposed to the action of the douche,
though it must be received successively upon all parts of the frame,
except the head and face, unless otherwise prescribed. It should be
avoided on the abdomen and chest when the latter is weak.
The douche ought to be discontinued when it produces feverish symptoms,
and commenced again when they cease. The duration of it, in a general
way, varies from two to five minutes, but is extended as the case may
require, from fifteen minutes to half an hour; the latter being ordered
in very especial cases.
An attendant waiting in the anti-chamber, throws a dry sheet on the
patient on his coming out from the douche, rubs him dry, and puts on the
waist bandage.
The time allotted for douching is two hours after breakfast, or dinner,
but this rule is not without an exception; some patients, after their
morning treatment, walk an hour, and then proceed to the Douche before
breaking their fast.
Patients ought to be most particular in observing their doctor's orders
in the use of the douche.
XVII.--THE SHOWER BATHS.
These baths so much recommended by the faculty are not used at
Gräfenberg. Many persons in the habit of using them complain of
giddiness and head-ache. This arises from the re-action upwards, which
naturally results from their application. As an ablution, a bath, or
washing with wet towels is preferable.
Mr. Priessnitz objects to the use of them, as parties take them without
previous preparation, or other adjuncts. Falling on the head, they
frequently cause congestion in that region.
XVIII.--THE SITZ OR SITTING BATH.
By this is to be understood a hip bath: that used at Gräfenberg is a
small flat tub about seventeen inches in diameter and twelve or thirteen
inches deep; a common washing tub placed against the wall will answer
the purpose. The water in this bath is seldom more than four to six
inches deep, in which the patient sits with his feet resting on the
ground. No rule can be laid down for the duration of this bath, as it is
ordered from ten minutes to an hour, and longer, depending upon the
effect it is intended to produce. It is sometimes prescribed three or
four times a day.
The sitting bath is of so much importance that where not prescribed the
case is considered an exception to the ordinary rule of treatment. The
sitting-bath cools and strengthens the viscera of the body, and by
revulsion or derivation, draws the humours from the head, chest, and
abdomen; relieves pain in the gums or face, and dissipates flatulency
and cholic; and is of the utmost value to those who lead sedentary
lives.
The object of using so little water in this bath, the foot and a half
bath, is, that reaction may be the sooner effected. The water is only
changed in peculiar cases. The abdomen should be well rubbed whilst
taking the bath, and exercise taken immediately after it, to bring on a
reaction. Where there is any tendency of heat or blood to the head, a
wet bandage in the shape of a turban should be put on the head
immediately before sitting in the bath, and continued the whole time. In
commencing the hydropathic treatment, or where the patient is low
spirited or unwell, or in cases where reaction is slow, a tepid sitting
bath of 62 deg. to 64 deg. is usually prescribed. If a patient takes
this bath immediately after the rubbing-sheet, or the room in which he
takes it is cold, he should be covered with a cloak or dry blanket.
Sitting baths must not be taken just before going to bed, excepting
under peculiar circumstances.
In a case of asthma when the patient could hardly breathe, a tepid
sitting bath relieved him effectually in fifteen minutes. In all cases
of accidents to the head, evil consequences are averted by repeated
sitting baths. Head-aches are also generally relieved by these baths,
which shows to demonstration that the theory of cold water when applied
to the extremities driving the blood to the head, is completely devoid
of foundation.
XIX.--EYE BATH.
As a preservative to the eyes, they should be kept open in a basin of
water for two or three minutes every morning, or oftener. Glasses may
also be used of the form of the eye, with water in them. For weak eyes,
they are applied two or three times a day for five minutes each time.
Where great inflammation exists, water should be thrown with the hand
into the eyes several times a day.
XX.--HEAD BATH.
This bath can be taken in a common baking-dish, or any shallow vessel
that can be kept flat on the ground. To take this bath, place a rug or
blanket on the ground, and at the end of it, the vessel, containing
water about two inches deep. The patient should extend himself on the
rug so that his head may reach the dish or bason; then place the back of
the head in the water, and keep it there three or four minutes; then
each side of the head for the same time, and finish the operation by
again subjecting the back of the head to the bath for two minutes. This
process relieves headache. In cases of brain fever, and other diseases
which cause great heat or pain in the head, these baths are frequently
resorted to whilst the patient is in bed,--the back part of the head of
the patient being placed in water, which is renewed when hot. In
inflammation of the eyes, deafness, or loss of smell and taste, these
baths are of great utility.
XXI.--FINGER AND ELBOW BATHS.
The wounded finger is placed in a glass of water; and there are cases
where a glass is affixed by a string to the wrist, and the patient keeps
the finger constantly in the bath. The elbow bath is used whenever the
hand is wounded: it draws off the heat, and lowers the inflammation.
XXII.--LEG BATH.
The thighs and legs, when afflicted with ulcers, ringworms, etc., ought
to be put into a bath, so as to cover the parts afflicted, for an hour
or longer. This bath acts as a stimulant.
Other members of the body may likewise be subjected to baths; but their
necessity must, be determined by circumstances.
XXIII.--FOOT BATH.
This bath acts derivatively, and is employed as a counteracting agent
against pains of the head, inflammation in the face, congestion to the
upper regions of the body, fainting fits, bleeding of the nose, or
spitting of blood.
Priessnitz prescribes cold foot-baths to effect the same object that the
faculty endeavour to promote by warm ones.
The difference between a cold foot-bath and a warm one is, that after
the cold one, a warm glow succeeds and remains; whilst cold feet are the
necessary consequence of a warm bath. After the feet have been in cold
water for some time, the water becomes tepid from the heat extracted. If
the feet are put into hot water, heat, instead of being eliminated from
the system, is brought to it--the very opposite to what is intended.
Sometimes, water at a temperature of 62 degrees is prescribed.
Cold foot-baths are accused of driving the blood to the head, for which
notion there is not the slightest foundation, as the very opposite
effect always attends their application. In the case of bleeding at the
nose, I have seen them used several times; two cases, in fact, are
worthy of notice:--A man was nearly exhausted from loss of blood from
the nose; he put his feet into cold water, and the bleeding stopped in
two minutes. A young lady, similarly attacked, put a key down the back
and a wet towel upon the nape of the neck, without effect; her feet were
put into cold water, and the bleeding ceased immediately. These two
cases ought to satisfy the inquirer that cold foot-baths, far from
causing congestion in the head, relieve the head.
Care must, however, be taken that the feet are warm when put into cold
water, and exercise should be taken after the bath, in order to bring
about re-action.
To prove that re-action always attends the use of these baths, when
followed by proper exercise, we have but to observe our feet an hour or
two after using one. After great fatigue a foot-bath is most refreshing.
Mr. Priessnitz recommends the frequent use of these baths, as calculated
to ward off complaints--many of which originate in the feet.
Friction and cold foot-baths are the best remedy for habitually cold
feet.
Poor people who wear neither shoes or stockings, and whose feet are
constantly exposed to a sort of foot-bath, avoid many complaints with
which the rich are visited. It would be a misfortune to such people to
be furnished with covering for the feet, as will be seen by two cases
supplied me by friends on whom I can rely:--
An Irish gentleman, who removed a game-keeper from a low marshy estate
to one high and dry, asked him one day how he liked the change. The man
replied, "Not at all; he had never been well a day since he had been
there, for there was not a drop of water to wet his feet."
A game-keeper, sent to prison to wait his trial for killing a man, being
unwell, thought he would adopt his old habits as far as his confinement
admitted of. He frequently immersed his feet in cold water, and kept
them in motion. Soon after he began this, he recovered.
As a general foot-bath, the water should only come up to the instep; the
feet and legs ought to be rubbed by an attendant, or one foot rubbed
against the other the whole time. For cold feet ten minutes is
sufficient, and the water need only cover the soles of the feet; but for
other objects these baths are taken from fifteen minutes to half an
hour, often much longer.
XXIV.--THE TEPID, OR ABGESCHRECTE BATH.