well. The patient writes to a friend--"I now leave Gräfenberg with a
clean body, and a sincere wish for your own speedy cure, and that of all
the agreeable acquaintances that I leave behind me, under the safe care
of our virtuous and sagacious friend V. Priessnitz."
_Chronic Rheumatism, Chronic Headache, Constipation, Piles, &c._--A
Gentleman, aged about 45, was treated as follows:--
Morning, sweating process and cold bath, three minutes; noon, douche,
three minutes; an hour afterwards, sitz-bath fifteen minutes; foot-bath
fifteen minutes; head-bath ten minutes; one following the other
immediately; afternoon, noon treatment over again; all night--loins,
feet, legs, and thighs, to the fork, were encased in bandages.
In a few months, rheumatism, piles, and constipation were cured, but
head-ache returned at intervals.
_Rheumatic attack in the Back, Shoulders, and Neck._--The sweating
process, followed by three rubbing-sheets not much wrung out, applied
without intermission for five minutes each, put an end to the attack at
once. If this number of rubbing-sheets had not cooled the body, more
must have been used.
Had rheumatism continued, rubbing-sheets must have been resorted to
again in the afternoon, and the sweating resumed the next day.
_Rheumatic Fever._--For a slight attack of rheumatic fever, three
rubbing-sheets three times a-day were found sufficient.
_Rheumatic Gout._--A gentleman named Heymann, about 34 years of age, at
the fire at Hamburg was exposed to the wet from the engines for several
days and nights. The result was, a violent attack of rheumatic gout;
first in the knees and feet, then neck and arms; afterward in hip and
both breasts, which confined him to bed a whole year, from April 1843 to
April 1844. During this time he took large quantities of medicine, and
used steam and sulphur baths: about seventy of the former, and near a
hundred of the latter. Also mud and sulphur baths, which enabled him to
walk for about a month, when he was again confined to bed. Gout having
attacked the breast, both his medical attendants declared they could do
no more. 1st May, 1844, he was conveyed to Gräfenberg, so crippled that
he could not dress himself. He began the treatment as follows:--
Morning, packing-sheet and tepid bath; noon, three rubbing-sheets, at
intervals of five minutes, with open windows; afternoon, packing-sheet
one hour, and tepid bath; bandage round the body, and from ankles to
knees during the night.
Pain increasing, parts affected were rubbed with wet hands both day and
night until they became hot. Body entirely bandaged by night. Bandage
changed three or four times as pain resulted from the bandages being
dry.
At the expiration of three months, patient enabled to walk out.
Treatment changed.
Morning, packing-sheet and tepid bath; noon, one rubbing-sheet, followed
by sitz-bath for quarter of an hour; douche before and after breakfast
for three minutes; then morning and evening packing-sheet and bath;
tepid for two minutes; then cold one minute and back to tepid bath for
two minutes, instead of an entire tepid bath.
Two months' continuation of this treatment brought out an eruption
around the body, and on the calves of the legs; also a strong fever
which lasted nine days, which was succeeded by boils.
Then three packing-sheet a-day were applied, and tepid, cold, and tepid
baths; continually changing from one to another for an hour and a half.
Douche and rubbing-sheet stopped during the fever.
The eruption continued for three months, discharging whitish brown
matter. During all this time the last treatment was persevered in.
The eruption and boils gave great relief. When pain was diminished and
the eruption ceased, the body bandage was relinquished and those of the
waist and calves retained, and cold bath for one minute, succeeded the
packing sheet.
1st April, 1845. Douche, from three to five minutes, substituted for the
rubbing-sheet.
May 16th, 1845.--Patient was declared perfectly well. He had gone the
whole of the winter without stockings, neckcloth, or waistcoat, wearing
only linen coat and trousers, and sleeping with his windows wide open.
When I saw him at Gräfenberg, in May, I thought I never saw a man in
such robust rude health in my life.
This case made a great sensation at Hamburg, as the party is well known
on the exchange of that city.
_Sciatica._--A soldier aged 35, after having been three months in the
hospital with Sciatica, without relief, was cured in five days by the
following treatment:--
In the morning sweating process and cold bath; noon, two rubbing-sheets;
afternoon, the same; much rubbing at other times with wet hands.
Bandages to the part were applied, and much water drank.
This case was treated by the author at Limerick; and the following
process was adopted:--
_Sciatica and Lumbago._--Patient ordered:--Morning, four rubbing-sheets;
at noon, the same; afternoon the same, and if necessary, to be repeated
on going to bed. The usual interval of time between each sheet to be
observed, and parts affected covered in bandages. The treatment to have
been repeated next day, had not the first removed the pains.
In all cases of this nature, Rubbing with wet hands is highly
beneficial, and sometimes Enemas of cold water should be resorted to. If
obstinate, the sweating process must be employed. I knew a very severe
acute case of Sciatica and Lumbago relieved in two days, by the
application of four rubbing-sheets at four intervals during the day, and
the evening bandages were applied, and water drunk in abundance.
_Lumbago or Rick in the Back._--A young man woke early in the morning
with a most excruciating pain in his loins. He could not determine
whether it was simply Lumbago, or a Rick in the back, brought on from
playing at skittles or chopping wood the day before.
Priessnitz had him turned on his stomach, his back rubbed for an hour
with wet hands, and then covered with a bandage.
The Rubbing was to be repeated every four hours, and the bandage changed
every two hours.
The patient was to remain lying on his stomach the whole day and night
if not cured. The reason for this must be evident to those who reflect
upon it. Cured the same day.
Violent attack of Lumbago, supposed to have been brought on by using the
dumb-bells; the party being unaccustomed to their use.
Patient had rubbing with wet hands, and wearing a bandage for two days,
when he could hardly rise from a chair; then he commenced the following
treatment:--
Saturday.--Morning, packing-sheet for an hour, followed by three
rubbing-sheets; noon, two rubbing-sheets and an Enema; night, a
rubbing-sheet. This was not renewed at night, as patient's extremities
were cold and prevented his sleeping.
Sunday.--Four rubbing-sheets; after this operation, the improvement was
almost miraculous. Patient took a long walk.
Monday.--Treatment as yesterday; could turn in bed with less difficulty.
Tuesday.--Packing-sheet forty minutes, preceded by a tepid-bath sixteen
minutes, with great friction; noon, four rubbing-sheets; evening, loins
rubbed with wet hands for half-an-hour.
Wednesday.--Slept well and could turn with ease in bed; three
rubbing-sheets and friction thrice during the day with wet hands.
Drank fourteen tumblers of water daily, and wore a bandage night and
day.
Thursday.--Perfectly well. By the means here described, patient's bowels
were kept in order; his tongue always clean. Had his treatment failed,
the sweating process must have been resorted to.
XXXVI.--TIC-DOLOUREUX.
This is another of those complaints that baffle medical skill, and upon
which medical men are at issue as to the cause; some alleging it to be a
derangement of the nervous system, others think it is in the humours of
the body, which contain an acrimony irritating to the nerves.
The result of my observation is, that if under the Water cure, it is not
cured in three months, it is extremely doubtful if it will succumb to
that treatment. Dr. Munde doubted if purely nervous Tic-doloureux was
curable by any process; but speaks more positively as to that which
arises from acrimonious humour. He says, "I speak with a perfect
knowledge of this disease, having suffered for three years, and having
made observations upon several others who suffered severely from this
complaint. Eight months' treatment cured me after trying all other
remedies in vain."
I knew a patient who had laboured under Tic in his head for fourteen or
fifteen years, perfectly cured in three months. His treatment was the
same as for Rheumatism.
Another patient put a bandage to her face at night, whilst under a
paroxysm of Tic; this increased the pain, the reason of which was, her
not having prepared the system first. Next day she underwent the
sweating process, and could then wear the bandage with great advantage.
A person, whom I knew, suffering from Tic in his legs, made no progress
because of the injudicious use of the Douche. The Douche was abandoned,
and the packing-sheet and tepid bath twice a day substituted with great
advantage.
Another _case of severe_ Tic came under my notice, that resisted all
treatment. The paroxysm was only allayed by very long tepid baths 62°,
and great friction.
_Obstinate case of Tic in the Thigh._--This case is given to shew the
way in which Priessnitz meets extraordinary circumstances.
H. from Berlin, aged 54, had a settled pain down one of his thighs; he
was treated for it seven years ago at Gräfenberg. In a few months he
thought himself cured. For seven years he felt no inconvenience, and
lived as he had formerly done. At the expiration of that period, pain
returned; not wishing to devote so much time to the cure as he knew it
would require at Gräfenberg, he went to Carlsbad, where the pain became
insupportable. In this state he again had recourse to Priessnitz. He has
now been there four months, undergoing a vigorous treatment of
packing-sheets, baths, rubbing-sheets, and sitz-baths, varied in an
infinity of ways, without experiencing much benefit; his sleep, which
has been disturbed the last eighteen months, still continues so.
Nearly all the sleep he obtains is in the packing-sheet. In this he lies
from his arm-pits down to his thighs, from 9 to 11 o'clock at night, and
again from 2 to 4 o'clock in the morning. At 6 o'clock he commences his
usual treatment. The last fortnight before I left Gräfenberg, pain had
ceased, but his sleeping was as disturbed as usual.
XXXVII.--AFFECTION OF THE THROAT AND PAIN AT THE CHEST.
A delicate lady, aged twenty-five: morning, packing-sheet until warm and
tepid bath; noon, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath; afternoon, rubbing-sheet.
After a few days' treatment, catamenia came on, notwithstanding which,
as patient experienced no inconvenience, the treatment was continued as
before. In two days, pain in the abdomen and hips was felt. All the
previous treatment was now discontinued, and three rubbing-sheets a day
were prescribed, until pain ceased, when it was again resumed.
Throat, and pain at the chest, were cured in six weeks, and patient had
gained eight pounds in weight.
This lady thought she had an affection of the heart. Priessnitz enquired
if she felt pain there: she answered no. "Then," said he, "the heart is
sound." Three years ago, catamenia lasted only five days, but latterly
it extended to seven. Priessnitz said, with her it ought only to last
three or four days. This was effected. Her husband, who had occasional
attacks of bile, gained nine pounds in six weeks. I attended the
weighing of these parties, and can vouch for the fact.
XXXVIII.--FEVERS.
Two Hundred Years Ago, Dr. Vanderheyden of Ghent wrote a work in which
he declared all fevers curable by cold water. Dr. Sir John Floyer, fifty
years later, wrote his work, and then came Drs. Hahn, Smith and others,
and finally, Dr. Currie of Liverpool, who by their works supported the
same theory. It is true that though where medicine saved its hundreds,
their practice saved thousands, the _Modus Operandi_ was somewhat
speculative. It was reserved until our own time to witness the
application of water reduced to a science. Priessnitz by his
packing-sheet has produced the great desideratum, which renders his
treatment omnipotent over all febrile disorders; and if he had
discovered nothing else, this would hand his name down to the latest
posterity.
It is often asked what fevers are curable by the Hydropathic processes.
To this it may be answered, except where by age or disease patients are
not reduced to the last stage of existence, _all_ are curable. I made
constant inquiries when at Gräfenberg--witnessed the treatment of
innumerable cases of fever, amongst others Typhus and Brain Fever, and I
could not discover that Priessnitz during his long practice had ever
lost a patient.
I have frequently treated cases of fever and inflammation myself with
the most heartfelt satisfaction; as in every instance on the application
of the sheet or the bath, the patient was relieved in the same manner
that a plant dying for the want of water, is resuscitated on being
supplied with it.
After the number of works published on this subject, all protesting the
safety of this mode of treatment, and the total absence of danger, it
may be fairly presumed, that the packing-sheet process will ere long
take the lead in medical practice.
As almost all complaints trace their origin to fever or inflammation, if
these can be allayed on their first symptoms, a host of evils to the
human family will be avoided.
It does not require any great sagacity to perceive that when the body is
surcharged with heat, if enveloped in a damp sheet, the sheet
immediately becomes hot; take it away and you remove with it a certain
amount of heat. The oftener this is repeated the more the calorie is
diminished, and each sheet requires more time to heat; continue changing
the sheet, and the body resumes a normal state. When once the heat is
eliminated the patient is cured of the Fever.
The following modes of treatment and cases will enable the practitioner
to judge how he should treat his patient as circumstances may arise.
As general rules:--
In the cold fit, use rubbing-sheets well wrung out, with a slight
interim between each until the hot stage is produced. In the hot stage
packing-sheets should be changed as often as necessary. In Typhus I have
known them changed forty or fifty times in a day. The bath which ought
at first to be a little tepid and cooled by degrees, should be resorted
to at intervals twice or thrice a day, from a quarter of an hour to an
hour. Should the heat action be prematurely violent, or likely to end in
inflammation, resort to a sitz-bath with or without a foot-bath, instead
of the tepid bath, particularly where either the brain, organs of sense,
or those within the thorax are at all engaged.
Rubbing-sheets, in certain cases where the vital energies are weak or
languid, will be sufficient to suppress a febrile paroxysm. Their
renewal and time of application must entirely depend on the age,
strength and idiosyncrasy of the case: water should be drunk in small
quantities, and frequently.
Where the brain is attacked, water must be constantly applied to that
locality, so as not to allow of an increase of temperature.
Where there is no want of bodily strength in the patient, the quickest
and surest method of putting an end at once to fever, is as follows. Put
him into a bath up to the shoulders, tepid 63° or 64° to begin with, and
to be renewed constantly by cold water being poured over the shoulders;
two persons rubbing the patient the whole time.
When he is quite fatigued, take him out, dry the body and throw the
window open for air; when recovered a little, renew the operation, and
so on for the third time if necessary. Then dress and go out to walk.
Drink plentifully of water.
If very cold on coming out of the bath, walk without the body bandage,
but put a large thick one from the hips to the arm-pits on returning
home. Let the patient rest two or three hours; and if fever return
repeat the foregoing treatment.
A Mr. B----, who was greatly debilitated, had, for fever, a tepid bath
for half an hour to an hour and half; also many rubbing-sheets; on one
occasion as many as twenty-nine in a day. If the fever resist the above
treatment, then resort to the packing-sheet.
Dr. L----, for fever, ordered, five or six rubbing-sheets in succession.
Head bath for a quarter of an hour. Bandage from hips to arm-pits, to be
changed often, even in the night; to be much in the open air.
In typhus fever, medical men do not make the distinction between
congestion of the venous and arterial systems. They imagine that
inflammatory action exists, whereas it is in typhus, venous congestion:
therefore, the leeching and severe depletory measures are decidedly
wrong; they increase the existing evil, lower and exhaust the vital
powers, and if persevered in, lead to death, or a long lingering state
of convalescence. On the contrary, Hydropathy acts upon a diametrically
opposite system: by the imbibition of water, containing as it does an
excess of oxygen, the vital forces are sustained, the blood is
decarbonised, the appetite improved, the bowels regulated, etc. etc.
_Fever._--An English officer who caught a fever twenty years ago in the
West Indies, wrote to Priessnitz that all his prospects in life were
blighted, and that existence was almost intolerable. He came to
Gräfenberg and was treated as follows:
Early in the morning packing-sheet and bath; wore heating bandage
always. Breakfasted at eight o'clock, when, from nine o'clock until five
o'clock in the evening, he was ordered to change the waist bandage every
ten minutes. At five o'clock packing-sheet and bath.
If ague appeared, which it did sometimes, then rubbing-sheets, well
wrung out were applied with great friction until the fit was over.
This patient was perfectly cured in three months.
_Nervousness and slow Fever, and disposition to a Decline._--A lady was
treated as follows:--
Morning, five packing-sheets and bath, 62°; noon, douche and sitz-bath;
afternoon, rubbing-sheet and two sitz-baths.
At first, she was ordered to have a cold bath prepared by the bed-side
at night, and when fever and sweating came on, to go into the bath, and
repeat it if necessary. She had a bad cough at the time; her friends
thought such a proceeding would end in her death; the patient, however,
recovered from her fever and cough, and left much improved in health.
On awaking in the morning with distracting head-ache, parched tongue,
and all the concomitants of fever, a lady was put into a packing-sheet;
in twelve minutes, head-ache ceased. After remaining enveloped an hour
or two, rubbing-sheets were applied, followed by a sitz-bath of twenty
minutes: she drank water freely. This one application effected a cure.
A young lady had her foot and ankle much swollen from rheumatic gout.
Second day, arose with head-ache and pain in all her limbs; and towards
evening, had a slight fever. For this, she was put into a tepid bath
62°, and rubbed for forty minutes, when the arm-pits feeling no warmer
than the other parts of her body, she was allowed to leave the bath.
This application was sufficient.
_Typhus Fever_ requires the same treatment as other fevers. The
packing-sheet must be changed every ten or fifteen minutes: I have known
it changed as much as fifty times a day. When the patient is weary of
lying in the packing-sheet, he should be put into a tepid bath and well
rubbed for a time; and then lie quiet, with a packing-sheet doubled
several times from hips to arm-pits. Then packing-sheets should be
resorted to again. If the head is attacked, apply the head-bath whilst
lying in packing-sheet. Drink abundantly of water.
Packing sheets, tepid baths, and cold baths (the former often repeated),
are also the treatment for brain fever. When a patient was in a state
of delirium, Priessnitz ordered her into a cold bath for an hour.
_Teething fever._--Tepid head-bath--water gradually made colder--applied
to the back of the head for half an hour.
If this had not had the desired effect it was to have been repeated
after a short interval. Heating-bandages were to have been applied from
the hips to the arm-pits.
_Gastric Fever._--A young man attacked with gastric fever, was treated
as follows:--
Two packing-sheets, one after the other, until warm, followed, by tepid
bath, in which he was rubbed fifteen minutes, then put into cold bath
for one minute, and from that back again to the tepid bath for fifteen
minutes; patient was then dried, waited a few minutes, and then the
bathing as above was twice repeated.
The whole of the treatment, _i. e._ packing sheet and baths, was
repeated three times during the day; between which, a sitz-bath of half
an hour was prescribed.
Patient was cured in two days, and then declared himself stronger and
better than he was previously to the attack.
A gentleman aged thirty-four was thus treated:--
Packing-sheets twice a day until warm, followed by tepid bath.
Two sitz-baths a day, twenty minutes each. Patient's back, shoulders,
abdomen and chest to be rubbed the whole time whilst taking the
sitting-baths.
Patient having lost his appetite, Priessnitz recommended him to eat
plentifully of common unripe plums: these deranged his stomach, of which
he was immediately cured; and afterwards his appetite was better.
My servant was seized with violent pains in the abdomen during the
night, and in the morning head-ache and fever. Dr. Farr of Nice, who saw
the case, said depletion was requisite, and that the man might be well
in four or five days. I declared with Hydropathy he might be made to
wait at table the same day. He was put into a packing-sheet for an hour
and a half, then a bath; an hour afterwards a sitz-bath; wore the
bandage and required no further treatment. Dr. F----, until the next
morning could not believe that the fever was subdued.
Capt. D---- ordered, in the morning, two packing-sheets until warm, with
head in a basin of cold water all the time; followed by tepid bath,
renewed with cold; noon, cold sitz-bath one hour; afternoon, morning
treatment repeated.
_Bilious Fever._--A female attacked with bilious fever, swelled face,
and violent tooth-ache. Patient in the first instance, preferred
consulting a medical man, who administered a strong aperient; ordered
the feet to be kept in a hot bath for an hour, and said the fever would
certainly last seven days, if not longer.
I applied a packing-sheet, and changed it after twenty minutes; then two
rubbing-sheets. Head-bath 62° for a quarter of an hour: hot-water
poultice to face. This treatment completely subdued the fever the second
day.
Patient attacked with bilious fever, swelled face, and violent
tooth-ache.
Packing-sheet for twenty, and another for thirty minutes; then two
rubbing-sheets, twice a day; head-bath 62°, and sitz-bath 62°; hot water
bandage to face.
On a return of the same in the spring of the next year: morning,
packing-sheet and rubbing-sheet; noon, sitz-bath 62°; afternoon,
sitz-bath and foot-bath 62°; the swollen part of the face put into cold
water fifteen minutes, twice a day. This treatment answered admirably.
_Nervous Fever._--Commencement of patient's illness was attended with
violent headache and excessive weakness particularly in his legs--unable
to stand. Ordered four rubbing-sheets, not wrung out, four times a day;
head-baths three or four times a day; fever, notwithstanding, increased,
and, patient was unable to bear the rubbing-sheet: upon which the
treatment was changed to four packing-sheets, renewed every quarter of
an hour, followed by a tepid bath for ten minutes. This process was
repeated three times during the day.
Head became feverish. He took for this, a head-bath five minutes at a
time. In a fortnight, fever left him completely; when only three
packing-sheets a day, and cold bath after each, was ordered. In three
weeks, patient was out of doors.