tropics, which affected his liver, when indigestion and dyspepsia
resulted.
At Rome, being seized with pain in the heart and congestion of blood in
the head, he was bled: finding himself no better, he proceeded for the
best advice to Paris, where depletion was again recommended. This
determined him to go to Gräfenberg.
The doctor told me Priessnitz took a most accurate view of his case: he
began by packing-sheets and tepid-bath, morning and evening;
rubbing-sheets, sitz and foot-baths at noon.
The treatment caused him varied sensations, but generally a tendency to
healthy action. One day he felt unusual pain about the region of the
heart, and congestion in the head. Having a gouty tendency in his
system, he became alarmed, and sent for Priessnitz, who put a large wet
bandage doubled in the form of a shawl over his shoulders, and over the
region of the heart, and then requested him to put his feet up to the
knees in cold water for half an hour.
The doctor declared to me, that if asked a question as to the danger of
such a proceeding, he should have said that he thought death would
immediately ensue, and that but for the confidence Priessnitz' success,
as witnessed by himself, had created, no power on earth could have
induced him in such a complaint to follow the orders thus given. As it
was, however, he plunged his feet into the water at once in presence of
Priessnitz, who stood with him the whole time. By degrees the symptoms
decreased; in an hour after the operation he was completely relieved,
and that night slept remarkably well.
For a slight attack of fever, the doctor was prescribed five or six
rubbing-sheets and a head-bath, to walk in the open air, and change his
body-bandage in the night. At another time, for blood to the head and
great nervousness, he bathed the head after dinner, bandaged the neck
and dispensed with neck handkerchief.
When the doctor first came to Gräfenberg, his walks were limited to the
piazza in front of his rooms; these were extended by degrees, until even
during the inclemency of the winter and the depth of snow everywhere
encountered, he extended his walks thrice a day up into the woods, and
was always the first to be seen out in the morning. In about nine
months, the gentleman was completely cured of all his ailments.
LXIX.--DEFORMITY.
An artisan kept his bed for a long time, his illness is supposed to have
originated in a cold. He was almost bent double. In this state he went
to Carlsbad, where the waters rendered him so weak that he moved about
with great difficulty. In this state he came to Gräfenberg.
Morning, packing-sheet one hour, bath three minutes; noon, two
rubbing-sheets and sitz-bath; afternoon as the morning.
Large bandage round the loins, drank twenty tumblers of water before
breakfast; and twenty more during the day.
In about three months this patient was able to ascend the highest hills,
then he was ordered to carry loads of wood on his head, and put a stick
behind his back through his arms at all times, to assist in bringing him
straight. He staid all the winter: in the spring his health was
perfect, and he was nearly upright when I left him at Gräfenberg.
LXX.--SPINAL COMPLAINTS.
Priessnitz says it is difficult to prescribe for these complaints at a
distance; and that except in young people, or where the disease is in
its infancy, a cure is seldom effected. It is however always safe to
adopt the following treatment, which will refresh and strengthen the
patient.
Three rubbing-sheets, at intervals during the day.
One or two foot-baths, but NO sitz-baths without advice.
If the feet swell, continue the treatment, all the same, rub with wet
hands, and bandage the legs, from the ankle to the knee, this will
reduce the swelling.
_Spine complaint and general debility._--A lady.
Morning, packing-sheet until warm, followed by plunge-bath one minute;
noon, douche three minutes, return home and then take a rubbing-sheet
and sitz-bath, twenty minutes; afternoon, as in the morning.
Rubbed the back and nape of the neck with wet hands, twice a day.
Patient staid all the winter; during which time symptoms were combated
as they arose, she gained strength and flesh.
_Spinal affection._--A young lady, after submitting to all sorts of
medical treatment for three or four years, came to Gräfenberg. She was
clothed in flannel, suffered greatly from indigestion, constipation, and
languid circulation, feet always cold, walking a short distance brought
on pain in the back.
Second day after her arrival, Priessnitz ordered,--
"Put aside all flannel, go as lightly clad as possible, keep bed-room
window open day and night, and sleep with only a single sheet as a
covering, leave off stockings and run bare-footed on the wet grass near
the house, or on the cold stones of the passage for half an hour before
breakfast in the morning.
"Eat black bread and drink sour milk, lie on the stomach and have the
spine rubbed several times a day with wet hands."
First four days, patient had cold feet in and after the packing-sheet,
this was then followed by tepid, then cold, and back to tepid-bath, feet
well rubbed, previous to going into packing-sheet, and last thing at
night; by this treatment head-ache was relieved and the feet became
warmer.
In ten days began the douche for one minute; digestion improved; no
longer constipated. Bandages always round the body, and to feet and legs
at night.
Patient was at Gräfenberg nine months, during which time the treatment
was often changed to meet circumstances. One time, suppressed catamenia
was relieved in two days by sixteen rubbing-sheets a day. At another,
patient met with an accident in the leg; Priessnitz to keep this to the
surface, ordered more water to be drunk. This patient left Gräfenberg in
excellent health, though not entirely cured of the affection of the
spine, that being out of its perpendicular position.
_Pain in the Shoulder and Chest._--A lady in the treatment complained of
pain in the shoulder and left breast, and down the side.
Ordered, when in sitz-bath the upper part of the body to be well rubbed.
Body bandage to be more wrung out than usual, and extra covering over
it.
_Pain in the side, Chronic cold in the head._--A German officer aged 50,
afflicted as above, and with continued stoppage in the nose, and
frequent head-aches, was told by his medical man that he had no chance
of being cured, was completely relieved at Gräfenberg, in three or four
months.
Packing-sheets and tepid baths twice a day. Rubbing-sheet and sitz-baths
were resorted to for a short time, the cold bath substituted for the
tepid bath, and to this treatment the douche was added.
_Weak Chest and Worms._--A child three years old. Wash with tepid water,
12° once, and after some time twice a day.
Wear body bandage always, and drink water.
_Pain in the Chest._--A gentleman had pain in his chest, like the hurt
from a blow, about the size of a crown-piece.
Ordered sixteen rubbing-sheets a day, _four at each time_.
LXXI.--CONSTIPATION.
This complaint is always relieved, and if sufficient time is devoted to
the treatment, finally overcome by Hydropathy; space forbids my going
into details, or numerous cases might be given in proof of this
assertion. The reader's attention may however be called to the letter
addressed to a newspaper, and signed by upwards of one hundred patients,
giving the case of the son of Prince Leichtenstein, who was cured in a
few days of Constipation, which had endured twenty-eight days in
defiance of all medical aid. To effect a permanent cure, the treatment
must be persevered in for a long time, very often a twelvemonth.
In a recent case. Rubbing-sheets until feverish heat ceases: sometimes
four or three suffice; at others the number must be increased to sixteen
or twenty, to be immediately followed by a clyster. Then take a walk,
and on returning, a sitz-bath fifteen to twenty minutes, the abdomen to
be well rubbed the whole time.
Body bandage to be worn always and often changed. This treatment to be
resorted to twice a day. Great exercise to be used, and cold light food
to be partaken of.
A delicate lady who had suffered from this complaint for upwards of
twenty years, was relieved in a fortnight, and had no return of it
during her stay at Gräfenberg. Her principal treatment was:--
Packing-sheet and bath twice a day. Rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath at noon.
A second case, which came under my observation, was that of a Russian,
who for many years had only been relieved by medicine or enemas. He went
to an establishment at Moscow for six months, where he derived great
benefit, though he still used enemas. At Gräfenberg he abandoned the
latter, his bowels were relaxed and have continued so ever since.
LXXII.--INDIGESTION.
Foul tongue and pain at the pit of the stomach; a lady having tried all
other remedies, was ordered the following, which answered admirably.
Three cold sitz-baths a day, for an hour each time, rubbing the abdomen
the whole time, eat nothing but brown bread and drink sour milk during
three days.
_Loss of Appetite, Foul Tongue, etc._--Patient had foul tongue, and loss
of appetite.
Morning.--Sweating and tepid bath, stomach to be well rubbed in the
bath. Sitz-bath thirty minutes in the afternoon.
It is very essential to drink abundantly of water, and take great
exercise.
A child five years old. Pale, foul tongue, loss of appetite, thirsty and
awaking with screams. Ablution in the morning, and three tepid
sitz-baths daily four minutes each; chest, back, and abdomen to [be]
well rubbed all the time; waist bandage day night. Drink as much water
as possible. Cured in three months.
LXXIII.--STOMACH COMPLAINT.
Patient's stomach deranged, food used to return to his mouth: difficult
of cure. His second visit to Gräfenberg, cured in nine months.
Packing-sheets and rubbing-sheets. Noon, douche, rubbing-sheet and
sitz-bath; afternoon, packing-sheet and bath.
LXXIV.--THROWING FOOD OFF THE STOMACH.
Morning, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath fifteen minutes. Noon, the same
repeated. Afternoon, sitz-bath.
A gentleman of my acquaintance pursued three or four months' treatment
for this complaint, and left Gräfenberg without being cured.
LXXV.--HEARTBURN.
Drink large quantit[i]es of water fasting, rub the part with wet hands
and wear a large bandage, changed often, round the waist. If this does
not effect a cure, take a rubbing-sheet or two and a tepid sitz-bath
twice a day. Nausea and sickness are to be treated in the same manner;
if, however, the latter become chronic, then packing-sheets, tepid
baths, and sitz-baths must be resorted to. The diet should be brown
bread and milk only. The milk should be boiled, if it otherwise
disagrees with the patient.
LXXVI.--SEA SICKNESS.
To avoid sea-sickness or relieve it. The traveller should lay on his
back, and place a large wet towel on his abdomen, changing it when dry.
After a sea voyage take a few rubbing-sheets and sitz-baths. Wear a
waist bandage, and if constipated resort to cold water clysters.
LXXVII.--PALPITATION OF THE HEART.
Many rubbing-sheets; rub the whole, side for a long time and often.
Large bandage. Two sitz-baths a day, fifteen minutes each; rubbing the
afflicted side the whole time. A lady afflicted as above was relieved in
ten minutes by the rubbing-sheets, and dabbling her feet well in cold
water.
LXXVIII.--WANT OF SLEEP.
Before going to bed, take a shallow foot-bath (only to cover the soles
of the foot) for seven to ten minutes, rubbing the feet to above the
ankles all the time, then walk about the room bare-footed until the feet
are quite warm.
A lady, in the treatment, complained of want of sleep.
Two packing-sheets in the afternoon, the first changed as soon as hot,
followed by tepid bath.
Two foot-baths for one hour each, the water only to cover the soles of
the feet. Feet to be well rubbed the whole time. When the servant is
tired of rubbing, patient should walk about the room with bare feet for
a few minutes and then resume the foot-bath.
LXXIX.--LANGUID CIRCULATION.
I attended many cases of this kind with Mr. Priessnitz, where the
languid circulation arose from using the head more than the body. In a
general way he began with rubbing-sheets in the morning and afternoon
for a few days, and then in the morning packing-sheet until warm, and
tepid bath, cold bath, and back to tepid bath. Noon, rubbing-sheet and
tepid sitz-bath fifteen minutes; afternoon, packing-sheet and tepid
baths as in the morning; or a rubbing-sheet. Bandaged always.
LXXX.--RING WORM.
A boy aged seven years had ring worm over the eye and behind his knees.
Cured in six weeks. Two packing-sheets and tepid baths daily. Bandage to
the knees. Child could not endure the douche.
LXXXI.--HANDS FROST-BITTEN OR SUFFERING FROM A BOIL.
Rub the hands well with tepid water, and particularly the wrist. Put the
elbow into cold water for twenty minutes, three times a day. Bandage the
whole arm from the arm-pits down to the wrist.
LXXXII.--WEAK EYES AND ERUPTION ON THE HEAD.
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.
LXXXIII.--WEAK ANKLES.
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.
LXXXIV.--TREATMENT OF INFANTS.
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.
LXXXV.--EPILEPSY.
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.
LXXXVI.--HYPOCHONDRIA AND HYSTERIA.
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.
LXXXVII.--FŒTID PERSPIRATION OF THE FEET.
This is relieved by foot-baths, and wearing a bandage on the feet at
night; but it cannot be cured without the sweating process.
LXXXVIII.--STRICTURE.
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.
LXXXIX.--INFLAMMATION OF THE KIDNEYS AND URETHRA.
The treatment must be regulated by circumstances: sometimes sweating, at
other times the packing-sheet, tepid bath, and bandage.
XC.--HYDROCEPHALUS.
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.
XCI.--SYPHILIS.
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.
XCII.--CHANCRE.
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.
XCIII.--GONORRHŒA AND CHANCRES.
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.