brought to mind, by the mother’s coming to-day to work for us at her
usual occupation. She says, “What a strange thing it is, my little baby
has never been sick a single hour. What wouldn’t I give if my other boy
could have been so.” The child is one of the brightest imaginable;
knowing, observing, good-natured, and now, at the age of six months,
sits near his mother, playing, laughing, crowing—the most perfect
picture of health. He is every day once, and generally twice, washed in
cold water.
_Case IV.—Oct. 25, 1847._—The same woman was again confined early last
spring. She had been living, I found, in a small cellar-room, where
there were but three small panes of glass, and to which the sun could
never come. The place was damp and dark, and the air necessarily very
foul, it being in an alley in which many poor, dirty families were
living. Here the poor woman lived, paying an exorbitant rent, supporting
herself and two children by the hardest work rather than beg.
The night of her confinement was a very stormy one. The wind howled
among the old buildings, tearing off shingles and shutters, and the rain
poured down in perfect torrents. Ships were lost that night, and
sailors, with the captain and officers, swept overboard.
The labor this time, as before, was an easy one. It took place at
midnight. Every thing went on well, and she was, after a reasonable
time, left to get sleep, as we supposed she would. I found, however, in
the morning, that, notwithstanding she had been wholly free from pain,
she had not slept at all. She acknowledged that, powerful as had been
the effects of water for good at the previous time, the old ideas had
yet haunted her, that she must either die, or submit to the application
of those terrible instruments that had been used in her first
confinement. She now felt so rejoiced at her getting through again
safely, that she could not sleep at all. So we found her in the morning
early, she, her two children, and the new-born babe, all on one narrow
settee bed together, apparently contented and happy.
Two ladies who understood these matters of water-treatment, went now, it
being Saturday morning, and administered our patient a bath. The water
was moderated a little, but left still quite cool. This day she could
obtain no sleep, for she had but one room, and the children must remain
there. She sat up considerably, but not so much as to cause
over-fatigue. In the evening the ladies went again, and administered the
bath. She slept well during the night. The next morning, Sunday (the
second day), the ablution was administered at 7 o’clock, at which time
the patient arose. She remained up all day, until 10 o’clock in the
evening, at which time the ladies again administered the bath. She slept
well this night, was up all the next day, and so onward, and has been
constantly well up to the present time.
_Case V.—Dec. 12, 1845._—Was called in the night between one and two, by
Mr. Brown, living at 40 Oliver-st., to visit his wife, then in labor. At
the beginning of the evening previous, Mrs. B. began to experience
premonitory symptoms—took, as usual, a sitting-bath, reclined upon the
bed, and slept about three hours, when she was awakened at 10 o’clock by
labor pains. These occurred regularly until the time of our arrival and
onward, growing more and more effectual, until four in the morning, at
which time she gave birth to a fine healthy daughter. The after-birth
was cast off in a few minutes, after which Mrs. B. felt easy and
inclined to rest. After being made comfortable, she was desired to sleep
awhile, and was told that she would be refreshed and invigorated by an
ablution after sleep, and that she would be able to sit up a short time
by way of a change.
_Nine, P. M._—Returned to see Mrs. B. Found her quite comfortable,
after-pains slight; had slept a part of the time. From the commencement
of labor she had drank as freely of Croton water as was desired—had
drank nothing but cold water for about a year. Had she been accustomed
to warm or hot drinks there would have been a liability to increase of
after-pains by taking cold water. In such cases the drink must be warm,
unless there is much feverishness and thirst, in which the cold drink
would be tolerated and most agreeable. Appetite was good. Mrs. B. said
she could relish any thing; was very fond of Indian mush, with a little
syrup; thought she had better not take any thing till dinner time—she
would drink water, and be on the safe side. To this I of course agreed.
She felt none of the giddiness, nervousness, great weakness, and
depression of spirits she had always hitherto felt after childbirth.
There was now and then a slight after-pain. She sits up little by
little, and drinks water when she feels an inclination. She will take
food once to-day, that is dinner, and I will come again by evening.
_Seven, P. M._—Returned again. Mrs. Brown has been sitting up and
bearing her weight at different times during the day. She ate of the
plain favorite dish, Indian mush and molasses, with a piece of dry
bread, and water to drink. The bread tasted very sweet, the appetite was
so good. The husband had now returned, and the bathing could be carried
out. A wash-tub was brought into the room, and placed before the fire to
be warmed. At the same time, water, warm and cold, was procured. A stick
of wood was placed under one side of the tub, and thus the two-fold
object of a hip and general rubbing-bath could be accomplished at the
same time. Mrs. B. walked to the tub, and, her husband aiding, took a
good bath. The water was made mild, of about 80° or 85° Fah.; while
sitting in the bath, the body being well guarded all about with
blankets, a good deal of rubbing was practiced upon different parts of
the system, and particularly the back. This had the effect of promoting
after-pains, and of strengthening the part, and in fact the whole
system, very much. The lower extremities were, of course, outside the
tub, and those were bathed afterward. A night-bath of this kind at such
times seems, indeed, to increase the strength tenfold. Pains are
relieved, the nerves strengthened, and a wonderful change wrought.
_Second Day (Sunday), between Eight and Nine, A. M._—Mrs. B. slept well
during the night, and until late this morning. All were in bed so long,
and as Mrs. B. appeared so well, it was thought best, for want of time,
to omit the general bath until toward dinner. Told her that, for a
change, it would be best to go occasionally to other parts of the house;
but to be careful not to overdo, or to be up too long. At any time pain
or weakness was felt in the back, a good rubbing of the part with the
wet hand or towel would prove very serviceable. Requested Mr. Brown that
an enema of tepid water be administered. This could be repeated twice if
necessary to cause the desired effect.
_Six o’clock, P. M._—Mrs. B. has eaten to-day sparingly twice, a
breakfast and dinner, the last with her family. Has walked up and down
stairs without inconvenience or assistance.
_Third Day (Wednesday), A. M._—Mrs. B. rested well last night. Feeling a
little fatigue the preceding evening, she concluded to omit the bath. It
would have been refreshing, however, but this morning she feels
remarkably well, and has been doing light work. Has been up nearly all
the morning. Took the sitting and general rubbing-bath early before
breakfast. Was cautioned not to be up or to do too much. Food to be
plain, as usual, and the drink, cold water.
_Seven, P. M._—Mrs. B. has been up most of the day. Appetite remarkably
good; thinks she took a little cold by sitting unconsciously in a
draught of air. A carious tooth commenced aching, which proved a
warning. There has been some feverishness, probably nothing more than
milk fever. This will be prevented by the tepid-bath, the latter to be
repeated as often as the feverishness returns, if such should be the
case. There has been some caking and pain in the breasts. The pain is
effectually removed by perseverance in placing very warm or hot wet
napkins upon the breasts, covering these with dry warm flannels, and
repeating them very often until the pain is relieved. Breasts to be well
drawn, and the bowels moved by a full injection of tepid water. If Mrs.
B. perseveres as she always has, she will have a good night’s rest.
_Fourth Day._—Mrs. B. rested well; continues the baths, plain diet,
sitting up, and moderate exercise, as usual, and is progressing rapidly
toward firm health and strength.
_Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Days._—Mrs. B. proceeded cautiously, and with
the most favorable results.
_Eighth Day, Eleven, A. M._—Mrs. B. has been about all the morning, has
been giving way to her great propensity to industry, practicing at the
wash-tub. She does not believe at all in idleness. The only danger is
that she may do too much.
_Ninth Day._—Mrs. B. is about as usual; feels that she has an abundance
of strength to walk some distance in the city. She could walk out with
impunity, notwithstanding the weather is very cold, but it is thought
best, on the whole, since she is so much about house, and pays so much
attention to bathing and ventilation, that she should remain within
doors yet, a little.
She says that at the end of three weeks from the birth of the child next
older, when beginning to attempt to sit up, she was weaker than she has
been at any moment since the birth of the last one. With all her
children she has been very weak.
_Case VI._—Late in the month of January, of the present year (1850), I
was called early in the morning to visit a young married lady, in Fourth
Avenue, who was said to be in great suffering from spasms and vomiting.
She had not slept during the night, and it was necessary for her husband
to remain up with her the whole time. I found her with very high general
fever, and oft-recurring spasms, attended with bilious vomiting. The
fact of her being in an advanced stage of pregnancy, with this
complication of untoward symptoms upon her, designated the case too
clearly to a practiced observer, as being one of both delicacy and
danger. The parties in the case had no knowledge whatever of the
water-cure, or of my particular methods of treatment, and had called me,
being the nearest physician, and, as they supposed, of the old school.
No medicines had as yet been administered, but the patient, as is common
on such occasions, had been deluged with a great variety of articles, in
the way of liquid food and drinks, with the hope of “settling the
stomach,” a process which can seldom succeed, and, as often practiced,
is quite sufficient of itself to make even a well person sick.
The patient and her husband both thought, as a matter of course, that
“some physic must be given.” I told them we would first give a
tepid-bath, at 70° Fah. This I assured them would give great relief, and
knowing well, too, the great prejudice among English people (for they
were English) against bathing in pregnancy, I aided the husband, with my
own hands, in administering it, thus to be certain of its being well and
faithfully done. This they both thought at the time a rather harsh
method of treatment; but they had employed the doctor, and he being
resolute and determined, they could not refuse. The bath gave great
relief, and then, all shivering and cold, a very large wet girdle was
put upon the patient, after which she was wrapped warmly in bed, with
moderately warm bricks to the feet.
After having allowed the patient to rest awhile, a large injection was
administered, and with the best effect. Occasionally, too, retching
still occurred (for symptoms of this kind never cease suddenly, and,
indeed, should not), at which times tepid water was given freely to
drink, for the purpose of aiding vomiting.
Thus the treatment was pursued: as the symptoms appeared to demand, the
tepid half-bath, with a good deal of friction, the wet girdle,
constantly or nearly so, the injections, and the water-drinking were
kept up. From the first moment onward, the patient recovered as rapidly
as could be desired. She slept a good deal during the day, and also well
at night. The next morning she was quite well, although weak. She then
commenced taking nourishment gradually. No further serious troubles were
experienced during the period of pregnancy.
The 4th of April, 1850, the above-mentioned lady, at about the end of
eight months of pregnancy, as was supposed was delivered. There was more
or less of pain during thirty-six hours previous to the birth. The pains
were rather severe during the most of twenty-four hours, proving that
good health, with abundant exercise and bathing, are not necessarily of
themselves capable of causing short and easy labor.
The child was born at about five o’clock in the afternoon. Soon a
thorough ablution was performed in the sitting-bath. No patient ever had
a better understanding of what was necessary in the case, and none,
certainly, could be more free from all sensations of false modesty or
delicacy; nor could any one pursue the treatment with greater confidence
than she did. There was no time when she could not easily sit up or
stand, if necessary, and, with the good nursing of her husband, she
improved most rapidly. She wore the wet girdle most of the time,
alternating, however, now and then, with simple fomentations. She bathed
four times during the first twenty-four hours after the birth, washing
the whole body thoroughly at each time, the water being moderated to
from 60° to 70° Fah. She sat up during this time about six hours in all,
and walked by spells a little in her room. She suffered somewhat with
after-pains, but the means before mentioned, together with injections to
the bowels, generally brought relief. All along her appetite and sleep
were good.
The second day the patient sat up most of the time, and walked to other
parts of the house, and for an hour and a half visited a friend. She
could have gone abroad in the open air, had it been necessary for her so
to do.
The third morning, that is, when her infant was two and a half days old,
the patient walked with her husband a distance of about three fourths of
a mile, visiting a friend. She was fatigued somewhat, but, on the whole,
benefited by the undertaking.
After this, she walked abroad in the open air daily, always having to go
down from the third story of the house in which she lived. In one week
she went about the city, teaching her scholars in French, German, music,
etc., as she had done up to the very day of labor.
And now, to exhibit things in their true light, let this lady’s case, as
it occurred under water-treatment, be contrasted with the drug-treatment
employed on a previous like occasion.
Between two and three years before, she was pregnant with her first
child. Then, as during the last time, she was attacked with cramps,
vomiting, and fever. She was laid by a fire in an almost insensible
state, and had mustard draughts placed over a large part of the surface.
She was also dosed a good deal internally, and salivated with calomel.
At labor, as well as during pregnancy, she was attended by one of the
best physicians of London. It was three weeks before she could leave her
bed; in four weeks she left her room for the first, and did not go out
of the house until six weeks had elapsed. _She was then no stronger than
in two days after confinement, under water-treatment._
Here, then, was a great difference in the result of the two methods—a
difference so great that it cannot possibly be appreciated, except by
those who have actually experienced them in their own persons.
One fact more should be mentioned in this case; the lady had been
exceedingly depressed in mind through the whole, or most of the period;
she, with her husband, having left the Old World for the New. A
combination of circumstances most perplexing and depressing had worked
upon her mind, and she was haunted perpetually with the idea that she
must die a stranger in a strange country. Thus things went on till about
nine weeks before she was confined, or the time before-mentioned, of her
acute illness. But no sooner were the laws of life, health, and disease
unfolded to her ever-active and intelligent mind, than she at once set
resolutely and cheerfully to the performing of every task. No item in
the way of bathing, exercise, diet, etc., was ever omitted. The story of
her case tells whether or not she was rewarded for her faithfulness.
_Case VII._—Early in the morning of the 22d of May, 1850, I was called
to visit a lady of this city, about thirty years of age, far advanced in
her sixth pregnancy. She had, during this period, as before, been much
in the habit of taking alcoholic stimulants, principally in the form of
brandy, judging, from her feelings, she needed the stimulus. But its
only effect was to render her at all times much more liable to take on
inflammatory disease.
Four days before I was called, this lady was taken with very severe
bilious vomiting, and cramp of the stomach. Two physicians were
consulted, and a variety of medicines used. Still the patient continued,
day by day, to grow worse, and could get neither relief nor sleep. Being
told that she was in danger of convulsions, she and her husband
concluded they would change their physician and try the water-treatment.
I found the patient then retching and vomiting almost incessantly, the
stomach cramping, the bowels constipated, with high general fever and
flush of countenance, the pulse being 130 per minute, or about double
its normal beat, and the patient had not slept for three days.
_Treatment._—This was very simple. The whole body was well washed in
water at about 80° Fah., a full clyster was administered, and wet,
cooling fomentations were put freely over the chest and abdomen. Almost
immediately the patient experienced a short but refreshing sleep. The
cloths were changed often, the surface was sponged as it became too hot
or uncomfortable. The general washing in the wash-tub was practiced once
in four hours from the first, which always brought sleep. When retching
and nausea came on, tepid water was taken freely to help the vomiting.
This gave great relief. No other drink than water was taken, and no food
until the vomiting had ceased. After this, well-boiled Indian-meal gruel
was given, beginning with a single tea-spoonful at first, and then
increasing the quantity as could be borne, at the next regular
meal-time. After the first day the patient was bathed three or four
times in the twenty-four hours. The clysters and fomentations were
continued as circumstances required. No very cold water was used in any
form.
In three days’ time the patient was up and about, and in all respects
quite well, though somewhat weak.
Eleven days after commencing the treatment in the above case, namely, on
Sunday morning, the 2d of June, 1850, the patient was taken very
suddenly in labor. Within half an hour after the very first sensation of
any pain, and before her husband could call me, her child was born, a
sixth son. She suffered but little, and was delivered while in the
standing posture, but the after-birth remained unborn. I found her
weeping for fear that she would be subjected to some horrible
water-applications, of which she had read. I told her that my mode of
practice was altogether different from that which she so much feared,
and that, at any rate, no honest physician would ever subject a patient
to any process which she could not heartily concur in. I told her,
moreover, that I would much prefer that she should have her old
physician if she chose, and that she could not possibly offend me if she
would but frankly take her own choice. Her husband then desired that she
would pursue that course which she herself preferred. With the
explanation I had given, she concluded at once to go on with the matter
as I might see fit to advise. “Well,” said I to myself, “we will see how
a mixed treatment will answer—a little of the old, and a little of the
new.”
The patient was perfectly willing to be bathed in tepid water, which I
also advised. But she wanted the old-fashioned obstetrical bandage or
binder, as she had used it before. I explained to her all about its
nature and effects, and consented that she might use it if she would
take it off at each time of bathing, and at all times when she found it
causing too great heat. Her husband bathed her four times the first day
in bed; the women would not help at all. She was able to sit up in bed,
and the second day and onward, she bathed herself, the old nurse always
making herself absent at the time. She had suffered with after-pains
before, but nothing worth mentioning this time. Injections were used
from time to time, and the wet towels over the abdomen. The second day
the patient was up in her room. The third morning, as I went to her
door, I heard some one singing, and, on entering, found it was the
patient herself, alone, sitting up with her infant in her arms.
The fourth morning the lady was so well that there was no excuse for a
doctor any more. She said she had to keep her room, and mostly her bed,
for four weeks always before. Now in three days she was perfectly well,
bathing herself repeatedly every day; whereas always before she had
never dared wash herself short of a whole month, _and then only with
whisky_! She was now convinced that the only safe way to prevent taking
cold, was _to bathe_.
This, then, may be put down as a remarkable case. Eleven days before
labor the patient was very dangerously sick. The birth was exceedingly
easy and short; and, although such labors are not, on the whole, as safe
as those which are more difficult and protracted, she yet recovered her
usual health in a remarkably short period of time, and without any
mishap or pain. She bathed but very little, comparatively, although that
little told well. No application whatever of cold water was made.
_Case VIII._—While the cholera was committing its fearful ravages in the
city of Brooklyn, during the summer of 1849, a worthy and intelligent
lady, the wife of a sea captain, was preparing to leave for the country,
whither I was to go with her to attend her looked-for case of
childbirth. Monday, the 9th day of July, she was busy packing trunks and
preparing to move, and probably overworked. At all events, she did not
feel well, and experienced pains similar to those of labor, all day
Tuesday. I remained in the house over night, but in the morning the
patient was better. Still there occurred at times periodical pains, and
I told the patient that if they were true and natural pains of labor, a
bath would accelerate and make them worse; or if they were false pains,
and such as did not indicate the near approach of labor, the bath would
cure or render them less. They were, however, increased.
At eight o’clock in the evening labor came to a close, the result being
a fine, healthy, female child. One hour after, namely, at 9 o’clock, the
patient feeling rested, was helped into a sitting-bath tub, and well
washed, for some minutes, over the whole surface. The water was fresh
and cool from the cistern. As may be imagined, the patient felt
incomparably more comfortable after a good cleansing in this manner, and
a degree of refreshment that can be conceived of only by those who have
had the practical illustration of it in their own persons, was
experienced. A plenty of wet linen towels were placed over the abdomen
and genitals, and by these means the patient was enabled to pass, on the
whole, a very good night.
She had, she informed me, always suffered intolerable anguish for days
after the birth of her other children, five or six in number, I believe.
Even with the first—a thing very uncommon—she had experienced most
severe torture. It was therefore a great object at this time to do every
thing possible to prevent the after-pains. Toward morning, as she began
to grow more warm, the pains came on in a slight degree.
At 6½ o’clock (the 12th, the first morning after the birth), the patient
was again thoroughly washed from head to foot in the hip-tub. After this
a large linen sheet, the whole being wet, and folded in the form of a
very large girdle (large enough to cover the whole trunk of the body),
was employed. It was wrapped round from end to end, its object being to
act as a great and moderately cooling, and necessarily soothing
fomentation, to the body, to keep off inflammation and subdue pain. The
weather being most excessively sultry and hot, only one dry sheet was
placed over her as a covering. She was to remain in this condition so
long as the wet sheet did not become uncomfortable or too warm. At 10
the same forenoon, after having slept a good nap, a second ablution was
practiced.