“Those cases in which the water-cure seems an absolute panacea, and
in which the patient may commence with the most sanguine hopes,
are—first, rheumatism, however prolonged, however complicated. In
this the cure is usually rapid—nearly always permanent. [16]
Secondly, gout: here its efficacy is little less startling to
appearance than in the former case; it seems to take up the disease
by the roots; it extracts the peculiar acid which often appears in
discolorations upon the sheets used in the application, or is
ejected in other modes. But here, judging always from cases
subjected to my personal knowledge, I have not seen instances to
justify the assertion that returns of the disease do not occur. The
predisposition—the tendency, has appeared to remain; the patient is
liable to relapses, but I have invariably found them far less
frequent, less lengthened, and readily susceptible of simple and
speedy cure, especially if the habits remain temperate.”
If it be asked why Hydropathy has proved itself so effective a remedy
in curing rheumatism, we would answer, on account of its great power in
strengthening and invigorating the stomach and digestive organs, in the
derangement of which, the cause of that disease is to be found.
Rheumatism proceeds from a sluggish circulation in the extremities,
consequent on a low vitality in the system, arising from a derangement
of the digestive organs and viscera; if these latter were sound and
free from irritation, all the cold and wet, we could possibly be
exposed to, would fail to produce that inflammation of the sheaths of
the muscles in which rheumatism consists. That Hydropathy is capable of
strengthening and invigorating these organs, is well known to all who
have tried it, and is even admitted by its greatest opponents when they
state, “Oh! it is good for the general health,” for it is utterly
impossible for the “general health” to be good without a sound
digestion.
With respect to gout, a permanent cure from it is rarely to be found,
and why?—Because few people have either the time or patience to
continue long enough under treatment for its total eradication, running
away from an “establishment” the moment they get relief from the
pressing fit, and consequently the disease recurs. Now, of all
diseases, gout is perhaps the most tedious of permanent cure, the
visceral irritation which gives rise to it being always inveterate and
of long duration, and nothing short of chronic treatment—treatment
continuing for years instead of months, will remove it. Dr. Gully
observes respecting it:—
“It would be folly, however, to avoid a treatment because it will
not for ever root up your disease in your own convenient time. Look
at the destructive manner in which colchicum reduces a gouty fit,
how it approximates the attacks, and utterly disorganizes the
viscera; and then regard what the water cure is capable of doing,
both against individual attacks, and in reduction of the diathesis,
the vital parts meanwhile improving under its operation; ... if it
does not utterly cure the gout, at least it does not shorten the
patient’s life as colchicum does.”