DISEASES IN WHICH THE WATERS ARE USEFUL.
Acute Gout and Rheumatism--Chronic Gout and Rheumatism--Chorea--Paralysis
Agitans--Many Forms of Paralysis--Muscular Atrophy consequent upon the
Gouty Diathesis--Loco Motor Ataxia--Syphilis--Local
Injuries--Neuralgia--Sciatica, Lumbago, &c.--Number of Baths Constituting
a Course--Length of Residence Required--Action of Water upon Acute and
Chronic Disease--Extract from Devonshire Hospital Report--Inference.
The following are amongst the principal diseases for the relief of which
the Buxton medicinal thermal water is deservedly celebrated: Acute gout
and rheumatism (in neither of which can the baths be taken with advantage
until the acute or inflammatory stage has subsided), the water may be
used locally, either by sponging or wearing a compress over the affected
parts, and also internally, two or even three quarts, being drunk in the
twenty-four hours.
In the acute stage of gout or rheumatic fever, when the water is drunk in
large quantity daily, profuse perspiration of a critical nature takes
place about the sixth day, and is usually succeeded in twenty-four hours
by a measly eruption over the whole surface of the body and extremities,
quickly followed by a total subsidence of all the acute symptoms, leaving
the patient free from pain and on the high road to convalescence. Under
its influence the urine becomes copious, the muddy brickdust deposit
disappears, and the normal specific gravity and action upon litmus paper
is restored. The sudorific glands over the whole cutaneous surface
receive a fresh stimulus, thus assisting to eliminate the materies morbi,
and making the skin cool and moist, which prior to drinking the water was
dry, hot, and parched. A direct action upon the liver is also obtained,
as indicated by the relaxed condition of the bowels, and the perceptible
increase of bile in the motions. Such being the action of the Buxton
thermal water, it will be readily understood how the distressing and
excruciating pains of an attack of acute gout or rheumatism are so
quickly relieved, and the sufferer restored to comparative comfort.
Chronic gout and rheumatism: These diseases are much more common than the
acute forms, and are greatly benefited both by the use of the baths and
drinking of the water.
In such cases the baths may be prescribed either hot or natural,
according to the nature and character of the complaint, and may be taken
each day, every other day, or even two or three days consecutively. The
temperature, frequency, time of immersion, and amount of water to be
drunk after bathing, are usually given by the medical adviser in his
prescription.
The above remarks apply equally to the various forms of chronic
rheumatism, chorea, paralysis agitans, infantile paralysis, hysterical
paralysis, mercurial and lead poisoning, muscular atrophy; rigid atrophy,
consequent upon the rheumatic diathesis; locomotor ataxia, as a result of
rheumatism; syphilis, or local injury; cranial, facial, and intercostal
neuralgia; sciatica, lumbago, and their allied affections, especially of
a neurotic nature.
The number of baths which constitute a course are usually reckoned at
from 15 to 17, which necessitates a residence in Buxton of about one
month, provided they can be steadily and uninterruptedly continued
throughout that period. If, however, the course has to be discontinued
on account of the supervention of acute symptoms (not an unfrequent
occurrence) a longer residence is required. Some persons (though all
goes on regularly) require more and some less, according to the age,
strength, and constitution of the bather and nature of the case. As a
rule, experience teaches that the younger the individual, and the more
recent and acute the disease, the fewer number of baths will be requisite
to give permanent relief, the full effects of the medicinal water being
obtained more rapidly, and the ultimate result being more satisfactory.
This, however, need not be a discouragement to those advanced in life,
whose misfortune it has been to suffer from repeated attacks of gout or
rheumatism, as may be gathered from a perusal of the annual report of the
Devonshire Hospital, an institution mainly for the reception of patients
of all ages, suffering from the gouty and rheumatic diatheses.
Subjoined I give an extract from the medical report of the Hospital,
which clearly indicates the nature and character of those diseases
specially benefited by the use of the Buxton thermal water. According to
the report, 2,351 patients were admitted under treatment during 1891,
2,222 suffering from gout rheumatism or some of the allied affections,
and 129 unconnected with either diatheses. The following types of
disease, as connected with the two diatheses, are included in the
2,351:--
DISEASES OF THE LOCOMOTORY SYSTEM.
Rheumatism 1322
Specific Rheumatism 5
Podagra 51
Rheumatic Arthritis 550
Synovitis 2
Chronic Periostitis 1
Sciatica 197
Lumbago 15
Sciatica and Lumbago 14
Neuralgia 10
Peripheral Neuritis 3
Poliomyelitis Anterior Chronica 1
Lateral Sclerosis 7
Progressive Muscular Atrophy 1
Pseudo, Hypertrophic Muscular Paralysis 1
Locomotor Ataxia 15
Multiple Sclerosis 1
Chronic Myelitis 1
Hemiplegia 8
Chorea 10
Paralysis Agitans 1
Lead Poisoning 10
2222
I find that during thirty-two years, the Devonshire Hospital, which
contains 300 beds, has admitted between fifty-two and fifty-three
thousand patients, suffering principally from the various forms of gout
rheumatism and those diseases which are allied to them. Out of this vast
number were returned only 6,753, having obtained no relief, which may be
accounted for by the fact that most of these latter were labouring under
affections unconnected with either gout or rheumatism. These figures
will, I think, be admitted as conclusive evidence of the medicinal
efficacy of the Buxton Spa in relieving suffering humanity from some of
the most painful and intractable forms of disease to which high and low,
rich and poor, are alike amenable.
* * * * *
JOHN HEYWOOD, Excelsior Printing and Bookbinding Works,
Manchester.