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/ C
SOME OBSERVATIONS
oNTHE
COLD-WATER TREATMENT,
As
W1TNEssed
AT GRAFENBERG.
py
G.
H. HEATHCOTE M.D.
LONDON:
PRINTED FOR. J.
G.
F. J. RIVINGTON,
st. Paul’s
church YARD,
AND waterloo Place,
PALL
MALL;
AND
sold
by
HINCHLIFFE, ROTHERHAM.
1843.
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LONDON
or
LBERT
AND R1v1NGToN, PRINTERs,
st.
John s
scu
ARE.
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g
G
R
A
FENBERG,
ANDThe
C
O
L
D WATER
TREAT
MENT.
It
i s but the
simple
t r u t h
t o remark,
that the body
cannot
be preserved
i n
good
h e a l t h
without
the
p r a c t i c a l
a p p l i c a t i o n
of
some
o f
those
very
p r i n c i p l e s
w h i c h
a f f e c t
the
s o u l l i k e w i s e .
An d
i t
i s
g e n e r a l l y t r u e
t o s ay , t h a t
whoever
i s
s i n n i n g a g a i n s t
h i s
own
body
b y destroying
h i s h e a l t h ,
i s
a t
the
same time
abusing h i s
s o u l ,
and
hazarding
e t e r n a l
d e s t r u c t i o n .
Too
f o r c i b l y ,
a l a s
i s t h i s thought
presented
t o the m i n d
a t
Gräfenberg;
a
d i s t a n t
S i l e s i a n
v i l l a g e ,
t o
w hich
p r i n c e s
are now
t r a v e l l i n g
to be
cured
by
a s e l f - t a u g h t
p e a s a n t ,
Vincent
P r i e s s n i t z .
Without
temperance
i t i s
impossible f o r
the
body
o f man t o
con
t i n u e
i n h e a l t h .
An d
s o i m p o r t a n t
i s
t h i s
v i r t u e
t o h i s m o r a l
w e l l - b e i n g ,
t h a t an A p o s t l e
d i s c o u r s e s
upon
i t
b e f o r e
a
d i s s o l u t e
k i n g ,
a n d
considers
temperance
a s f i t l y joined
with
righteousness
a n d j u d gem e nt
to come.
A
c o m p r e h e n s i v e
p r a c t i c a l
t e m p e r a n c e
i s t h e f i r s t i n f l u e n t i a l
element i n
the
method
o f
cure
pursued
a t Gräfenberg.
This c o n s i s t s
i n e a r l y
r i s i n g ,
much e x e r c i s e
i n
the
open
air,
d r i n k i n g
c o l d
w a t e r ,
i n s t e a d
o f s t i m u la n t s ;
and
k e e p i n g
t h e
s k i n
i n
order
by frequent
a b l u t i o n s .
P r i e s s n i t z
h i m s e l f ,
not
having a ny a i l m e n t ,
r i s e s ,
according
t o
the season,
between
4
a nd
6 o ' c l o c k ;
goes
from
h i s
bed
i n t o a
cold b a t h ,
takes
one
short
plunge, a nd
comes
o u t , d r e s s e s a n d
v i s i t s
h i s p at i e n t s ,
a nd
b r e a k f a s t s a t
8
o ' c l o c k ,
s i t t i n g
a t
one
o f
A
2
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4
GRAFENBERG, AND
the long t a b l e s , w it h su ch o f h i s p a t i e n t s a s take t h e i r b r e a k f a s t a t
the same h o u r ' . From about 9 o ' c l o c k t o 1 P.M. he i s g e n e r a l l y
r i d i n g
or
walking
i n
the
open
a i r ;
h i s
occupation
being
t o
v i s i t
h i s numerous p a t i e n t s about
Gräfenberg
and t h e neighbourhood.
At 1 h e r e t u r n s t o d i n n e r , a t w h i c h t im e onl y i s any thing warm
given
t o e a t o r to
d r i n k .
The dinner
c o n s i s t s
of soup a nd
b o u i l l i
always;
as
w e l l a s
of other meats a n d
f a r i n a c e o u s
food
a l t e r n a t e l y .
Th e dinner occupies
t wo
h o u r s ,
a nd many
indigest
i b l e and unwholesome a r t i c l e s ,
common
to
German
table-d'hôtes,
a r e
o f f e r e d t o the i n v a l i d during that p e r i o d . But P r i e s s n i t z
neither
advises
him
to
eat
of
t h em , n or
affords him
a n y
encourage
ment
by h i s own
example. On the c o n t r a r y , h e
w a s accustomed
t o point
ou t
a s r e p r e h e n s i b l e
the
conduct o f an i n v a l i d a t h i s own
t a b l e ,
who
used to
e a t
h a l f a five-pound
l o a f every
morning
a t
breakfast
This
p a t i e n t
needed
n o
b i t t e r s or
t o n i c s ; but appeared
to
b e too
well. He h a d
been
restored to health, and was agai n
becoming i n t e m p e r a t e . The very h e a l t h i n e s s o f the p l a c e tempts
many t o
t h i s
s p e c i e s
of
s e l f - i n d u l g e n c e ; and, a s s u r e d l y , much
p r o t r a c t i o n
o f
d i s e a s e
i s
owing
t o
t h i s
c a u s e .
After
dinner
Priess
n i t z again
goes
o u t . At
7
o ' c l o c k
supper i s l a i d ; the
f a r e being
e x a c t l y t h e same a s a t b r e a k f a s t ; a nd
from
t h i s hour u n t i l 1 0 ,
the i n m ates of G rä fenberg House are d r o p p i ng of f to bed. On
Sunday
evening,
however,
there i s a general
dance i n the s a l o o n .
Two princesses were pointed out to me on on e of t h ese occasions.
They
r e s t on
t h e
o t h e r
s i x nights o f
the week.
P r i e s s n i t z drinks onl y a s
much water a s
h e f i n d s
convenient;
a nd
advises a l l
w h o a r e i n
good
h e a l t h
t o drink
no more.
I t i s
only
w hen
the
body i s d i s e a s e d , whatever
that d i s e a s e
may b e , t h a t
much
water i s
required; for
since
t he
secretions
are
then
v i t i a t e d ,
a n d d i l u e n t s
necessary
e i t h e r
t o attenuate
or exp el
them
(accord
ing t o h i s t h e o r y ) , then only must
water be
drunk i n greater
abundance,
t o accomplish
the former
o b j e c t
d i r e c t l y , or the l a t t e r
mediately, through
the
p e r s p i r a t o r y f u n c t i o n of
the
s k i n .
To
t h i s
“h u m or a l
pathology,”
o f
course
much
o b j e c t i o n
can
be
o f f e r e d ; a nd
t i l l
l a t e l y i t appears
t o
h a v e
h a d
but few
a d v o c a t e s .
Bu t the unprecedented s u c c e s s w hich
t h e
p r a c t i c a l
a p p l i c a t i o n
of
i t has h a d a t Gräfenberg, must compel more
c o n s i d e r a t e
a t t e n t i o n
*
The
breakfast
consists
of bread
and
butter and cold fresh
m i l k ,
or
thickened
m i l k
i f i t be preferred.
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THE
COLD WATERTREATMENT.
5
to
the t h e o r y . P r i e s s n i t z himself a f f o r d s
one
of the most s t r i k i n g
instances
of the success of
his
method of
cure:
a n instance,
w h i c h
i s
almost
i t s e l f
s u f f i c i e n t
t o
e s t a b l i s h
the
proof of
an
i n n a t e
remedial power, a c t i n g
through
t h e i n s t r u m e n t a l i t y of t h e s k i n .
Admitting t h i s h y p o th et i c a ll y , t h e i n f i n i t e s i m a l
dose
o f the ho
moeopathic d o c t r i n e
w i l l
ow e t o i t ,
a nd
the temperance w h i c h i t
enjoins, a l l i t s value and a l l i t s p r a i s e .
A
French gentleman, about f o r t y years of age, w a s a t Gräfen
berg during my v i s i t t h e r e . He h a d been
t r e a t e d
i n America b y
strong s a l i v a t i o n ,
b ut
t h e disease w h i c h he
laboured
under had
n ot
yielded; a n d
he subsequently spent two years in P a r i s , under
the most
c e l e b r a t e d
homoeopathist i n t h a t c i t y . He s t a t e d
t h a t ,
duri ng
t h i s time,
he
received more r e l i e f t h an i n
A me r i c a ;
bu t
that, on t h e whole, he was far from
wel l: which
determined him
to t r y
the
c e l e b r a t e d
system
a t
Gräfenberg. When
I conversed
with him,
he
had been
t here five months; and he assured me
that he w a s b e t t e r i n every r e s p e c t than ever h e h a d been b e f o r e .
He h ad been
subjected
t o much sweating, with copious
drinking
of w a t e r , c o l d
b a t h i n g ,
a n d even the
douche.
Th e appearance
of
his face was as
that
of aman
who
had never known illness.
But t o return t o P r i e s s n i t z : before h e w a s seventeen years of
a ge h e
was
entrusted
w i t h
the management of
his
father's
farm.
Many were t he
l i t t l e
accidents, which f r o m t i me to t i me befel
h im , f rom
w a n t of t h a t ma nu a l d e x t e r i t y , which time a n d
expe
r i e n c e
h ad
not yet
taught him. Sundry
c u t s
a nd b r u i s e s , a nd
accidental
hurts
had
t h us
early
t augh t
him
pain,
a n d
attention to
i t s removal. Hasty coverings o f r a g s , wet
perhaps from
the
washing of
h i s wounds, a nd
conveying
t o h i m a
f e e l i n g
of r e l i e f ,
suggested the extension o f t h e i r use t o more aggravated c a s e s ;
t i l l , emboldened by
con t i nu a l su c cess
a n d additional
personal
ex
p e r i e n c e , h e passed from the moist rag on the f i n g e r t o the
envelopment o f
the whole
body
i n a
wet s h e e t . When h e w a s
seventeen years o l d ,
h e
w a s
kicked
down by h i s horse: h i s f a c e
w a s
s e v e r e l y
contused;
two
o f
h i s
f r o n t
t e e t h
knocked
out;
a nd
th e
c a r t
h e wa s d r i v i n g
passed
over h i s body, and broke t wo
o f
h i s
r i b s . In
t h i s
c o n d i t i o n h e w as
c a r r i e d
h om e, a nd
a
neighbouring
surgeon immediately sent f o r . When the surgeon a r r i v e d , h e
pronounced P r i e s s n i t z a c r i p p l e
f o r l i f e ; d e c l a r i n g
t h a t h e would
never
more be
f i t f o r l a b o u r . Fortunately f o r
h i m s e l f ,
P r i e s s n i t z
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6 GRAFENBERG, AND
h a d
no f a i t h
i n
t h i s
prognosis;
but
immediately dismissed
the
surgeon,
and
commenced
his
own
cure.
An uncommon courage
a n d
r e s o l u t i o n
must
h a ve
formed
p a r t
of
t h e c h a r a c t e r o f
t h i s
young
ma n. He
l e a n t over
the
back
o f a
c h a i r , a nd
i n f l a t e d
h i s
own
lungs
( p a i n f u l
a nd
bleeding
from
h i s r e c e n t a c c i d e n t ) , u n t i l ,
by
the
pressure of
the c h a i r preventing the descent o f the di a
p hr agm, the distended
lungs
h a d
themselves r e p l a c e d
the
broken
ribs. He then bound
a wet cloth
over
h is
chest, and covered i t
with a dr y one; l a i d himself i n bed, a n d quenched the subsequent
t h i r s t a n d
f e v e r
by drinking c o p i o u s l y
of
cold water, a nd
f re
quently renew ing the cold bandage to
his
chest. He partook
very s p a r i n g l y
o f f o o d ,
a nd
i n ten days a f t e r the a c c i d e n t ,
w as
walking about
i n the
open a i r
Within the year h e
h a d
re
sumed all
his
accustomed
labours.
Let us r e f l e c t
by the w a y on t h i s s i n g u l a r c a s e .
Weh a ve here
a very s e r i o u s a c c i d e n t , accompanied b y c o n s i d e r a b l e i n j u r y t o
the c h e s t ,
breaking
the
p a r i e t e s
a n d crushing the lung; a l s o
laceration
of t h e f a ce with
such
v i ol ence as to force out two
of
the t e e t h . Th e appearance o f things a t the time w a s s u c h , a s t o
f o r c e
from
the medical attendant
a
most
unfavourable
o p i n i o n .
Yet, how simple
w as the treatment employed; how s a t i s f a c t o r y
its
issue. Rest, co ld
water
to drink, and co ld
fomentations to
th e i n j ured p a r ts
What a
strong confidence
i s evinced here
i n the
remedial
power
of n at ure
h e r s e l f Leaving himself p a s s i v e i n her hands,
th e on ly
aid
w h i c h
he
ventures
to
afford
her,
a r i s e s
apparently
from the d i c t a t i o n o f her own v o i c e ; t h i r s t being assuaged by the
most
natural drink;
and
th e
sensation
of
painful
heat
by
th e
a p p l i c a t i o n
o f c o l d .
I t
i s an
i n t e r e s t i n g
question—how, a f t e r a l l ,
d o e s nature e f f e c t the cure?
w h a t
i s the modus
o p e r a n d i
i n
t h i s ,
and in ot her s t i l l more difficult cases, i n which, with si m i l a r
a s s i s t a n c e o n l y ,
sh e h as
been found
t o
be s u f f i c i e n t ? There
i s
no
doubt but t h a t Priessnitz does, and ever will c on si d er h i m sel f a s
both
healed
a nd
preserved
by
an
i n h e r e n t
r e m e d i a l
power
i n h i s
own
body.
He
consequently
b e l i e v e s t h a t
the
same power
e x i s t s
and
operates
w i t h equal
e f f e c t , c e t e r i s paribus, i n a l l
other
bodies.
This i s
th e
ruling
principle in t h e theory
of
the method of
cure
pursued a t Gräfenberg.
Hence
the uniformity o f the treatment;
the o b j e c t
of
w h i c h i s ,
by a general
renovation o f t he strength
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THECOLD WATERTREATMENT. 7
to gi ve scop e to the e f f e c t s of th e v i s medicatrix. The next
p r i n c i p l e
i n the t heory of
t h i s system i s , t h a t the s k i n
i s
the
instrumental organ
o f
p r e s e r v a t i o n
and
h e a l i n g , by i t s p e r s p i r i n g ,
exhaling,
and
o c c a s i o n a l l y
s e c r e t i n g
functions:
a c c o r d i n g l y ,
the
whole treatment i s applied to this organ, and to the stoma c h and
bowels,
w h i c h
may be considered as the internal skin of th e body.
The t h i r d p r i n c i p l e i n t h i s system c o n s i s t s i n m u c h e x e r c i s e i n t h e
open
a i r .
Such e x e r c i s e i s
d i r e c t l y o p e r a t i v e upon the s k i n , a n d
i s
i n
p e r f e c t
c o n s i s t e n c e
with
the theory: as
a l s o
i s temperance i n
eating
a n d
drinking;
t h o u g h
te m pe ran ce i n
eating i s , f r o m
the
temptation
I h a v e
alluded
t o , and
th e
want of self-controul, too
often
violated. Those, however, who choose to
indulge
in t h i s
r e s p e c t , i n e v i t a b l y p r o t r a c t the continuance of t h ei r d i s e a s e s .
There i s
no a b s o l u t e impunity i n
the
system a t Grafenberg f o r
any species of intemperance;
not
even for intemper a nce
in
drinking w a t e r , as the following i n s t a n c e w i l l prove.
An
elderly lady,
h a v i n g
i m b i bed the
notion
that too
much
water could
not be
t a k e n ,
took
twenty-one
h a l f
p i n t s i n
the course
of t h e
forenoon.
Very soon
a f t e r the
completion
of
t h i s amount,
a n um b ness ensued i n her
t o e s
a nd f e e t , w h i c h gradually extended
u p her l e g s , t i l l i t reached the abdomen, w he n sh e h e r s e l f beca me
insensible. The
attendants p ut
h er to
bed,
and t h r o ug h
some
un
explained motives, l e f t her u n t i l the
next
day,
when,
f i n d i n g her
a l i v e ,
they made th e
f i r s t
c o m m u n i c a t i o n of th e m a tter to
Priessnitz. When he arrived, he ordered
t h a t
she should be
r ubbed in
wa ter
of the temperature of 62°Fahr., which f e e l s cold.
When h e j udged
t h a t a
s u f f i c i e n t
r e - a c t i o n h a d been induced
upon t h e s k i n ,
s h e
was
p l a c e d i n
bed a g a i n ; and
t h i s t r e a t m e n t
appears
t o
h a v e been s u f f i c i e n t
t o a i d the
v i s m e d i c a t r i x
t o
bring
about
the
recovery
of her
former
s t a t e
of
h e a l t h .
I o c c a s i o n a l l y
met t h i s
lady
a f t e r her experiment, but I
did
not
think
i t neces
sary t o ask h e r , whether sh e now partook m o r e temperately of
the s i m p l e beverage of c o l d water.
I s h a l l h a ve occasion t o r e l a t e i n another
p l a c e
t he dea th of a
young
English
lady
from
the
want,
i n
a l l
p r o b a b i l i t y ,
of
t h a t
i n t u i t i v e
genius
f o r measuring with
a glance the
v i t a l
powers
of
h i s p a t i e n t s ,
so
absurdly
a t t r i b u t e d t o
P r i e s s n i t z ; whose
r e a l good
common
s e n s e ,
a n d unquestionable modesty, would
lead him to
b e
t h e foremost in disclaiming i t .
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8
GRAFENBERG,
AND
No; P r i e s s n i t z has n o
such
i n t u i t i v e g e n i u s .
His
treatment
r e s t s
upon t h e broad,
open, a nd
common sense
p r i n c i p l e s
of
strengthening
the
general
h e a l t h by open
a i r ,
a nd c o l d bathing;
by d i l u t i n g
a c r i d s e c r e t i o n s
with c o l d
w a t e r ,
a n d aiding t h e i r e x i t
by perspiration.
Perhaps
one of
the
most f r e q u e n t l y used
medicines
i s
Dover's,
or James's powder. And f o r w h a t purpose ? To bring on per
s p i r a t i o n . Yes, t h i s
h as
been the anxious
a i m of
many
an
able
p h y s i c i a n .
How o f t e n does p e r s p i r a t i o n shorten the
p er iod of
fever,
and p roduce
a
favourable
c r i s i s .
What
operation
i s more
desirable
i n
incipient
diseases of
th e
chest,
t h a n
th e
exercise
of
t h i s
f u n c t i o n of
the
s k i n
P e r s p i r a t i o n i n rheumatic
a f f e c t i o n s ,
i n
d i s e a s e s o f
the
bowels, a nd g e n e r a l l y
i n all the
complaints o f
c h i l d h o od , is of itself almost sufficient t o t e r m i n a t e the disease.
Physicians have, i n t h e o r y , disputed much about the
“humoral
pathology,” n e v e r t h e l e s s they
have, i n p r a c t i c e ,
no l e s s than f i v e
orders
of
diaphoretics. Assuredly
they h a v e manifested much
more
ingenuity
than
P r i e s s n i t z
i n t h e
invention
of s u d o r i f i c
instruments,
though
they
h a v e
not
attained
to
his
success
i n
their
application.
Modes of
e f f e c t i n g P e r s p i r a t i o n
a t Gräfenberg.
Th e means
employed
by P r i e s s n i t z
t o
produce
p e r s p i r a t i o n
are
simple and e f f i c a c i o u s . They are
only
two. ( 1 )
Th e naked
body i s bound round, a s t i g h t l y a s p o s s i b l e , with a t h i c k b l a n k e t ,
a n d afterwards covered with a f e a t h e r bed. In t h i s p o s i t i o n the
person
l i e s
from
one
to
f i v e
hours,
according
t o h i s
aptness
or
inaptness to perspire. When perspiration i s decidedly esta
b l i s h e d ,
a n d
i s intended t o be continued, then c o l d water i s given,
about a
quarter
o f
a pint a t
a t i m e , a t
i n t e r v a l s
o f twenty minutes,
or h a l f an hour; by
w h i c h
means the p e r s p i r a t i o n
i s
i n c r e a s e d .
When the p a t i e n t h as perspired s u f f i c i e n t l y (from h a l f a n hour to
three hours, according to circumstances), h e i s uncovered
by
a n
attendant t o t h e
last bl a n ket, i n
which he
descends
t o the cold
bath
room;
where,
throwing
o f f
h i s
c o v e r i n g ,
h e
s t e p s
i n t o
the
bath,
a nd
a f t e r
one or t wo d i p s , comes
ou t
a g a i n . The attendant
s u p p l i e s h i m with a dr y s h e e t , over w h i c h i s presently thrown h i s
dressing-gown, and h e returns t o h i s room t o f i n i s h h i s t o i l e t .
Many patients
are considered too
weak to
bear the
cold b at h
at
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THE
COLD WATER
TREATMENT. 9
the n a t u r a l temperature, w h i c h i n October was about 41°Fahren
heit:
such
patients
are washed
i n a
tub,
wit h
w ater at
th e tempe
r a t u r e
of
62°Fahrenheit,
a nd
w it h on ly
about
three
or
four
inches
of
water
in the tub. This w a s h i n g occupies only a m i n u t e or two.
( 2 )
Th e
second
mode o f e f f e c t i n g p e r s p i r a t i o n
i s ,
by f i r s t
placing
on
th e bed a sheet, which after
being
dipped in c ol d w at er , h a s
been well w r u n g o u t , a n d spread upon
a
b l a n k e t . The naked
body i s then enveloped i n the
s h e e t ,
from the neck t o the f e e t in
c l u s i v e ,
a nd immediately covered with
the b l a n k e t , w h i c h
i s
bound
a s
t i g h t l y as p o s s i b l e : over a l l comes the f e a t h e r - b e d , w h i c h
i s
everywhere
used
a s
a
covering
i n
Ge r m a n y;
f o r t h i s
t wo
or
three a d d i t i o n a l blankets m ight be s u b s t i t u t e d i n t h i s country.
This
second
mode
o f
producing
p e r s p i r a t i o n
i s i n mo re
general
use a t Gräfenberg than the f i r s t ; n o t , however, f o r the production
of so
copious
a s t a t e o f p e r s p i r a t i o n , but c h i e f l y
t o e x c i t e
t he sk in
to
a more gentle
a c t i o n , without
t h a t i r r i t a t i o n
which
the
blanket
next
to th e
body occasions. On
this account,
invalids re m a i n
thus bound i n the wrung-out sheet and blankets from
h a l f
an
hour
t o
an
hour
only;
a nd
then
proceed e i t h e r t o the c o l d bath,
or
t o t h e
tempered
washing, according to
each p e r s o n ' s
s t r e n g t h ,
a n d g r e a t e r f i t n e s s f o r the one operation or
the
o t h e r .
For
t h a t
state of skin which
f ev er i n du ces, both in ch ildren
and adults, I know of nothing
w h i c h acts
so certainly,
so
imme
d i a t e l y , and so
b e n e f i c i a l l y a s
t h i s mode
o f usi ng th e wrung-out
s h e e t . I w i l l
give
a n
instance
of
two, i n
w h i c h I have myself
a p p l i e d
i t ,
a nd witnessed i t s t r u l y
charming
e f f e c t s .
A gardener's son, a child
about eleven
years o l d ,
co m p l a i ned
of great
weakness,
s e n s a t i o n s of c o l d , l o s s
o f
a p p e t i t e , and t h i r s t .
The s k i n , however,
w a s
hot a nd d r y , the tongue
white,
and the
pulse 120.
He h a d
been
three
or f o u r
days i n
t h i s s t a t e .
I
per
suaded
h i s
f a t h e r t o s u f f e r
the
wrung-out sheet t o be
a p p l i e d ,
w h i c h
w as
throw n
e n t i r e l y
over the c h i l d
from
head t o f o o t ,
leaving only h i s f a c e
uncovered. He w a s
then wrapped round
with
blankets
on
h i s
bed,
a nd
I
s a t
down
by
h i s
s i d e
t o n o t i c e
t h e e f f e c t .
At
f i r s t t h e child cried upon t h e
sudden
application of
t h e cold sheet;
but
as soon as ever h e was covered by
t h e
b l a n k e t s ,
h e
beca me q u i t e
s i l e n t ; i n
about a
minute h i s p a l e
cheeks were s u f f u s e d with a red glow, the r e a c t i o n of
t h e
skin
had
taken place,
and in another m i n u t e
a m oi st ur e
over a l l
t h e
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10 GRAFENBERG, AND
dry skin h ad f o l l o w e d . He s a i d h e w a s now very
w a r m ,
a nd i n
less
t h a n
f i v e
m i nutes more
he
was
f a s t
asleep. He
slept a bout
four
hours,
and
a w o ke
with
such an a p p e t i t e ,
that
h e would
not re
main i n
bed,
but
dressed
himself,
took
some food,
and
sat
again
in
h i s former
p o s i t i o n
by the kitchen
f i r e . But
t h i s hasty indulgence
recalled t h e f e b r i l e symptoms, and h e had again to submit to th e
s h e e t , w h i c h w a s
followed
by
a good
n i g h t ' s
r e s t . In
the
morn
i ng he
was
washed in a tub of cold
wa ter ( i t
was i n t h e summer
and
also in th e
evening
before h e
went
to bed. This was con
tinued only four d a y s , w h e n h e went ou t t o w o r k with h i s
f a t h e r ,
and
has
since
continued
well.
An
i n f a n t ,
only
t e n
mont hs
o l d ,
w as
much
d i s t r e s s e d ,
during
i t s t e e t h i n g ,
with f e v e r i s h
heat
a nd
r e s t l e s s n e s s . So
great was
i t s
i r r i t a t i o n , t h a t
nothing
would
appease i t ;
i t wou ld take
n o
food;
i t r e f u s e d
the
b r e a s t ;
a n d could not s l e e p .
A
l a r g e t o w e l ,
h av in g b een dipped i n cold
fresh water,
was wrung out, and
spread
upon
a b la nket on the l i t t l g i r l ' s bed. Sh e w as then un
d r e s s e d , a n d
most
c r u e l l y
deposited
upon
the wet
c l o t h s
( h e r
arms,
however,
b e i n g
l e f t o u t ) ,
a n d immediately covered by t wo
or
three
folds
of
blanket.
There
was
a
scream
of
surprise
at
f i r s t ,
bu t not many moments elapsed
before
sh e was i n comfort—
“Tired n a t u r e ' s sweet r e s t o r e r , b a l m y
s l e e p , ”
h a d l i g h t e d on her l i d s , a n d gi ven h er p e a c e .
During t hi s sl eep profuse perspiration took place, as well upon
the
head a nd f a c e ,
a s
upon
t h e covered p a r t s of the
body.
The
a rm s w er e
purposely
l e f t
uncovered
by
t h e
s h e e t ,
i n
order
not
t o
c o n f i n e
t h e i r
motions, w h i c h
i n
young
c h i l d r e n
are very
a c t i v e ,
and would,
had
th e arms been pinioned down to th e
s i d e s ,
h a v e
disturbed the
c l o s e n e s s o f
the
c o v e r i n g s ,
w h i c h
ought c a r e f u l l y t o
be preserved.
In
the month of J u ly l a s t ,
dur ing
a v i s i t
to
a
friend in
th e
county
o f Galway, I
w as requested
to v i s i t a
tenant
o f h i s , whom
I found i n the following c o n d i t i o n . He
was
a man about t we n ty
six
years
of age, of
a n
an x ious
countenance,
and
much
a l a r med
f o r h i s
l i f e . His
f a c e w a s f l u s h e d , a n d h i s
s k i n dry
a n d
hot;
h i s
legs a nd
thighs
were c o o l e r , a n d m a r ked
with p e t e c h i a e ;
h i s tongue
w a s dry a nd brown, a n d h i s l i p s da rk wi th
sordes;
h i s pulse w a s
about 120; h e h ad great t h i r s t , a nd no a p p e t i t e . He f e l t extremely
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THECOLD WATERTREATMENT. 11
weak, a nd complained o f
head-ache
a n d d y s u r i a . He h a d
been
i l l
for six
days. A nurse
of the
country was
in
attendance, who
pronounced
h i m
t o
h a ve
t h e f e v e r .
Accordingly
the
poor
man
was, by common consent, p u t into quarantine,
and a n y
aid that
w a s a f f o r d e d him, w a s c a u t i o u s l y
confined
t o the o u t s i d e of h i s
c a b i n . I t w a s with great d i f f i c u l t y t h a t I could
persuade t h i s
patient to submit to
th e w et sheet. He
talked some t i me
about
i t with h i s
nurse
i n I r i s h ,
the
r e s u l t of w h i c h
was,
t h a t
she honestly
confessed that s h e could not
be
r e s p o n s i b l e
f o r
h i s l i f e , s i n c e she
had “no
knowledge of that w a y , ” and
h e
was
therefore afraid
to
t r y
i t .
“Besides,
S i r , ” s a i d
h e ,
very
shrewdly,
“when
you
were
Dispensary doc tor h er e ten years ago, you never p r a c t i s e d i t . ”
Upon t h i s
I w a s
obliged
t o go i n t o the
h i s t o r y
o f
t h i s w a t e r - c u r e ,
a nd t o
a s s u r e
him,
t h a t
although I w a s ignorant of
i t t h e n , i t
w a s
because
i t
w a s discovered i n
a
f o r e i g n l a n d , a nd h ad not
a t
t h a t
time been made k n o w n i n our country; but t h a t I h ad so much
confidence i n i t s
powers
of doing him good, that i f h e would
submit himself t o my judgement, I would put the f i r s t sheet on h i m
myself,
and
rema in
in
h is
cabin
t i l l
h e
assured
me
himself
that
h e
f e l t b e t t e r . This
determined
him :—“Well,
doctor,
here I am ; do
with me
w h a t
you
l i k e . ”
With
the
a s s i s t a n c e o f
the
nurse we
prepared
a
s h e e t , a nd
wrapped the
p a t i e n t i n i t ,
covering h i m
w i t h a l l the
blankets,
rags, coats,
a n d
clothes we could
muster.
I n
a bout
ten m i nutes th e patient
f e l t
relieved, and I l e f t him for
the
n i g h t .
The next morn i ng h e consented t o be washed from
head
to f o o t , s i t t i n g i n a tub of cold
w ater;
after w h i c h
h e
was
placed
i n
bed,
and, upon th e return of the
fever,
a f t e r a short
s l e e p ,
he
requested of
his
own
accord
to
h a v e another
wet
sheet.
This h e repeated s e v e r a l times t h a t
n i g h t ,
drinking p l e n t i f u l l y o f
cold
water. Th e t h i r d night h e s l e p t a long time i n h i s wet
sheet,
and on the sixth h is pulse was 80 , and th e fever had
l e f t
h i m . A f ew
days afterwards
h e was at work in t h e f i e l d s . No
medicine whatever h a d been given h i m during my
attendance;
b u t
h e
had been
p urged
before
I
saw
h i m . The f i r s t night,
how
ever,
I allowed him to take a bout ten
gr a i ns o f
nitre in his
water,
more to
oblige the
nurse t h a n
to benefit th e patient.
The r u l e f o r applying the wet s h e e t ,
i n
c a s e s of f e v e r , i s , t o
change i t
a s
soon a s i t becomes d r y , and t he p a t i e n t a g a i n c o m p l a i n s
of u n c o m f o r t a b l e h e a t . I t
may
be necessary t o r e p e a t
i t
many
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12 GRAFENBERG, AND
times during
both
day a nd n i g h t .
Th e
most r e f r e s h i n g s l e e p i s
sometimes obtained i n the wet sheet.
Th e r e s u l t o f these c a s e s , from my own observance; the re
membrance
of
the virtue ascribed to cold water in Dr. Currie s
Reports; and t he i nfor ma ti on
we
h ad r e c e i v e d from
C l a r i d g e ' s
account
of Gräfenberg,
made me
a n x ious to v i s i t
the
place
i t s e l f ,
and investigate
upon
th e
spot
th e principles and practice
of
t h i s
far -famed
system.
In the
en d of September,
o f the present y e a r , I
a r r i v e d
a t
Gräfenberg, and was received by Priessnitz in
a
small room of
a
large building, h a v i n g the a p pea r a nce of
an
hospital, but bea uti
f u l l y situated on a m o u n t a i n , w h i c h arises f rom th e v a l l e y , i n which
stands th e post-town of
Freiwaldau.
The m o u n t a i n of Gräfen
b er g f or m s
one of
a s e m i c i r c l e ,
which stands o p p o s i t e
t o another
range, f r o m w h i c h
i t i s
separated
by
the
beautiful va lley
of
Frei
waldau
a nd
Böm ischtof, w hi ch,
gradually widening
l i k e a
great
r i v e r , spreads i t s e l f out at
length
into a distant and luxuriant
p l a i n . Noth i ng can be f i n e r than
the
prospect f rom G rä fen ber g
a nd
the
adjacent
h i l l s ;
the
walks
a r e
very
v a r i o u s
a nd
a c c e s s i b l e ;
th e p i ne
forests
which
crown
th e summits of almost a l l th e moun
tains
afford a n agreeable
shade
i n the heat
of summer, and
the
a i r i s
fresh,
sweet,
and
invigorating. To practise temperance,
a n d
take
r e g u l a r e x e r c i s e , breathing
day a f t e r day
a n atmosphere
l i k e
t h i s ,
must surely tend to preserve and
restore
health in a
more
powerful degree, t h a n th e
draughts of the
cold
m o u n t a i n
springs;
w h i c h
n e v e r t h e l e s s are r e f r e s h i n g t o the b l o o d ,
and
purify
i t s
secretions.
Bu t t o r e t u r n t o P r i e s s n i t z : he i s
a
s e n s i b l e - l o o k i n g man of
business, w i t h
an expression
of good humour
a n d firmness, and
l i s t e n s w i t h
exempl a ry
patience, as i f
h e
had well
considered
th at proverb,
“He
that answereth a
matter before
h e heareth i t ,
i t i s f o l l y a n d s h a me unto
him.”
Would
that
physicians would
l i s t e n to
h i s
system
with
the same
p a t i e n c e ,
i n s t e a d of answering
wit h ou t understanding
i t .
Priessnitz acts w i t h common
sense
upon
p l a i n p r i n c i p l e s
of
good
h e a l t h ,
acknowledged
over
all
the
world; a nd sometimes
h e
com m i ts mistakes, o c c a s i o n a l l y even
f a t a l ones, amidst
the
mysteries
o f
the
powers o f
l i f e a n d
d e a t h .
Bu t
w h a t modest p h y s i c i a n
w i l l
assume t o himself
the
c o r r e c t
d i a g n o s i s o f
every case ?
o r
w i l l
arrogate
t o
himself
the impossi
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THECOLD WATER
TREATMENT.
13
b i l i t y of f a l l i n g into error? I f there
b e
a n y such, i t i s surely
n ot
h e
who
attributed to a
lady's
w as h i ng h er neck
and
chest
w i t h
cold
water
a
most
dangerous
and
p r ot ra ct ed b ra i n
fever.
When I had stated th e nature of the complaint under
w h i c h
I
h a d s u f f e r e d many y e a r s ,
P r i e s s n i t z
s a i d ,
“Such
a continued
habit
of body c a nnot b e
cured in
a
short ti me; b ut
I w i l l show
you i n
w h a t
way
t o
c o m m e n c e the c u r e ,
a nd
you can afterwards
pursue
i t
a t home.”
A
bed wa s
then a l l o t t e d t o
m e, and
a
p or ti on of
a
large room,
in
which were si x other i n v a l i d s . The
room was 50 feet by 40 , and about 9 feet
high.
It had a
stove
i n
i t ,
w h i c h
kept
the
temperatu re about
66°
Fahrenheit,
a
l i t t l
l e s s
during
the
n i g h t . Every person i s
obliged t o
purchase
h i s
own
m a t t r a s s , blankets a nd c o v e r i n g s , s h e e t i n g , t o w e l s , bandages,
&c., a very
clean and
necessary regulation.
When
I retired to
bed,
t h e attendant informed me,
t h a t
at five
o ' c l o c k
i n
the
morning I w as t o
be
enveloped i n a wet s h e e t , so
to re m ai n half an hour, and then to descend to the b a t h - room,
where P r i e s s n i t z w ou ld m eet
me; and
that upon n o t i c i n g
my
behaviour
i n
the
c ol d w at er ,
he would
then fix
t h e
n a t u r e
of
t h e
a b l u t i o n s f i t t e d t o my c a s e . This
w a s
accordingly
done; a nd
a f t e r the wet s h e e t , I w a s f i r s t placed i n a tub with water not
m o r e than
t h r e e
i n c h e s
i n
d e p t h ,
a nd of
the temperature
o f
62°
Fahrenheit. In
t h i s
I w a s splashed f o r a few moments, P r i e s s n i t z
himself throwing some handfuls of water on the stomach. I then
took two dips over h e a d
in
t he c ol d plunge-bath,
at
the tempera
ture of
41°, and returned for another moment
or
two
into th e tub
of
tempered
water,
which
then
conveyed
to
me
a
very c om f or t a b le
s e n s a t i o n of w a r m t h. P r i e s s n i t z , perceiving t h a t I bore
a l l
t h i s
w e l l , ordered t h a t
i t should be
continued every
morning; i n
a dd it i on t o which
I was to
s i t i n
a tub of w a ter , a t 62°Fahrenheit,
f o r twenty minutes, about 1 1 A.M.; to drink f i v e p i n t s of water
in
the
course of the d a y , but n o t i f i t inconvenienced me: t o
w a l k about i n the open a i r , or t o take e x e r c i s e by sawing or
chopping
wood. In the
a f t e r n o o n , about f i v e o ’ c l o c k ,
I w a s t o
have
a dripp ing
sheet
thrown over
m e,
which the attendant was
to r u b upon
the skin
for
three or four minutes, and
then
to dry
me
with
another. After
t h i s
I took a second
s i t - b a t h .
Every
other a f t e r n o o n , i n s t e a d of t h i s treatment, I
w as
t o be enveloped
in
a w et sheet, a n d
after i t
to take
th e
ba t h
as i n th e
m o rn i ng.
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14 GRAFENBERG, AND
I n the second
week
of my
treatment,
t h e dou c h e was added, under
w h i c h I was to rema in
a d l i b i t u m .
I f ound (experto crede) that
f r o m a bout
half
a
m i n u t e
to a m i n u t e i s a s u f f i c i e n t length of t i m e
to
rem a i n u nder
a
very
powerful
ducking,
p a r t i c u l a r l y
on
a
f r o s t y
m o rn i ng.
This powerful instrument,
the
douche, h a s by common consent
been considered a s the
proximate
cause o f
most
of the c r i s e s
so
welcome
at
Gräfenberg. In
my own case,
a f t e r a
w eek ' s a p p l i ca
tion of
i t ,
from h a l f a
minute
to a t most two
minutes a t a
t i me,
there appeared a small pimple on
my s k i n , w h i c h i n c r e a s e d
from
day t o day,
u n t i l a t the
en d
o f
a
week i t h ad
become a l a r g e
b o i l ,
h a v i n g
a circumference
of
inflamed
skin
about
six
inches
i n dia
meter, w i t h a raised summit of
th e
s i z e of
a
s h i l l i n g .
In th e
course of another week i t h ad t h r ow n out a slough, and
begun
to
h e a t .
I t
w a s c o n s t a n t l y moistened by
a
bandage
of
l i n e n dipped
i n
c o l d
water
a n d
covered by
a dr y
one. This
w a s the only
treatment; a n d whenever
pain
w a s
f e l t ,
the renewing
o f
the cold
bandage immediately removed i t . Two more
b o i l s
commenced,
w h i c h were not of
th e
same magnitude, but were
equally
matters
of
c o n g r a t u l a t i o n
a nd
t r o u b l e .
They
prevented
much
e x e r c i s e ,
b u t
th e wet
sheets were not discontinued;
for
a
f ew
days th e
cold
p lu nge ba t h was
omitted,
as well as
th e
sit-bath;
but th e
tempered baths
a nd
the dripping s h e e t s were continued with great
advantage, removing the heat
of
the
s k i n and i n v i g o r a t i n g
i t .
It is
ev ident t h a t Priessnitz has imbibed
t h e doctrine,
t h a t
every d i s e a s e d appearance,
every
morbid sy mp t om , u p on the s k i n
e s p e c i a l l y ,
i s
a
remedial e f f o r t o f nature t o dislodge the cause
of
such
symptoms.
From
an
untoward
pimple
upon
the n o s e ,
to
the
c o n f l u e n t
eruption of the small-pox over
the whole body,
the
v i s m e d i c a t r i x i s engaged; i n the former, e x h i b i t i n g the e v i l
i n t r u d e r
i n
a s p e c i e s
of
p i l l o r y ; i n the l a t t e r
expiring
h e r s e l f
i n
a
prodigious
struggle t o expel an
e x h a u s t l e s s
p o i s o n .
But t h i s doctrine w a n t s neither
rational
grounds
n or able
advocates t o
uphold i t .
The d o c t r i n e
i s t h i s , That
the s k i n i s the
instrument o r organ
of
a c o n s e r v a t i v e , a nd
of a
remedial
power.
Let us j u s t
n o t i c e
the f a c t s w h i c h confirm
a c o n s e r v a t i v e
power
i n the human frame, t r u l y , most f e a r f u l l y a nd wonderfully
made;
a n d then we s h a l l the m o re e a s i l y a r r i v e a t t h e b e l i e f of a re
media l power, a nd be t h e b e t t e r prepared t o c o n f i d e i n i t . I do
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THECOLD WATER
TREATMENT. 15
\
not
propose t o
answer
o b j e c t i o n s , o r remove d i f f i c u l t i e s , i n such
a
n a r r a t i v e as
t h i s ; but
merely
t o show t h a t P r i e s s n i t z has
a
r a t i o n al b a s i s f o r h i s
p r i n c i p l e ,
a nd can produce manifold i l l u s t r a
tions
of
i ts
success.
To w h a t can we more reasonably a t t r i b u t e the common sensa
tions of h u nger a n d t h i r s t , t h a n to a n inherent preservative power
i n
the human
frame
We know
how
powerful
these sensations
a r e . Though the mind h as s u f f i c i e n t power over th e body to
subdue
i t s
u n r u l y
a p p e t i t e s ,
w he n t h a t m i n d i s m a de
so
w i l l i n g ;
yet th e necessary appetites
of hunger and
t h i r s t
no man
i s made
w i l l i n g t o r e s i s t ;
because
they are the c o m m a n ds o f a power
w h i c h
h i s
gracious
Creator
has
m a d e
g o o d ,
a nd
implanted
i n h i s
f r a m e for
i t s necessary functions. Without
these imperative
powers of h i s body, the contemplative s p i r i t o f
man
might
f o r g e t
his frame, and sink exhausted by d e b i l i t y . Hunger
and
t h i r s t
rouse him from
abstraction,
and with an instinctive co nser v a t i ve
power,
compel
the m i n d t o
p a y n e c e s s a r y
a t t e n t i o n t o the body.
And wi th a perfection
proper
to
instinctive
powers, these conser
vative sensations not only
prompt
t h e necessity
of
food and
d r i n k , b u t ,
by
another
d e l i c a t e
a nd
p l e a s i n g
change
o f f e e l i n g ,
conservative
also i n i t s a i m, giv e notice
of
sufficiency
to
the
mind.
Woe
un to him who habitually neglect these instincts; they are
to the body, w h a t the conscience i s t o the mind. As neglect of
t h e l a t t e r w i l l sear th e conscience
a n d render
reprobate th e mind;
so
resistance
to th e former w i l l blunt t eir edge,
and
n o barrier
will re m ai n against
manifold diseases.
Again, man i n e x e r c i s e m u l t i p l i e s t h e heat o f
h i s
body; i f
there
was
no conservative function to relieve this increase of
c a l o r i c , o p p r e s s i o n , headache, congestion o f the heart a nd l u n g s ,
and f i n a l l y f e v e r , would e n s u e . Here the ordinary function o f the
skin,
increased
to a
copious perspiration, gives
vent to
th e
accumu
l a t e d h e a t ,
a n d i n t h i s case a c t s
as a
p r e s e r v a t i v e power, a nd
in
many other c a s e s by
the same
process
as a
r e m e d i a l
one.
I t i s a
p r e v e n t i v e i n the
former, a nd a c u r e i n
the
l a t t e r
i n s t a n c e .
I t may,
however,
f a i r l y
be
asked: i
the
s k i n
be a
remedial
organ,
how a r e
we to a ccou nt for the protracted obstinacy of many cutaneous dis
eases? This
q u e s t i o n may be a s
f a i r l y
answered:
e i t h e r
t h a t
the
causes o f e v i l s e c r e t i o n s a r e
c o n t i n u a l l y
kept up, so a s
a t l e n g t h ,
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16
GRAFENBERG, AND
t o disorganize the s k i n ,
or
t h a t the treatment has
g e n e r a l l y
been
t o f o r c e back, rather than t o give i s s u e t o ,
cutaneous
e r u p t i o n s .
Whence arose the p r a c t i c e o f
i s s u e s ?
Was i t not drawn
from
the
observation,
that,
where
such
issues
had
naturally
occurred,
the symptoms o f d i s e a s e
gave
w a y ? a nd on the c o n t r a r y , where
such
h ad
been suddenly
h e a l e d , those sym p t o ms h a d been aggra
vated
?
A s t r i k i n g c a s e w h i c h
I
m et
with
at Gräfenberg
w i l l
i l l u s t r a t e t h i s . A physician showed me
his
hands, w h i c h were
p e r f e c t l y healthy
a n d of
q u i t e
a
n a t u r a l
colour; a n d
then
s t a t e d ,
t h a t h e h ad
s u f f e r e d
f o r ten years a cutaneous e r u p t i o n occupying
th e fingers and the p a l m s
of
th e
h a nds;
that h e had i n vain tried
every
known
remedy;
that
i n
the
course
o f t h i s
long
p e r i o d ,
the
s o r e s
were
sometimes c h e c k e d ,
but
always broke
ou t a g a i n . Since
he
h a d
been
at
Gräfenberg, h e had d r u n k f r o m n i ne to twelve h a l f
pints of water in the day,
h a d
used the wet sheet, th e
p l u nge
b a t h , sometimes t h e
douche,
and had walked about
much i n the
open
a i r . The
e f f e c t of t h i s
treatment,
in l e s s
t h a n a m o n t h ,
was
a t f i r s t
t o
i n c r e a s e
g r e a t l y the
e r u p t i o n , a f t e r which
i t t o t a l l y
dis
appeared. There w a s not ev en a t r a c e o f d i s e a s e ; so purely a nd
e f f e c t u a l l y had the skin been renewed. I t should b e r em ar ked
that bandages of l i n e n , wet with cold water a nd covered by
dry
o n e s ,
were a p p l i e d e x t e r n a l l y ,
a n d t h a t
no
other
i n t e r n a l
remedy w a s administered, but t h i s abundance o f c o l d w a t e r .
Now i f the eruptions on t h e skin are c r i t i c a l or remedi al , their
extent
a nd
duration w i l l depend upon the quantity o f morbid
matter t o be e x p e l l e d . I f the treatment employed
h a ve
the
e f f e c t s
of
r e s i s t i n g
the
e x i t
o f
the
e r u p t i v e
m a t t e r , o r
healing the
i s s u e s
to
i t too s o o n , i t would be reasonable t o
e x p e c t ,
that
as long
a s
the healing
power
o f the body continued
sound,
i t would
again
a nd
again renew i t s
e f f o r t s t o open
them,
a n d t o
expel the
d isea sed m a tt er . Whenever
we
observe, therefore,
a s i n t h e
preceding c a s e ,
a n
eruption recurri ng
to
the skin a f t e r
repeated
e f f o r t s to h eal i t ,
we
should
come
at length to
t h e
conclusion,
that
we
are struggling
against
th e v i s medicatrix, instead
of
assist
ing
h e r .
We
ought
l i k e w i s e t o
c o n f e s s ,
t h a t
her
power
i s
greater
than ours; t h a t sh e h as
h a d
much
p a t i e n c e with
our blundering;
t h a t
we h a v e been
stopped i n our narrow path
by
an a n g e l , a nd
t h a t we
ought
t o f all down
and be t h a n k f u l .
We
p e r c e i v e
i n
the foregoing
c a s e ,
t h a t a s
soon
a s
an
o b s t i n a t e
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THECOLD WATER
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17
perseverance contrary t o nature
w a s
given
u p ,
and a conduct i n
conjunction
with
her persevered i n ,
the
r e s u l t
w a s happy,
and the
success
complete.
An officer
in
t h e
Hanoverian
service
left
Gräfenberg a few weeks a f t e r my
a r r i v a l t h e r e ,
r e s t o r e d t o
p e r f e c t
h e a l t h . I m et h i m afterwards on the L e i p s i c
a nd M a gdeb u rg
r a i l r o a d
on my
r e t u r n t o England,
a nd h e
w a s s t i l l enjoying h i s
recovery.
This
o f f i c e r had
served
in
the
peninsula campaign:
and afterwards, i n t h e battle of Waterloo,
was
wounded in t h e
ankle b y
a
musketball,
a nd
placed
on a
t a b l e
f o r amputation
of
the
leg; when,
a party
o f
French p r i s o n e r s being
c a r r i e d
r a p i d l y
p a s t , the surgeons mistook
the
mo ve ment f o r a
charge
of
the
enemy,
and
forthwith r e t r e a t e d , leav ing the
operation f o r a mo re
t r a n q u i l
o p p o r t u n i t y .
The
wounded o f f i c e r
w a s
l e f t on the f i e l d
t i l l e a r l y the next morning, w h e n h e w a s conveyed t o Brussels;
and
h i s l e g ,
not appearing
then
t o need amputation,
w a s
p e r f e c t l y
c ured w i thout i t .
Bu t
h e h ad been many
years
s u b j e c t t o
chronic
d i a r r h o e a ,
b e s i d e s having
taken the measles during
h i s
s e r v i c e i n
Spain;
w h i c h
d i s e a s e ,
not
being
properly
attended
t o ,
w as
fol
l ow ed b y general nervous and
muscular
p a i n s , accompanied by
p a r t i a l eru p ti ons of
the
skin continually
recurring.
Fo r t h i s dis
ordered
s t a t e
of health
h e
h a d consulted v a r i o u s
p h y s i c i a n s ,
both
i n E n g l a n d and on th e continent, b u t w i t h o u t success. At length
he submitted to th e treatment of a q uack, who had set up a
hydropathic i n s t i t u t i o n , without
any
competent knowledge
of
d i s e a s e , or
any extended
experience
i n
the water-cure.
How
ever,
he
undertook
to
cu re
t h i s
o f f i c e r ;
a n d
forthwith
began
to
sweat, and douche, and duck
him
in so unspa r ing a m an n er , that
h i s p a t i e n t escaped
f o r
h i s l i
t o
Gräfenberg. Here h e w a s
t r e a t e d i n a much milder w ay; th ough on the same general princi
p l e . M o r e gentle p e r s p i r a t i o n w a s produced; the douche w a s
omitted;
wet
s h e e t s were u s e d ,
and general a b l u t i o n s
with water
a t
the
temperature
o f 62°Fahr. Th e chronic d i a r r h o e a abated
a f t e r f o u r t e e n d a y s ' use o f the s i t - b a t h , w h i c h h e remained i n f o r
an
hour
a t
a
t i m e ,
and
o f t e n
repeated
twice
a
d a y .
He
t o l d
me
t h a t h e a t t r i b u t e d mo re r e l i e f from t h i s complaint t o the s i t - b a t h
t h a n a n y other process. But I do not see how h e could distin
gui sh t he e f f e c t of this
f r o m
t h e e f f e c t of various other a p p l i c a
t i o n s
o f cold water t o the
s k i n ,
w h ich were m a d e d a i l y
i n
con
junction w i t h
th e
s i t - b a t h . He remained six months
a t
Gräfen
B
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18
GRAFENBERG, AND
b e r g , a nd
a l l
the
symptoms
o f h i s i n d i s p o s i t i o n appear
to have
terminated with th e h ea li ng o f
a
l a r g e eruption
on the back,
w h i c h
took
p l a c e
a f t e r t h i s
treatment
h ad
been
continued
f o r
some time.
A gentleman, about f i f t y years o f age, a r r i v e d a t Grafenberg
in
the month
of June l a s t . Hi s c on di ti on a t t ha t time, as sta ted
to
me
by h i m s e l f ,
w as
the following:—Appearance
aged
a nd worn,
s k i n
s a l l o w , breathing d i f f i c u l t ,
could
not w a l k up
the
l e a s t eleva
t i o n
without
exhaustion, great p a l p i t a t i o n
o f
the h e a r t , oedema of
the lower
e x t r e m i t i e s , pains i n
the
region of th e k i d n e y s ,
d i s o r d e r
of
the stomach
a nd
bowels, f u n c t i o n s
i r r e g u l a r , scanty
a nd
high
coloured
u r i n e , deep depression of s p i r i t s with great
d e b i l i t y .
I n t h i s
condition,
nevertheless, Priessnitz ordered him into the
tempered, a nd t h e n i n t o t h e
c o l d
p l unge bath; but so complete
w a s
h i s
exhaustion upon
com i ng
o u t ,
t h a t
h e
could
s c a r c e l y move,
a n d
with great
d i f f i c u l t y ascended s t e p by s t e p t o h i s
bed-room. Of a
surety, if Priessnitz has an i n tuit i ve
power
of measur ing the v i t a l
f o r c e , h e
c a l c u l a t e d
i t i n t h i s
c a s e t o the
s m a l l e s t p o s s i b l e f r a c t i o n
of the
e n t i r e
q u a n t i t y . Another d i p ,
a n d
h e
would h a ve g r e a t l y
overrated
i t I feel convinced from the commencement of t h i s
case,
a s
well
as from t h e t er m i na t i on of i t , t h a t
to att ri but e
t o
P r i e s s n i t z
any
such
i n t u i t i o n , i s but
t o f l a t t e r h i m with
the
pos
session of a power w h i c h n o
man
i s gifted
with, and
to
h a z a r d
human l i f e b y persuading
h i m
t o
a c t upon such
a
presumption.
That
t h e r e i s much
good i n
h i s
system, the
evidence o f
t h i s case
w i l l
confirm;
that
there
i s
also
much
danger,
i t
h a s
already
mani
fested; and t h a t t here
i s much
more f or
him
to
learn,
the conclu
s i o n o f
i t w i l l
s u f f i c i e n t l y prove. The s u c c e s s f u l termination
of
the c a s e may redound t o h i s p r a i s e ; but i f a mouse h ad not
assisted t h e l i o n , h e m i g h t h a v e s t i l l been perplexed in the net.
The good common sense wit h w h i c h Priessnitz i s r e a l l y g i f t e d ,
caused h i m immediately
t o
f o r b i d the f u r t h e r use of cold water
for a time;
since
h e
observed
how
nearly
th e
v i t a l
force had
been
exhausted
by
the
f i r s t
attempt.
However,
the
change
to many
persons m ig ht
appear but a change f o r
the
worse; f o r
the
p a t i e n t w a s now t o
be w r a pped up
i n
a damp sheet
three
times a
day, a n d
a f t e r
each wrapping, to be
washed a l l over i n
a
tub with
cold water at 62° Fahr. Notwit hsta nding t h i s treatment th e
p a t i e n t improved f o r some time; so t h a t
h e
could walk about
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THECOLD WATERTREATMENT. 19
a n d enjoy the b e a u t i f u l s c e n e r y , a nd j o i n the
general
c o m p a n y
at the table
d'hôte. Asecond
time Priessnitz considered t his
p a t i e n t
as
strong
enough
t o
b ea r t he
cold
bath;
a n d
accordingly
ordered h i m
t o take
i t ; but h e w as
immediately attacked
by a
r heu ma tic
fever, wit h
pains i n h i s l im bs, knees, ankles,
a n d
feet
upon
motion. P r i e s s n i t z y i e l d e d t o t h i s admonition, a nd
requested
the p a t i e n t t o
keep
h i s bed, a nd use only the
bandages
on h i s
limbs and abdomen. The rheumatism gradually d e p a r t e d ,
leaving
a swelling on
the
lef t h e e l . The p a t i e n t h a d now
so
much re
covered
that
h e w a s about to r e t u r n t o England. Very
g r e a t ,
notwithstanding
the
i n t e r r u p t i o n
( i f
i t
were
not
an
a s s i s t a n c e )
o f
the
rheumatic f e v e r , w as the general improvement i n h i s
s t a t e
of
h e a l t h . Th e
c o l o u r of
the s k i n
h a d become q u i t e n a t u r a l ;
the
functions of the body were
r e g u l a r
i n t h e i r o p e r a t i o n , t h e a p p e t i t e
w a s enormously s a t i s f a c t o r y , a nd h e f el t himself a n ew m a n. By
y i e l d i n g however t o the l a s t g r a t i f y i n g sym p tom , a n d f i l l i n g h i s
sto m a c h
and bowels
wit h
superabundant
secretions, h e
was
obliged
t o
remain
a t
s c h o o l a l i t t l longer; u n t i l
he l e a r n t
t h a t
temperance
was
a n
essential
principle in
good
health.
Th e
schoolmaster
i n t h i s l a s t i n s t r u c t i o n ,
appeared
i n t h e form
of a n extensive e r y s i p e l a t i v e eruption on the whole of t h e l e ft
lower extremity
from
the h e e l t o the top o f the t h i g h . Cold
ba ndages al w ays relieved the pain,
and
subdued th e
heat;
b u t so
extraordinary
was
the l a t t e r , that the wettest cloths
were
in a f ew
minutes d r i e d , a n d
c o n t i n u a l changes
were n e c e s s a r y . Anabscess
got
i s s u e a t
the lower p a r t o f t he t hi gh ;
a nd
t h i s enormous in
flammation
h a d
l a s t e d
a
f o r t n i g h t ,
abating
during
the
n i g h t ,
but
i n c r e a s i n g every day; when a f e l l o w p a t i e n t
suggested,
t h a t
pos
s i b l y i f the s u f f e r e r omitted s i x eggs a nd a l a r g e p o r t i o n of meat
from h i s
d a i l y
consumption, t he infl amm ation might abate by day
as
w e l l
a s by n i g h t . That h e
would t h e n
h a ve t o e a t bread and
b u t t e r , ad l i b i t u m , a
quart o f
milk
t o
d r i n k , and
dinner b e s i d e s .
So t h a t he need not
be
a f r a i d
of
not
complying
with the
advice
of
Priessnitz t o nourish himself
w e l l . The
patient followed t h i s
advice,
a nd
h i s
inflammation
w a s
e n t i r e l y
subdued
b y
t h a t
day
week.
Now
P r i e s s n i t z
ought
t o have
regulated
the
d i e t o f
t h i s p a t i e n t .
But he r a t h e r encouraged h i m t o e a t
w h a t
he c o u l d . P r i e s s n i t z
paid no attention in t h i s case to the relation of d i e t to the in
f lam mation. I should almost say,
h e
must disbelieve th e existence
B 2
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20
GRAFENBERG,
AND
of
any such
r e l a t i o n ,
s i n c e h e could
see an
inflammation
d a i l y
kept
u p f o r three
weeks,
without diminishing
the p a t i e n t ' s
d i e t . Unfor
tunately, when
this
inf lam mation
so rapidly
declined
a f t e r
the
p a t i e n t ' s a l t e r a t i o n
o f h i s d i e t , P r i e s s n i t z was
not
m a de acquainted
with t h i s circumstance; and, t h e r e f o r e , w i l l t o t h i s day
a t t r i b u t e
to th e
application of cold water
alone a cure,
which w i t hout
that
alteration of diet would never h a v e
taken
place.
But after a l l ,
the r e s u l t of
t h i s
c a s e
t e l l s g r e a t l y
i n
favour of
the
g e n e r a l princi
p l e s o f the water c u r e . Hazardous a s was i t s t o o rough applica
tion at
th e commencement,
and
w a n t i n g
as i t
did
a material
consideration
at
i t s
close,
nevertheless,
a
genuine
renovation
was
effected i n t h i s
gentleman's constitutional health; and
both
his
appearance and h i s strength denoted i t . He cannot be too t h a n k
f u l
f o r h i s r e s t o r at i o n ,
nor too
c a r e f u l
t o maintain the temperate
habits w h i c h h e acquired a t Gräfenberg.
I t
h a s
been
objected to
the
water-cure,
that
th e r e l i e f
afforded
b y
i t i s o f short d u r a t i o n , a n d t h a t r e l a p s e s f r e q u e n t l y o c c u r .
There c a n be no
doubt
t h a t r e l a p s e s do f r e q u e n t l y o c c u r ; but I
b e l i e v e
only
where
the
p r i n c i p l e s
o f
the cure
are
abandoned,
or pushed t o
a n
absurd extreme; or
where
the
moral strength i s
n ot
s u f f i c i e n t
to
r e s i s t th e
causes w h i c h
originated th e
disease.
I t
will be universally
admitted,
and very sparingly practised,
that
temperance and
exercise i n th e open a i r are
necessary
to good
health.
But
the daily a bl ut ion o f the w h o l e skin
w i t h
cold water
i s considered so very uncomfortable, that i t must be unnecessary.
Nevertheless, i t i s t h i s
l a s t practice
which i s peculiar
to
Gräfen
berg,
a s
a
p r e s e r v a t i v e
of
good
h e a l t h .
I
sp eak n ot
here
of
drinking much
water;
because t h i s i s a p r i n c i p l e i n the restora
t i o n of health, and o ug h t not to b e continued beyond what th e
t h i r s t
demands, or
the usual
mea ls
require, when th e
health i s re
e s t a b l i s h e d .
In
ou r v a r i a b l e
c l i m a t e ,
the
u t i l i t y
o f f o r t i f y i n g the
s k i n against the changes o f temperature i s r e a d i l y acknowledged;
but that t h i s can
most
c e r t a i n l y
be
done by d a i l y c o l d bathing,
h as
not yet
been
p r a c t i c a l l y admitted.
From
personal
experience of th e
practice,
as
well
as
from
observation
of th e
numerous
cases
daily subjected
to i t at Gräfen
berg, I am f i r m l y persuaded o f i t s e f f i c a c y a s w e l l a s of i t s s a f e t y .
For
c h i ld ren i t is
an excellent h a b i t ; and from
t h ree months
old
they may be safely
accustomed,
both i n summer
and
winter, to a
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THECOLD WATERTREATMENT.
21
plunge i n c o l d water which has
stood
a l l
night
i n the room.
Children i n h e a l t h soon
begin
t o l i k e the s e n s a t i o n of w a r m t h
a n d
f r e s h n e s s ,
w h i c h
the
r e a c t i o n
o f
the
s k i n
produces.
Thus
a
healthy a p p e t i t e i s p r e s e r v e d , a n d
a
t o n i c s t a t e o f the
s k i n ,
w h i c h
prevents t h e i r
f e e l i n g
c h i l l y
(though never clothed i n f l a n n e l ) ,
a nd p r e s e r v e s them from e a s i l y taking c o l d . A u s e f u l form o f
bath f o r t h i s purpose
i s around
t u b , about two f e e t a nd
a
h a l f
deep,
a n d
three f e e t
diameter a t t h e
edge.
This, two-thirds
f u l l , might
e a s i l y
stand
i n
a
corner
of
t h e
dressing-room.
I t should
b e
covered by a dr y s h e e t . This q u a n t i t y o f water w i l l keep q u i t e
fresh
for
several
days,
and
since
only
a
di p
i s
taken,
the
trouble
of em p ty i ng th e b at h every da y i s unnecessary. Children hitherto
a ccustomed to this
wholesome and
exhilarating practice,
may
thus
be
gradually
habituated
to
i t . If
the
head a n d
face
be
sponged
every morn i ng a s soon as the c h i l d gets ou t of bed, a nd i f t h i s be
repeated f o r
f i v e or
s i x
days t o g e t h e r , the
c h i l d w i l l
be
s u f f i c i e n t l y
prepared
t o
be
plunged i n t o the c o l d
bath
on the seventh day,
and t here
i s
no
doubt t h a t i t will be
much more
relished
than
p a r t i a l washing. I h a ve a
l i t t l
boy, not f i v e years o l d , who
often
asks to be allowed
to go into th e cold
b a t h
a
sec on d t i me
i n t h e course o f the day; but t h i s indulgence may be reserved f o r
the summer,
w h e n
an evening di p b e f o r e
supper
i s
of great s e r v i c e
t o the
growing
s k i n , a nd
impatient
c i r c u l a t i o n of childhood.
I am
persuaded a l s o , t h a t , i n
healthy c h i l d r e n ,
the
f r e e
a c c e s s
to fresh water,
whenever they
desire
to drink
i t , should
never
b e
restrained. Their bowels
w i l l
b e rendered
more open by i t ;
their secretions more bland; the perspiration more free; and
con
sequently
t h e i r
l i a b i l i t y
t o contagious d i s e a s e s
c o n s i d e r a b l y d i m i n
i s h e d .
There
i s , probably, no greater mistake
i n
d i e t e t i c s , than
t he h ydrop h ob i a w h i c h i s
engendered
without the
b i t e
o f a
mad
dog.
But the growing s k i n of c h i l d r e n r e q u i r e s m o re p e r f e c t cleans
ing
than
the morning's
d i p
w i l l e f f e c t
f o r i t . Two o r
three
times a week t h e r e f o r e , b e f o r e
going
t o b e d , a warm bath o f
about the
temperature
o f 90°Fahr.,
in
w h i c h th e sk in
should
be
soaped
a nd rubbed by the hand,
i s almost a necessary adjunct
t o
cold bathing. But t h i s warm washing should always f i n i s h by
q u i c k l y
sponging the
body from
head t o
f o o t with c o l d
w a t e r ,
a nd
then the c h i l d should be immediately d r i e d . Th e reason o f t h i s
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22 GRAFENBERG, AND
i s , t h a t ,
i n s t e a d
of t h a t s e n s a t i o n of c o l d w h i c h
accompanies the
usual
e x i t
ou t o f warm
w a t e r ,
an
i n v i g o r a t i n g glow
a nd
r e a c t i o n
of
the
s k i n
i s
caused
by
the
sudden
a p p l i c a t i o n
of
the
sponge,
w h i c h the already
heated body
g r e a t l y augments;
a nd thus
the
chance
o f
catching c o l d
i s
prevented
by the s t a t e
of
t o n i c re
action and vigour
into
w h i c h
th e skin i s t h rown.
I t
i s
gradual
c o l d
a nd
wet,
w h i c h operate
so i n j u r i o u s l y upon
the relaxed or
c h i l l e d
skin;
a n d
n ot th e sudden
and
u ni for m cold
w h i c h arouses
i t t o a c t i o n .
Th e
former a c t s
a s
a p r e s s u r e ,
w h i c h
be n u m bs the s e n s i b i l i t y ; the l a t t e r a s a hearty s l a p , w h i c h
s t a r t s i t
into
a c t i v i t y .
What
should
healthy
men a n d
women
do
with
the
water-cure?
They should n o t drink cold w a t e r , a f t e r the ma nner of a h o r s e .
Nor sh ou ld t hey e a t a ny m an ner of t h i n g ,
a f t e r
the measure of
any
k i n d
of beast.
They should take e x e r c i s e i n the open
a i r ,
not a s
l i t t l e ,
but a s
much a s they can f i n d time t o d o . The business o f l i f e w i l l make
i t a l w a y s too l i t t l e .
Upon
getting ou t of bed they should sponge the
f a c e ,
plunge
into a tub of cold water, and come out again. Or , l e t them wet
a
sma l l
sheet
in
a basin of
co ld w a ter,
and throw
i t
over the
w h o l e person at once; l e t them
be r ubbed by a n
attendant
on
th e
ba ck , t he person
himself
rubbing the f a c e ,
stomach,
c h e s t ,
c . , i n
front
for
a m i n u t e or two;
and
afterwards w i t h a r o u g h dr y
t o w e l , or a
dr y
s h e e t , complete
the p r o c e s s . This i s
a most
ex
c e l l e n t p r e s c r i p t i o n
against taking
c o l d , or
“taking
i t
too
easy.”
I t
i s
an a n t i - i n d o l e n t
a p p l i c a t i o n ,
a nd a genuine s p e c i f i c .
Suc h
a s , b e s i d e s being h e a l t h y ,
c o n s i d e r
themselves brave a nd s t r o n g ,
I counsel t o repeat the same b e f o r e
going
t o bed And I
can
a s s u r e t hem from personal e x p e r i e n c e , t h a t i t i s more pleasant
than the morn i ng d o s e , a nd s i n g u l a r l y r e f r e s h i n g . B e s i d e s , i t
r e q u i r e s n o a d d i t i o n a l dressing and undressing; s i n c e , a s only
few
go t o
bed with t h e i r
c l o t h e s
o n ,
t h e r e
happens a
bare
inter
v a l , wherein t o perform t h i s , between the day a nd night s h i r t s ,
before getting i n t o bed. This i s a patent water-bed, w h i c h needs
no further s p e c i f i c a t i o n .
Two
g l a s s e s o f f r e s h water before
breakfast;
one b e f o r e going
to bed,
a n d
as many more as
you
find agreeable d u r i n g th e
day,
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THECOLD WATERTREATMENT. 23
a t any time you f e e l t o be
most
convenient, i s so s a l u t a r y a re
c i p e , t h a t benevolence f o r b i d s me t o withhold i t . I t i s but doing
justice
to
the
genuine
principles
of th e
water-cure
to
add,
that,
i f
you choose
t o
drink
wine a t d i n n e r ,
you
must
drink
water a f t e r
dinner;
but i f
you
p r e f e r w i ne
a f t e r d i n n e r , you
must
drink
water
before i t .
I
b e l i e v e
t h a t , f o r those persons
t o
whom
they a r e addressed,
these
r u l e s are
s u f f i c i e n t ,
with
God's b l e s s i n g ,
t o
preserve
good
health to
a good
ol d
age.
What
are
the
Dyspeptic
t o
do?
Such a m o n g t hem a s only o c c a s i o n a l l y s u f f e r from the irregula
r i t y
of the
sto m a c h
and bowels,
should
adopt
th e rules recom
mended t o healthy
i n d i v i d u a l s ;
a nd b e s i d e s t h e s e , should wear
round the abdomen a t night a bandage o f the following
descrip
t i o n .
Roll
up
a
length of linen f r o m six to nine f e e t
long and
sixteen i n ch es b r oa d.
F i r s t ,
however, double
i t
lengthways, so
that th e
breadth
will
b e eight
inches. Leave unrolled
as
much of
t h e
en d as w i l l pass once ro u n d
th e
body. Wet
t h i s
part
i n
a
basin of cold fresh water, and w r i n g i t
out
so that
t h e
w ater
w i l l
n ot drip. Then make i t
even
at eight i n c hes widt h , and wind i t
tight
r o u n d
t h e
stoma c h,
covering t h e w et
part
wit h th e
remain
ing dry portion
o f
the r o l l e r , a n d f a s t e n the end. This bandage
may b e made both longer a n d broader, a ccording to
th e
size of
t h e abdomen, and t h e ex t en t i t may b e desirable to cover.
At
n i g h t , the w a r m t h o f the bed,
and
the r e a c t i o n
of
the
s k i n ,
soon render
the
bandage c o m f o r t a b l e . I t s
a c t i o n i s d e r i v a t i v e :
a
g r e a t e r
excitement
o f
the s k i n of
the
stomach and bowels i s oc
casioned.
Sometimes th e w h o l e
skin
w i l l
perspire. The
e f f e c t s
of
t h i s
bandage a r e , t o induce s l e e p , t o r e l i e v e p a i n , t o a i d
d i g e s t i o n ,
a nd
t o
promote
the
f u n c t i o n s
o f the
bowels.
Such
dyspeptics as complain
o f
h a b i t u a l c o n s t i p a t i o n ,
a c r i d
eructations,
n a usea , h ea d- a c h e, w i t h foul tongue in
th e
m o r n i ng ,
c h i l l i n e s s
and
d e b i l i t y ,
and
a r e a b l e
t o
w a lk
about
but
do
not;
such
ea t
too
much, a n d
drink what
they
o ug h t
not.
Such
as these must c o n f i n e themselves f o r a time e x c l u s i v e l y t o cold
fresh
water as their beverage, wit hout a n y stimulants, and
very
l i t t l e t e a
or
c o f f e e , drinking
a
l i t t l e cold water immedi
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24
GRAFENBERG, AND
a t e l y
a f t e r w a r d s .
O n c e i n the day f r e s h
meat a nd
v e g e t a b l e s .
No
supper, except a g l a s s of wa ter . As much e x e r c i s e
i n the
open
a i r
a s
p o s s i b l e .
If
the bowels do not
become regular upon
t h i s
treatment, a
t e p i d lavement
w i l l
be
necessary;
but
t h i s
should gradually
be
reduced to th e natural
temperature of water
in summer—say
about 64°Fahrenheit.
I f
such a s t a t e be only
temporary, a temporary
duration of the
treatment
w i l l only be n e c e s s a r y . Should i t
continue
unimproved
a f t e r a
week's
conformity t o the foregoing
r u l e s ,
recourse must be
had
to
th e
wet
sheet
previously
described;
i n
w h i c h
the
patient
should
l i e
f o r
h a l f
an hour every morning, a f t e r w h i c h he s h o u l d ,
while yet w a r m , take one d i p i n a cold b a t h , o r have a dripping
sheet flung a nd
rubbed
over
h i m
f o r t wo or three minutes.
There
are
very
few f u n c t i o n a l d i s o r d e r s
o f
the stomach or
bowels w h i c h
w i l l not yield to t h i s treatment.
A gentleman,
r e s i d e n t a t
F r a n k f o r t ,
assured
me
that h e
w a s
p e r f e c t l y cured o f a chronic d i a r r h o e a , w h i c h h e h ad s u f f e r e d more
or
l e s s
f o r
twenty
y e a r s ,
hav ing
i n
v a i n
used
a
v a r i e t y
o f
medi
cines.
He
was much averse to drinking cold
water,
and when h e
commenced, could onl y take
a w i n e g l a s s - f u l l
a t
a time; but a t
length h e m a naged t o drink one p i n t b e f o r e b r e a k f a s t , w h i c h h e
never exceeded, but bath ed
d a i l y
i n
the
open r i v e r during
the
summer and autumn.
In the course of
nine months
he hadcom
p l e t e l y got r i d of h i s d i s e a s e . According t o h i s own account h e
w a s not
r e g u l a r
even
i n t h i s p a r t i a l adoption of
the
w a t e r - c u r e ,
a nd
t o
t h i s
circumstance
i t
i s
ow ing
t h a t
s o
long
a
time
e l a p s e d
before
his
recovery.
Gout
and Rheumatism.
These
d i s e a s e s appear t o
y i e l d a t
Gräfenberg s u r e l y
but s l o w l y .
They
a r e t r e a t e d according t o the
present
strength o f the p a t i e n t
to
bear
the
various
applications
of
c ol d w at er . The treatment
c o n s i s t s c h i e f l y
i n
d a i l y sweatings a nd c o l d a b l u t i o n s (sometimes
every
other
day
i s
thought
s u f f i c i e n t
f o r
the
former);
i n
drinking
from ten
t o
t w e l v e ,
or
more,
h a l f - p i n t s
of w a t e r ,
and
wearing
bandages upon the abdomen a nd l i m b s , where there i s any pain
or s w e l l i n g .
The
douche i s
a l s o
employed
f u r t h e r
t o
f o r t i f y
the
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THECOLD WATERTREATMENT. 25
s k i n ,
o r t o
f o r c e o u t ,
by c r i t i c a l e r u p t i o n s ,
any
l a t e n t
bad h u mo u rs
which
perspiration
may not
h a v e discharged.
These
d i s e a s e s
d i f f e r ,
according
t o
P r i e s s n i t z ,
e i t h e r i n
the
q u a n t i t y
or q u a l i t y of morbid s e c r e t i o n s .
A l l such
are t o be dis
charged by perspiration, or by other exciting or gan s, a s well as
th e
skin;
and t h i s w i l l
b e
done sooner or l a t e r according to t h e
r e l a t i v e strength of the v i s m e d i c a t r i x of t h e
p a t i e n t ,
a nd the
tenacity
of
the
material
of
th e disease.
Al l
such material
as
i s
incapable o f
d i s s o l u t i o n and a b s o r p t i o n ,
i s incapable o f cure b y
t h e water-system: therefore consumption,
aneurism,
diseases of
t h e
heart,
disorganized
l i v e r ,
and
th e
l i k e ,
ca nnot
b e
cured
by
this system.
Concerning
t h e C r i s e s a t
Gräfenberg.
As I h a v e noticed before, a l l eruptions of
the
skin, w he t he r
p i m p l e s ,
b o i l s ,
a b s c e s s e s ,
e r y s i p e l a t o u s
inflammations, p s o r i a s i s ,
h e p a t i c e r u p t i o n s ,
measles,
s c a r l a t i n a , or
small-pox, a r e c r i t i c a l
e v a c u a t i o n s ,
determined upon the
s k i n by the healing
power
in
herent
in t h e
b ody; a n d therefore
to
i m pede their
e x i t ,
or
to
th row ba ck a ny
part
of
them
upon
the blood,
i s only
t o p r o t r a c t
the cure
or
add to
the disease. Now
there is
one
considerable
part o f
P r i e s s n i t z ' s
p r a c t i c e ,
w hich i s
a s unfortunate a s i t i s i n c o n
sistent
w i t h his
own
theory.
I allude
to
his refusal ever to open
a n a b s c e s s .
He l e a v e s such t o the
gradual a nd i r r i t a t i n g process
of nature. This
i s
accomplished
b y tedious
and painful bori ng of
the
skin,
until an
orifice
is
made
f or
t h e
exit
of
the
m a t te r .
Sometimes
t h i s i s not
e f f e c t e d , w here matter i s
formed,
owing
to
the toughness o f the
skin;
and then e i t h e r the matter i s absorbed
and hectic fever ensues,
or i t
b u r r o w s extensively
under the c u t i s ,
a n d
enlarges
the
d i s e a s e .
A l l
that
P r i e s s n i t z
does i n such c a s e s ,
i s t o continue the
wet bandages upon the s e a t of
the
i n f l a m m a
tion; a n d thus, when nature h a s deposi ted t he matter, instead of
l e t t i n g
i t o u t ,
h e , contrary
to h i s
own
t h e o r y , f o r c e s i t b a ck again
upon
the b l o o d .
A
young l a d y ,
about
1 7 years
of
a g e ,
d i e d
a t Gräfenberg, i n
October l a s t , under the following circumstances. She was of that
constitution
w h i c h
i s
l i a b l e
to th e for ma tion
of
glandular abscesses.
Sh e
h ad
been
a t
Gräfenberg about
s i x
months, and,
j u s t
b e f o r e
her
l a s t i l l n e s s ,
was
enabled to
take the
douche, to
w a l k
about th e
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26 GRAFENBERG, AND
grounds, a nd
appeared t o h a ve derived much b e n e f i t t o her general
health and strength. At this t i m e a n abscess fo r med under the
l e f t b r e a s t , a n d occasioned
high symptomatic f e v e r . For t h i s
fever
Priessnitz
ordered her
t o
be
rubbed
i n
a
shallow bath
of
cold water,
about 62°Fahrenheit,
t w i c e a day
f o r an
hour and a
half
e a c h t i m e .
This
w a s continued f o r s e v e r a l d a y s , u n t i l the
p a t i e n t w a s unable t o submit t o
i t any l o n g e r .
The
lady
under
whose
care
sh e at
that
t im e wa s, i n formed me
that
this poor
young lady never r i g h t l y
recovered
her n a t u r a l heat of s k i n . For
th e fortnight before h er death, sh e was confined to h er bed.
The
fever
continued
high,
abscesses
fo r med
on
other
parts
of
the
body, an d were
t r e a t e d
i n the sa m e m a n ner
a s t h a t on
the b r e a s t ,
w h i c h
h a d op en ed naturally, and
discharged
much
pus.
A f ew
days b e f o r e her l a s t sh e complained o f an oppressive weight i n her
c h e s t , but h er b rea th i ng w as not ot herwise impeded.
Sh e
bore
a l l
t h i s s u f f e r i n g
with great patience a nd
resignation;
sh e r e t a i n e d
h er m en t al f a c u l t i e s
to the
l a s t ,
and
on
t h e morning
of
h er release
sh e requested to b e
l i f t e d
out of bed,
a n d
i n th e act
expired.
I
w a s
present
a t
the
p o s t
mortem
examination
of
t h i s c a s e .
The
following
i s
a
copy
of
the s t a t e
of
her
body, w r i t t e n
on the
even
i ng of the da y of inspection.
The
a p pe a r a n ce of the
external
f o r m
of
th e body was quite
natural; i t was
neither
em a ci a ted n or swollen, w ith the exception
of slight oedema
of
th e legs, A swelling was observed u nder t h e
right
e a r ,
s l i g h t l y
discoloured; i t
contained about
t wo ounces
of
thick puriform
m a t t e r .
Upon the f i n g e r s ,
where t h r e e
a b s c e s s e s
had f o r med (called
at
Gräfenberg
c r i s e s ) , much dark-coloured
blood had been effused under t h e skin. On the b a c k , over t h e
sacrum, appeared an u l c e r a t i o n sloughed t o the bone; a nd the
skin was
marked w i t h d a r k
spots about t h e
scapulae and sacru m,
as
w e l l a s
upon
the l e g s
i n a few
s p o t s , where b o i l s
h ad broken
o u t . A
dark-coloured swollen
gland occupied the l e f t a x i l l a .
Upon opening the c h e s t , the lungs
were
found f r e e from a ny
sym p to ms
of
chronic
d i s e a s e ; t h e r e
w a s
s l i g h t
adh esi on of th e
r i g h t lung t o
t he p leu ra ;
but
here
and
t h e r e , throughout
both
lungs, great
effusion
of
pulmonary
apop lexy
was clearly manifest.
This e f f u s i o n w a s r e a d i l y pressed out; a nd i n al l p a r t s f r e e from
the
e f f u s i o n
th e lungs c r e p i t a t e d with a
n a t u r a l
sound, a nd ap
peared p e r f e c t l y
h e a l t h y .
This a p o p l e c t i c e f f u s i o n occasioned the
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THECOLD WATERTREATMENT. 27
oppressive weight complained o f by the
p a t i e n t .
Th e heart w a s
quite natural;
but
two or
three ounces
of bloody f l u i d
were
con
centrated
i n
the
pericardium.
Th e
l i v e r
w a s
n a t u r a l ,
but some
w h a t pale:
the g a l l - b l a d d e r
f u l l
o f n a t u r a l
b i l e . The stomach,
except
i n
one
o r
two patches
about the
s i z e of a
s i x p e n c e ,
w a s
every where
dark
with
e f f u s e d blood;
the m u c o us m e m b r a n e
firm,
but t he blood-vessels gorged
w i t h
chocolate-coloured blood;
upon scraping a w a y t h i s s u p e r f i c i a l l a y e r , the
v e s s e l s
s t i l l re
mained dark-red w i t h contained blood. The mesenteric glands
were
n a t u r a l . The
lower bowels
were red-looking o u t s i d e , a n d
full
of
effused
blood
within
:
no
f l u i d
i n
the
abdomen. The
kidneys
were
sound. As there had been
no symptoms of
un
healthy
brain
during
l i f e ,
the head w a s not examined.
Two
f a t a l
mistakes were
made
by Priessnitz in th e treatment
of
t h i s unfortunate
c a s e .
He augmented
the
h e c t i c
f e v e r by
omitting
t o open
the a b s c e s s e s ,
a n d thereby
increased t h e general
d e b i l i t y . He thus mistook the nature
of
the
f e v e r i t s e l f , and
p r o s t r a t e d
the
remaining v i t a l f o r c e by the s e d a t i v e i n f l u e n c e
of
cold protracted beyond the p o s s i b i l i t y of r e a c t i o n . Because h e
h a d succeeded i n t h i s l a t t e r method i n reduci ng a f u r i o u s maniac,
a nd i n subdu i ng an ardent f e v e r ,
would
i t j u s t i f y i t s
a p p l i c a t i o n
to a t o t a l l y
d i s t i n c t
f e v e r , under d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o s i t e conditions?
I f i t would
n o t ,
where i s
the
d i s c r i m i n a t i n g
judgement, t h e in
t u i t i v e genius of P r i e s s n i t z ?
W i t h r e s p e c t t o the inadequate power of water, bandages, a n d
b a ths,
f or
the
c u re
of
abscesses,
I
must refer
to
another
i ns t a n ce
i n which I wa s p e r s o n a l l y concerned a t Gräfenberg. A
gentle
man of a nervous temperament, and of acute
s e n s i b i l i t y ,
con
t r a c t e d
an inflammation
i n
the b a l l of h i s thu mb , from constantly
pressing p i n s i n t o the bandages upon h i s l e g s , i n order t o f a s t e n
t he m. He suffered two
or
three sleepless
nights
before h e would
pe r m i t me to
open a
s u p e r f i c i a l abscess on t he skin,
because
Priessnitz advised him
not to do
so. At t h a t
time but
a
s m a l l
q u a n t i t y o f
matter
escaped,
a nd
the inflammation
h a d
deepened
and extended i t s e l f
tow ards
t he ha nd. S t i l l , however,
consider
a b l e r e l i e f
w a s
a f f o r d e d ; h e
s l e p t well
the same
n i g h t , and w as
able t o draw a l i t t l e the next day. The inflammation, however,
w a s renewed the
day
a f t e r ; the abscess w a s deeper s e a t e d , a n d
pointed towards the opening o f the s u p e r f i c i a l
one.
I r r i t a t i o n a nd
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28 GRAFENBERG,
AND
pain came on a second time; and h a v i n g now determined that i t
must be a Gräfenberg c r i s i s , no persuasion c ou ld i ndu ce h i m t o
h a ve
i t
l a n c e d ,
a nd
the
matter
evacuated.
Six
days
a nd
nights
he
suffered sev er e p ai n and
restlessness;
on the seventh th e
abscess burst n a t u r a l l y ,
a nd
h e obtained immediate r e l i e f . Duri ng
this t i me he was diligent i n the
use
o f u nsc h l ags and elbow-baths.
He t h o ug h t that h e derived some a l l e v i a t i o n f ro m
th e
elbow-bath,
but from
t h e
co nd it io n
i n
which I saw
him,
I
cannot but believe
th at
i f
h is nose
had been
in
water
instead
of
his elbow, his r e l i e f
would have been a s g r e a t . But a n I r i s h gentleman h as h i s own
p e c u l i a r
m ode
of
thinking;
and
my
f r i e n d , a ft e r
a l l ,
i n s i s t e d
t h a t
as a n
abscess at
Gräfenberg,
being a c r i s i s ,
was
d i f f e r e n t
i n
i t s
constitution f r o m a n abscess in a n y other place, therefore h e had
no doubt that the r e l i e f h e obtained was the e f f e c t of those six
days of
pain
and i r r i t a t i o n , kept i n
order
by
the bandages
a nd
elbow-baths,
and terminating
by
b u r s t i n g .
The Sitting-Bath.
A
round
t u b ,
one
f o o t
d e e p ,
one
a nd
a
h a l f
wide, contai ni ng
w ater about t h r e e inches
from
t h e bottom, a nd o f the temperature
of 62°Fahrenheit,
c o n s t i t u t e s
the s i t t i n g - b a t h .
Invalids s i t i n
this
b at h f r o m ten minutes to a n h o u r at
a
time;
I myself s a t i n one twice a day f o r a week, f o r twenty minutes a t
a t i m e .
Th e use
of
i t i s t o
strengthen the
bowels
i n
the
per for m
a n ce
of their natural
functions,
w h i c h , in my own case,
I
ca nnot
doubt t h a t
i t
d i d ,
s i n c e I l e f t i t o f f f o r s e v e r a l
d a y s ,
a nd the
irregu
l a r i t y returned; I
resumed
i t a g a i n ,
a n d
i t
d e p a r t e d .
Bu t
more
b e n e f i c i a l purposes
a r e
a t t r i b u t e d ,
f a i r l y
I b e l i e v e , t o t h i s f u n d a
mental process a t Gräfenberg. I t s e f f e c t i n
c l e a r i n g t h e head
i s
p e r c e p t i b l e a f t e r the f i r s t f i v e minutes of immersion. The f i r s t
m i n u t e
or
two i s the most unpleasant.
After
t h i s ,
t h e reaction
of the skin
of
the parts immersed d r a w s th e blood f ro m the
in
t e r i o r t o t h e
s u r f a c e ,
then c o o l s i t ;
a nd so i n
the
course of
circu
lation i t refreshes the organs of th e abdomen, th e chest, and th e
head.
There
are s c a r c e l y
a ny
i n v a l i d s
a t Gräfenberg complaining
either of
the
head, chest, or sto m a c h ; and how f ew
are
w i t h o u t
such, who do not use
t h i s
mode o f bathing
f o r
a longer or
a
s h o r t e r
time?
A l l
seemed
convinced o f i t s
s a f e t y a nd great
5
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THECOLD WATERTREATMENT. 29
u t i l i t y , but e x e r c i s e must be taken
a f t e r
i t , otherwise
i t ought
not
to be u s e d .
As i t i s
an
inconvenient remedy, i t sh ou ld b e post
poned
u n t i l
i t
i s
a s c e r t a i n e d
t h a t
ordinary
a b l u t i o n s
a nd
bathing
are not sufficient.
Sore
Throat.
For
that relaxed
state
of
th e th roat
to
w h i c h clergymen and
public
s p e a k e r s ,
a nd o c c a s i o n a l l y
some
o f the f a i r s e x , are s u b j e c t ,
a
wet b a nda ge
r o u n d
th e neck, to b e worn at
night,
however
a l a r m i n g i t may sound, i s both a safe and a sure remedy. When
applied p r o p e r l y ,
a nd
i n t i m e ,
t h i s simple
fomentation
w i l l p r e v e n t
the
more
serious forms of so re t h ro at ; which, however, i t would
not cure without additional treatment.
Two
clergymen
i n my nei gh b ou rh ood h a v e
experienced the
b e n e f i c i a l
e f f e c t s
o f t h i s bandage; a nd I h a v e no h e s i t a t i o n i n
advising
i t i n every
case
o f i n c i p i e n t s o r e
t h r o a t
i n
women
a n d
c h i l d r e n ,
i f
bu t due a t t e n t i o n be paid
t o
the mode of applying i t ,
w h i c h should be a s follows:—A l i n e n r o l l e r should
be
t a k e n , long
enough t o pass a t l e a s t t h r e e times round t h e neck; diaper i s the
best k i n d .
As much
of
the
end as
w i l l
pass
once
round
the
neck,
must be dipped i n cold water a nd w e l l w r u n g o u t . This must be
a p p l i e d
c l o s e l y t o the t h r o a t ,
a n d covered immediately
by the
dry
part o f the
r o l l e r ,
f o l d e d evenly a n d c l o s e l y upon i t . Should the
inner f o l d i n g s become dry dur ing t h e n i g h t , a nd the p a t i e n t
awake, the
pain remaining,
the
bandage
should be
wetted
again,
a n d
a p p l i e d
as
b e f o r e .
This
fomentation
may
conveniently
be
wor n by day,
a n d
covered by the
u s u a l
n e c k c l o t h . Al l t ha t i s
necessary i s t o p l a c e one
f o l d
o f wetted a n d wrung-out l i n e n next
to th e skin, and renew i t when dry.
Th e a c t i o n o f t h i s i s p r e c i s e l y the same as the umschlag on
the
abdomen. I t draws t o the
s u r f a c e
o f the skin; i t op ens th e
pores of the p a r t , a n d
absorbs the
p e r s p i r a t i o n
that
i s s u e s . I t
f i n a l l y changes the a c t i o n o f the i n t e r n a l s u r f a c e o f the t h r o a t , a nd
removes
t h e
pain
and
uneasiness
c o m p l a i ned
o f .
That such bandages h ave power t o assuage pain; t o prevent in
flammation a t some times, and moderate
i t
a t others, no one who
h as on ce t r i e d them w i l l a ny longer doubt.
Ayoung P o l e , l i v i n g
near Gräfenberg,
having
a c c i d e n t a l l y
shot
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30
GRAFENBERG,
AND
himself
through the t h i g h ,
sent
f o r P r i e s s n i t z
t o cure
him.
P r i e s s n i t z
t o l d
h i m t o apply the wet
bandage,
a nd change i t
when
the
wet
part
became
d r y .
He
used
no
other
remedy
whatever,
a nd w a s q u i t e w e l l i n a month.
A
gentleman,
who had made
his
fortune i n Van
D iemen's
Land,
contracted a so re t h roa t
on
h is a r r i v a l
in E n g l a n d ; to
such
a n extent had th e disease proceeded, th at he was obliged to sub
m i t to t h e oper a t ion of excision of the
u v u la ;
but, as
he
told m e,
th e
surgeon
had
taken o f f rather more
t h a n
he
intended, and
severe sym p toms f o l l o w e d , w h i c h confined h i m t o h i s bed about
f o u r
d a y s .
Upon
the
wound
h e a l i n g ,
h e
found
t h a t
h e
could
speak no b e t t e r than b e f o r e , a n d despaired of ever recovering h i s
v o i c e . He h a d been
three mont hs a t
Gräfenberg when I con
versed
with
him. He
was
then
better,
he
assured me,
than
ever
h e expected
t o
b e . He h ad been t a l k i n g with me
about h a l f a n
hour, and f e l t no uneasiness wha tever; whereas, before h e came
to Gräfenberg, he could not speak f i v e m i n utes before he was
completely
arrested b y
severe soreness
of th e
throat.
Hi s general
health had re m arkab ly improved.
Besi des t h e
usual
wet
sheet
a n d plunge-bath i n the morning, h e wore b an da ges r ou nd h i s
throat and abdomen.
The f a m o u s Ab er n e t h y
w rote
a
work on th e
Constitutional treat
m en t of
l o c a l d i s e a s e s . This i s the f u ndamen t al principle at Grä
fenberg;
but i t
i s
c a r r i e d
much f u r t h e r than
Abernethy
extended
i t , a nd with
corresponding
s u c c e s s . Every
d i s e a s e with
P r i e s s n i t z
i s a local disease; and however gen er a l o v er
th e body
i t may be,
h e understands a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l f o r c e beyond i t , t o the strengthen
ing o f w h i c h
h i s c h i e f a i m i s d i r e c t e d .
I f there be
no longer a
capable v i t a l f o r c e , h e abandons the c a s e .
Now i t
may e a s i l y
be supposed,
t h a t every i n v a l i d
who
i s strong
enough t o t r a v e l from England or P e r s i a , from Russia or India
(and I found a r r i v a l s
from
each
during my
v i s i t
t o
Gräfenberg),
w ou ld h a v e a tolerable
degree
of constitutional force; and that
P r i e s s n i t z
would
not
e r r
much
i n
plunging
a ny
such
t r a v e l l e r
neck
and
heels
into a cold bath. With th e exception
of
the
case
to the c o n t r a r y , which I h a ve mentioned, a case of d i s e a s e o f the
h e a r t ,
very
few a r e obliged t o
r e l i n q u i s h
such
treatment,
so t h a t
the
great
majority o f c a s e s , including a ll
such
a s are success
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ThECOLD WATERTREATMENT. 31
f u l l y
cured
i n a short t i m e , ow e i t t o a v igor ou s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l
treatment, whichproves to b e
s u f f i c i e n t of
i t s e l f
to heal
numerous
local diseases.
Contrast the nature
of
this treatment with excellent tonics
taken three or four
times
a day
b y
the f i r e - s i d e ,
i n
a
w e l l - s t u f f e d
arm -ch air, or on
a s o f a , with a n
ingenious-spouted v essel t o
drink
ou t o f , so
t h a t
the l e a s t p o s s i b l e e x e r t i o n may be
taken
by
some lazy invalid,
who i f the
house
were on
f i r e , would be
t h e
f i r s t
to jump out
of
th e
window
Of
Exercise.
There i s
p e r p e t u a l
motion a t Gräfenberg. From morn i ng t i l l
night
e x e r c i s e
i s t a k e n . Those that h a ve been dipped i n the si t
b at h l on g t o shake
themselves
i n the
open a i r , a n d b y
running
and w a l k i n g to restore th e circulation a u fond. I am not sure
that Priessnitz does n ot occasionally order th e sit-bath as a pro
vocative t o e x e r c i s e . I f
a ny
complain t o h i m o f cold
or
c h i l l i n e s s ,
“Take
more exercise” i s the a d v i c e . After every
a p p l i c a t i o n
of
cold w a t e r , w h et h er b y the bath, the
w et
s h e e t , o r the washing,
t h e
order
i s , “wALK.” Exercise as much belongs to t h e cold
bathing system, as dressing does t o g e t t i n g ou t o f bed. I t would
be no
l e s s
absurd t o drink cold
water,
a n d f r e q u e n t l y
bathe with
ou t taking exercise in
proportion, t h a n
to
leave
your
bed
and
o m i t to dress yourself. In both cases th e skin would so on b egi n
to s h i v e r ,
a nd
a stagnant s t a t e o f i t s functions wou ld succeed t o i t s
healthy
glow
a nd
i n s e n s i b l e
p e r s p i r a t i o n .
I t i s t he c on ti nu ous e x e r c i s e that admits o f the
absorption
of
th e
water,
pro motes the
exit of old secretions, refreshes
th e
s e c r e t i n g
organs,
a nd gives
general
tone t o the i n t e r n a l p a r t s , by
th e r en ov a ti on o f i t s j u i c e s , which
active
exercise alone c a n excite
and
maintain.
That
t h i s
r e q u i r e s mo re time a nd
perseverance
than
men
i n
business
ca n or w i l l undertake, I
am
s u f f i c i e n t l y a w a r e
of;
but
t h is
does not
alter
t h e
t r u t h.
The
matter
of
f a c t
i s
stubborn;
i t
i s opposed t o the present customs o f men: but w h a t i s the r e s u l t
D oes good health c o i n c i d e
with
these customs? The e x i s t e n c e
of a Medical Faculty i s a
s u f f i c i e n t
answer. But
I am
very sure
that physicians
h a ve
been
always d i s i n t e r e s t e d enough t o proclaim
a loud t he n e c e s s i t y
of
e x e r c i s e
to good
health;
a nd
I think the
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32
GRAFENBERG,
AND
time i s come w hen they w i l l turn t h e i r a t t e n t i o n
more p a r t i c u l a r l y
to cold
water,
w h i c h
the ablest surgeons
h a v e
already
found so
beneficial
i n l oca l wounds
and
operations.
They ca nnot
deny—
( 1 ) That
the testimony
borne
t o i t s extraordinary
i n f l u e n c e
deserves
examination.
(2) That
i t s power,
i n the
mode of
t h e
w et
sheet,
i s
s u f f i c i e n t
to
p roduce
a b u nd a n t
perspiration.
( 3 ) That t h i s p e r s p i r a t i o n
i s s t r i c t l y
cutaneous;
u n a c c o m p a
nied b y i n t e r n a l
excitement,
a nd unattended
by
those
r e s u l t s
w h i c h
u s u a l l y
f o l l o w medicinal
s u d o r i f i c s .
( 4 ) That
probably
even a
homoeopathic
dose of
such
may now
be dispensed
with.
(5 ) That t h i s mode o f p e r s p i r a t i o n
by the wet s h e e t , h a s been
found
t o
be
s i n g u l a r l y
b e n e f i c i a l
f o r c h i l d r e n
a nd d e b i l i t a t e d
persons.
(6) That
f e v e r s , diarrhoeas,
chronic
dysenteries,
bowel
com
p l a i n t s ,
rheumatism,
a nd
gout, h a v e s e v e r a l l y
yielded
t o i t , w hen
combined w i t h tonic
bathing,
exercise,
a n d temperance.
( 7 )
That generally speaking,
p e r s p i r a t i o n w i l l
c a r r y
o f f a l l
i n c i p i e n t
d i s e a s e s ;
and t h a t t h i s p e r s p i r a t i o n
can be
h a d
without
r i s k , and most copiously
by cold water thus
applied.
( 8 ) That
i t i s
b y means
o f
the
s k i n , d i r e c t l y
acted upon from
without,
that
this perspiration
i s
produced.
( 9 ) That
consequently
a n y t h i n g
taken
w i t h i n
f o r t h i s purpose
goes
the
w r o n g
w a y
about
i t .
Concerning
cold
water taken i n t e r n a l l y .
There
i s s u f f i c i e n t
evidence
t o warrant us
i n
believing:—
( 1 ) That
cold water i s , of a ll common
a nd
d a i l y
beverages,
th e
most
salutary.
( 2 ) That i t i s t o n i c , a nd not d e b i l i t a t i n g ,
when
f r e e l y but not
extravagantly
drunk.
( 3 )
That
i n f a n t s
a nd
c h i l d r e n
are
deprived
o f
i t s
s a l u t a r y
e f f e c t s
by a most common
p r e j u d i c e
a nd t h a t
the
s e v e r i t y
of
t h e i r
f e v e r s
a nd cutaneous d i s o r d e r s
a r e much increased
by wan t
of
cold water.
( 4 ) That i t g r e a t l y
promotes
p e r s p i r a t i o n ,
w hen
drunk
a f t e r
i t s
commencement
i n the cold-water
method.
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THECOLD WATERTREATMENT. 33
(5 ) That
i t
i s
therefore,
i n
t h i s
s e n s e , remedial.
( 6 ) That drinking f r e e l y
of cold
water
immediately
d i s s i p a t e s
h e a r t b u r n ,
a c r i d
eructations,
a c r id
sensations
in
the
t h r o a t
and
stomach,
and removes n ausea.
(7 )
That
i t i s
therefore
for
these e f f e c t s
remedial.
( 8 ) That w hen
taken a t
night
a nd e a r l y i n
the
morning, i t
p r o motes
digestion, and
aids the
n a tu r al f u nc t io ns of the bowels,
a n d
i s
remedial i n t h e s e
r e s p e c t s .
( 8 ) That w hen
taken i n large
q u a n t i t i e s i n
conjunction
with
e x e r c i s e ,
i t
h as produced vomiting
on
some o c c a s i o n s , a n d
d i a r r h o e a on
o t h e r s ,
but
always with r e l i e f t o
the p a t i e n t ,
so
t h a t
i t acted remedially even i n
such
cases.
(9) That when dr u n k in large quantities, without e x e r c i s e , i t h as
been
f o u nd to h a v e
so powerful
a
sedative e f f e c t , as to cause
i n s e n s i b i l i t y ; w h i c h however w a s removed by
e x c i t i n g
t h e s k i n t o
action by cold water
applied
externally, and rubbed upon t he
b ody u n t i l reaction was established.
Of c l o t h i n g t h e s k i n i n
f l a n n e l .
I t i s w e l l
known
t o a l l
h i s p a t i e n t s ,
t h a t
P r i e s s n i t z
i n s i s t s on
flannel not being worn next t he skin. The
s k i n ,
his c o m p e ns a t i n g
a n d remedial organ,
i s
relaxed a nd weakened, he a f f i r m s , by the
constant f r i c t i o n o f the
wool;
the
a i r
i s prevented
from
acting
upon
i t ,
so
a s
t o c a l l
i t s
n a t u r a l tone a nd
r e a c t i o n i n t o play:
i t
becomes
morbidly
s e n s i t i v e . The s l i g h t e s t c o l d a i r c hi ll s i t :
i t s
i n s e n s i b l e p e r s p i r a t i o n
i s
thrown
back
upon
i t s e l f ,
not being
e a s i l y
imbibed by the f l a n n e l ; a nd s i n c e those who wear f l a n n e l seldom
bathe the whole s k i n ,
i t becomes
a t length u n fi t f o r
i t s
f u n c t i o n ,
w h i c h
h e considers
the
g r e a t e s t a nd m ost important i n
the body.
However t h i s may b e , the p r a c t i c a l question is:—Can a ny one,
e s p e c i a l l y
an
i n v a l i d ,
a n d one
who h as
been used
t o wear
f l a n n e l
next h i s s k i n , a nd t h a t perhaps, both night a nd day, venture
without
danger
t o change
t h i s h a b i t
And
i f h e could do i t
without danger,
would
i t
be
attended
with
a ny
r e a l
b e n e f i t
t o
him
?
In answer
t o
t h i s , I give a n instance of the attempt, the parti
c ul a rs of
w h i c h ,
f r o m th e least
to
the greatest,
I
am perfectly sure
o f .
An o f f i c e r of th e navy, twenty-five
years
ago, suffered
a broad f ro m a brain-fever, f r o m w h i c h , after f i v e months' i l l n e s s
C
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34
GRAFENBERG,
AND
h e
r e c o v e r e d .
From
t h a t
time
t o the
present y e a r , h e h ad
been
i n the h a b i t o f wearing f l a n n e l next the
skin
both da y and n i g h t .
He
a pp ea rs n ev er
to
h av e been
restored
to
perfect
health
since
t h a t s e r i o u s
i l l n e s s ; but t o
h ave
been
all along
o c c a s i o n a l l y sub
j e c t t o b i l i o u s f e v e r a nd head-ache. No one s u f f e r e d more f re
quently fro m
c h i l l i n e s s of the s k i n , notwit hsta nding the f l a n n e l s .
In March l a s t
he commenced
th e water-cure;
and, by way
of pre
p a r a t i o n
f o r c a s t i n g o f f h i s f l a n n e l s , took
a
s i n g l e plunge i n cold
water
b e f o r e
going t o bed;
a n d
then
omitted
the
f l a n n e l a t
n i g h t .
After
a week, f e e l i n g r a t h e r
b e t t e r
than worse, a nd having a l l
t h i s
time
r e g u l a r l y
taken a
second
plunge,
a s
soon
as
h e
got
ou t
of b ed in
the m o r n i ng , h e discontinued the
flannel
by
da y as well
as
by night,
and also
the woollen stockings. From
that
da y to
t h i s ,
h e h as not only suffered n o t h i n g
f r o m
the change,
in
th e
way of
d i s e a s e ;
but
has
l o s t
that c h i l l i n e s s
w h i c h h e
complained
of when
wearing
f l a n n e l ;
a nd f e e l s
wa r mer
both
out
o f
doors
a n d in t h a n before.
This
c h a n g e was
effected in
w i n ter w ea t h er ,
and wit h ou t the slightest
unpleasant
occurrence.
This, i t i s
true,
i s but one c ase; t her e are, however, thousands,
who
h a v e don e without,
or l e f t o f f flannel
at Gräfenberg, and
I
never hea rd of on e comp la int against i t . The a b o ve case was
tried i n England, where i t
m i g h t b e
supposed f ro m t he vicissitudes
of
the weather, that,
i f there
were
any
danger
of bad
consequences,
they would s u r e l y h ave followed under such circumstances.
I t
may
now be a
f a i r
q u e s t i o n ,
whether i t
be not
very
unwise
t o c l ot he
c hi ld ren i n flannel
next
the
sk in and
whether
a
mo menta ry cold-water a p p l i c a t i o n e a r l y i n the morn i ng would
not be
very much better?
A word t o Hydropathic superintendants.
There
are tw o p r a c t i c e s o f P r i e s s n i t z , which,
i you
agree with
me,
you
w i l l never adopt: I a l l u d e t o
h i s
treatment
of
abscesses;
a nd t o h i s keeping p a t i e n t s
from
one t o nine
hours
i n cold
water,
a nd
then
rubbing
them
t i l l
the
heat
under
the
a x i l l a
i s
reduced
t o
the coldness of
t h e
rest
of the
skin
|
This
h as been done i n
intermittent fever,
i n brain f e v e r ,
and in
he c t i c
fever.
If
in
on e
case
only
this h as p rob a b ly pro ved f a t a l , and i f in
the other
c a s e s
a more
rapid a n d repeated
a p p l i c a t i o n of cold
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THE
COLD-WATER TREATMENT.
35
water h as been found s u f f i c i e n t , s t i l l i s there not
reason enough
to doubt or
d i s b e l i e v e the n e c e s s i t y o f
t h i s
h e r o i c
remedy ?
I ha ve thus endeavoured p l a i n l y t o give a few
p r a c t i c a l
h i n t s
concerning
t he t heory
a nd
p r a c t i c e
of Hydropathy, a s I sa w i t i n
operation at Gräfenberg: but as I was only there a very short
t i me, I
have not
been a b le t o
do
more. I
have
derived
much
b e n e f i t from i t myself; a nd with my own c h i l d r e n I h a ve observed
i t s very
s a l u t a r y
e f f e c t s ; a n d I t r u s t
t h a t
I
may
h a ve
done
some
t h i n g
towards
limiting
i t s extravagancies.
The Lindervise Doctor.
Extremes meet: there i s a D r. Scrott, living within a w a l k of
Gräfenberg, who
professes
to
cure
diseases wit hout a n y w ater at
a l l
On
the
c o n t r a r y ,
h i s c h i e f
a i m
i s
t o sweat out a l l
t h a t
i s
already i n
the
body.
He
i s
s a i d
t o ha ve h ad h i s
c u r e s ,
a n d i s fond
of
t e l l i n g
that
some
o f
P r i e s s n i t z ' s
p a t i e n t s
co me
t o
h i m
so
loaded
with
water,
t h a t h e i s obliged t o give them wine; a nd so be
numbed w i t h cold,
that
h e i s obliged to give i t them hot He
r e j o i c e s
i n
the s i m p l i c i t y o f h i s method —no douche -no plunge
b a t h s —n o w as h i n g — n o nonsense L i t t l e o r no food—nothing
to d r i n k— a l l
perspiration, and consequently
no
functions
to
per for m
I went
t o
see
a
gentleman
c a l l e d
Coun t Bennet, a t
L i n d e r v i s e ,
who h ad a c t u a l l y
put
himself under t h i s
ma n's
treatment, a nd
whom I saw
and c on v er sed w i th under t he following
state of
body:
i t
i s
not necessary
t o
men t i on u nder
w h a t
s t a t e of
mind.
He w a s about 30 years
o f
age, p a l e ,
t h i n ,
a n d weak;
h i s
pulse
was quick a n d
weak,
h i s tongue f u r r e d , a n d h i s
breath
heavy;
h e
had
not
h a d
a m ot i on f r o m his bowels for fourteen days, and his
urine w a s
v ery red
a nd
t h i c k
and s c a n t y . He
s a i d
h e w a s b e t t e r ;
t h at t h e
pains
of
t he gout
in
his
f e e t
were
relieved;
that
as
h e
did
n ot eat or drink, there was no
occasion
for his
bowels
to p e r f o r m
any functions that h e had now sweated every da y for three
weeks,
f or t h r ee
hours
a t a
time,
in wet sheets and b l a n k e ts t h a t
he needed no b a t h ,
f or
that
was
sufficient to wash him; t h a t he
h a d one g l a s s o f water f o r
the
f i r s t
two
d a y s , a nd one
or
t wo ( I
v e r i l y b e l i e v e the
two i s a suggestion
of
my
own
i n c r e d u l i t y )
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36 GRAFENBERG, AND THE cold-wATER TREATMENT.
s i n c e ; th at th ree small r o l l s
( o f
the
s i z e
of a small
orange)
i s a l l
that i s permitted
h i m t o e a t i n the
course
o f the day; t h a t D r.
S c r o t t
e n t e r t a i n s
great
hopes
o f
h i s
r e c o v e r y . I
w a s
informed
b y
o t h e r s ,
t h a t C ou n t
Bennet h ad been
s i x
mo n t h s a t Gräfenberg;
that h e w as one
o f
the
most healthy
and handsome-looking men
a t the
est a b l i s h m e n t ;
and
t h a t
he had so
fa r recovered from h is
gout,
that
h e c ou ld k ic k
a
football
over the house.
I therefore
ventured
t o
ask
h i m
why h e l e f t Gräfenberg, when h e w a s
so
comparatively well
there.
He answered, i n substance, “What
w a s
the use o f being well—w h a t you c a l l
r o b u s t , when
I
c o u l d n ' t
get on my boots? Here,” added h e , “I can
put on my
boots”
( h i s
f e e t were a s t h i n a s bon es) “wi t h
e a s e . ” I t
w a s not my
business to suggest, th a t i f hehad had his
boots
made to his f e e t ,
instead o f m a k i n g
h i s
f e e t t o
h i s
b o o t s , the same
r e s u l t
would
h a v e been
gained, wit h
less
expense of
f l e s h
and
blood. I l e f t
hi m,
p o s i t i v e l y
intending t o continue
t h i s
sweating
treatment
f o r
a for t night longer , by w h i c h t i m e I fear h e will h a v e had b ot h
feet
i n one
boot
To the above, i n s u b s t a n c e , I can personally bear w i t n e s s .
I
was, moreover, i n formed
by
others, that a young
lady
was
under
D r. Scrott's c a r e , who was ta k ing w i n e w ithout water, that i s ,
instead of w ater; and that
a gen t le ma n
had
been
there
a week
without drinking a ny
water a t
a l l , a nd
h a d s i x r o l l s o f
bread
o n l y
f o r h i s d i e t :
f o r ,
a s the Coun t
would s a y ,
w h a t i s the use o f d i e t
when you l i e a ll day i n blankets?
This
would
seem
t o
be
s u b s t a n t i a l l y
c o r r e c t
b y
the s e q u e l
of
the
r e p o r t ,
w h i c h
was,
t h a t
three
persons
h ad
been f ou nd dead
i n
t h e i r blankets One
o f them, a p r i e s t , h a d j u s t expired b e f o r e
my
v i si t to
Count Bennet.
But, “audi a l t e r a m
partem,”
D r. S c r o t t t h a t
day
s a i d t o
one of
the p a r t y ,
t h a t
the p r i e s t h ad, t he day b e f o r e ,
eaten t wo
pounds of
meat a t
a m e a l , which
occasioned h is
deat h, and t h a t
extremes
were
dangerous
,
-
.
. . .