Every Man His Own Doctor: The Cold Water, Tepid Water, and Friction-Cure, as Applicable to Every Disease to Which the Human Frame Is Subject, and Also to the Cure of Disease in Horses and CattleClaridge, R. T. (Richard Tappin)
Science
Every Man His Own Doctor: The Cold Water, Tepid Water, and Friction-Cure, as Applicable to Every Disease to Which the Human Frame Is Subject, and Also to the Cure of Disease in Horses and Cattle
Claridge, R. T. (Richard Tappin)
Hydrotherapy; Veterinary medicine
_Swelling of a Vein--Varicose Veins._--A young lady was afflicted with
swelled vein just over the large toes of both feet; the swelling in one
foot shortly disappeared, the other became more developed, the foot and
ancle inflamed.
I wrote to Priessnitz, who advised "a cold foot-bath, three times a day,
for twenty minutes; water up to the ancle and not to be changed. After
the bath, rub the foot (omitting the affected part) and leg,
particularly in front, up to the knee, until heat is restored; then
apply a bandage (well wrung out) to the foot and leg up to the knee,
always changing before dry. If an eruption or swelling take place on the
foot, take a sitz-bath half an hour, twice a day, and the sweating
process, followed by cold bath every other day. Do not perspire more
than an hour. The foot should be kept a little elevated."
Patient not getting better, and the medical men declaring the case, in
their opinion, incurable, she went to Gräfenberg. The following is the
treatment pursued there:--Packing-sheets for fifteen minutes; changed
for another of twenty minutes; and cold plunge-bath morning and evening;
between which douched twice a day, and a sitz-bath taken; always wearing
foot and leg and waist bandage.
Priessnitz, on seeing the case, declared the complaint was not a local
one, that "it was a general derangement of the nervous system", and so
it turned out, as veins in the arms, thighs, and elsewhere enlarged and
diminished under the treatment. Both feet and legs now became swollen
and inflamed up to the knee, so that patient was obliged to move on
crutches. Treatment increased. Length of cold bath and douche extended
to five minutes each. To prevent the pain that must have attended the
limbs, in so inflamed a state, coming in contact with water, the
bandages remained on those parts whilst taking those baths. This crisis
continued for two months, when it began to recede, then came again in a
more moderate form; receded and again made its appearance a third and
last time. Catamenia became regular, appetite good, and patient could
walk without assistance. The cure was effected in ten months. It is now
upwards of two years since the party left Gräfenberg, and she is
perfectly well.
By this it will be seen, that that which is produced by the treatment,
must be made to recede under the treatment. Had Priessnitz relinquished
any part of it at the most trying moment, the cure would not have been
effected.
Speaking to him of varicose or enlarged veins, he said "they are
generally curable. I had a patient with an enlarged vein in his foot,
when on the ground the vein became full, measuring nearly two inches;
this was cured in eighteen months."
_Sprains._--In all cases of sprains, rub the part, with hands dipped in
water, for a long time; the oftener the better, and put on a wet
bandage, which when heat has subsided, change for a heating bandage.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account