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
A lady of my acquaintance, on the appearance of an eruption, gave up the
treatment until it disappeared; the eruption took an inward direction
and inflammation of the lungs was the consequence: the most vigorous
measures were now resorted to by Priessnitz, or her life would, most
probably, have paid the forfeit. Another lady was treating herself to
great advantage. After some time, when some boils made their appearance,
she became uneasy and low-spirited. Alarmed, she left off the cure; the
boils receded, and a fever succeeded them, which, as she could not
procure advice, ended in a painful illness. When hydropathy was first
introduced into England, the death of a clergyman, who had been treated
by it, caused a great sensation. This gentleman went to an establishment
on the Rhine, where he staid two or three months: on his determining to
leave, the doctor, who saw indications of a Crisis, advised him to stay.
The patient disregarded this advice and proceeded home; when, as
predicted, a number of boils appeared. Mistaking these friends for
enemies, he sent for a medical man, who declared the boils to arise from
poverty of the blood, administered something to cause them to retire,
and advised him to drink wine and beer, and live freely. As might have
been expected, the result was fatal.
Had this gentleman been subjected to the Packing-sheet followed by
Tepid-bathing; and had the boils been constantly bandaged, his health
would, doubtless, have been improved.
I have known patients, whose blood was in an unhealthy state, throw out
boils for months; but who, from constantly applying bandages to them,
suffered but little inconvenience.
At some of the establishments in Germany, when a crisis is indicated, it
is the practice to recommend patients to diminish the treatment or quit
it altogether, thus throwing away the golden opportunity of realising
health. Whilst at others with a limited knowledge of the Hydropathic
treatment, some practitioners resort to Allopathic or Homoæpathic[sic]
means of mitigating nature's effort to escape her bonds. Let not such
men be trusted: they know not what they do. When in Ireland, I treated a
person of advanced age who had been confined to bed for twelve months.
In two days he was able to walk out on crutches. After I left, a large
boil came in his back: not understanding the matter he gave up the
treatment. Instead of the boil being forced to a head, it retired, and
he fell into his old state. Had this boil been encouraged to a large
size, the patient would, after its bursting, have felt much relief.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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