Forty Years in the Wilderness of Pills and Powders: Cogitations and Confessions of an Aged PhysicianAlcott, William A. (William Andrus)
Science
Forty Years in the Wilderness of Pills and Powders: Cogitations and Confessions of an Aged Physician
Alcott, William A. (William Andrus)
Medicine -- Anecdotes
There is some difference of opinion as to the circumstances which most
favor the action of the lead, or, rather, which cause its dissolution in
the water. But, with regard to its danger, in certain circumstances,
either known or unknown, there can be no doubt. Nor can we doubt that,
in view of facts which exist, it is our duty to banish lead pipes, as
much as possible, from common use.
During the early part of the year 1855, Capt. J. H., near Boston, aged
thirty-four years, of good natural constitution and comparatively
healthy habits in general, had a slow typhoid fever, from which,
however, he finally recovered, though not without a continued liability
to a relapse. About this time, he began to use water brought to his
kitchen in lead pipes.
Late in the year 1856, he was taken down very suddenly, with fever and
great debility, and in four or five days his upper and lower limbs
became completely paralyzed. He was not able to stir so much as one of
his hands. Indeed, the whole abdominal region seemed to be almost as
inactive as his limbs; for very severe friction across the hips, and
along the spine, down the legs, produced no sensation; and his bowels
were so constipated, as to remain motionless from five or six days to a
fortnight at a time, unless excited by medical agents.
His case was examined by several eminent medical men in the vicinity of
Boston, who gave it as their unanimous opinion, that the cause of his
disease was the irritation of the water. Some of them prescribed for his
case, but all to no apparent purpose.
On the first day of November, he was sent to an electro-chemical bathing
establishment, to be treated according to the usages of that
institution. I was intimately acquainted with the establishment, and, in
circumstances like his, was understood to regard it with favor. I was,
therefore, from time to time, consulted in the case of Captain H. To
give an impulse to the nervous and arterial systems of Capt. H., one
bath was administered. The use of his limbs was restored, as if by
magic. When he came out of the bath, he walked some twenty feet or more,
to his bed, without assistance; and, to his great surprise, could raise
his hands to his head. The second day's bath, and treatment with simple
diet, not only restored sensation, but gave him a better use of his
hands than he had enjoyed before for many months. His bowels, also,
became immediately regular, and continued so.
It is, however, to be confessed, that his recovery was not so rapid as
at first seemed probable. The baths seemed to give an impulse; but it
was reserved for a proper diet, suitable exercise, and good air, to work
out, slowly, a perfect cure. How much was attributable to the baths,
considered by themselves, is not known. No medicine was given, from
first to last, except the electricity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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