Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injuriousJohnson, James
Science
Pilgrimages to the Spas in Pursuit of Health and Recreation: With an inquiry into the comparative merits of different mineral waters: the maladies to which they are applicable, and those in which they are injurious
Johnson, James
Balneology; Health resorts; Mineral waters
“An officer, aged 26 years, fell down a flight of stone stairs,
and pitched on the right haunch, or hip-bone. He was stunned to
insensibility, from which he slowly recovered. When examined, the right
leg and thigh were cold as ice, but no fracture or dislocation could be
discovered. He was confined several weeks to his bed; and then could
only hobble about on crutches with great pain. At length he was able to
dispense with the crutches, but every motion of the limb caused great
agony. He tried the waters and baths of Wisbaden; but experienced no
benefit. Thirteen months after the accident, and when the excruciating
pains had rather gained than lost force, he came to Wildbad. The first
bath produced no sensible effect. The second called forth some pains in
the loins, where he had felt no inconvenience previously. These augmented
after the third bath till the seventh, when they became so violent, that
he could not stand, and was confined to his bed. At this time he suddenly
experienced a most painful sense of coldness in the right foot, which was
succeeded by heat, reaction, and ultimately a profuse perspiration over
the whole limb, and even in the loins. From that time he was able to move
the leg without pain, and quickly regained the power of walking without a
stick.”
The Wildbad baths are celebrated for the removal of those various pains
and aches which not seldom attend old gunshot and other wounds. A case is
related of an officer who had been wounded in the arm by a musket-ball in
the late war, and who was harassed by pains in the site of the wound for
many years afterwards. The use of the Wildbad baths re-opened the wound,
from whence a piece of flannel was discharged, and the pains ceased.
These waters are considered to be specific in certain female complaints
which are difficult of removal, and subversive of health, in too many
instances.
“La proprieté de rajeunir, que les dames vantent tant dans le bain de
Wildbad, il faut moins la chercher dans sa vertu cosmetique, que dans la
circonstance que je viens de signaler.”
It is to be remarked that it is not in all persons that the re-action
above alluded to takes place. In many there is a gradual amelioration of
health, without any perturbation of the constitution, and only marked by
an encreased action in the functions of the skin and kidneys—sometimes of
the bowels.
“On the other hand, says Professor Heim, where the malady is obstinate,
there is a greater struggle in the constitution, attended with
considerable fever, disorder of the secretions, irritation of the
nervous system, full pulse, restless nights, distressing dreams, loss
of appetite, dry hot skin, occasional hæmorrhoidal discharges, purging,
gouty attacks, cutaneous eruptions, &c. which precede a restoration of
health.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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