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
Dr. Engin relates the following cases of catarrhal and rheumatic fever.
A delicate female, aged 30 years, was taken ill on the 27th of April
1837, with the abovementioned complaint, but was under an allopathic
doctor till the 30th, when Dr. E. found her labouring under acute pains
in the joints—inflamed throat—difficulty of swallowing—joints swelled
and red—inability to move—pulse 100. The patient was enveloped in a cold
wet blanket, over which several dry ones were placed, twice a day, for
three days consecutively. She soon began to perspire copiously each time
of application. On the fourth day she was plunged into a cold bath while
deluged with sweat. This was repeated twelve days in succession, the
inflamed joints being kept, in the intervals, covered with cold wetted
cloths. During all this time she was ordered to drink plenty of cold
water. The fever and all the other symptoms gradually diminished, and
finally disappeared. Towards the end of the treatment a critical eruption
appeared on the skin.
This was certainly as unfavourable a case for the hydropathic treatment
as could well be imagined; and the fact of its being put in practice,
even with impunity, may afford matter for reflection.
Cases are detailed by Dr. Engin and others, where scarlatina, erysipelas,
herpes, and other cutaneous eruptions, were treated on hydropathic
principles, and seemingly with success. Hæmorrhages of various kinds,
from nose, lungs, bowels, &c. are subjected to this treatment, as well
as a host of chronic maladies, including constipation, hæmorrhoids,
amenorrhœa, chlorosis, liver complaints, jaundice, gout, rheumatism,
melancholia, hypochondriasis, hysteria, epilepsy, tic douloureux,
gastrodynia, scrofula, rickets, &c.
Now, although I should be far from recommending this practice in many
of the complaints where it has been employed, yet, as the institutions
for the hydropathic treatment are now spread all over Germany, and open
to the inspection of all medical men, (unlike the hocus-pocus fraud,
mystery, and deception of homœopathy,) it would be unwise not to examine
into a system which shocks our prejudices rather than runs counter to
historical facts and philosophical reasoning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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