Scientific American Supplement, No. 821, September 26, 1891Various
Science
Scientific American Supplement, No. 821, September 26, 1891
Various
Science -- Periodicals
Hydrotherapy, especially in the form of cold douches, particularly when
combined with massage, is often of considerable value in relieving
obesity; the method of Harmman, of St. Germain, which has in many
instances induced rapid loss of adipose, is of this class. Tepid saline
baths and vapor baths have many advocates, and may afford material aid
when the heart and circulation do not inhibit their employment. Hot
baths elevate the temperature of the body and increase the organic
exchanges, hence, as Bert and Reynard have pointed out, tend to the
elimination of oxygen and carbonic acid; but when employed, the patient
should be introduced while the temperature is below 130° F., when it may
be gradually raised in the course of thirty or forty minutes to 140° F.
It has already been intimated, the chief feature of the treatment of
obesity is acceleration of the exchanges; and this is in the main true,
though it must also be borne in mind that, while there are obese who
excrete little urea and have a depressed central nervous temperature,
many may be azoturic, and besides eliminate phosphate in excess, when an
oxidating treatment will not only fail, but prove positively injurious.
The bile throws out fat, therefore, to accelerate nutritive oxidations,
the liver and nervous system must be acted upon, _i.e._, stimulated.
Everything that tends to diminish the activity of the former, or depress
the latter, must be avoided. Hence intellectual labor should be
encouraged, or in lieu thereof, travel advised. Exercise should be taken
chiefly while fasting; the limits of sleep confined to strict necessity,
and _siestas_ after meals and during the day strictly forbidden; the
skin stimulated by hydro-therapeutic measures, including massage under
cold affusions, during warm salt baths, etc.
To increase the activity of the liver, salicylate of soda may often be
advantageously administered for its cholagogue effect; or resort may be
had to saline purgatives such as are afforded by the springs of
Marienbad, Kissengen, Homburg, Carlsbad, Brides, Hunyadi, or
Chatel-Guyon; and it is somewhat remarkable that while undergoing a
course of these waters, there is often no appreciable change in weight
or obesity, though the decrease becomes most marked almost immediately
upon cessation of treatment.
Everything tending to increased or fuller respiration is to be
encouraged, for the fats are thus supplied with oxygen, hastening their
disintegration and consumption.
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