Some Observations on the Cold Water Treatment

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SOME OBSERVATIONS

oNTHE

COLD-WATER TREATMENT,

As

W1TNEssed

AT GRAFENBERG.

py

G.

H. HEATHCOTE M.D.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR. J.

G.

F. J. RIVINGTON,

st. Paul’s

church YARD,

AND waterloo Place,

PALL

MALL;

AND

sold

by

HINCHLIFFE, ROTHERHAM.

1843.



LONDON

or

LBERT

AND R1v1NGToN, PRINTERs,

st.

John s

scu

ARE.



g

G

R

A

FENBERG,

ANDThe

C

O

L

D WATER

TREAT

MENT.

It

i s but the

simple

t r u t h

t o remark,

that the body

cannot

be preserved

i n

good

h e a l t h

without

the

p r a c t i c a l

a p p l i c a t i o n

of

some

o f

those

very

p r i n c i p l e s

w h i c h

a f f e c t

the

s o u l l i k e w i s e .

An d

i t

i s

g e n e r a l l y t r u e

t o s ay , t h a t

whoever

i s

s i n n i n g a g a i n s t

h i s

own

body

b y destroying

h i s h e a l t h ,

i s

a t

the

same time

abusing h i s

s o u l ,

and

hazarding

e t e r n a l

d e s t r u c t i o n .

Too

f o r c i b l y ,

a l a s

i s t h i s thought

presented

t o the m i n d

a t

Gräfenberg;

a

d i s t a n t

S i l e s i a n

v i l l a g e ,

t o

w hich

p r i n c e s

are now

t r a v e l l i n g

to be

cured

by

a s e l f - t a u g h t

p e a s a n t ,

Vincent

P r i e s s n i t z .

Without

temperance

i t i s

impossible f o r

the

body

o f man t o

con

t i n u e

i n h e a l t h .

An d

s o i m p o r t a n t

i s

t h i s

v i r t u e

t o h i s m o r a l

w e l l - b e i n g ,

t h a t an A p o s t l e

d i s c o u r s e s

upon

i t

b e f o r e

a

d i s s o l u t e

k i n g ,

a n d

considers

temperance

a s f i t l y joined

with

righteousness

a n d j u d gem e nt

to come.

A

c o m p r e h e n s i v e

p r a c t i c a l

t e m p e r a n c e

i s t h e f i r s t i n f l u e n t i a l

element i n

the

method

o f

cure

pursued

a t Gräfenberg.

This c o n s i s t s

i n e a r l y

r i s i n g ,

much e x e r c i s e

i n

the

open

air,

d r i n k i n g

c o l d

w a t e r ,

i n s t e a d

o f s t i m u la n t s ;

and

k e e p i n g

t h e

s k i n

i n

order

by frequent

a b l u t i o n s .

P r i e s s n i t z

h i m s e l f ,

not

having a ny a i l m e n t ,

r i s e s ,

according

t o

the season,

between

4

a nd

6 o ' c l o c k ;

goes

from

h i s

bed

i n t o a

cold b a t h ,

takes

one

short

plunge, a nd

comes

o u t , d r e s s e s a n d

v i s i t s

h i s p at i e n t s ,

a nd

b r e a k f a s t s a t

8

o ' c l o c k ,

s i t t i n g

a t

one

o f

A

2



4

GRAFENBERG, AND

the long t a b l e s , w it h su ch o f h i s p a t i e n t s a s take t h e i r b r e a k f a s t a t

the same h o u r ' . From about 9 o ' c l o c k t o 1 P.M. he i s g e n e r a l l y

r i d i n g

or

walking

i n

the

open

a i r ;

h i s

occupation

being

t o

v i s i t

h i s numerous p a t i e n t s about

Gräfenberg

and t h e neighbourhood.

At 1 h e r e t u r n s t o d i n n e r , a t w h i c h t im e onl y i s any thing warm

given

t o e a t o r to

d r i n k .

The dinner

c o n s i s t s

of soup a nd

b o u i l l i

always;

as

w e l l a s

of other meats a n d

f a r i n a c e o u s

food

a l t e r n a t e l y .

Th e dinner occupies

t wo

h o u r s ,

a nd many

indigest

i b l e and unwholesome a r t i c l e s ,

common

to

German

table-d'hôtes,

a r e

o f f e r e d t o the i n v a l i d during that p e r i o d . But P r i e s s n i t z

neither

advises

him

to

eat

of

t h em , n or

affords him

a n y

encourage

ment

by h i s own

example. On the c o n t r a r y , h e

w a s accustomed

t o point

ou t

a s r e p r e h e n s i b l e

the

conduct o f an i n v a l i d a t h i s own

t a b l e ,

who

used to

e a t

h a l f a five-pound

l o a f every

morning

a t

breakfast

This

p a t i e n t

needed

n o

b i t t e r s or

t o n i c s ; but appeared

to

b e too

well. He h a d

been

restored to health, and was agai n

becoming i n t e m p e r a t e . The very h e a l t h i n e s s o f the p l a c e tempts

many t o

t h i s

s p e c i e s

of

s e l f - i n d u l g e n c e ; and, a s s u r e d l y , much

p r o t r a c t i o n

o f

d i s e a s e

i s

owing

t o

t h i s

c a u s e .

After

dinner

Priess

n i t z again

goes

o u t . At

7

o ' c l o c k

supper i s l a i d ; the

f a r e being

e x a c t l y t h e same a s a t b r e a k f a s t ; a nd

from

t h i s hour u n t i l 1 0 ,

the i n m ates of G rä fenberg House are d r o p p i ng of f to bed. On

Sunday

evening,

however,

there i s a general

dance i n the s a l o o n .

Two princesses were pointed out to me on on e of t h ese occasions.

They

r e s t on

t h e

o t h e r

s i x nights o f

the week.

P r i e s s n i t z drinks onl y a s

much water a s

h e f i n d s

convenient;

a nd

advises a l l

w h o a r e i n

good

h e a l t h

t o drink

no more.

I t i s

only

w hen

the

body i s d i s e a s e d , whatever

that d i s e a s e

may b e , t h a t

much

water i s

required; for

since

t he

secretions

are

then

v i t i a t e d ,

a n d d i l u e n t s

necessary

e i t h e r

t o attenuate

or exp el

them

(accord

ing t o h i s t h e o r y ) , then only must

water be

drunk i n greater

abundance,

t o accomplish

the former

o b j e c t

d i r e c t l y , or the l a t t e r

mediately, through

the

p e r s p i r a t o r y f u n c t i o n of

the

s k i n .

To

t h i s

“h u m or a l

pathology,”

o f

course

much

o b j e c t i o n

can

be

o f f e r e d ; a nd

t i l l

l a t e l y i t appears

t o

h a v e

h a d

but few

a d v o c a t e s .

Bu t the unprecedented s u c c e s s w hich

t h e

p r a c t i c a l


of

i t has h a d a t Gräfenberg, must compel more

c o n s i d e r a t e

a t t e n t i o n

*

The

breakfast

consists

of bread

and

butter and cold fresh

m i l k ,

or

thickened

m i l k

i f i t be preferred.



THE

COLD WATERTREATMENT.

5

to

the t h e o r y . P r i e s s n i t z himself a f f o r d s

one

of the most s t r i k i n g

instances

of the success of

his

method of

cure:

a n instance,

w h i c h

i s

almost

i t s e l f

s u f f i c i e n t

t o

e s t a b l i s h

the

proof of

an

i n n a t e

remedial power, a c t i n g

through

t h e i n s t r u m e n t a l i t y of t h e s k i n .

Admitting t h i s h y p o th et i c a ll y , t h e i n f i n i t e s i m a l

dose

o f the ho

moeopathic d o c t r i n e

w i l l

ow e t o i t ,

a nd

the temperance w h i c h i t

enjoins, a l l i t s value and a l l i t s p r a i s e .

A

French gentleman, about f o r t y years of age, w a s a t Gräfen

berg during my v i s i t t h e r e . He h a d been

t r e a t e d

i n America b y

strong s a l i v a t i o n ,

b ut

t h e disease w h i c h he

laboured

under had

n ot

yielded; a n d

he subsequently spent two years in P a r i s , under

the most

c e l e b r a t e d

homoeopathist i n t h a t c i t y . He s t a t e d

t h a t ,

duri ng

t h i s time,

he

received more r e l i e f t h an i n

A me r i c a ;

bu t

that, on t h e whole, he was far from

wel l: which

determined him

to t r y

the

c e l e b r a t e d

system

a t

Gräfenberg. When

I conversed

with him,

he

had been

t here five months; and he assured me

that he w a s b e t t e r i n every r e s p e c t than ever h e h a d been b e f o r e .

He h ad been

subjected

t o much sweating, with copious

drinking

of w a t e r , c o l d

b a t h i n g ,

a n d even the

douche.

Th e appearance

of

his face was as

that

of aman

who

had never known illness.

But t o return t o P r i e s s n i t z : before h e w a s seventeen years of

a ge h e

was

entrusted

w i t h

the management of

his

father's

farm.

Many were t he

l i t t l e

accidents, which f r o m t i me to t i me befel

h im , f rom

w a n t of t h a t ma nu a l d e x t e r i t y , which time a n d

expe

r i e n c e

h ad

not yet

taught him. Sundry

c u t s

a nd b r u i s e s , a nd

accidental

hurts

had

t h us

early

t augh t

him

pain,

a n d

attention to

i t s removal. Hasty coverings o f r a g s , wet

perhaps from

the

washing of

h i s wounds, a nd

conveying

t o h i m a

f e e l i n g

of r e l i e f ,

suggested the extension o f t h e i r use t o more aggravated c a s e s ;

t i l l , emboldened by

con t i nu a l su c cess

a n d additional

personal

ex

p e r i e n c e , h e passed from the moist rag on the f i n g e r t o the

envelopment o f

the whole

body

i n a

wet s h e e t . When h e w a s

seventeen years o l d ,

h e

w a s

kicked

down by h i s horse: h i s f a c e

w a s

s e v e r e l y

contused;

two

o f

h i s

f r o n t

t e e t h

knocked

out;

a nd

th e

c a r t

h e wa s d r i v i n g

passed

over h i s body, and broke t wo

o f

h i s

r i b s . In

t h i s

c o n d i t i o n h e w as

c a r r i e d

h om e, a nd

a

neighbouring

surgeon immediately sent f o r . When the surgeon a r r i v e d , h e

pronounced P r i e s s n i t z a c r i p p l e

f o r l i f e ; d e c l a r i n g

t h a t h e would

never

more be

f i t f o r l a b o u r . Fortunately f o r

h i m s e l f ,

P r i e s s n i t z



6 GRAFENBERG, AND

h a d

no f a i t h

i n

t h i s

prognosis;

but

immediately dismissed

the

surgeon,

and

commenced

his

own

cure.

An uncommon courage

a n d

r e s o l u t i o n

must

h a ve

formed

p a r t

of

t h e c h a r a c t e r o f

t h i s

young

ma n. He

l e a n t over

the

back

o f a

c h a i r , a nd

i n f l a t e d

h i s

own

lungs

( p a i n f u l

a nd

bleeding

from

h i s r e c e n t a c c i d e n t ) , u n t i l ,

by

the

pressure of

the c h a i r preventing the descent o f the di a

p hr agm, the distended

lungs

h a d

themselves r e p l a c e d

the

broken

ribs. He then bound

a wet cloth

over

h is

chest, and covered i t

with a dr y one; l a i d himself i n bed, a n d quenched the subsequent

t h i r s t a n d

f e v e r

by drinking c o p i o u s l y

of

cold water, a nd

f re

quently renew ing the cold bandage to

his

chest. He partook

very s p a r i n g l y

o f f o o d ,

a nd

i n ten days a f t e r the a c c i d e n t ,

w as

walking about

i n the

open a i r

Within the year h e

h a d

re

sumed all

his

accustomed

labours.

Let us r e f l e c t

by the w a y on t h i s s i n g u l a r c a s e .

Weh a ve here

a very s e r i o u s a c c i d e n t , accompanied b y c o n s i d e r a b l e i n j u r y t o

the c h e s t ,

breaking

the

p a r i e t e s

a n d crushing the lung; a l s o

laceration

of t h e f a ce with

such

v i ol ence as to force out two

of

the t e e t h . Th e appearance o f things a t the time w a s s u c h , a s t o

f o r c e

from

the medical attendant

a

most

unfavourable

o p i n i o n .

Yet, how simple

w as the treatment employed; how s a t i s f a c t o r y

its

issue. Rest, co ld

water

to drink, and co ld

fomentations to

th e i n j ured p a r ts

What a

strong confidence

i s evinced here

i n the

remedial

power

of n at ure

h e r s e l f Leaving himself p a s s i v e i n her hands,

th e on ly

aid

w h i c h

he

ventures

to

afford

her,

a r i s e s

apparently

from the d i c t a t i o n o f her own v o i c e ; t h i r s t being assuaged by the

most

natural drink;

and

th e

sensation

of

painful

heat

by

th e


o f c o l d .

I t

i s an

i n t e r e s t i n g

question—how, a f t e r a l l ,

d o e s nature e f f e c t the cure?

w h a t

i s the modus

o p e r a n d i

i n

t h i s ,

and in ot her s t i l l more difficult cases, i n which, with si m i l a r

a s s i s t a n c e o n l y ,

sh e h as

been found

t o

be s u f f i c i e n t ? There

i s

no

doubt but t h a t Priessnitz does, and ever will c on si d er h i m sel f a s

both

healed

a nd

preserved

by

an

i n h e r e n t

r e m e d i a l

power

i n h i s

own

body.

He

consequently

b e l i e v e s t h a t

the

same power

e x i s t s

and

operates

w i t h equal

e f f e c t , c e t e r i s paribus, i n a l l

other

bodies.

This i s

th e

ruling

principle in t h e theory

of

the method of

cure

pursued a t Gräfenberg.

Hence

the uniformity o f the treatment;

the o b j e c t

of

w h i c h i s ,

by a general

renovation o f t he strength



THECOLD WATERTREATMENT. 7

to gi ve scop e to the e f f e c t s of th e v i s medicatrix. The next

p r i n c i p l e

i n the t heory of

t h i s system i s , t h a t the s k i n

i s

the

instrumental organ

o f

p r e s e r v a t i o n

and

h e a l i n g , by i t s p e r s p i r i n g ,

exhaling,

and

o c c a s i o n a l l y

s e c r e t i n g

functions:

a c c o r d i n g l y ,

the

whole treatment i s applied to this organ, and to the stoma c h and

bowels,

w h i c h

may be considered as the internal skin of th e body.

The t h i r d p r i n c i p l e i n t h i s system c o n s i s t s i n m u c h e x e r c i s e i n t h e

open

a i r .

Such e x e r c i s e i s

d i r e c t l y o p e r a t i v e upon the s k i n , a n d

i s

i n

p e r f e c t

c o n s i s t e n c e

with

the theory: as

a l s o

i s temperance i n

eating

a n d

drinking;

t h o u g h

te m pe ran ce i n

eating i s , f r o m

the

temptation

I h a v e

alluded

t o , and

th e

want of self-controul, too

often

violated. Those, however, who choose to

indulge

in t h i s

r e s p e c t , i n e v i t a b l y p r o t r a c t the continuance of t h ei r d i s e a s e s .

There i s

no a b s o l u t e impunity i n

the

system a t Grafenberg f o r

any species of intemperance;

not

even for intemper a nce

in

drinking w a t e r , as the following i n s t a n c e w i l l prove.

An

elderly lady,

h a v i n g

i m b i bed the

notion

that too

much

water could

not be

t a k e n ,

took

twenty-one

h a l f

p i n t s i n

the course

of t h e

forenoon.

Very soon

a f t e r the

completion

of

t h i s amount,

a n um b ness ensued i n her

t o e s

a nd f e e t , w h i c h gradually extended

u p her l e g s , t i l l i t reached the abdomen, w he n sh e h e r s e l f beca me

insensible. The

attendants p ut

h er to

bed,

and t h r o ug h

some

un

explained motives, l e f t her u n t i l the

next

day,

when,

f i n d i n g her

a l i v e ,

they made th e

f i r s t

c o m m u n i c a t i o n of th e m a tter to

Priessnitz. When he arrived, he ordered

t h a t

she should be

r ubbed in

wa ter

of the temperature of 62°Fahr., which f e e l s cold.

When h e j udged

t h a t a

s u f f i c i e n t

r e - a c t i o n h a d been induced

upon t h e s k i n ,

s h e

was

p l a c e d i n

bed a g a i n ; and

t h i s t r e a t m e n t

appears

t o

h a v e been s u f f i c i e n t

t o a i d the

v i s m e d i c a t r i x

t o

bring

about

the

recovery

of her

former

s t a t e

of

h e a l t h .

I o c c a s i o n a l l y

met t h i s

lady

a f t e r her experiment, but I

did

not

think

i t neces

sary t o ask h e r , whether sh e now partook m o r e temperately of

the s i m p l e beverage of c o l d water.

I s h a l l h a ve occasion t o r e l a t e i n another

p l a c e

t he dea th of a

young

English

lady

from

the

want,

i n

a l l

p r o b a b i l i t y ,

of

t h a t

i n t u i t i v e

genius

f o r measuring with

a glance the

v i t a l

powers

of

h i s p a t i e n t s ,

so

absurdly

a t t r i b u t e d t o

P r i e s s n i t z ; whose

r e a l good

common

s e n s e ,

a n d unquestionable modesty, would

lead him to

b e

t h e foremost in disclaiming i t .



8

GRAFENBERG,

AND

No; P r i e s s n i t z has n o

such

i n t u i t i v e g e n i u s .

His

treatment

r e s t s

upon t h e broad,

open, a nd

common sense

p r i n c i p l e s

of

strengthening

the

general

h e a l t h by open

a i r ,

a nd c o l d bathing;

by d i l u t i n g

a c r i d s e c r e t i o n s

with c o l d

w a t e r ,

a n d aiding t h e i r e x i t

by perspiration.

Perhaps

one of

the

most f r e q u e n t l y used

medicines

i s

Dover's,

or James's powder. And f o r w h a t purpose ? To bring on per

s p i r a t i o n . Yes, t h i s

h as

been the anxious

a i m of

many

an

able

p h y s i c i a n .

How o f t e n does p e r s p i r a t i o n shorten the

p er iod of

fever,

and p roduce

a

favourable

c r i s i s .

What

operation

i s more

desirable

i n

incipient

diseases of

th e

chest,

t h a n

th e

exercise

of

t h i s

f u n c t i o n of

the

s k i n

P e r s p i r a t i o n i n rheumatic

a f f e c t i o n s ,

i n

d i s e a s e s o f

the

bowels, a nd g e n e r a l l y

i n all the

complaints o f

c h i l d h o od , is of itself almost sufficient t o t e r m i n a t e the disease.

Physicians have, i n t h e o r y , disputed much about the

“humoral

pathology,” n e v e r t h e l e s s they

have, i n p r a c t i c e ,

no l e s s than f i v e

orders

of

diaphoretics. Assuredly

they h a v e manifested much

more

ingenuity

than

P r i e s s n i t z

i n t h e

invention

of s u d o r i f i c

instruments,

though

they

h a v e

not

attained

to

his

success

i n

their

application.

Modes of

e f f e c t i n g P e r s p i r a t i o n

a t Gräfenberg.

Th e means

employed

by P r i e s s n i t z

t o

produce

p e r s p i r a t i o n

are

simple and e f f i c a c i o u s . They are

only

two. ( 1 )

Th e naked

body i s bound round, a s t i g h t l y a s p o s s i b l e , with a t h i c k b l a n k e t ,

a n d afterwards covered with a f e a t h e r bed. In t h i s p o s i t i o n the

person

l i e s

from

one

to

f i v e

hours,

according

t o h i s

aptness

or

inaptness to perspire. When perspiration i s decidedly esta

b l i s h e d ,

a n d

i s intended t o be continued, then c o l d water i s given,

about a

quarter

o f

a pint a t

a t i m e , a t

i n t e r v a l s

o f twenty minutes,

or h a l f an hour; by

w h i c h

means the p e r s p i r a t i o n

i s

i n c r e a s e d .

When the p a t i e n t h as perspired s u f f i c i e n t l y (from h a l f a n hour to

three hours, according to circumstances), h e i s uncovered

by

a n

attendant t o t h e

last bl a n ket, i n

which he

descends

t o the cold

bath

room;

where,

throwing

o f f

h i s

c o v e r i n g ,

h e

s t e p s

i n t o

the

bath,

a nd

a f t e r

one or t wo d i p s , comes

ou t

a g a i n . The attendant

s u p p l i e s h i m with a dr y s h e e t , over w h i c h i s presently thrown h i s

dressing-gown, and h e returns t o h i s room t o f i n i s h h i s t o i l e t .

Many patients

are considered too

weak to

bear the

cold b at h

at



THE

COLD WATER

TREATMENT. 9

the n a t u r a l temperature, w h i c h i n October was about 41°Fahren

heit:

such

patients

are washed

i n a

tub,

wit h

w ater at

th e tempe

r a t u r e

of

62°Fahrenheit,

a nd

w it h on ly

about

three

or

four

inches

of

water

in the tub. This w a s h i n g occupies only a m i n u t e or two.

( 2 )

Th e

second

mode o f e f f e c t i n g p e r s p i r a t i o n

i s ,

by f i r s t

placing

on

th e bed a sheet, which after

being

dipped in c ol d w at er , h a s

been well w r u n g o u t , a n d spread upon

a

b l a n k e t . The naked

body i s then enveloped i n the

s h e e t ,

from the neck t o the f e e t in

c l u s i v e ,

a nd immediately covered with

the b l a n k e t , w h i c h

i s

bound

a s

t i g h t l y as p o s s i b l e : over a l l comes the f e a t h e r - b e d , w h i c h

i s

everywhere

used

a s

a

covering

i n

Ge r m a n y;

f o r t h i s

t wo

or

three a d d i t i o n a l blankets m ight be s u b s t i t u t e d i n t h i s country.

This

second

mode

o f

producing


i s i n mo re

general

use a t Gräfenberg than the f i r s t ; n o t , however, f o r the production

of so

copious

a s t a t e o f p e r s p i r a t i o n , but c h i e f l y

t o e x c i t e

t he sk in

to

a more gentle

a c t i o n , without

t h a t i r r i t a t i o n

which

the

blanket

next

to th e

body occasions. On

this account,

invalids re m a i n

thus bound i n the wrung-out sheet and blankets from

h a l f

an

hour

t o

an

hour

only;

a nd

then

proceed e i t h e r t o the c o l d bath,

or

t o t h e

tempered

washing, according to

each p e r s o n ' s

s t r e n g t h ,

a n d g r e a t e r f i t n e s s f o r the one operation or

the

o t h e r .

For

t h a t

state of skin which

f ev er i n du ces, both in ch ildren

and adults, I know of nothing

w h i c h acts

so certainly,

so

imme

d i a t e l y , and so

b e n e f i c i a l l y a s

t h i s mode

o f usi ng th e wrung-out

s h e e t . I w i l l

give

a n

instance

of

two, i n

w h i c h I have myself

a p p l i e d

i t ,

a nd witnessed i t s t r u l y

charming

e f f e c t s .

A gardener's son, a child

about eleven

years o l d ,

co m p l a i ned

of great

weakness,

s e n s a t i o n s of c o l d , l o s s

o f

a p p e t i t e , and t h i r s t .

The s k i n , however,

w a s

hot a nd d r y , the tongue

white,

and the

pulse 120.

He h a d

been

three

or f o u r

days i n

t h i s s t a t e .

I

per

suaded

h i s

f a t h e r t o s u f f e r

the

wrung-out sheet t o be

a p p l i e d ,

w h i c h

w as

throw n

e n t i r e l y

over the c h i l d

from

head t o f o o t ,

leaving only h i s f a c e

uncovered. He w a s

then wrapped round

with

blankets

on

h i s

bed,

a nd

I

s a t

down

by

h i s

s i d e

t o n o t i c e

t h e e f f e c t .

At

f i r s t t h e child cried upon t h e

sudden

application of

t h e cold sheet;

but

as soon as ever h e was covered by

t h e

b l a n k e t s ,

h e

beca me q u i t e

s i l e n t ; i n

about a

minute h i s p a l e

cheeks were s u f f u s e d with a red glow, the r e a c t i o n of

t h e

skin

had

taken place,

and in another m i n u t e

a m oi st ur e

over a l l

t h e



10 GRAFENBERG, AND

dry skin h ad f o l l o w e d . He s a i d h e w a s now very

w a r m ,

a nd i n

less

t h a n

f i v e

m i nutes more

he

was

f a s t

asleep. He

slept a bout

four

hours,

and

a w o ke

with

such an a p p e t i t e ,

that

h e would

not re

main i n

bed,

but

dressed

himself,

took

some food,

and

sat

again

in

h i s former

p o s i t i o n

by the kitchen

f i r e . But

t h i s hasty indulgence

recalled t h e f e b r i l e symptoms, and h e had again to submit to th e

s h e e t , w h i c h w a s

followed

by

a good

n i g h t ' s

r e s t . In

the

morn

i ng he

was

washed in a tub of cold

wa ter ( i t

was i n t h e summer

and

also in th e

evening

before h e

went

to bed. This was con

tinued only four d a y s , w h e n h e went ou t t o w o r k with h i s

f a t h e r ,

and

has

since

continued

well.

An

i n f a n t ,

only

t e n

mont hs

o l d ,

w as

much

d i s t r e s s e d ,

during

i t s t e e t h i n g ,

with f e v e r i s h

heat

a nd

r e s t l e s s n e s s . So

great was

i t s

i r r i t a t i o n , t h a t

nothing

would

appease i t ;

i t wou ld take

n o

food;

i t r e f u s e d

the

b r e a s t ;

a n d could not s l e e p .

A

l a r g e t o w e l ,

h av in g b een dipped i n cold

fresh water,

was wrung out, and

spread

upon

a b la nket on the l i t t l g i r l ' s bed. Sh e w as then un

d r e s s e d , a n d

most

c r u e l l y

deposited

upon

the wet

c l o t h s

( h e r

arms,

however,

b e i n g

l e f t o u t ) ,

a n d immediately covered by t wo

or

three

folds

of

blanket.

There

was

a

scream

of

surprise

at

f i r s t ,

bu t not many moments elapsed

before

sh e was i n comfort—

“Tired n a t u r e ' s sweet r e s t o r e r , b a l m y

s l e e p , ”

h a d l i g h t e d on her l i d s , a n d gi ven h er p e a c e .

During t hi s sl eep profuse perspiration took place, as well upon

the

head a nd f a c e ,

a s

upon

t h e covered p a r t s of the

body.

The

a rm s w er e

purposely

l e f t

uncovered

by

t h e

s h e e t ,

i n

order

not

t o

c o n f i n e

t h e i r

motions, w h i c h

i n

young

c h i l d r e n

are very

a c t i v e ,

and would,

had

th e arms been pinioned down to th e

s i d e s ,

h a v e

disturbed the

c l o s e n e s s o f

the

c o v e r i n g s ,

w h i c h

ought c a r e f u l l y t o

be preserved.

In

the month of J u ly l a s t ,

dur ing

a v i s i t

to

a

friend in

th e

county

o f Galway, I

w as requested

to v i s i t a

tenant

o f h i s , whom

I found i n the following c o n d i t i o n . He

was

a man about t we n ty

six

years

of age, of

a n

an x ious

countenance,

and

much

a l a r med

f o r h i s

l i f e . His

f a c e w a s f l u s h e d , a n d h i s

s k i n dry

a n d

hot;

h i s

legs a nd

thighs

were c o o l e r , a n d m a r ked

with p e t e c h i a e ;

h i s tongue

w a s dry a nd brown, a n d h i s l i p s da rk wi th

sordes;

h i s pulse w a s

about 120; h e h ad great t h i r s t , a nd no a p p e t i t e . He f e l t extremely




weak, a nd complained o f

head-ache

a n d d y s u r i a . He h a d

been

i l l

for six

days. A nurse

of the

country was

in

attendance, who

pronounced

h i m

t o

h a ve

t h e f e v e r .

Accordingly

the

poor

man

was, by common consent, p u t into quarantine,

and a n y

aid that

w a s a f f o r d e d him, w a s c a u t i o u s l y

confined

t o the o u t s i d e of h i s

c a b i n . I t w a s with great d i f f i c u l t y t h a t I could

persuade t h i s

patient to submit to

th e w et sheet. He

talked some t i me

about

i t with h i s

nurse

i n I r i s h ,

the

r e s u l t of w h i c h

was,

t h a t

she honestly

confessed that s h e could not

be

r e s p o n s i b l e

f o r

h i s l i f e , s i n c e she

had “no

knowledge of that w a y , ” and

h e

was

therefore afraid

to

t r y

i t .

“Besides,

S i r , ” s a i d

h e ,

very

shrewdly,

“when

you

were

Dispensary doc tor h er e ten years ago, you never p r a c t i s e d i t . ”

Upon t h i s

I w a s

obliged

t o go i n t o the

h i s t o r y

o f

t h i s w a t e r - c u r e ,

a nd t o

a s s u r e

him,

t h a t

although I w a s ignorant of

i t t h e n , i t

w a s

because

i t

w a s discovered i n

a

f o r e i g n l a n d , a nd h ad not

a t

t h a t

time been made k n o w n i n our country; but t h a t I h ad so much

confidence i n i t s

powers

of doing him good, that i f h e would

submit himself t o my judgement, I would put the f i r s t sheet on h i m

myself,

and

rema in

in

h is

cabin

t i l l

h e

assured

me

himself

that

h e

f e l t b e t t e r . This

determined

him :—“Well,

doctor,

here I am ; do

with me

w h a t

you

l i k e . ”

With

the

a s s i s t a n c e o f

the

nurse we

prepared

a

s h e e t , a nd

wrapped the

p a t i e n t i n i t ,

covering h i m

w i t h a l l the

blankets,

rags, coats,

a n d

clothes we could

muster.

I n

a bout

ten m i nutes th e patient

f e l t

relieved, and I l e f t him for

the

n i g h t .

The next morn i ng h e consented t o be washed from

head

to f o o t , s i t t i n g i n a tub of cold

w ater;

after w h i c h

h e

was

placed

i n

bed,

and, upon th e return of the

fever,

a f t e r a short

s l e e p ,

he

requested of

his

own

accord

to

h a v e another

wet

sheet.

This h e repeated s e v e r a l times t h a t

n i g h t ,

drinking p l e n t i f u l l y o f

cold

water. Th e t h i r d night h e s l e p t a long time i n h i s wet

sheet,

and on the sixth h is pulse was 80 , and th e fever had

l e f t

h i m . A f ew

days afterwards

h e was at work in t h e f i e l d s . No

medicine whatever h a d been given h i m during my

attendance;

b u t

h e

had been

p urged

before

I

saw

h i m . The f i r s t night,

how

ever,

I allowed him to take a bout ten

gr a i ns o f

nitre in his

water,

more to

oblige the

nurse t h a n

to benefit th e patient.

The r u l e f o r applying the wet s h e e t ,

i n

c a s e s of f e v e r , i s , t o

change i t

a s

soon a s i t becomes d r y , and t he p a t i e n t a g a i n c o m p l a i n s

of u n c o m f o r t a b l e h e a t . I t

may

be necessary t o r e p e a t

i t

many



12 GRAFENBERG, AND

times during

both

day a nd n i g h t .

Th e

most r e f r e s h i n g s l e e p i s

sometimes obtained i n the wet sheet.

Th e r e s u l t o f these c a s e s , from my own observance; the re

membrance

of

the virtue ascribed to cold water in Dr. Currie s

Reports; and t he i nfor ma ti on

we

h ad r e c e i v e d from

C l a r i d g e ' s

account

of Gräfenberg,

made me

a n x ious to v i s i t

the

place

i t s e l f ,

and investigate

upon

th e

spot

th e principles and practice

of

t h i s

far -famed

system.

In the

en d of September,

o f the present y e a r , I

a r r i v e d

a t

Gräfenberg, and was received by Priessnitz in

a

small room of

a

large building, h a v i n g the a p pea r a nce of

an

hospital, but bea uti

f u l l y situated on a m o u n t a i n , w h i c h arises f rom th e v a l l e y , i n which

stands th e post-town of

Freiwaldau.

The m o u n t a i n of Gräfen

b er g f or m s

one of

a s e m i c i r c l e ,

which stands o p p o s i t e

t o another

range, f r o m w h i c h

i t i s

separated

by

the

beautiful va lley

of

Frei

waldau

a nd

Böm ischtof, w hi ch,

gradually widening

l i k e a

great

r i v e r , spreads i t s e l f out at

length

into a distant and luxuriant

p l a i n . Noth i ng can be f i n e r than

the

prospect f rom G rä fen ber g

a nd

the

adjacent

h i l l s ;

the

walks

a r e

very

v a r i o u s

a nd

a c c e s s i b l e ;

th e p i ne

forests

which

crown

th e summits of almost a l l th e moun

tains

afford a n agreeable

shade

i n the heat

of summer, and

the

a i r i s

fresh,

sweet,

and

invigorating. To practise temperance,

a n d

take

r e g u l a r e x e r c i s e , breathing

day a f t e r day

a n atmosphere

l i k e

t h i s ,

must surely tend to preserve and

restore

health in a

more

powerful degree, t h a n th e

draughts of the

cold

m o u n t a i n

springs;

w h i c h

n e v e r t h e l e s s are r e f r e s h i n g t o the b l o o d ,

and

purify

i t s

secretions.

Bu t t o r e t u r n t o P r i e s s n i t z : he i s

a

s e n s i b l e - l o o k i n g man of

business, w i t h

an expression

of good humour

a n d firmness, and

l i s t e n s w i t h

exempl a ry

patience, as i f

h e

had well

considered

th at proverb,

“He

that answereth a

matter before

h e heareth i t ,

i t i s f o l l y a n d s h a me unto

him.”

Would

that

physicians would

l i s t e n to

h i s

system

with

the same

p a t i e n c e ,

i n s t e a d of answering

wit h ou t understanding

i t .

Priessnitz acts w i t h common

sense

upon

p l a i n p r i n c i p l e s

of

good

h e a l t h ,

acknowledged

over

all

the

world; a nd sometimes

h e

com m i ts mistakes, o c c a s i o n a l l y even

f a t a l ones, amidst

the

mysteries

o f

the

powers o f

l i f e a n d

d e a t h .

Bu t

w h a t modest p h y s i c i a n

w i l l

assume t o himself

the

c o r r e c t

d i a g n o s i s o f

every case ?

o r

w i l l

arrogate

t o

himself

the impossi



THECOLD WATER

TREATMENT.

13

b i l i t y of f a l l i n g into error? I f there

b e

a n y such, i t i s surely

n ot

h e

who

attributed to a

lady's

w as h i ng h er neck

and

chest

w i t h

cold

water

a

most

dangerous

and

p r ot ra ct ed b ra i n

fever.

When I had stated th e nature of the complaint under

w h i c h

I

h a d s u f f e r e d many y e a r s ,

P r i e s s n i t z

s a i d ,

“Such

a continued

habit

of body c a nnot b e

cured in

a

short ti me; b ut

I w i l l show

you i n

w h a t

way

t o

c o m m e n c e the c u r e ,

a nd

you can afterwards

pursue

i t

a t home.”

A

bed wa s

then a l l o t t e d t o

m e, and

a

p or ti on of

a

large room,

in

which were si x other i n v a l i d s . The

room was 50 feet by 40 , and about 9 feet

high.

It had a

stove

i n

i t ,

w h i c h

kept

the

temperatu re about

66°

Fahrenheit,

a

l i t t l

l e s s

during

the

n i g h t . Every person i s

obliged t o

purchase

h i s

own

m a t t r a s s , blankets a nd c o v e r i n g s , s h e e t i n g , t o w e l s , bandages,

&c., a very

clean and

necessary regulation.

When

I retired to

bed,

t h e attendant informed me,

t h a t

at five

o ' c l o c k

i n

the

morning I w as t o

be

enveloped i n a wet s h e e t , so

to re m ai n half an hour, and then to descend to the b a t h - room,

where P r i e s s n i t z w ou ld m eet

me; and

that upon n o t i c i n g

my

behaviour

i n

the

c ol d w at er ,

he would

then fix

t h e

n a t u r e

of

t h e

a b l u t i o n s f i t t e d t o my c a s e . This

w a s

accordingly

done; a nd

a f t e r the wet s h e e t , I w a s f i r s t placed i n a tub with water not

m o r e than

t h r e e

i n c h e s

i n

d e p t h ,

a nd of

the temperature

o f

62°

Fahrenheit. In

t h i s

I w a s splashed f o r a few moments, P r i e s s n i t z

himself throwing some handfuls of water on the stomach. I then

took two dips over h e a d

in

t he c ol d plunge-bath,

at

the tempera

ture of

41°, and returned for another moment

or

two

into th e tub

of

tempered

water,

which

then

conveyed

to

me

a

very c om f or t a b le

s e n s a t i o n of w a r m t h. P r i e s s n i t z , perceiving t h a t I bore

a l l

t h i s

w e l l , ordered t h a t

i t should be

continued every

morning; i n

a dd it i on t o which

I was to

s i t i n

a tub of w a ter , a t 62°Fahrenheit,

f o r twenty minutes, about 1 1 A.M.; to drink f i v e p i n t s of water

in

the

course of the d a y , but n o t i f i t inconvenienced me: t o

w a l k about i n the open a i r , or t o take e x e r c i s e by sawing or

chopping

wood. In the

a f t e r n o o n , about f i v e o ’ c l o c k ,

I w a s t o

have

a dripp ing

sheet

thrown over

m e,

which the attendant was

to r u b upon

the skin

for

three or four minutes, and

then

to dry

me

with

another. After

t h i s

I took a second

s i t - b a t h .

Every

other a f t e r n o o n , i n s t e a d of t h i s treatment, I

w as

t o be enveloped

in

a w et sheet, a n d

after i t

to take

th e

ba t h

as i n th e

m o rn i ng.

5



14 GRAFENBERG, AND

I n the second

week

of my

treatment,

t h e dou c h e was added, under

w h i c h I was to rema in

a d l i b i t u m .

I f ound (experto crede) that

f r o m a bout

half

a

m i n u t e

to a m i n u t e i s a s u f f i c i e n t length of t i m e

to

rem a i n u nder

a

very

powerful

ducking,

p a r t i c u l a r l y

on

a

f r o s t y

m o rn i ng.

This powerful instrument,

the

douche, h a s by common consent

been considered a s the

proximate

cause o f

most

of the c r i s e s

so

welcome

at

Gräfenberg. In

my own case,

a f t e r a

w eek ' s a p p l i ca

tion of

i t ,

from h a l f a

minute

to a t most two

minutes a t a

t i me,

there appeared a small pimple on

my s k i n , w h i c h i n c r e a s e d

from

day t o day,

u n t i l a t the

en d

o f

a

week i t h ad

become a l a r g e

b o i l ,

h a v i n g

a circumference

of

inflamed

skin

about

six

inches

i n dia

meter, w i t h a raised summit of

th e

s i z e of

a

s h i l l i n g .

In th e

course of another week i t h ad t h r ow n out a slough, and

begun

to

h e a t .

I t

w a s c o n s t a n t l y moistened by

a

bandage

of

l i n e n dipped

i n

c o l d

water

a n d

covered by

a dr y

one. This

w a s the only

treatment; a n d whenever

pain

w a s

f e l t ,

the renewing

o f

the cold

bandage immediately removed i t . Two more

b o i l s

commenced,

w h i c h were not of

th e

same magnitude, but were

equally

matters

of

c o n g r a t u l a t i o n

a nd

t r o u b l e .

They

prevented

much

e x e r c i s e ,

b u t

th e wet

sheets were not discontinued;

for

a

f ew

days th e

cold

p lu nge ba t h was

omitted,

as well as

th e

sit-bath;

but th e

tempered baths

a nd

the dripping s h e e t s were continued with great

advantage, removing the heat

of

the

s k i n and i n v i g o r a t i n g

i t .

It is

ev ident t h a t Priessnitz has imbibed

t h e doctrine,

t h a t

every d i s e a s e d appearance,

every

morbid sy mp t om , u p on the s k i n

e s p e c i a l l y ,

i s

a

remedial e f f o r t o f nature t o dislodge the cause

of

such

symptoms.

From

an

untoward

pimple

upon

the n o s e ,

to

the

c o n f l u e n t

eruption of the small-pox over

the whole body,

the

v i s m e d i c a t r i x i s engaged; i n the former, e x h i b i t i n g the e v i l

i n t r u d e r

i n

a s p e c i e s

of

p i l l o r y ; i n the l a t t e r

expiring

h e r s e l f

i n

a

prodigious

struggle t o expel an

e x h a u s t l e s s

p o i s o n .

But t h i s doctrine w a n t s neither

rational

grounds

n or able

advocates t o

uphold i t .

The d o c t r i n e

i s t h i s , That

the s k i n i s the

instrument o r organ

of

a c o n s e r v a t i v e , a nd

of a

remedial

power.

Let us j u s t

n o t i c e

the f a c t s w h i c h confirm

a c o n s e r v a t i v e

power

i n the human frame, t r u l y , most f e a r f u l l y a nd wonderfully

made;

a n d then we s h a l l the m o re e a s i l y a r r i v e a t t h e b e l i e f of a re

media l power, a nd be t h e b e t t e r prepared t o c o n f i d e i n i t . I do

5



THECOLD WATER

TREATMENT. 15

\

not

propose t o

answer

o b j e c t i o n s , o r remove d i f f i c u l t i e s , i n such

a

n a r r a t i v e as

t h i s ; but

merely

t o show t h a t P r i e s s n i t z has

a

r a t i o n al b a s i s f o r h i s

p r i n c i p l e ,

a nd can produce manifold i l l u s t r a

tions

of

i ts

success.

To w h a t can we more reasonably a t t r i b u t e the common sensa

tions of h u nger a n d t h i r s t , t h a n to a n inherent preservative power

i n

the human

frame

We know

how

powerful

these sensations

a r e . Though the mind h as s u f f i c i e n t power over th e body to

subdue

i t s

u n r u l y

a p p e t i t e s ,

w he n t h a t m i n d i s m a de

so

w i l l i n g ;

yet th e necessary appetites

of hunger and

t h i r s t

no man

i s made

w i l l i n g t o r e s i s t ;

because

they are the c o m m a n ds o f a power

w h i c h

h i s

gracious

Creator

has

m a d e

g o o d ,

a nd

implanted

i n h i s

f r a m e for

i t s necessary functions. Without

these imperative

powers of h i s body, the contemplative s p i r i t o f

man

might

f o r g e t

his frame, and sink exhausted by d e b i l i t y . Hunger

and

t h i r s t

rouse him from

abstraction,

and with an instinctive co nser v a t i ve

power,

compel

the m i n d t o

p a y n e c e s s a r y

a t t e n t i o n t o the body.

And wi th a perfection

proper

to

instinctive

powers, these conser

vative sensations not only

prompt

t h e necessity

of

food and

d r i n k , b u t ,

by

another

d e l i c a t e

a nd

p l e a s i n g

change

o f f e e l i n g ,

conservative

also i n i t s a i m, giv e notice

of

sufficiency

to

the

mind.

Woe

un to him who habitually neglect these instincts; they are

to the body, w h a t the conscience i s t o the mind. As neglect of

t h e l a t t e r w i l l sear th e conscience

a n d render

reprobate th e mind;

so

resistance

to th e former w i l l blunt t eir edge,

and

n o barrier

will re m ai n against

manifold diseases.

Again, man i n e x e r c i s e m u l t i p l i e s t h e heat o f

h i s

body; i f

there

was

no conservative function to relieve this increase of

c a l o r i c , o p p r e s s i o n , headache, congestion o f the heart a nd l u n g s ,

and f i n a l l y f e v e r , would e n s u e . Here the ordinary function o f the

skin,

increased

to a

copious perspiration, gives

vent to

th e

accumu

l a t e d h e a t ,

a n d i n t h i s case a c t s

as a

p r e s e r v a t i v e power, a nd

in

many other c a s e s by

the same

process

as a

r e m e d i a l

one.

I t i s a

p r e v e n t i v e i n the

former, a nd a c u r e i n

the

l a t t e r

i n s t a n c e .

I t may,

however,

f a i r l y

be

asked: i

the

s k i n

be a

remedial

organ,

how a r e

we to a ccou nt for the protracted obstinacy of many cutaneous dis

eases? This

q u e s t i o n may be a s

f a i r l y

answered:

e i t h e r

t h a t

the

causes o f e v i l s e c r e t i o n s a r e

c o n t i n u a l l y

kept up, so a s

a t l e n g t h ,



16

GRAFENBERG, AND

t o disorganize the s k i n ,

or

t h a t the treatment has

g e n e r a l l y

been

t o f o r c e back, rather than t o give i s s u e t o ,

cutaneous

e r u p t i o n s .

Whence arose the p r a c t i c e o f

i s s u e s ?

Was i t not drawn

from

the

observation,

that,

where

such

issues

had

naturally

occurred,

the symptoms o f d i s e a s e

gave

w a y ? a nd on the c o n t r a r y , where

such

h ad

been suddenly

h e a l e d , those sym p t o ms h a d been aggra

vated

?

A s t r i k i n g c a s e w h i c h

I

m et

with

at Gräfenberg

w i l l

i l l u s t r a t e t h i s . A physician showed me

his

hands, w h i c h were

p e r f e c t l y healthy

a n d of

q u i t e

a

n a t u r a l

colour; a n d

then

s t a t e d ,

t h a t h e h ad

s u f f e r e d

f o r ten years a cutaneous e r u p t i o n occupying

th e fingers and the p a l m s

of

th e

h a nds;

that h e had i n vain tried

every

known

remedy;

that

i n

the

course

o f t h i s

long

p e r i o d ,

the

s o r e s

were

sometimes c h e c k e d ,

but

always broke

ou t a g a i n . Since

he

h a d

been

at

Gräfenberg, h e had d r u n k f r o m n i ne to twelve h a l f

pints of water in the day,

h a d

used the wet sheet, th e

p l u nge

b a t h , sometimes t h e

douche,

and had walked about

much i n the

open

a i r . The

e f f e c t of t h i s

treatment,

in l e s s

t h a n a m o n t h ,

was

a t f i r s t

t o

i n c r e a s e

g r e a t l y the

e r u p t i o n , a f t e r which

i t t o t a l l y

dis

appeared. There w a s not ev en a t r a c e o f d i s e a s e ; so purely a nd

e f f e c t u a l l y had the skin been renewed. I t should b e r em ar ked

that bandages of l i n e n , wet with cold water a nd covered by

dry

o n e s ,

were a p p l i e d e x t e r n a l l y ,

a n d t h a t

no

other

i n t e r n a l

remedy w a s administered, but t h i s abundance o f c o l d w a t e r .

Now i f the eruptions on t h e skin are c r i t i c a l or remedi al , their

extent

a nd

duration w i l l depend upon the quantity o f morbid

matter t o be e x p e l l e d . I f the treatment employed

h a ve

the

e f f e c t s

of

r e s i s t i n g

the

e x i t

o f

the

e r u p t i v e

m a t t e r , o r

healing the

i s s u e s

to

i t too s o o n , i t would be reasonable t o

e x p e c t ,

that

as long

a s

the healing

power

o f the body continued

sound,

i t would

again

a nd

again renew i t s

e f f o r t s t o open

them,

a n d t o

expel the

d isea sed m a tt er . Whenever

we

observe, therefore,

a s i n t h e

preceding c a s e ,

a n

eruption recurri ng

to

the skin a f t e r

repeated

e f f o r t s to h eal i t ,

we

should

come

at length to

t h e

conclusion,

that

we

are struggling

against

th e v i s medicatrix, instead

of

assist

ing

h e r .

We

ought

l i k e w i s e t o

c o n f e s s ,

t h a t

her

power

i s

greater

than ours; t h a t sh e h as

h a d

much

p a t i e n c e with

our blundering;

t h a t

we h a v e been

stopped i n our narrow path

by

an a n g e l , a nd

t h a t we

ought

t o f all down

and be t h a n k f u l .

We

p e r c e i v e

i n

the foregoing

c a s e ,

t h a t a s

soon

a s

an

o b s t i n a t e



THECOLD WATER

TREATMENT.

17

perseverance contrary t o nature

w a s

given

u p ,

and a conduct i n

conjunction

with

her persevered i n ,

the

r e s u l t

w a s happy,

and the

success

complete.

An officer

in

t h e

Hanoverian

service

left

Gräfenberg a few weeks a f t e r my

a r r i v a l t h e r e ,

r e s t o r e d t o

p e r f e c t

h e a l t h . I m et h i m afterwards on the L e i p s i c

a nd M a gdeb u rg

r a i l r o a d

on my

r e t u r n t o England,

a nd h e

w a s s t i l l enjoying h i s

recovery.

This

o f f i c e r had

served

in

the

peninsula campaign:

and afterwards, i n t h e battle of Waterloo,

was

wounded in t h e

ankle b y

a

musketball,

a nd

placed

on a

t a b l e

f o r amputation

of

the

leg; when,

a party

o f

French p r i s o n e r s being

c a r r i e d

r a p i d l y

p a s t , the surgeons mistook

the

mo ve ment f o r a

charge

of

the

enemy,

and

forthwith r e t r e a t e d , leav ing the

operation f o r a mo re

t r a n q u i l

o p p o r t u n i t y .

The

wounded o f f i c e r

w a s

l e f t on the f i e l d

t i l l e a r l y the next morning, w h e n h e w a s conveyed t o Brussels;

and

h i s l e g ,

not appearing

then

t o need amputation,

w a s

p e r f e c t l y

c ured w i thout i t .

Bu t

h e h ad been many

years

s u b j e c t t o

chronic

d i a r r h o e a ,

b e s i d e s having

taken the measles during

h i s

s e r v i c e i n

Spain;

w h i c h

d i s e a s e ,

not

being

properly

attended

t o ,

w as

fol

l ow ed b y general nervous and

muscular

p a i n s , accompanied by

p a r t i a l eru p ti ons of

the

skin continually

recurring.

Fo r t h i s dis

ordered

s t a t e

of health

h e

h a d consulted v a r i o u s

p h y s i c i a n s ,

both

i n E n g l a n d and on th e continent, b u t w i t h o u t success. At length

he submitted to th e treatment of a q uack, who had set up a

hydropathic i n s t i t u t i o n , without

any

competent knowledge

of

d i s e a s e , or

any extended

experience

i n

the water-cure.

How

ever,

he

undertook

to

cu re

t h i s

o f f i c e r ;

a n d

forthwith

began

to

sweat, and douche, and duck

him

in so unspa r ing a m an n er , that

h i s p a t i e n t escaped

f o r

h i s l i

t o

Gräfenberg. Here h e w a s

t r e a t e d i n a much milder w ay; th ough on the same general princi

p l e . M o r e gentle p e r s p i r a t i o n w a s produced; the douche w a s

omitted;

wet

s h e e t s were u s e d ,

and general a b l u t i o n s

with water

a t

the

temperature

o f 62°Fahr. Th e chronic d i a r r h o e a abated

a f t e r f o u r t e e n d a y s ' use o f the s i t - b a t h , w h i c h h e remained i n f o r

an

hour

a t

a

t i m e ,

and

o f t e n

repeated

twice

a

d a y .

He

t o l d

me

t h a t h e a t t r i b u t e d mo re r e l i e f from t h i s complaint t o the s i t - b a t h

t h a n a n y other process. But I do not see how h e could distin

gui sh t he e f f e c t of this

f r o m

t h e e f f e c t of various other a p p l i c a

t i o n s

o f cold water t o the

s k i n ,

w h ich were m a d e d a i l y

i n

con

junction w i t h

th e

s i t - b a t h . He remained six months

a t

Gräfen

B



18

GRAFENBERG, AND

b e r g , a nd

a l l

the

symptoms

o f h i s i n d i s p o s i t i o n appear

to have

terminated with th e h ea li ng o f

a

l a r g e eruption

on the back,

w h i c h

took

p l a c e

a f t e r t h i s

treatment

h ad

been

continued

f o r

some time.

A gentleman, about f i f t y years o f age, a r r i v e d a t Grafenberg

in

the month

of June l a s t . Hi s c on di ti on a t t ha t time, as sta ted

to

me

by h i m s e l f ,

w as

the following:—Appearance

aged

a nd worn,

s k i n

s a l l o w , breathing d i f f i c u l t ,

could

not w a l k up

the

l e a s t eleva

t i o n

without

exhaustion, great p a l p i t a t i o n

o f

the h e a r t , oedema of

the lower

e x t r e m i t i e s , pains i n

the

region of th e k i d n e y s ,

d i s o r d e r

of

the stomach

a nd

bowels, f u n c t i o n s

i r r e g u l a r , scanty

a nd

high

coloured

u r i n e , deep depression of s p i r i t s with great

d e b i l i t y .

I n t h i s

condition,

nevertheless, Priessnitz ordered him into the

tempered, a nd t h e n i n t o t h e

c o l d

p l unge bath; but so complete

w a s

h i s

exhaustion upon

com i ng

o u t ,

t h a t

h e

could

s c a r c e l y move,

a n d

with great

d i f f i c u l t y ascended s t e p by s t e p t o h i s

bed-room. Of a

surety, if Priessnitz has an i n tuit i ve

power

of measur ing the v i t a l

f o r c e , h e

c a l c u l a t e d

i t i n t h i s

c a s e t o the

s m a l l e s t p o s s i b l e f r a c t i o n

of the

e n t i r e

q u a n t i t y . Another d i p ,

a n d

h e

would h a ve g r e a t l y

overrated

i t I feel convinced from the commencement of t h i s

case,

a s

well

as from t h e t er m i na t i on of i t , t h a t

to att ri but e

t o

P r i e s s n i t z

any

such

i n t u i t i o n , i s but

t o f l a t t e r h i m with

the

pos

session of a power w h i c h n o

man

i s gifted

with, and

to

h a z a r d

human l i f e b y persuading

h i m

t o

a c t upon such

a

presumption.

That

t h e r e i s much

good i n

h i s

system, the

evidence o f

t h i s case

w i l l

confirm;

that

there

i s

also

much

danger,

i t

h a s

already

mani

fested; and t h a t t here

i s much

more f or

him

to

learn,

the conclu

s i o n o f

i t w i l l

s u f f i c i e n t l y prove. The s u c c e s s f u l termination

of

the c a s e may redound t o h i s p r a i s e ; but i f a mouse h ad not

assisted t h e l i o n , h e m i g h t h a v e s t i l l been perplexed in the net.

The good common sense wit h w h i c h Priessnitz i s r e a l l y g i f t e d ,

caused h i m immediately

t o

f o r b i d the f u r t h e r use of cold water

for a time;

since

h e

observed

how

nearly

th e

v i t a l

force had

been

exhausted

by

the

f i r s t

attempt.

However,

the

change

to many

persons m ig ht

appear but a change f o r

the

worse; f o r

the

p a t i e n t w a s now t o

be w r a pped up

i n

a damp sheet

three

times a

day, a n d

a f t e r

each wrapping, to be

washed a l l over i n

a

tub with

cold water at 62° Fahr. Notwit hsta nding t h i s treatment th e

p a t i e n t improved f o r some time; so t h a t

h e

could walk about




a n d enjoy the b e a u t i f u l s c e n e r y , a nd j o i n the

general

c o m p a n y

at the table

d'hôte. Asecond

time Priessnitz considered t his

p a t i e n t

as

strong

enough

t o

b ea r t he

cold

bath;

a n d

accordingly

ordered h i m

t o take

i t ; but h e w as

immediately attacked

by a

r heu ma tic

fever, wit h

pains i n h i s l im bs, knees, ankles,

a n d

feet

upon

motion. P r i e s s n i t z y i e l d e d t o t h i s admonition, a nd

requested

the p a t i e n t t o

keep

h i s bed, a nd use only the

bandages

on h i s

limbs and abdomen. The rheumatism gradually d e p a r t e d ,

leaving

a swelling on

the

lef t h e e l . The p a t i e n t h a d now

so

much re

covered

that

h e w a s about to r e t u r n t o England. Very

g r e a t ,

notwithstanding

the

i n t e r r u p t i o n

( i f

i t

were

not

an

a s s i s t a n c e )

o f

the

rheumatic f e v e r , w as the general improvement i n h i s

s t a t e

of

h e a l t h . Th e

c o l o u r of

the s k i n

h a d become q u i t e n a t u r a l ;

the

functions of the body were

r e g u l a r

i n t h e i r o p e r a t i o n , t h e a p p e t i t e

w a s enormously s a t i s f a c t o r y , a nd h e f el t himself a n ew m a n. By

y i e l d i n g however t o the l a s t g r a t i f y i n g sym p tom , a n d f i l l i n g h i s

sto m a c h

and bowels

wit h

superabundant

secretions, h e

was

obliged

t o

remain

a t

s c h o o l a l i t t l longer; u n t i l

he l e a r n t

t h a t

temperance

was

a n

essential

principle in

good

health.

Th e

schoolmaster

i n t h i s l a s t i n s t r u c t i o n ,

appeared

i n t h e form

of a n extensive e r y s i p e l a t i v e eruption on the whole of t h e l e ft

lower extremity

from

the h e e l t o the top o f the t h i g h . Cold

ba ndages al w ays relieved the pain,

and

subdued th e

heat;

b u t so

extraordinary

was

the l a t t e r , that the wettest cloths

were

in a f ew

minutes d r i e d , a n d

c o n t i n u a l changes

were n e c e s s a r y . Anabscess

got

i s s u e a t

the lower p a r t o f t he t hi gh ;

a nd

t h i s enormous in

flammation

h a d

l a s t e d

a

f o r t n i g h t ,

abating

during

the

n i g h t ,

but

i n c r e a s i n g every day; when a f e l l o w p a t i e n t

suggested,

t h a t

pos

s i b l y i f the s u f f e r e r omitted s i x eggs a nd a l a r g e p o r t i o n of meat

from h i s

d a i l y

consumption, t he infl amm ation might abate by day

as

w e l l

a s by n i g h t . That h e

would t h e n

h a ve t o e a t bread and

b u t t e r , ad l i b i t u m , a

quart o f

milk

t o

d r i n k , and

dinner b e s i d e s .

So t h a t he need not

be

a f r a i d

of

not

complying

with the

advice

of

Priessnitz t o nourish himself

w e l l . The

patient followed t h i s

advice,

a nd

h i s

inflammation

w a s

e n t i r e l y

subdued

b y

t h a t

day

week.

Now

P r i e s s n i t z

ought

t o have

regulated

the

d i e t o f

t h i s p a t i e n t .

But he r a t h e r encouraged h i m t o e a t

w h a t

he c o u l d . P r i e s s n i t z

paid no attention in t h i s case to the relation of d i e t to the in

f lam mation. I should almost say,

h e

must disbelieve th e existence

B 2



20

GRAFENBERG,

AND

of

any such

r e l a t i o n ,

s i n c e h e could

see an

inflammation

d a i l y

kept

u p f o r three

weeks,

without diminishing

the p a t i e n t ' s

d i e t . Unfor

tunately, when

this

inf lam mation

so rapidly

declined

a f t e r

the

p a t i e n t ' s a l t e r a t i o n

o f h i s d i e t , P r i e s s n i t z was

not

m a de acquainted

with t h i s circumstance; and, t h e r e f o r e , w i l l t o t h i s day

a t t r i b u t e

to th e

application of cold water

alone a cure,

which w i t hout

that

alteration of diet would never h a v e

taken

place.

But after a l l ,

the r e s u l t of

t h i s

c a s e

t e l l s g r e a t l y

i n

favour of

the

g e n e r a l princi

p l e s o f the water c u r e . Hazardous a s was i t s t o o rough applica

tion at

th e commencement,

and

w a n t i n g

as i t

did

a material

consideration

at

i t s

close,

nevertheless,

a

genuine

renovation

was

effected i n t h i s

gentleman's constitutional health; and

both

his

appearance and h i s strength denoted i t . He cannot be too t h a n k

f u l

f o r h i s r e s t o r at i o n ,

nor too

c a r e f u l

t o maintain the temperate

habits w h i c h h e acquired a t Gräfenberg.

I t

h a s

been

objected to

the

water-cure,

that

th e r e l i e f

afforded

b y

i t i s o f short d u r a t i o n , a n d t h a t r e l a p s e s f r e q u e n t l y o c c u r .

There c a n be no

doubt

t h a t r e l a p s e s do f r e q u e n t l y o c c u r ; but I

b e l i e v e

only

where

the

p r i n c i p l e s

o f

the cure

are

abandoned,

or pushed t o

a n

absurd extreme; or

where

the

moral strength i s

n ot

s u f f i c i e n t

to

r e s i s t th e

causes w h i c h

originated th e

disease.

I t

will be universally

admitted,

and very sparingly practised,

that

temperance and

exercise i n th e open a i r are

necessary

to good

health.

But

the daily a bl ut ion o f the w h o l e skin

w i t h

cold water

i s considered so very uncomfortable, that i t must be unnecessary.

Nevertheless, i t i s t h i s

l a s t practice

which i s peculiar

to

Gräfen

berg,

a s

a

p r e s e r v a t i v e

of

good

h e a l t h .

I

sp eak n ot

here

of

drinking much

water;

because t h i s i s a p r i n c i p l e i n the restora

t i o n of health, and o ug h t not to b e continued beyond what th e

t h i r s t

demands, or

the usual

mea ls

require, when th e

health i s re

e s t a b l i s h e d .

In

ou r v a r i a b l e

c l i m a t e ,

the

u t i l i t y

o f f o r t i f y i n g the

s k i n against the changes o f temperature i s r e a d i l y acknowledged;

but that t h i s can

most

c e r t a i n l y

be

done by d a i l y c o l d bathing,

h as

not yet

been

p r a c t i c a l l y admitted.

From

personal

experience of th e

practice,

as

well

as

from

observation

of th e

numerous

cases

daily subjected

to i t at Gräfen

berg, I am f i r m l y persuaded o f i t s e f f i c a c y a s w e l l a s of i t s s a f e t y .

For

c h i ld ren i t is

an excellent h a b i t ; and from

t h ree months

old

they may be safely

accustomed,

both i n summer

and

winter, to a



THECOLD WATERTREATMENT.

21

plunge i n c o l d water which has

stood

a l l

night

i n the room.

Children i n h e a l t h soon

begin

t o l i k e the s e n s a t i o n of w a r m t h

a n d

f r e s h n e s s ,

w h i c h

the

r e a c t i o n

o f

the

s k i n

produces.

Thus

a

healthy a p p e t i t e i s p r e s e r v e d , a n d

a

t o n i c s t a t e o f the

s k i n ,

w h i c h

prevents t h e i r

f e e l i n g

c h i l l y

(though never clothed i n f l a n n e l ) ,

a nd p r e s e r v e s them from e a s i l y taking c o l d . A u s e f u l form o f

bath f o r t h i s purpose

i s around

t u b , about two f e e t a nd

a

h a l f

deep,

a n d

three f e e t

diameter a t t h e

edge.

This, two-thirds

f u l l , might

e a s i l y

stand

i n

a

corner

of

t h e

dressing-room.

I t should

b e

covered by a dr y s h e e t . This q u a n t i t y o f water w i l l keep q u i t e

fresh

for

several

days,

and

since

only

a

di p

i s

taken,

the

trouble

of em p ty i ng th e b at h every da y i s unnecessary. Children hitherto

a ccustomed to this

wholesome and

exhilarating practice,

may

thus

be

gradually

habituated

to

i t . If

the

head a n d

face

be

sponged

every morn i ng a s soon as the c h i l d gets ou t of bed, a nd i f t h i s be

repeated f o r

f i v e or

s i x

days t o g e t h e r , the

c h i l d w i l l

be

s u f f i c i e n t l y

prepared

t o

be

plunged i n t o the c o l d

bath

on the seventh day,

and t here

i s

no

doubt t h a t i t will be

much more

relished

than

p a r t i a l washing. I h a ve a

l i t t l

boy, not f i v e years o l d , who

often

asks to be allowed

to go into th e cold

b a t h

a

sec on d t i me

i n t h e course o f the day; but t h i s indulgence may be reserved f o r

the summer,

w h e n

an evening di p b e f o r e

supper

i s

of great s e r v i c e

t o the

growing

s k i n , a nd

impatient

c i r c u l a t i o n of childhood.

I am

persuaded a l s o , t h a t , i n

healthy c h i l d r e n ,

the

f r e e

a c c e s s

to fresh water,

whenever they

desire

to drink

i t , should

never

b e

restrained. Their bowels

w i l l

b e rendered

more open by i t ;

their secretions more bland; the perspiration more free; and

con

sequently

t h e i r

l i a b i l i t y

t o contagious d i s e a s e s

c o n s i d e r a b l y d i m i n

i s h e d .

There

i s , probably, no greater mistake

i n

d i e t e t i c s , than

t he h ydrop h ob i a w h i c h i s

engendered

without the

b i t e

o f a

mad

dog.

But the growing s k i n of c h i l d r e n r e q u i r e s m o re p e r f e c t cleans

ing

than

the morning's

d i p

w i l l e f f e c t

f o r i t . Two o r

three

times a week t h e r e f o r e , b e f o r e

going

t o b e d , a warm bath o f

about the

temperature

o f 90°Fahr.,

in

w h i c h th e sk in

should

be

soaped

a nd rubbed by the hand,

i s almost a necessary adjunct

t o

cold bathing. But t h i s warm washing should always f i n i s h by

q u i c k l y

sponging the

body from

head t o

f o o t with c o l d

w a t e r ,

a nd

then the c h i l d should be immediately d r i e d . Th e reason o f t h i s



22 GRAFENBERG, AND

i s , t h a t ,

i n s t e a d

of t h a t s e n s a t i o n of c o l d w h i c h

accompanies the

usual

e x i t

ou t o f warm

w a t e r ,

an

i n v i g o r a t i n g glow

a nd

r e a c t i o n

of

the

s k i n

i s

caused

by

the

sudden


of

the

sponge,

w h i c h the already

heated body

g r e a t l y augments;

a nd thus

the

chance

o f

catching c o l d

i s

prevented

by the s t a t e

of

t o n i c re

action and vigour

into

w h i c h

th e skin i s t h rown.

I t

i s

gradual

c o l d

a nd

wet,

w h i c h operate

so i n j u r i o u s l y upon

the relaxed or

c h i l l e d

skin;

a n d

n ot th e sudden

and

u ni for m cold

w h i c h arouses

i t t o a c t i o n .

Th e

former a c t s

a s

a p r e s s u r e ,

w h i c h

be n u m bs the s e n s i b i l i t y ; the l a t t e r a s a hearty s l a p , w h i c h

s t a r t s i t

into

a c t i v i t y .

What

should

healthy

men a n d

women

do

with

the

water-cure?

They should n o t drink cold w a t e r , a f t e r the ma nner of a h o r s e .

Nor sh ou ld t hey e a t a ny m an ner of t h i n g ,

a f t e r

the measure of

any

k i n d

of beast.

They should take e x e r c i s e i n the open

a i r ,

not a s

l i t t l e ,

but a s

much a s they can f i n d time t o d o . The business o f l i f e w i l l make

i t a l w a y s too l i t t l e .

Upon

getting ou t of bed they should sponge the

f a c e ,

plunge

into a tub of cold water, and come out again. Or , l e t them wet

a

sma l l

sheet

in

a basin of

co ld w a ter,

and throw

i t

over the

w h o l e person at once; l e t them

be r ubbed by a n

attendant

on

th e

ba ck , t he person

himself

rubbing the f a c e ,

stomach,

c h e s t ,

c . , i n

front

for

a m i n u t e or two;

and

afterwards w i t h a r o u g h dr y

t o w e l , or a

dr y

s h e e t , complete

the p r o c e s s . This i s

a most

ex

c e l l e n t p r e s c r i p t i o n

against taking

c o l d , or

“taking

i t

too

easy.”

I t

i s

an a n t i - i n d o l e n t

a p p l i c a t i o n ,

a nd a genuine s p e c i f i c .

Suc h

a s , b e s i d e s being h e a l t h y ,

c o n s i d e r

themselves brave a nd s t r o n g ,

I counsel t o repeat the same b e f o r e

going

t o bed And I

can

a s s u r e t hem from personal e x p e r i e n c e , t h a t i t i s more pleasant

than the morn i ng d o s e , a nd s i n g u l a r l y r e f r e s h i n g . B e s i d e s , i t

r e q u i r e s n o a d d i t i o n a l dressing and undressing; s i n c e , a s only

few

go t o

bed with t h e i r

c l o t h e s

o n ,

t h e r e

happens a

bare

inter

v a l , wherein t o perform t h i s , between the day a nd night s h i r t s ,

before getting i n t o bed. This i s a patent water-bed, w h i c h needs

no further s p e c i f i c a t i o n .

Two

g l a s s e s o f f r e s h water before

breakfast;

one b e f o r e going

to bed,

a n d

as many more as

you

find agreeable d u r i n g th e

day,




a t any time you f e e l t o be

most

convenient, i s so s a l u t a r y a re

c i p e , t h a t benevolence f o r b i d s me t o withhold i t . I t i s but doing

justice

to

the

genuine

principles

of th e

water-cure

to

add,

that,

i f

you choose

t o

drink

wine a t d i n n e r ,

you

must

drink

water a f t e r

dinner;

but i f

you

p r e f e r w i ne

a f t e r d i n n e r , you

must

drink

water

before i t .

I

b e l i e v e

t h a t , f o r those persons

t o

whom

they a r e addressed,

these

r u l e s are

s u f f i c i e n t ,

with

God's b l e s s i n g ,

t o

preserve

good

health to

a good

ol d

age.

What

are

the

Dyspeptic

t o

do?

Such a m o n g t hem a s only o c c a s i o n a l l y s u f f e r from the irregula

r i t y

of the

sto m a c h

and bowels,

should

adopt

th e rules recom

mended t o healthy

i n d i v i d u a l s ;

a nd b e s i d e s t h e s e , should wear

round the abdomen a t night a bandage o f the following

descrip

t i o n .

Roll

up

a

length of linen f r o m six to nine f e e t

long and

sixteen i n ch es b r oa d.

F i r s t ,

however, double

i t

lengthways, so

that th e

breadth

will

b e eight

inches. Leave unrolled

as

much of

t h e

en d as w i l l pass once ro u n d

th e

body. Wet

t h i s

part

i n

a

basin of cold fresh water, and w r i n g i t

out

so that

t h e

w ater

w i l l

n ot drip. Then make i t

even

at eight i n c hes widt h , and wind i t

tight

r o u n d

t h e

stoma c h,

covering t h e w et

part

wit h th e

remain

ing dry portion

o f

the r o l l e r , a n d f a s t e n the end. This bandage

may b e made both longer a n d broader, a ccording to

th e

size of

t h e abdomen, and t h e ex t en t i t may b e desirable to cover.

At

n i g h t , the w a r m t h o f the bed,

and

the r e a c t i o n

of

the

s k i n ,

soon render

the

bandage c o m f o r t a b l e . I t s

a c t i o n i s d e r i v a t i v e :

a

g r e a t e r

excitement

o f

the s k i n of

the

stomach and bowels i s oc

casioned.

Sometimes th e w h o l e

skin

w i l l

perspire. The

e f f e c t s

of

t h i s

bandage a r e , t o induce s l e e p , t o r e l i e v e p a i n , t o a i d

d i g e s t i o n ,

a nd

t o

promote

the

f u n c t i o n s

o f the

bowels.

Such

dyspeptics as complain

o f

h a b i t u a l c o n s t i p a t i o n ,

a c r i d

eructations,

n a usea , h ea d- a c h e, w i t h foul tongue in

th e

m o r n i ng ,

c h i l l i n e s s

and

d e b i l i t y ,

and

a r e a b l e

t o

w a lk

about

but

do

not;

such

ea t

too

much, a n d

drink what

they

o ug h t

not.

Such

as these must c o n f i n e themselves f o r a time e x c l u s i v e l y t o cold

fresh

water as their beverage, wit hout a n y stimulants, and

very

l i t t l e t e a

or

c o f f e e , drinking

a

l i t t l e cold water immedi



24

GRAFENBERG, AND

a t e l y

a f t e r w a r d s .

O n c e i n the day f r e s h

meat a nd

v e g e t a b l e s .

No

supper, except a g l a s s of wa ter . As much e x e r c i s e

i n the

open

a i r

a s

p o s s i b l e .

If

the bowels do not

become regular upon

t h i s

treatment, a

t e p i d lavement

w i l l

be

necessary;

but

t h i s

should gradually

be

reduced to th e natural

temperature of water

in summer—say

about 64°Fahrenheit.

I f

such a s t a t e be only

temporary, a temporary

duration of the

treatment

w i l l only be n e c e s s a r y . Should i t

continue

unimproved

a f t e r a

week's

conformity t o the foregoing

r u l e s ,

recourse must be

had

to

th e

wet

sheet

previously

described;

i n

w h i c h

the

patient

should

l i e

f o r

h a l f

an hour every morning, a f t e r w h i c h he s h o u l d ,

while yet w a r m , take one d i p i n a cold b a t h , o r have a dripping

sheet flung a nd

rubbed

over

h i m

f o r t wo or three minutes.

There

are

very

few f u n c t i o n a l d i s o r d e r s

o f

the stomach or

bowels w h i c h

w i l l not yield to t h i s treatment.

A gentleman,

r e s i d e n t a t

F r a n k f o r t ,

assured

me

that h e

w a s

p e r f e c t l y cured o f a chronic d i a r r h o e a , w h i c h h e h ad s u f f e r e d more

or

l e s s

f o r

twenty

y e a r s ,

hav ing

i n

v a i n

used

a

v a r i e t y

o f

medi

cines.

He

was much averse to drinking cold

water,

and when h e

commenced, could onl y take

a w i n e g l a s s - f u l l

a t

a time; but a t

length h e m a naged t o drink one p i n t b e f o r e b r e a k f a s t , w h i c h h e

never exceeded, but bath ed

d a i l y

i n

the

open r i v e r during

the

summer and autumn.

In the course of

nine months

he hadcom

p l e t e l y got r i d of h i s d i s e a s e . According t o h i s own account h e

w a s not

r e g u l a r

even

i n t h i s p a r t i a l adoption of

the

w a t e r - c u r e ,

a nd

t o

t h i s

circumstance

i t

i s

ow ing

t h a t

s o

long

a

time

e l a p s e d

before

his

recovery.

Gout

and Rheumatism.

These

d i s e a s e s appear t o

y i e l d a t

Gräfenberg s u r e l y

but s l o w l y .

They

a r e t r e a t e d according t o the

present

strength o f the p a t i e n t

to

bear

the

various

applications

of

c ol d w at er . The treatment

c o n s i s t s c h i e f l y

i n

d a i l y sweatings a nd c o l d a b l u t i o n s (sometimes

every

other

day

i s

thought

s u f f i c i e n t

f o r

the

former);

i n

drinking

from ten

t o

t w e l v e ,

or

more,

h a l f - p i n t s

of w a t e r ,

and

wearing

bandages upon the abdomen a nd l i m b s , where there i s any pain

or s w e l l i n g .

The

douche i s

a l s o

employed

f u r t h e r

t o

f o r t i f y

the




s k i n ,

o r t o

f o r c e o u t ,

by c r i t i c a l e r u p t i o n s ,

any

l a t e n t

bad h u mo u rs

which

perspiration

may not

h a v e discharged.

These

d i s e a s e s

d i f f e r ,

according

t o

P r i e s s n i t z ,

e i t h e r i n

the

q u a n t i t y

or q u a l i t y of morbid s e c r e t i o n s .

A l l such

are t o be dis

charged by perspiration, or by other exciting or gan s, a s well as

th e

skin;

and t h i s w i l l

b e

done sooner or l a t e r according to t h e

r e l a t i v e strength of the v i s m e d i c a t r i x of t h e

p a t i e n t ,

a nd the

tenacity

of

the

material

of

th e disease.

Al l

such material

as

i s

incapable o f

d i s s o l u t i o n and a b s o r p t i o n ,

i s incapable o f cure b y

t h e water-system: therefore consumption,

aneurism,

diseases of

t h e

heart,

disorganized

l i v e r ,

and

th e

l i k e ,

ca nnot

b e

cured

by

this system.

Concerning

t h e C r i s e s a t

Gräfenberg.

As I h a v e noticed before, a l l eruptions of

the

skin, w he t he r

p i m p l e s ,

b o i l s ,

a b s c e s s e s ,

e r y s i p e l a t o u s

inflammations, p s o r i a s i s ,

h e p a t i c e r u p t i o n s ,

measles,

s c a r l a t i n a , or

small-pox, a r e c r i t i c a l

e v a c u a t i o n s ,

determined upon the

s k i n by the healing

power

in

herent

in t h e

b ody; a n d therefore

to

i m pede their

e x i t ,

or

to

th row ba ck a ny

part

of

them

upon

the blood,

i s only

t o p r o t r a c t

the cure

or

add to

the disease. Now

there is

one

considerable

part o f

P r i e s s n i t z ' s

p r a c t i c e ,

w hich i s

a s unfortunate a s i t i s i n c o n

sistent

w i t h his

own

theory.

I allude

to

his refusal ever to open

a n a b s c e s s .

He l e a v e s such t o the

gradual a nd i r r i t a t i n g process

of nature. This

i s

accomplished

b y tedious

and painful bori ng of

the

skin,

until an

orifice

is

made

f or

t h e

exit

of

the

m a t te r .

Sometimes

t h i s i s not

e f f e c t e d , w here matter i s

formed,

owing

to

the toughness o f the

skin;

and then e i t h e r the matter i s absorbed

and hectic fever ensues,

or i t

b u r r o w s extensively

under the c u t i s ,

a n d

enlarges

the

d i s e a s e .

A l l

that

P r i e s s n i t z

does i n such c a s e s ,

i s t o continue the

wet bandages upon the s e a t of

the

i n f l a m m a

tion; a n d thus, when nature h a s deposi ted t he matter, instead of

l e t t i n g

i t o u t ,

h e , contrary

to h i s

own

t h e o r y , f o r c e s i t b a ck again

upon

the b l o o d .

A

young l a d y ,

about

1 7 years

of

a g e ,

d i e d

a t Gräfenberg, i n

October l a s t , under the following circumstances. She was of that

constitution

w h i c h

i s

l i a b l e

to th e for ma tion

of

glandular abscesses.

Sh e

h ad

been

a t

Gräfenberg about

s i x

months, and,

j u s t

b e f o r e

her

l a s t i l l n e s s ,

was

enabled to

take the

douche, to

w a l k

about th e



26 GRAFENBERG, AND

grounds, a nd

appeared t o h a ve derived much b e n e f i t t o her general

health and strength. At this t i m e a n abscess fo r med under the

l e f t b r e a s t , a n d occasioned

high symptomatic f e v e r . For t h i s

fever

Priessnitz

ordered her

t o

be

rubbed

i n

a

shallow bath

of

cold water,

about 62°Fahrenheit,

t w i c e a day

f o r an

hour and a

half

e a c h t i m e .

This

w a s continued f o r s e v e r a l d a y s , u n t i l the

p a t i e n t w a s unable t o submit t o

i t any l o n g e r .

The

lady

under

whose

care

sh e at

that

t im e wa s, i n formed me

that

this poor

young lady never r i g h t l y

recovered

her n a t u r a l heat of s k i n . For

th e fortnight before h er death, sh e was confined to h er bed.

The

fever

continued

high,

abscesses

fo r med

on

other

parts

of

the

body, an d were

t r e a t e d

i n the sa m e m a n ner

a s t h a t on

the b r e a s t ,

w h i c h

h a d op en ed naturally, and

discharged

much

pus.

A f ew

days b e f o r e her l a s t sh e complained o f an oppressive weight i n her

c h e s t , but h er b rea th i ng w as not ot herwise impeded.

Sh e

bore

a l l

t h i s s u f f e r i n g

with great patience a nd

resignation;

sh e r e t a i n e d

h er m en t al f a c u l t i e s

to the

l a s t ,

and

on

t h e morning

of

h er release

sh e requested to b e

l i f t e d

out of bed,

a n d

i n th e act

expired.

I

w a s

present

a t

the

p o s t

mortem

examination

of

t h i s c a s e .

The

following

i s

a

copy

of

the s t a t e

of

her

body, w r i t t e n

on the

even

i ng of the da y of inspection.

The

a p pe a r a n ce of the

external

f o r m

of

th e body was quite

natural; i t was

neither

em a ci a ted n or swollen, w ith the exception

of slight oedema

of

th e legs, A swelling was observed u nder t h e

right

e a r ,

s l i g h t l y

discoloured; i t

contained about

t wo ounces

of

thick puriform

m a t t e r .

Upon the f i n g e r s ,

where t h r e e

a b s c e s s e s

had f o r med (called

at

Gräfenberg

c r i s e s ) , much dark-coloured

blood had been effused under t h e skin. On the b a c k , over t h e

sacrum, appeared an u l c e r a t i o n sloughed t o the bone; a nd the

skin was

marked w i t h d a r k

spots about t h e

scapulae and sacru m,

as

w e l l a s

upon

the l e g s

i n a few

s p o t s , where b o i l s

h ad broken

o u t . A

dark-coloured swollen

gland occupied the l e f t a x i l l a .

Upon opening the c h e s t , the lungs

were

found f r e e from a ny

sym p to ms

of

chronic

d i s e a s e ; t h e r e

w a s

s l i g h t

adh esi on of th e

r i g h t lung t o

t he p leu ra ;

but

here

and

t h e r e , throughout

both

lungs, great

effusion

of

pulmonary

apop lexy

was clearly manifest.

This e f f u s i o n w a s r e a d i l y pressed out; a nd i n al l p a r t s f r e e from

the

e f f u s i o n

th e lungs c r e p i t a t e d with a

n a t u r a l

sound, a nd ap

peared p e r f e c t l y

h e a l t h y .

This a p o p l e c t i c e f f u s i o n occasioned the




oppressive weight complained o f by the

p a t i e n t .

Th e heart w a s

quite natural;

but

two or

three ounces

of bloody f l u i d

were

con

centrated

i n

the

pericardium.

Th e

l i v e r

w a s

n a t u r a l ,

but some

w h a t pale:

the g a l l - b l a d d e r

f u l l

o f n a t u r a l

b i l e . The stomach,

except

i n

one

o r

two patches

about the

s i z e of a

s i x p e n c e ,

w a s

every where

dark

with

e f f u s e d blood;

the m u c o us m e m b r a n e

firm,

but t he blood-vessels gorged

w i t h

chocolate-coloured blood;

upon scraping a w a y t h i s s u p e r f i c i a l l a y e r , the

v e s s e l s

s t i l l re

mained dark-red w i t h contained blood. The mesenteric glands

were

n a t u r a l . The

lower bowels

were red-looking o u t s i d e , a n d

full

of

effused

blood

within

:

no

f l u i d

i n

the

abdomen. The

kidneys

were

sound. As there had been

no symptoms of

un

healthy

brain

during

l i f e ,

the head w a s not examined.

Two

f a t a l

mistakes were

made

by Priessnitz in th e treatment

of

t h i s unfortunate

c a s e .

He augmented

the

h e c t i c

f e v e r by

omitting

t o open

the a b s c e s s e s ,

a n d thereby

increased t h e general

d e b i l i t y . He thus mistook the nature

of

the

f e v e r i t s e l f , and

p r o s t r a t e d

the

remaining v i t a l f o r c e by the s e d a t i v e i n f l u e n c e

of

cold protracted beyond the p o s s i b i l i t y of r e a c t i o n . Because h e

h a d succeeded i n t h i s l a t t e r method i n reduci ng a f u r i o u s maniac,

a nd i n subdu i ng an ardent f e v e r ,

would

i t j u s t i f y i t s


to a t o t a l l y

d i s t i n c t

f e v e r , under d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o s i t e conditions?

I f i t would

n o t ,

where i s

the

d i s c r i m i n a t i n g

judgement, t h e in

t u i t i v e genius of P r i e s s n i t z ?

W i t h r e s p e c t t o the inadequate power of water, bandages, a n d

b a ths,

f or

the

c u re

of

abscesses,

I

must refer

to

another

i ns t a n ce

i n which I wa s p e r s o n a l l y concerned a t Gräfenberg. A

gentle

man of a nervous temperament, and of acute

s e n s i b i l i t y ,

con

t r a c t e d

an inflammation

i n

the b a l l of h i s thu mb , from constantly

pressing p i n s i n t o the bandages upon h i s l e g s , i n order t o f a s t e n

t he m. He suffered two

or

three sleepless

nights

before h e would

pe r m i t me to

open a

s u p e r f i c i a l abscess on t he skin,

because

Priessnitz advised him

not to do

so. At t h a t

time but

a

s m a l l

q u a n t i t y o f

matter

escaped,

a nd

the inflammation

h a d

deepened

and extended i t s e l f

tow ards

t he ha nd. S t i l l , however,

consider

a b l e r e l i e f

w a s

a f f o r d e d ; h e

s l e p t well

the same

n i g h t , and w as

able t o draw a l i t t l e the next day. The inflammation, however,

w a s renewed the

day

a f t e r ; the abscess w a s deeper s e a t e d , a n d

pointed towards the opening o f the s u p e r f i c i a l

one.

I r r i t a t i o n a nd



28 GRAFENBERG,

AND

pain came on a second time; and h a v i n g now determined that i t

must be a Gräfenberg c r i s i s , no persuasion c ou ld i ndu ce h i m t o

h a ve

i t

l a n c e d ,

a nd

the

matter

evacuated.

Six

days

a nd

nights

he

suffered sev er e p ai n and

restlessness;

on the seventh th e

abscess burst n a t u r a l l y ,

a nd

h e obtained immediate r e l i e f . Duri ng

this t i me he was diligent i n the

use

o f u nsc h l ags and elbow-baths.

He t h o ug h t that h e derived some a l l e v i a t i o n f ro m

th e

elbow-bath,

but from

t h e

co nd it io n

i n

which I saw

him,

I

cannot but believe

th at

i f

h is nose

had been

in

water

instead

of

his elbow, his r e l i e f

would have been a s g r e a t . But a n I r i s h gentleman h as h i s own

p e c u l i a r

m ode

of

thinking;

and

my

f r i e n d , a ft e r

a l l ,

i n s i s t e d

t h a t

as a n

abscess at

Gräfenberg,

being a c r i s i s ,

was

d i f f e r e n t

i n

i t s

constitution f r o m a n abscess in a n y other place, therefore h e had

no doubt that the r e l i e f h e obtained was the e f f e c t of those six

days of

pain

and i r r i t a t i o n , kept i n

order

by

the bandages

a nd

elbow-baths,

and terminating

by

b u r s t i n g .

The Sitting-Bath.

A

round

t u b ,

one

f o o t

d e e p ,

one

a nd

a

h a l f

wide, contai ni ng

w ater about t h r e e inches

from

t h e bottom, a nd o f the temperature

of 62°Fahrenheit,

c o n s t i t u t e s

the s i t t i n g - b a t h .

Invalids s i t i n

this

b at h f r o m ten minutes to a n h o u r at

a

time;

I myself s a t i n one twice a day f o r a week, f o r twenty minutes a t

a t i m e .

Th e use

of

i t i s t o

strengthen the

bowels

i n

the

per for m

a n ce

of their natural

functions,

w h i c h , in my own case,

I

ca nnot

doubt t h a t

i t

d i d ,

s i n c e I l e f t i t o f f f o r s e v e r a l

d a y s ,

a nd the

irregu

l a r i t y returned; I

resumed

i t a g a i n ,

a n d

i t

d e p a r t e d .

Bu t

more

b e n e f i c i a l purposes

a r e

a t t r i b u t e d ,

f a i r l y

I b e l i e v e , t o t h i s f u n d a

mental process a t Gräfenberg. I t s e f f e c t i n

c l e a r i n g t h e head

i s

p e r c e p t i b l e a f t e r the f i r s t f i v e minutes of immersion. The f i r s t

m i n u t e

or

two i s the most unpleasant.

After

t h i s ,

t h e reaction

of the skin

of

the parts immersed d r a w s th e blood f ro m the

in

t e r i o r t o t h e

s u r f a c e ,

then c o o l s i t ;

a nd so i n

the

course of

circu

lation i t refreshes the organs of th e abdomen, th e chest, and th e

head.

There

are s c a r c e l y

a ny

i n v a l i d s

a t Gräfenberg complaining

either of

the

head, chest, or sto m a c h ; and how f ew

are

w i t h o u t

such, who do not use

t h i s

mode o f bathing

f o r

a longer or

a

s h o r t e r

time?

A l l

seemed

convinced o f i t s

s a f e t y a nd great

5




u t i l i t y , but e x e r c i s e must be taken

a f t e r

i t , otherwise

i t ought

not

to be u s e d .

As i t i s

an

inconvenient remedy, i t sh ou ld b e post

poned

u n t i l

i t

i s

a s c e r t a i n e d

t h a t

ordinary

a b l u t i o n s

a nd

bathing

are not sufficient.

Sore

Throat.

For

that relaxed

state

of

th e th roat

to

w h i c h clergymen and

public

s p e a k e r s ,

a nd o c c a s i o n a l l y

some

o f the f a i r s e x , are s u b j e c t ,

a

wet b a nda ge

r o u n d

th e neck, to b e worn at

night,

however

a l a r m i n g i t may sound, i s both a safe and a sure remedy. When

applied p r o p e r l y ,

a nd

i n t i m e ,

t h i s simple

fomentation

w i l l p r e v e n t

the

more

serious forms of so re t h ro at ; which, however, i t would

not cure without additional treatment.

Two

clergymen

i n my nei gh b ou rh ood h a v e

experienced the

b e n e f i c i a l

e f f e c t s

o f t h i s bandage; a nd I h a v e no h e s i t a t i o n i n

advising

i t i n every

case

o f i n c i p i e n t s o r e

t h r o a t

i n

women

a n d

c h i l d r e n ,

i f

bu t due a t t e n t i o n be paid

t o

the mode of applying i t ,

w h i c h should be a s follows:—A l i n e n r o l l e r should

be

t a k e n , long

enough t o pass a t l e a s t t h r e e times round t h e neck; diaper i s the

best k i n d .

As much

of

the

end as

w i l l

pass

once

round

the

neck,

must be dipped i n cold water a nd w e l l w r u n g o u t . This must be

a p p l i e d

c l o s e l y t o the t h r o a t ,

a n d covered immediately

by the

dry

part o f the

r o l l e r ,

f o l d e d evenly a n d c l o s e l y upon i t . Should the

inner f o l d i n g s become dry dur ing t h e n i g h t , a nd the p a t i e n t

awake, the

pain remaining,

the

bandage

should be

wetted

again,

a n d

a p p l i e d

as

b e f o r e .

This

fomentation

may

conveniently

be

wor n by day,

a n d

covered by the

u s u a l

n e c k c l o t h . Al l t ha t i s

necessary i s t o p l a c e one

f o l d

o f wetted a n d wrung-out l i n e n next

to th e skin, and renew i t when dry.

Th e a c t i o n o f t h i s i s p r e c i s e l y the same as the umschlag on

the

abdomen. I t draws t o the

s u r f a c e

o f the skin; i t op ens th e

pores of the p a r t , a n d

absorbs the


that

i s s u e s . I t

f i n a l l y changes the a c t i o n o f the i n t e r n a l s u r f a c e o f the t h r o a t , a nd

removes

t h e

pain

and

uneasiness

c o m p l a i ned

o f .

That such bandages h ave power t o assuage pain; t o prevent in

flammation a t some times, and moderate

i t

a t others, no one who

h as on ce t r i e d them w i l l a ny longer doubt.

Ayoung P o l e , l i v i n g

near Gräfenberg,

having

a c c i d e n t a l l y

shot



30

GRAFENBERG,

AND

himself

through the t h i g h ,

sent

f o r P r i e s s n i t z

t o cure

him.

P r i e s s n i t z

t o l d

h i m t o apply the wet

bandage,

a nd change i t

when

the

wet

part

became

d r y .

He

used

no

other

remedy

whatever,

a nd w a s q u i t e w e l l i n a month.

A

gentleman,

who had made

his

fortune i n Van

D iemen's

Land,

contracted a so re t h roa t

on

h is a r r i v a l

in E n g l a n d ; to

such

a n extent had th e disease proceeded, th at he was obliged to sub

m i t to t h e oper a t ion of excision of the

u v u la ;

but, as

he

told m e,

th e

surgeon

had

taken o f f rather more

t h a n

he

intended, and

severe sym p toms f o l l o w e d , w h i c h confined h i m t o h i s bed about

f o u r

d a y s .

Upon

the

wound

h e a l i n g ,

h e

found

t h a t

h e

could

speak no b e t t e r than b e f o r e , a n d despaired of ever recovering h i s

v o i c e . He h a d been

three mont hs a t

Gräfenberg when I con

versed

with

him. He

was

then

better,

he

assured me,

than

ever

h e expected

t o

b e . He h ad been t a l k i n g with me

about h a l f a n

hour, and f e l t no uneasiness wha tever; whereas, before h e came

to Gräfenberg, he could not speak f i v e m i n utes before he was

completely

arrested b y

severe soreness

of th e

throat.

Hi s general

health had re m arkab ly improved.

Besi des t h e

usual

wet

sheet

a n d plunge-bath i n the morning, h e wore b an da ges r ou nd h i s

throat and abdomen.

The f a m o u s Ab er n e t h y

w rote

a

work on th e

Constitutional treat

m en t of

l o c a l d i s e a s e s . This i s the f u ndamen t al principle at Grä

fenberg;

but i t

i s

c a r r i e d

much f u r t h e r than

Abernethy

extended

i t , a nd with

corresponding

s u c c e s s . Every

d i s e a s e with

P r i e s s n i t z

i s a local disease; and however gen er a l o v er

th e body

i t may be,

h e understands a c o n s t i t u t i o n a l f o r c e beyond i t , t o the strengthen

ing o f w h i c h

h i s c h i e f a i m i s d i r e c t e d .

I f there be

no longer a

capable v i t a l f o r c e , h e abandons the c a s e .

Now i t

may e a s i l y

be supposed,

t h a t every i n v a l i d

who

i s strong

enough t o t r a v e l from England or P e r s i a , from Russia or India

(and I found a r r i v a l s

from

each

during my

v i s i t

t o

Gräfenberg),

w ou ld h a v e a tolerable

degree

of constitutional force; and that

P r i e s s n i t z

would

not

e r r

much

i n

plunging

a ny

such

t r a v e l l e r

neck

and

heels

into a cold bath. With th e exception

of

the

case

to the c o n t r a r y , which I h a ve mentioned, a case of d i s e a s e o f the

h e a r t ,

very

few a r e obliged t o

r e l i n q u i s h

such

treatment,

so t h a t

the

great

majority o f c a s e s , including a ll

such

a s are success



ThECOLD WATERTREATMENT. 31

f u l l y

cured

i n a short t i m e , ow e i t t o a v igor ou s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l

treatment, whichproves to b e

s u f f i c i e n t of

i t s e l f

to heal

numerous

local diseases.

Contrast the nature

of

this treatment with excellent tonics

taken three or four

times

a day

b y

the f i r e - s i d e ,

i n

a

w e l l - s t u f f e d

arm -ch air, or on

a s o f a , with a n

ingenious-spouted v essel t o

drink

ou t o f , so

t h a t

the l e a s t p o s s i b l e e x e r t i o n may be

taken

by

some lazy invalid,

who i f the

house

were on

f i r e , would be

t h e

f i r s t

to jump out

of

th e

window

Of

Exercise.

There i s

p e r p e t u a l

motion a t Gräfenberg. From morn i ng t i l l

night

e x e r c i s e

i s t a k e n . Those that h a ve been dipped i n the si t

b at h l on g t o shake

themselves

i n the

open a i r , a n d b y

running

and w a l k i n g to restore th e circulation a u fond. I am not sure

that Priessnitz does n ot occasionally order th e sit-bath as a pro

vocative t o e x e r c i s e . I f

a ny

complain t o h i m o f cold

or

c h i l l i n e s s ,

“Take

more exercise” i s the a d v i c e . After every


of

cold w a t e r , w h et h er b y the bath, the

w et

s h e e t , o r the washing,

t h e

order

i s , “wALK.” Exercise as much belongs to t h e cold

bathing system, as dressing does t o g e t t i n g ou t o f bed. I t would

be no

l e s s

absurd t o drink cold

water,

a n d f r e q u e n t l y

bathe with

ou t taking exercise in

proportion, t h a n

to

leave

your

bed

and

o m i t to dress yourself. In both cases th e skin would so on b egi n

to s h i v e r ,

a nd

a stagnant s t a t e o f i t s functions wou ld succeed t o i t s

healthy

glow

a nd

i n s e n s i b l e

p e r s p i r a t i o n .

I t i s t he c on ti nu ous e x e r c i s e that admits o f the

absorption

of

th e

water,

pro motes the

exit of old secretions, refreshes

th e

s e c r e t i n g

organs,

a nd gives

general

tone t o the i n t e r n a l p a r t s , by

th e r en ov a ti on o f i t s j u i c e s , which

active

exercise alone c a n excite

and

maintain.

That

t h i s

r e q u i r e s mo re time a nd

perseverance

than

men

i n

business

ca n or w i l l undertake, I

am

s u f f i c i e n t l y a w a r e

of;

but

t h is

does not

alter

t h e

t r u t h.

The

matter

of

f a c t

i s

stubborn;

i t

i s opposed t o the present customs o f men: but w h a t i s the r e s u l t

D oes good health c o i n c i d e

with

these customs? The e x i s t e n c e

of a Medical Faculty i s a

s u f f i c i e n t

answer. But

I am

very sure

that physicians

h a ve

been

always d i s i n t e r e s t e d enough t o proclaim

a loud t he n e c e s s i t y

of

e x e r c i s e

to good

health;

a nd

I think the



32

GRAFENBERG,

AND

time i s come w hen they w i l l turn t h e i r a t t e n t i o n

more p a r t i c u l a r l y

to cold

water,

w h i c h

the ablest surgeons

h a v e

already

found so

beneficial

i n l oca l wounds

and

operations.

They ca nnot

deny—

( 1 ) That

the testimony

borne

t o i t s extraordinary

i n f l u e n c e

deserves

examination.

(2) That

i t s power,

i n the

mode of

t h e

w et

sheet,

i s

s u f f i c i e n t

to

p roduce

a b u nd a n t

perspiration.

( 3 ) That t h i s p e r s p i r a t i o n

i s s t r i c t l y

cutaneous;

u n a c c o m p a

nied b y i n t e r n a l

excitement,

a nd unattended

by

those

r e s u l t s

w h i c h

u s u a l l y

f o l l o w medicinal

s u d o r i f i c s .

( 4 ) That

probably

even a

homoeopathic

dose of

such

may now

be dispensed

with.

(5 ) That t h i s mode o f p e r s p i r a t i o n

by the wet s h e e t , h a s been

found

t o

be

s i n g u l a r l y

b e n e f i c i a l

f o r c h i l d r e n

a nd d e b i l i t a t e d

persons.

(6) That

f e v e r s , diarrhoeas,

chronic

dysenteries,

bowel

com

p l a i n t s ,

rheumatism,

a nd

gout, h a v e s e v e r a l l y

yielded

t o i t , w hen

combined w i t h tonic

bathing,

exercise,

a n d temperance.

( 7 )

That generally speaking,

p e r s p i r a t i o n w i l l

c a r r y

o f f a l l

i n c i p i e n t

d i s e a s e s ;

and t h a t t h i s p e r s p i r a t i o n

can be

h a d

without

r i s k , and most copiously

by cold water thus

applied.

( 8 ) That

i t i s

b y means

o f

the

s k i n , d i r e c t l y

acted upon from

without,

that

this perspiration

i s

produced.

( 9 ) That

consequently

a n y t h i n g

taken

w i t h i n

f o r t h i s purpose

goes

the

w r o n g

w a y

about

i t .

Concerning

cold

water taken i n t e r n a l l y .

There

i s s u f f i c i e n t

evidence

t o warrant us

i n

believing:—

( 1 ) That

cold water i s , of a ll common

a nd

d a i l y

beverages,

th e

most

salutary.

( 2 ) That i t i s t o n i c , a nd not d e b i l i t a t i n g ,

when

f r e e l y but not

extravagantly

drunk.

( 3 )

That

i n f a n t s

a nd

c h i l d r e n

are

deprived

o f

i t s

s a l u t a r y

e f f e c t s

by a most common

p r e j u d i c e

a nd t h a t

the

s e v e r i t y

of

t h e i r

f e v e r s

a nd cutaneous d i s o r d e r s

a r e much increased

by wan t

of

cold water.

( 4 ) That i t g r e a t l y

promotes

p e r s p i r a t i o n ,

w hen

drunk

a f t e r

i t s

commencement

i n the cold-water

method.




(5 ) That

i t

i s

therefore,

i n

t h i s

s e n s e , remedial.

( 6 ) That drinking f r e e l y

of cold

water

immediately

d i s s i p a t e s

h e a r t b u r n ,

a c r i d

eructations,

a c r id

sensations

in

the

t h r o a t

and

stomach,

and removes n ausea.

(7 )

That

i t i s

therefore

for

these e f f e c t s

remedial.

( 8 ) That w hen

taken a t

night

a nd e a r l y i n

the

morning, i t

p r o motes

digestion, and

aids the

n a tu r al f u nc t io ns of the bowels,

a n d

i s

remedial i n t h e s e

r e s p e c t s .

( 8 ) That w hen

taken i n large

q u a n t i t i e s i n

conjunction

with

e x e r c i s e ,

i t

h as produced vomiting

on

some o c c a s i o n s , a n d

d i a r r h o e a on

o t h e r s ,

but

always with r e l i e f t o

the p a t i e n t ,

so

t h a t

i t acted remedially even i n

such

cases.

(9) That when dr u n k in large quantities, without e x e r c i s e , i t h as

been

f o u nd to h a v e

so powerful

a

sedative e f f e c t , as to cause

i n s e n s i b i l i t y ; w h i c h however w a s removed by

e x c i t i n g

t h e s k i n t o

action by cold water

applied

externally, and rubbed upon t he

b ody u n t i l reaction was established.

Of c l o t h i n g t h e s k i n i n

f l a n n e l .

I t i s w e l l

known

t o a l l

h i s p a t i e n t s ,

t h a t

P r i e s s n i t z

i n s i s t s on

flannel not being worn next t he skin. The

s k i n ,

his c o m p e ns a t i n g

a n d remedial organ,

i s

relaxed a nd weakened, he a f f i r m s , by the

constant f r i c t i o n o f the

wool;

the

a i r

i s prevented

from

acting

upon

i t ,

so

a s

t o c a l l

i t s

n a t u r a l tone a nd

r e a c t i o n i n t o play:

i t

becomes

morbidly

s e n s i t i v e . The s l i g h t e s t c o l d a i r c hi ll s i t :

i t s

i n s e n s i b l e p e r s p i r a t i o n

i s

thrown

back

upon

i t s e l f ,

not being

e a s i l y

imbibed by the f l a n n e l ; a nd s i n c e those who wear f l a n n e l seldom

bathe the whole s k i n ,

i t becomes

a t length u n fi t f o r

i t s

f u n c t i o n ,

w h i c h

h e considers

the

g r e a t e s t a nd m ost important i n

the body.

However t h i s may b e , the p r a c t i c a l question is:—Can a ny one,

e s p e c i a l l y

an

i n v a l i d ,

a n d one

who h as

been used

t o wear

f l a n n e l

next h i s s k i n , a nd t h a t perhaps, both night a nd day, venture

without

danger

t o change

t h i s h a b i t

And

i f h e could do i t

without danger,

would

i t

be

attended

with

a ny

r e a l

b e n e f i t

t o

him

?

In answer

t o

t h i s , I give a n instance of the attempt, the parti

c ul a rs of

w h i c h ,

f r o m th e least

to

the greatest,

I

am perfectly sure

o f .

An o f f i c e r of th e navy, twenty-five

years

ago, suffered

a broad f ro m a brain-fever, f r o m w h i c h , after f i v e months' i l l n e s s

C



34

GRAFENBERG,

AND

h e

r e c o v e r e d .

From

t h a t

time

t o the

present y e a r , h e h ad

been

i n the h a b i t o f wearing f l a n n e l next the

skin

both da y and n i g h t .

He

a pp ea rs n ev er

to

h av e been

restored

to

perfect

health

since

t h a t s e r i o u s

i l l n e s s ; but t o

h ave

been

all along

o c c a s i o n a l l y sub

j e c t t o b i l i o u s f e v e r a nd head-ache. No one s u f f e r e d more f re

quently fro m

c h i l l i n e s s of the s k i n , notwit hsta nding the f l a n n e l s .

In March l a s t

he commenced

th e water-cure;

and, by way

of pre

p a r a t i o n

f o r c a s t i n g o f f h i s f l a n n e l s , took

a

s i n g l e plunge i n cold

water

b e f o r e

going t o bed;

a n d

then

omitted

the

f l a n n e l a t

n i g h t .

After

a week, f e e l i n g r a t h e r

b e t t e r

than worse, a nd having a l l

t h i s

time

r e g u l a r l y

taken a

second

plunge,

a s

soon

as

h e

got

ou t

of b ed in

the m o r n i ng , h e discontinued the

flannel

by

da y as well

as

by night,

and also

the woollen stockings. From

that

da y to

t h i s ,

h e h as not only suffered n o t h i n g

f r o m

the change,

in

th e

way of

d i s e a s e ;

but

has

l o s t

that c h i l l i n e s s

w h i c h h e

complained

of when

wearing

f l a n n e l ;

a nd f e e l s

wa r mer

both

out

o f

doors

a n d in t h a n before.

This

c h a n g e was

effected in

w i n ter w ea t h er ,

and wit h ou t the slightest

unpleasant

occurrence.

This, i t i s

true,

i s but one c ase; t her e are, however, thousands,

who

h a v e don e without,

or l e f t o f f flannel

at Gräfenberg, and

I

never hea rd of on e comp la int against i t . The a b o ve case was

tried i n England, where i t

m i g h t b e

supposed f ro m t he vicissitudes

of

the weather, that,

i f there

were

any

danger

of bad

consequences,

they would s u r e l y h ave followed under such circumstances.

I t

may

now be a

f a i r

q u e s t i o n ,

whether i t

be not

very

unwise

t o c l ot he

c hi ld ren i n flannel

next

the

sk in and

whether

a

mo menta ry cold-water a p p l i c a t i o n e a r l y i n the morn i ng would

not be

very much better?

A word t o Hydropathic superintendants.

There

are tw o p r a c t i c e s o f P r i e s s n i t z , which,

i you

agree with

me,

you

w i l l never adopt: I a l l u d e t o

h i s

treatment

of

abscesses;

a nd t o h i s keeping p a t i e n t s

from

one t o nine

hours

i n cold

water,

a nd

then

rubbing

them

t i l l

the

heat

under

the

a x i l l a

i s

reduced

t o

the coldness of

t h e

rest

of the

skin

|

This

h as been done i n

intermittent fever,

i n brain f e v e r ,

and in

he c t i c

fever.

If

in

on e

case

only

this h as p rob a b ly pro ved f a t a l , and i f in

the other

c a s e s

a more

rapid a n d repeated

a p p l i c a t i o n of cold



THE

COLD-WATER TREATMENT.

35

water h as been found s u f f i c i e n t , s t i l l i s there not

reason enough

to doubt or

d i s b e l i e v e the n e c e s s i t y o f

t h i s

h e r o i c

remedy ?

I ha ve thus endeavoured p l a i n l y t o give a few

p r a c t i c a l

h i n t s

concerning

t he t heory

a nd

p r a c t i c e

of Hydropathy, a s I sa w i t i n

operation at Gräfenberg: but as I was only there a very short

t i me, I

have not

been a b le t o

do

more. I

have

derived

much

b e n e f i t from i t myself; a nd with my own c h i l d r e n I h a ve observed

i t s very

s a l u t a r y

e f f e c t s ; a n d I t r u s t

t h a t

I

may

h a ve

done

some

t h i n g

towards

limiting

i t s extravagancies.

The Lindervise Doctor.

Extremes meet: there i s a D r. Scrott, living within a w a l k of

Gräfenberg, who

professes

to

cure

diseases wit hout a n y w ater at

a l l

On

the

c o n t r a r y ,

h i s c h i e f

a i m

i s

t o sweat out a l l

t h a t

i s

already i n

the

body.

He

i s

s a i d

t o ha ve h ad h i s

c u r e s ,

a n d i s fond

of

t e l l i n g

that

some

o f

P r i e s s n i t z ' s

p a t i e n t s

co me

t o

h i m

so

loaded

with

water,

t h a t h e i s obliged t o give them wine; a nd so be

numbed w i t h cold,

that

h e i s obliged to give i t them hot He

r e j o i c e s

i n

the s i m p l i c i t y o f h i s method —no douche -no plunge

b a t h s —n o w as h i n g — n o nonsense L i t t l e o r no food—nothing

to d r i n k— a l l

perspiration, and consequently

no

functions

to

per for m

I went

t o

see

a

gentleman

c a l l e d

Coun t Bennet, a t

L i n d e r v i s e ,

who h ad a c t u a l l y

put

himself under t h i s

ma n's

treatment, a nd

whom I saw

and c on v er sed w i th under t he following

state of

body:

i t

i s

not necessary

t o

men t i on u nder

w h a t

s t a t e of

mind.

He w a s about 30 years

o f

age, p a l e ,

t h i n ,

a n d weak;

h i s

pulse

was quick a n d

weak,

h i s tongue f u r r e d , a n d h i s

breath

heavy;

h e

had

not

h a d

a m ot i on f r o m his bowels for fourteen days, and his

urine w a s

v ery red

a nd

t h i c k

and s c a n t y . He

s a i d

h e w a s b e t t e r ;

t h at t h e

pains

of

t he gout

in

his

f e e t

were

relieved;

that

as

h e

did

n ot eat or drink, there was no

occasion

for his

bowels

to p e r f o r m

any functions that h e had now sweated every da y for three

weeks,

f or t h r ee

hours

a t a

time,

in wet sheets and b l a n k e ts t h a t

he needed no b a t h ,

f or

that

was

sufficient to wash him; t h a t he

h a d one g l a s s o f water f o r

the

f i r s t

two

d a y s , a nd one

or

t wo ( I

v e r i l y b e l i e v e the

two i s a suggestion

of

my

own

i n c r e d u l i t y )



36 GRAFENBERG, AND THE cold-wATER TREATMENT.

s i n c e ; th at th ree small r o l l s

( o f

the

s i z e

of a small

orange)

i s a l l

that i s permitted

h i m t o e a t i n the

course

o f the day; t h a t D r.

S c r o t t

e n t e r t a i n s

great

hopes

o f

h i s

r e c o v e r y . I

w a s

informed

b y

o t h e r s ,

t h a t C ou n t

Bennet h ad been

s i x

mo n t h s a t Gräfenberg;

that h e w as one

o f

the

most healthy

and handsome-looking men

a t the

est a b l i s h m e n t ;

and

t h a t

he had so

fa r recovered from h is

gout,

that

h e c ou ld k ic k

a

football

over the house.

I therefore

ventured

t o

ask

h i m

why h e l e f t Gräfenberg, when h e w a s

so

comparatively well

there.

He answered, i n substance, “What

w a s

the use o f being well—w h a t you c a l l

r o b u s t , when

I

c o u l d n ' t

get on my boots? Here,” added h e , “I can

put on my

boots”

( h i s

f e e t were a s t h i n a s bon es) “wi t h

e a s e . ” I t

w a s not my

business to suggest, th a t i f hehad had his

boots

made to his f e e t ,

instead o f m a k i n g

h i s

f e e t t o

h i s

b o o t s , the same

r e s u l t

would

h a v e been

gained, wit h

less

expense of

f l e s h

and

blood. I l e f t

hi m,

p o s i t i v e l y

intending t o continue

t h i s

sweating

treatment

f o r

a for t night longer , by w h i c h t i m e I fear h e will h a v e had b ot h

feet

i n one

boot

To the above, i n s u b s t a n c e , I can personally bear w i t n e s s .

I

was, moreover, i n formed

by

others, that a young

lady

was

under

D r. Scrott's c a r e , who was ta k ing w i n e w ithout water, that i s ,

instead of w ater; and that

a gen t le ma n

had

been

there

a week

without drinking a ny

water a t

a l l , a nd

h a d s i x r o l l s o f

bread

o n l y

f o r h i s d i e t :

f o r ,

a s the Coun t

would s a y ,

w h a t i s the use o f d i e t

when you l i e a ll day i n blankets?

This

would

seem

t o

be

s u b s t a n t i a l l y

c o r r e c t

b y

the s e q u e l

of

the

r e p o r t ,

w h i c h

was,

t h a t

three

persons

h ad

been f ou nd dead

i n

t h e i r blankets One

o f them, a p r i e s t , h a d j u s t expired b e f o r e

my

v i si t to

Count Bennet.

But, “audi a l t e r a m

partem,”

D r. S c r o t t t h a t

day

s a i d t o

one of

the p a r t y ,

t h a t

the p r i e s t h ad, t he day b e f o r e ,

eaten t wo

pounds of

meat a t

a m e a l , which

occasioned h is

deat h, and t h a t

extremes

were

dangerous

,

-

.

. . .

Some Observations on the Cold Water Treatment

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