THE WATER-CURE IN AMERICA- OVER THREE HUNDRED CASES OF VARIOUS DISEASES TREATED WITH WATER, 3Y MS. WESSELHOEFT, SHEW, BEDORTHA, SHIEFERDECKER, TRALL, NICHOLS, AND OTHERS. WITH CASES OF DOMESTIC PRACTICE; DeafflticTi fttv as toell as professional 3&enmnfl. " Longum iter per preacepta, breve et cfficax per exempla.'"—Sbnkca. " Facts are the basis of all science." EDITED BY A WATER PATIENT^ NEWYORK : FOWLER AND WELLS, PUBLISHERS NO. 308 BROADWAY. In Boston : 142 Wushiugtun Street. Philadelphia : No. stBI Arch Street. 185G. YYBF P572w 185& RiKe.-cd. according to act of Congress, in the year 1851, by FOWLERS AND WELLS, in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York. TO THE MEDICAL READER. '! I take the liberty of recommending to the heads of the profession, not to entertain any strong prejudices against the Water-Cure treatment; however laudably desirous they may be to exercise a conservative principle on behalf of their patients, and of society at large, let them not decide without examination, or pronounce a verdict without a candid hearing of the cause I have always been of opinion, that a Physician should consider himself a student to the latest period of his life ; for the wisest must still have something to learn. ... It appears to me that Hydropathy is of the highest importance to the whole civilized world ; its principles are, I am sure, founded in Nature and Truth, and rest, therefore, on an immutable basis. The practice may be occasionally abused, and then evil, instead of good, result. If I could think that such a consequence was necessary, I would not for one moment be its advocate. But, convinced as I am, that we have in our poWer a new and most efficacious agent for the alleviation and cure of disease in various forms, and, in proper hands, as safe as effectual, I should be no friend to humanity, nor to medical science, if I did not give my testimony in its recommendation."—Sir Charles Scudamore, M.D., F.R.S., etc , London; Author of Treatise on Gout, on Rheumatism, etc., etc. (From his " Medical Visit to Graefenberg.") Dr. Carpenter, in his Elements of Physiology, expresses his belief, that Hydropathy " will be found the most valuable curative means we possess for various specific diseases which depend upon the presence of a ' materies morbi' in the blood, especially gout and chfonic rheumatism, as well as for that depressed state of the general system which results from the ' wear and tear' of the bodily and mental powers." The well known J. Forbes, M.D., F.R.S., editor of the British and Foreign Medical Review, Sec, after a frank acknowledgment of the danger and inefficiency of the ordinary treatment by drugs, which he thinks no better, if as good, as unassisted Nature, says: " The now fashionable system of Hydropathy is not inert, and furnishes, perhaps, the best evidence we have of the curative powers of art; it is, when-rationally regulated, a most effective mode of treatment in many diseases, and shows the facility with which drugs may be dispensed with." He strongly urges a trial of it in various diseases (see page 281 of this work), and reminds the reader, that "the distinction between quacks and respectable practitioners, is one, not so m ch of remedies used, as of skill and honesty in using them " CONTENTS. [The names of Diseases treated, are arranged alphabetically in the (hdex, pages 377-080. ] Index, . . 377-380 « Dr. Weder, . 339,340 Cases in Home Treatment, . . 340-376 " " Dr. W. P. Collins, 838 « " Dr. Joseph S. Burr, . . . 334-338 « » Dr. A. L. Child, 330,332 « " Dr. T. T. Seelye, 332,333 « « Dr. P. H. Hayes, .... 833,334 »« " Dr. E. Evans, ... ... 828-330 " " Dr. S. O. Gleason, 826-328 " «« Dr. Frank Stewart, 322-325 » " Dr Carl Lorenz, 317-321 «« " Dr.R S.Houghton, . ... .314-316 " « Dr. E. A. Kittredge, 311-314 " « Mrs. Dr. Nichols, . . .806-311 " " Dr. J. H. Stedman, . 305 « « Dr. S. Rogers, 801-304 Cases treated by Dr. T. L. Nichols, 287-301 Hon. Vespasian Ellis's Case, .... ... 269 Water-Cure at Milledgeville, Ga., 266-270 Dr. Trail's Cases, etc., New York, . ... 270-286 Cases treated by Dr. Kittredge, . . . . . . . 265-266 Dr. Roofs Cases (at Cooperstown), . . . . . 262-264 Dr. Shieferdecker's Cases, 256-260 Water-Cure at Cooperstown, N. Y 260-262 Drs. Peirson and Meeker's Cases, . 247-256 Miscellaneous Cases, 187-246 Dr. Shew's Cases, New York and Syosset, 146-186 Dr. Jewett's Cases, Mogadore, Ohio, 142-145 Drs. Champlin and Gleason's Cases, 184-141 Establishment at Cuba, N. Y., 134 Dr. A. Underbill's Cases (in Ohio), . ... . . 116-133 Editorial from the New Englander (extract), .... 115 Do. Cases, 74-115 Dr. Wesselhoeft's Establishment, Brattleboro', Vt, . . 72-74 Do Cases at New Lebanon, 41-71 Dr. Bedortha's Preface to his Cases 41 New Lebanon Springs Establishment, 38-40 Do. Cases (see, also, 256-260), .... 11-37 Dr. Shieferdecker's Preface to his Cases, 9,10 Do. Institution at Philadelphia, .... 11 Editor's Preface, 6-8 To the Medical Reader, . 4 PREFACE. This work had its jrigin solely in the writer's sympathy for invalids whi» may be still suffering, as he was for years, (a) from chronic diseases beyond the power of the Materia Medica. To convey to such, glad tidings of health, is its main object; but it is secondarily intended to be useful to the practitioner of the healing art, and to attract the attention of the discriminating philanthropist to a comparatively simple, safe, (b) efficient, and accessible means of health, (c) Most of the contents of this work are now first published: the exceptions are, we believe, noticed in their proper place, consisting generally of such articles as were not easily accessible to the public. As some ot the remarks of Dr. Shew upon the cases treated and furnished by him are in editorial phraseology, it is proper to say in distinction, that the few articles original with the writer, are so indicated in the articles themselves. There is ample material for one or two volumes similar to this, which may appear at a future day. Accident, misconception as to the time of its publication, more pressing duties, and probably procrastination, have prevented various other practitioners from furnishing contributions in time for this volume. s The indulgence of the professional reader is solicited for the lack of unity and scientific nomenclature and arrangement, as well as for errors arising from the editor's ignorance of medical terms and theories, and from his unwillingness to alter the articles from different sources. Having early made an unavailing effort to transfer this work to abler hands, he can now but present the book, " with all its imperfections on its head," as a brief, plain, unvarnished statement of valuable facts, (d) Contributors will perceive that our limits have compelled us to condense and abridge some of their letters, by the omission of reflections, opinions, grateful tributes to their physicians, etc. As the world teems with new theories and nostrums, we ask attention to the fact that most of the following cases are written and published by per- (n) See case on pages 176 to 181. Acute cases yield more speedily. (6) The safety of this system is especially noticed by Drs. Forbes, Scudamore, and other physicians, and by Bulwer, Mr. Calvert, Miss Beechor, Mr. H. C. Wright, and many observing patients, some of whose testimonies appear in this volume. (c) Descriptions of the processes referred to in the cases in this work, may be found in most of the cheap Water-Cure books. (d) A professional friend of mature experience, an able contributor to the Medical Journals, writes to the editor commending the design of this work ; he remarks, " Facts always inU rest, speculations are short lived; I am glad you are to publish," etc. Another successful ractitioner writes, " Your plan I consider one of the most philanthropic I have heard of: the Americans are a matter-of-fact people, and wish demonstrationcs ad oculot in all neW things," &c. This want, we trust, we have it', some measure supplied. VI PREFACE sons having no motive but philanthropy, n any of vhom, to say the least, are men of well known integrity and sound judgment, who would be the last to mislead the sinking invalid. («) Secondly: The testimony of those who have resided in Hydropathic Institutions, has a peculiar competency, as they witnessed all the results of large numbers of cases, and do not give us, as do quack puffers, the successful cases only ; thus when they speak of the comparative efficacy of this system, they " speak that they do know and testify that they have seen." And their evidence almost uniformly agrees with that of Miss C. E. Beecher, who after a residence of several months in the Water-Cure Institution, at Brattleboro', Vt., says, in the JV. Y. Observer: —¦ " The regular number of patients has considerably exceeded one hundred, and the experience of each individual gradually becomes known to most of his fellow patients. The general impression made on my mind is, that without exception, all are improved in general health, that none are injured, and that, though the company is made up almost entirely of refuse cases, coming here as the last forlorn hope, by far the majority of those who stay long enough for a fair trial, are wholly cured, or are so near entire restoration when leaving, as to confidently expect it after a moderate course, prosecuted at home." (6) The philosophy of Hydropathy (c) has been ably exhibited in the various works of scientific and logical writers: (see pages 276 to 234) testimonials of its wondrous power (<2) have emanated from scores of eminent physicians (c) who are personally acquainted with its application; and the published (a) Where, from motives which will be appreciated by delicate minds, some invalids have withheld their names, the physician is of course responsible for the facts. We are, however, authorized by many of these patients (whose letters are in our possession) to announce, that they will be happy lo communicate with any fellow sufferer, who may desire more direct information of their experience; this may be accomplished through their physicians, or the editor. (6) Most patients also think the treatment not, comparatively, disagreeable, and that it is most efficacious (and some say most agreeable) in autumn and winter. In reference to the general results of the treatment, seo the interesting account of G. H. Calvert, Esq., of Baltimore, in his " Scenes and Thoughts in Europe;" Sir E. L. Bulwer's celebrated letter on Water-Cure; Six Months at Graefenberg, by Henry C. Wright, as reviewed in " Chambers's Edinburgh Journal;" Rev. Mr. Tyler's editorial, in the New Englander for April, 1847 (see page 115); the accounts of many contributors to the present volume, and indeed of any persons who have resided in Hydropathic establishments. (c) Pronounced Hy-drop-a-thy (and not Hy-Am-path-y) ; following the same rule as Ho-mce-op-athy, Al-Zop-a-thy, Geography, Geology, Antipathy, etc. See Webster, Worcester, etc. (d) An opinion is very generally prevalent among persons not practically acquainted with the water processes, that the regimen and accessories of Hydropathy are the secret cause of its marked success. We can here only briefly say, that we, and hundreds of others, tried all the accessories in vain ; and that a candid perusal of the testimonies and authorities in this volume, or a visit to a Water-Cure establishment, will soon correct such an opinion. Sir Charles Scudamore quotes IAebig, as follows: " By means of the Water- Cure treatment, a greater change of matter is effected in six weeks than would happen in the ordinary course of nature in three years." (e) See Article on the Water-Cure, by the distinguished Dr. Forbes, of London, and Dr. Erasmus Wilson's Work on the Skin, (noticed on pages 281 and 282 of this work); Carpenter's Physiology, and his recent articles in HowitVs Journal, on the Dependence of Life upon Water; A Medical Visit to Graefenberg, by Sir C. Scudamore, and the opinion of Liebig, as quoted in the same ; Physical Education, etc., by Dr. Warren, of Boston ; Article by Dr. (of Saratoga) in the N. Y. Journal of Medicine fur May, 1847, etc., etc. PREFACE. VII evidence is already abundant; but, valuable and influential as all this should be, we would urge, above all, as the most direct, unquestionable, and convincing proof, personal inquiry of any candid and intelligent person who has resided in a Hydropathic establishment, or had, otherwise, any practical ai, quaintance with the system; (a) for we affirm, that almost every adverse opinion which we hear is speculative, (b) The necessity of some system which shall be free from the uncertainty and danger of the existing medical practice, has been forcibly asserted and illustrated by the most learned and experienced medical writers, (c) To offer an humble contribution towards such a system, has been one object of the editor in the present work; and so far from having any personal or pecuniary interest in the success of this reform, the time and attention required by the preparation of this volume, frequently encroaching upon the hours of rest, have been given at a considerable sacrifice of his own interests, and, superadded to cares already burdensome, have made a heavy draft on his newly (a) So much more certain and satisfactory is this kind of testimony, that we take the liberty to mention the names of a few gentlemen, well known to the public, who have been more or less under the water treatment; quoting the address of some of them from memory, as seen on the registers of several Water-Cure houses, and others from personal acquaintance, etc. We have reason to believe that all of them will cheerfully state the results of their experience and observation to any who may need it. The number of names might be indefinitely increased: — Hon. Mr. Middleton (formerly Charge d'Affaires to Madrid); Hon. Vespasian Ellis (late Charge d'Affaires to Venezuela); D. A. Cushman, Esq.; Dr. J. Parmly (Dentist, of Bond street); Horace Greeley, Esq., of the Tribune; Col. J. W. Webb, of the Courier; Freeman Hunt, Esq., of the Merchants' Magazine; C. D. Stuart, Esq., of the N. Y. Sun ; Rev. Asa D. Smith, of the Rivington street Presbyterian Church; Rev. F. C. Wood worth; Rev. Wm. S. Balch; Alvan Stewart, Esq.; Prof. E. Ives, New York. C. W. Pennock, M. D., etc., (Physician of) Blockley Hospital, Philad. Rev. Wm. Crowell, editor of Christian Watchman ; J. H. Gray, Esq.—Boston. A. J. Colvin, Esq., late Dist. Attorney; Edward C. Delavan, Esq.; Saiul. VV. Green, Esq., editor of Albany Patriot. —Albany. Rev. John Pierrepont; Dr. A. L. Bardwell.—Troy. Rev. Dr. Nott, President of Union College, Schenectady, N. Y.; Professor Avery of Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y.; Rev. E. R. Tyler, Editor of the New Englander, New Haven, Connecticut; Rev. Wm. G. Boardman, Dalton, Massachusetts ; Rev. Mr. Fitch, N. Marlboro', Mass.; Prof. H. W. Longfellow, Harvard University, Cambridge, Mass.; Rev. William Livesey, Taunton, Mass.; Rev. P. R. Russell, Co-editor of Christian Herald, Fall River, Mass.; Rev. Payson Williston, East Hampton, Mass.; Dr. W. A. Alcott; Lieut. Col. G. Dearborn, U. S. A., Portland, Me.; Rev. Austin Dickinson; Mr. Henry C. Wright; Horatio Greenough, the Sculptor; Hon. Mr. Stiles, Charge d'Affaires at Vienna; Prof. C. E. Stowe, Cincinnati, O.; Mr. J. T. Hart, the Sculptor, Lexington, Ky.; Geo. D. Prentice, Esq., Editor of Louisville (Ky.) Journal, etc., etc. —The following gentlemen can speak as to the effect of the treatment upon members of their families ; Dr. Eleazer Parmly, Bond street; Mr. Greeley, of the Tribune; Rev. C. S. Stewart, U. S. N.—New York. Hon. Judge Morehouse ; J. Fenimore Cooper, Esq.—Cooperstown, N. Y. J. H. Gray, Esq., and John Tappan, Esq.—Boston Professor J. H. Agnew, of Michigan University, Ann Arbor; Rev. Lyman Beecher, D. D.; Professor E. Stowe, Cincinnati, Ohio ; Rev. Beriah Green, Whitesboro, N. Y., etc., etc. (ft) " In regard to the opposition of a great part of the medical world to this innovation on the ordinary practice of physic, looking at human nature, we must attribute a little of it to its interference with settled interests:" etc. — Scudamve. The British and Foreign Medical Review remarks, that this feeling of opposition has been communicated by physicians to a large portion of the intelligent classes, and attributes it chiefly to Its humble and non-medical origin—to its adoption by doubtful and lay practitioners—its being put forth as a cure-all—etc., and regrets that these circumstances should so extensively have prevented its just examination. (e) See opinion of Dr. Forbes on page 282 under head of " Allopathy," etc., also of Boerhave, Billing, Rush, Magendie, and others, in their i-everal works. VIII PREFACE. acquired health—a draft which could only have been honored by aid of a cold water capital. He expects no other reward for his pains, than the consciousness of lessening the vast sum of human suffering. He may seem to speak warmly, but it is with an enthusiasm founded on experience and prompted by sympathy, that he expresses his conviction, that among all the wondrous discoveries and reforms of our day, of the powers of steam, of the telegraph, of the letheon, etc., none in the physical world, in their direct influence upon human happiness, will excel that of Preissnitz, t<) whom may be applied the lines of Shelley: " He told the hidden powers of springs, And Disease drank and slept." " Here then (in the language of a distinguished English author, and water patient), 0 brothers, 0 afflicted ones, I bid you farewell. I wish you one of the most blessed friendships man ever made—the familiar intimacy with water. Not Undine in her virgin existence more sportive and bewitching, not Undine in her wedded state more tender and faithful, than the Element of which she is the type. In health, may you find it the joyous playmate, in sickness the genial restorer and soft assuager. (a) And you, 0 parents! who, too indolent to renounce for a while your own artificial natures, still covet for your children, hardy constitutions, pure tastes, and abstemious habits—who wish to see them grow up with a manly disdain to luxury—with a vigorous indifference to climate—with a full sense of the value of health, not alone for itself, but for the powers it elicits, and the virtues with which it is intimately connected —the serene unfretful temper —the well being that, content with self, expands in benevolence to others —you I adjure not to scorn the facile process of which I solicit the experiment. Dip your young heroes in the spring, and hold them not back by the heel. May my exhortations find believing listeners, and may some, now unknown to me, write me word, * We have hearkened to you, and not in vain.' Adieu." (a) A word to those who wish to adopt the use of cold water, and have not access to a practitioner. Begin, at once, to wash the entire person once or twice daily with water, as coot or cold as can be borne without leaving a permanent chill. Do this when you are warm, and not fatigued, and when the stomach is empty. Let exercise in the open air precede and follow the bath when practicable; but in the morning, on first rising, the cold bath is generally most useful and convenient. Add to this one or two glasses of cold water early in the morning, and an hour before each meal, and a plain, unstimulating diet, with only cold water for drink ; avoid excess of clothing, warm rooms, late hours, &c, and a vast majority of the diseases among us will be cured, or prevented, without further prescription; if further means prove necessary, these habits will be found a most valuable preparation for the ulterior treatment. WATER CURE IN AMERICA. DR. SHIEFERDECKER'S PREFACE TO HIS CASES. Allow me to prefix a few remarks to the following cases, regarding the views which guide me in my treatment, and the results I have been happy enough to gain. I consider water all-sufficient as a curative means, and every disease curable by it which is curable at all. I think such diseases only incurable as are founded in the total disorganization of a life-organ. I contend, that nobody can die of any acute disease (viz. all kinds of fevers and inflammations), if treated from the beginning, properly, with cold water, and that every chronic disease is a consequence of an improperly treated acute disease. I am convinced, that cold water, exercise, a proper diet, and pure air, will give men the age of 150 to 200 years, and that marasmus senilis alone, or accident, ought to end the life of a human being, but not disease. I have never given one drop of any medicine, in whatever shape or form, since I have adopted Hydriatrics (except last year on board the ship Columbia, where three hundred and ninety-five steerage passengers suffered more or less of dysentery, with a typhoid character, and where the application of water was an impossibility), and have not lost one patient out of the hundreds of desperate cases I have treated in this country with water. I call the water cold from 40° to 54° F., and tepid from 54° to 72° F.; a higher degree I never apply. Neither do I produce sweating by any exterior artificial means, viz. steam, hot air, &c* The douche and plunge-bath I apply only seldom, and my * Here I cannot omit to mention Pries.ii!itz's indignant remark, when i e 1* 10 WATER CURE IN AMERICA. diet is simple, consisting in beef, mutton, venison, bread, potatoes, sweet fruit, milk, and water. I gain the favorable results with my patients by a careful prescription of the form of the hath, of the time, of the temperature of the water, of the repetition, of the change, and of the combination of a bath with others ; of the application of the water to a dry, warm, slightly perspiring, or sweating skin. The Hydropathist must know how these different applications act differently on the body. He must adapt his prescriptions, after a careful examination, to the object to be cured, viz. the disease, the nature of it, the duration, intensity, complication, extent, constitution, sex, age, former treatment, degree of reaction of the body, particularly of the nervous system, condition of the skin, and its ability to re-act, general and local production, and development of warmth, &c. Thus we are enabled to be conquerors of disease, and saviors of the human family. The cases I transmit herewith are only a few, because I could not find time to write out more. They suffer at the same time, and for the same reasons, for the want of particulars ; but I took care not to mention more than one cure of the same disease. had heard that one of his favorite pupils, Dr. Harder, in St. Petersburgh, had given way to the prejudices of the Russian people, in applying steam for sweating, he exclaimed: " Well, then, it is not honest, for he is convinced it is not right, and that it is in direct opposition to a principle which he understands ; he knows better, and I cannot forgive him, or lake any interest in any of them again. " 11 CASES BY UK. SHIEFERDECKEK. DR. SHIEFERDECKER'S HYDRIATRIC INSTITUTION. From the first of October, 1847, I open again my HydriatrLc Institution, in Philadelphia, which I had closed during the summer season. It is situated on the banks of the Schuylkill, corner of Chestnut and Beach streets. The house was originally built for a splendid hotel, and contains about forty larger and smaller rooms. It is furnished with all the necessary different baths, and has in every story water introduced. Ladies and gentlemen have their separate parlors. The price for board, lodging, and medical advice, ranges from $7 00 upwards, according to circumstances. The manner of my treatment is a strict imitation of Priessnitz's own applications ; 1 only differ somewhat from his diet, prohibiting any other meat but beef, mutton, and venison. Ch. Shieferdecker, M. D., Corresponding Member of the Society of Scientific Rydropathiste in Europe. CASES TREATED BY DR. CH. SHIEFERDECKER. [It may be proper to state that Dr. Shieferdecker not being perfectly familiar with the English language, has requested the editor to alter at discretion, and the kindness of the reader must be asked for errors or misconceptions arising from this cause, the Doctor not being at hand to consult. Several cases of sexual diseases were omitted, the details being thought more appropriate for a work designed for physicians exclusively.] Pneumonorrhagia. Lung Disease. Gustavus Schwarz, son of a regularly diplomatic old drug practitioner of this city, who exchanged Homoeopathy for Alio- 12 WATER CURE IN AMERICA. pathy, took in April, 1846, a severe cold, which produced an inflammation of the lungs. This was neglected in the common Homoeopathic manner, and ended in a Hcemorrhagia. This was treated Allopathically, by bleeding, opiates, and drugs, &c, and changed the acute state to a chronic consumption, attended with dreadful cough, and occasional blood-vomiting. Despairing of the success of any system of drug medication, having consulted with the most prominent leaders of the drug schools, the father came to me and asked help by the water-cure. The boy was very much emaciated, was suffering already since May, 1846, and had not been able to leave the room for months; his habit was consumptive; all the symptoms which are connected with very weak lungs were visible, and the stethoscope left no doubt of the presence of a large vomica in the right lung, and tubercles. Notwithstanding these very bad circumstances, I, trusting to the youth of ihe boy, and in the conviction that his digestive organs had not been destroyed by drugs, took him in my hands and restored him, by means of rubbing off with wet sheets, enveloping in well wrung sheets, cooling, warming, and exciting cataplasms and bandages, sitz baths, drinking, and moderate exercise, in twelve weeks, so far, that he had not the least symptoms of his former difficulties left, that he is strong and hardy, and is able to walk, up to ten miles. The warmest water I used with him was 65° F., and the coldest 45° F. Diplopia. Double Seeing. Mr. Welsh, a prominent portrait-painter, and excellent engraver, of this city, son of healthy parents, and father of six healthy children—about thirty years of age, of strictly temperate habits, and very industrious, had suffered for a .'me from rheumatic pains in his foot, and was medically treated some time after this so-called cure, he remarked some difficulty in his eyes, which by and by formed itself into the above-nambd disease. All th» symptoms showing a deep-seated nervous debility, proved a tendency to amaurosis, particularly as they were connected with oxyopia. There were no signs of strabismus incipiens, no hypochondria, no commotion of the brain, nor a contusion of the eyes, but the situation affected the sufferer much. He tried all possible means prescribed, without any effect, until he called on me. 13 SUPPRESSED FEVER AND AGUE, SMALL POX, ETC. 1 had the patient enveloped in wet sheets until he sweated j ordered him to be daily well rubbed off; plunge-baths ; repeated eye, head, and sitting-baths ; finally, the douche and foot-baths, injections and warming bandages over stomach and eyes, and had the happiness to see an upright and active member of society given back to his calling and family, with better and stronger eye-sight and general health than he had ever enjoyed before, after he had felt again all the pains and sufferings he had before this last disease, and many ugly ulcers in the bargain. Suppressed Fever and Ague ; Small Pox, 8fC. Mrs. L y, a lady of high standing in this city, of a very delicate constitution, and drugged in an injurious manner, called on me in the beginning of the year 1845. She had never enjoyed good health from early infancy, had been always irregular in all the functions of her body, and never had any children ; everybody considered her consumptive, and there was fear of an early death, particularly as another-sister died of what the drugpractitioners had called consumption. I found the following condition : The body was emaciated to skin and bones, the nervous system debilitated to a most dreadful degree, the digestive organs very torpid, the bowels rather inclined to diarrhoea, the feet and hands cold in consequence of want of healthy blood and of circulation of it; the chest very narrow and depressed. Every now and then a distressing nervous pain in the face and head like tic doloureux, and from time to time erysipelas on different parts of the body. Sometimes the suffering lady was afflicted by an attack of fever and ague, from which, living in an unhealthy neighborhood, she had suffered before more than ten years. Every cysastic evil seemed to have taken hold of her; constant attendance of a physician was required, and she sank more and more every day. I undertook the treatment of this most excellent woman, after I had ascertained that there was no tuberculosis, the foundation of her difficulties in her chest, and that the skin, for itself, was very promising. I began with the rubbing off sheet, then ordered enveloping in wet sheets for a short time, and long foot-baths, \\ inches deep. By and by I had her longer enveloped ; ordered warming bandages round the chest and stomach, as much 14 WATER CURE IN AMERICA. exercise as possible, and about four quarts of water to drink, daily; to that I added a bandage on the back part of the neck during the night. The nervous pains very soon abated, and instead of that, the fever and ague made its appearance, connected with constipation. I had the patient repeatedly enveloped and put in a half-bath, not quite cold, for ten minutes. A slight rash made its appearance, and disappeared again. The fever and ague made a new attack, which was conquered, and followed by the appearance of a kind of erysipelas on different parts of the body. Thinking that this was only a foreboding of an approaching crisis, which would show itself in the form of an eruptive disease, I did not disturb this symptom, and had the patient put in a half-bath and injections applied. At that time I had to leave the patient, in consequence of a pressing call, and when I returned, I found the whole house in the greatest commotion, and all the relatives crying, " she is gone /" &c. I hastened to the room, and there the lady lay, apparently dead, without any sign of life. I had her chest immediately wetted with very cold water, and well rubbed ; put bandages to the back of the head ; the feet well rubbed with hands, and an injection applied. In a short time, the patient had a very large evacuation, and opened her before half-closed eyes, but without showing any mental activity ; she seemed in a delirium. After a while, I ordered a general washing, and let the patient rest during the night, with the precaution to keep her feet always warm by rubbing. The next day she was enveloped in a wet sheet, when she began to complain about pain in her head, spine, and legs ; she was afterwards washed off and again enveloped, and then a general eruption made its appearance, which, as I encouraged its coming out, proved to be a most horrid case of small-pox. This was treated and cured early, as every acute disease is, without any danger, if treated from the beginning with cold water. I will take, perhaps, at another time, an opportunity to speak of the best mode of treating small-pox. I only remark, here, that the above case is a most striking proof of the fact, that by medical treatment acute diseases are kept for years in the body, producing chronic sufferings, or, ultimately, death. Tabes Infantum. The daughter of MPercival, here, an interesting child of HJP DISEASE. 15 four years of age, had been suffering with this horr. d disease for two years, and was in the transitus from the stadium atrophias perfectae in stadium colliquatioum, when I was called to undertake a cure. I found the following symptoms : — The abdomen very much enlarged, streaked, and hard to the touch, in which I could feel the glands like hazel-nuts; the child was very much wasted away, particularly her-legs, the use of which she had lost entirely ; all the symptoms of a general scrofulosis were clearly visible, eruptions on the head and other parts of the surface were frequent; in the mouth and intestines there were aphthae; feet lamed ; dropsy approaching; face pale and earth-colored ; deep-lying hollow eyes, blue rings around them ; sharp-pointed nose, wan and rough, greyish, firmly on the bones, fixed skin, &c.; sometimes constipation ; sometimes diarrhoea. Though the parents of the child are not very strong, I could not th'nk the disease an inherited one, and found no other cause but a very wrong diet and maltreatment by drug-practitioners. The treatment was, very strict diet, repeated envelopings in wet sheets, general ablutions, leg-baths, rubbing of the spine and legs with hands dipped in cold water, cold-water injections, bandages round the stomach and legs. The critical nervous attacks were treated according to the immediate circumstances. The child is now lively, and running about. Isohias nervosa postica. Hip Disease. Mr. Amasa Stone, of this city, a gentleman of very active habits, and very temperate in his living, consulted me about his case, a year ago. I found the following condition : Pain in the right hip, not fixed on one spot but running about, and periodical, extending from behind the great trochanter up to the os sacrum, down on the exterior side of the upper thigh to the knee-hollow, from here towards the forepart of the leg, along exterior side of the spina tibiae, and so on to the toes along the nervus ischiadicus. Sometimes the nervus crusalis also appeared affected ; the pain was tearing, very much like rheumatism, with a feeling of numbness and convulsive motions connected. The pain had augmented to such a degree, that when he called, the patient had not slept for a long time. The affected side was nearly paralysed; leg shortened, walking very lame, which was 16 WATER CURE tST / MERICA. the consequence of the water collected between the sheath ana the marrow of the affected nerve. He had already tried every kind of advice given by drug, practitioners and laymen; he applied galvanism and magnetism, tin cases filled with hot water, &c, with only momentary relief, the evil itself grew worse from day to day, and he came to me as a last resort. I had him first enveloped in wet sheets and sweated afterwards in dry blankets, followed by a very cold plunge-bath in the beginning, of half a minute, and by and by, up to five minutes duration ; leg-baths of one hour ; the legs were bandaged every night, and the patient wore the stomach-bandage all the time; he took every day a douche bath, beginning with five minutes and increasing to twenty minutes; occasional sitting-baths and halfbaths with rubbing of the affected parts. Mr. Stone soon threw his crutches away, and was, after a treatment of six weeks, so far restored that he could run a race with any man, and I permitted him to proceed with his treatment at his own house. Dreadful ulcers (about fifty in number) made their appearance, and threw the diseased matter out of the body. He is now a hale and strong man, an enthusiast in hydriatrics, and gratefully acknowledged his sentiments in an article in the United States Gazette, of this city. Encephalitis exudatoria Infantum. Inflammation of the Brain. I did not intend to give a description of the treatment of any acute disease in this work, because I considered the application of hydriatrics in such cases so simple and certain, that it is a mere plaything; but, looking over my journal, I find a very interesting case of an inflammation of the brain, which came into my hands in the third stage, as encephalitis exudatoria infantum, and as generally every one despairs of help, I think it right to mention it here. The young daughter of Mr. Shiele, of this city, a beautiful child, not quite three years of age, of a strong constitution, wellnourished, had been always well, with the exception of some occasional eruption. She became sick, had a hard fever, and vomited often. Dr. R., an eminent physician of this city, was called, and ordered an emetic. The condition of the patient did not mend, but constipation, torpor, and entire apathy took place. INFLAMMATION OF THE BRAIN. 17 Calomel and other drugs were given, with no better effect Aan the vomit. On the fifth day I was called, and found the follow, ing condition : The child lay on a bed with back down, the head buried deeply in the pillow; the face very pale and haggard ; pupils of the eyes dilated; great anxiety; twitching of the tendons; frequent evacuations of a whitish matter; constant chewing; singultus; gnashing of the teeth ; delirium ; the breathing was slow and deep, mostly with a low groan ; the skin of the whole body dry and hot, but the feet cold. Pulsation suppressed, and not very frequent. The patient did not desire any nourishment, and the motions of her hands were automatical; convulsions repeated often. I had, before all things, the feet of the poor child rubbed to warm them, but without success ; I then had her undressed and water poured over her head and neck, but she seemed not to feel it. Out of pity for the mother, I had the child dried and put in a wet sheet from the neck down to the knees, the feet well rubbed again, and then the whole body covered with woollen blankets, while the head was covered with an exciting bandage, renewed every ten minutes. The fever had somewhat subsided ; the convulsions ceased; the child seemed to sleep, and breathed quicker. After three-quarters of an hour, I took her out, washed her off, had the feet again well rubbed, and the child laid on a bed, lightly covered, after she had got two injections, of which the first one had no material effect, but the second worked well. Necessary business called me away, and when I returned, after about four hours, the child was nearly as bad as before, only that her feet were not quite so cold. I then again poured water over her head, the sensation of which she soon showed by struggling against it. From that moment I considered the patient saved. I laid her again in a bed, the chest, abdomen, and back covered with a warming bandage, and the feet occasionally rubbed. After about six hours, a new attack made its appearance ; I again poured water over her head, when she began to cry and weep. After that, I had her whole body, with only the exception of her feet, enveloped in a wet sheet and well covered with beds and blankets. She soon fell in a sleep, and sweated in about three-quarters of an hour, very feebly, which sweat lasted two hours. When she awoke she opened her eyes, the breathing was regular, and I had her washed off with tepid water, of 70° 18 WATER OURE IN AMERICA. Fah. She asked for something to eat, and got some fresh milk and bread. For the next two days I ordered an enveloping in a wet sheet, as above, and two injections. She got entirely well. Phthisis Pulmonalis, or Consumption. When I speak of the treatment and cure of consumption, I do not mean that a person, in whom the formation of real tubercles in the lungs has taken place, could be cured even by cold water; of a formation of tubercles I should not speak, because experience has taught that these tubercles are born with the child, lying only undeveloped to the time of puberty. I have seen children, only three days old, whose lungs contained these undeveloped tubercles. Such unhappy descendants of a consumptive race, must die of tuberculosis, till we are able to reach the lungs themselves by our means. If the germ of tubercles is not innate, the real tuberculous consumption can never take place. Therefore, thousands are dying every year of consumptive diseases, who could have been cured, if they had in time applied cold water in the right manner. We understand by phthisis, those wastings of the body-which are caused by ulceration of an organ. The cure of any of these diseases has been, up to Priessnitz's time, a " pium desiderium." The general feature is, a general wasting of the body, in consequence of indirect want of nourishing, for reproducing necessary matter. The ulceration of an interior organ, by which this organ is impeded in its functions and by and by totally destroyed, as of the lungs, liver, &c, is the consequence of the diseased matter settled in the organs. This ulceration, is, in regard to place and finale, different. The matter is either shut up in the ulcerating organ itself (e. g. vomica pulmonalis), or appears on the surface and forms there an ulcer (e. g. empyema), or the vomica clausa bursts, and the matter is thrown out by coughing, or empties itself in a neighboring cavity (ascites purulenlus), or in the cellular system, causing the formation of abscesses and fistulas. One of the two cases I intend to mention here, was that of Mr. Casseday (a gentleman of this city, who lost his life in the steamer Atlantic), and belongs to that class of consumption, where the vomica clausa had burst, and the matter was thrown out by coughing. The patient was, when he applied to me, very weak ; suffered from colliquative sweats and diarrhcea. Enveloping in 19 SPINAL AFFICT10N. wet sheets, rubbing off, half-baths in tepid ivater, wartning band, ages of cold water from the neck down to the navel, round the whole body, by and by sitting baths, intermixed sometimes with foot-baths, as circumstances required, after a while cold plungebaths, exercise, and drinking of a great quantity of cold water in small draughts at a time, were the means which restored the poor sufferer, who had exhausted the skill of the most renowned physicians in this and other cities. A remarkable feature in this case, was a small cancerous ulcer on the left side of the mouth, to which I paid no particular attention in the treatment; in the same degree as the patient grew stronger in his chest, the ulcer got for a time worse, and closed, when I could pronounce the patient well, and ordered the after-cure. The other case is a lady, Mrs. P of this city. This was one of the most dangerous cases I ever had in my hands, because besides repeated signs of ulcerations in her lungs, and besides a long nonsensical treatment of drug-practitioners, of all schools and ranks, there were great difficulties in the sexual system to contend with. I found Mrs. P. very weak, having a vomica pulmonalis of enormous extent, which impeded the breathing to an alarming degree, and frequent attacks of congestions of the blood to chest and head with an incredible nervous weakness and a very inactive skin. The first indication was to strengthen the whole system, produce activity on the surface, to stay the progress of ulceration, and to regulate the circulation of the blood. When this was gained, I had to effect the bursting of the vomica and then to heal it. This was done by repeated short envelopings in wet sheets, warming bandages on the suffering parts, and foot-baths, after that, sitting-baths, and then tepid half-baths, and finally fall cold plunge-baths. She is now well, and a true friend of our cause. Spinal Affection. Atrophia dorsi. On the 22d of November, 1843, Mr. Fr. W., a gentleman of thirty-five years of age, came to me for treatment. About ten years ago, he had been afflicted with a secret disease, which was driven into his system, and had taken a great many so-called strengthening medicines, and what is generally considered nourishing food, viz. oysters, eggs, bouillon, chocolate, &c. His parents, and brothers, and sisters were hardy people. 20 WATER CURE IN AMERICA. Symptoms: very pale face, leanness, headache, dizziness, chilliness, prurient sensation along the spinal column, melancholy, 3tooping walk, weakness of the memory, inclination to suicide, frequent pollutions, pains in the back and chest, skin in a miserable condition, &c. I began with general ablutions, twice a day, followed by rubbing off; after a while, enveloping in wet sheets, beginning with half hour, up to five hours, bandages round chest and down the whole spine, suspensorium with an exciting bandage ; sitting-baths of ten to fifteen minutes, after that half-baths, with rubbing of the back and legs, for fifteen to twenty minutes. Six quarts of water to drink ; nothing was to be eaten or drunk three hours before going to bed, diet very plain, but nourishing. A very painful crisis in the urinary and sexual system lasted for five days, and was conquered by long sitting-baths, often repeated envelopings in wet sheets, cooling bandages, ablutions, much drinking, and injections, avoiding all sexual excitement. The patient was perfectly restored after a treatment of sixteen weeks. Chorea. Vitus's Dance. T would not mention a case of this disease, for which I had two children in treatment, if I had not the wish to introduce another, symptomatically similar, but in regard to cause, treatment, and danger, entirely different, and in the country generally not enough regarded, viz. RapJiania. A boy of about twelve years of age, son of a confectioner in this city, had formerly suffered from a kind of imperfect somnambulism, which had been removed by taking a very heavy cold and consequent bronchitis ; this acute disease being medically removed, left the Vitus's dance behind. Laxatives, antispasmodic remedies of every kind, calomel, leeches, blisters, &c, were given without any favorable result. The patient showed the already generally known symptoms of the Chorea in a very alarming degree, the attacks lasted for days, and the weakness of the boy was pitiful. The causes were apparently worms, besides the medica. suppression of some former eruptions. Short enveloping in wet sheets, only to heat the skin, followed by plunge-bath, injections, simple diet, very much exercise, in the afternoon halfbath, and in the evening sitting-bath, the first of eight minutes, the other of twelve minutes, besides plentiful drinking of cold water, were the means of restoring the poor boy. 21 Raphania. But I hasten to the other above mentioned disease, which I had an opportunity to see in the country in one of the relatives of my wife, and some other children; it was Raphania, which was doubtless caused by the eating of bread made out of flour mixed with fresh black grain (cornutum secale), which always operates upon the organism, and produces an alteration in the condition of the nerves with fatal certainty if it is taken in sufficient quantity, and if nature is unable to throw it off critically by exanthems, evacuations, &c. It seems to be a vegetable disease transplanted in the human body, because only then when the black grain is fresh and not destroyed by time, this disease makes its appearance. It differs from Chorea by its making its appearance soon after the harvest, and by its being rather epidemic ; Raphania has never the exaltations frequently occurring in Chorea, connected with Somnambulism and Clairvoyance, the panic appearance, the augmented power of seeing and hearing, the inclinations to climb, and to conceal. In the Raphania, the head suffers more, causing stupidity ; sex and age make no difference. Chorea is always sporadic, without fever, and never so fatal as Raphania, and never produces mortification of the limb. Symptoms are after some foreboding of chilliness in the abdomen, back, and extremities, creeping in hands and feet, restlessness, sickness, eructation, vomiting, pain in the pit of the stomach, headache, confusion in the head, &c, the following : various and vehement convulsions of the muscles, particular distortion, contractions, extensions, and coolness of the extremities, creeping sensation everywhere, contracted pupil, distortion of the eyes, white and clear urine, weak and stammering voice, bleeding of the nose, generally constipation, great thirst. These convulsions, if they last longer, become tonic, tetanus, and trismus. The attacks last from three to twenty-four hours, end in sweating and sleep, and are repeated daily two to four times for months. The lower extremities become more and more contracted, and toes and fingers insensible. The skin dies away and peels off, paralysis, pemphigus, gangrene, necrosis in hand and feet, colliquative diarrhoeas, take place, and death ensues in consequence of exhaustion, mortification, apoplexy, and cramps, whilst the patient is conscious to the last moment. If one survives under drugtreatment, generally palsy, stupidity, epilepsy, is left behind. 22 WATER CURE IN AMER.'CA. Indications of the cure are to produce vomiting, evacuations, and activity of the peripheric organs, particularly of the nerves. Therefore, use sitting-baths, rubbing of the region of the stomach, drinking of large quantities of water, and injections, till patient vomits and evacuates largely. After that, enveloping in wet sheet till the sweat is coming forth, which is to be washed off in half bath of water of about 68° Fah., with rubbing of the whole body, particularly the extremities, for fifteen, to twenty or thirty minutes. This is to be repeated as often as necessary. I lost no patient in this manner, and had no after difficulties. Should colliquation already have taken place, patient would then be put in a tepid half bath, and buckets full of water poured over him till the skin and the nerves on the periphery were again active, and this repeated till the patient is restored. For every case, bandages round the whole abdomen and back are necessary. In the above described disease, I had more the Raphania Apyretica in view ; I do not think it necessary to mention anything about the acute form, because it comes under the general head of acute diseases, and is therefore as easily conquered by the hydropathist as any other acute disease. Epilepsy. Miss E. G r, a very well formed and strong girl of sixteen years, from the neighborhood of Cape May, came in the beginning of October, 1845, to me, having despaired of help, and suffering most horribly from Epilepsia perfecta. This is a so-called periodical disease of nerves, which attacks the sufferer sometimes only monthly, or weekly, or daily, or even more than once a day, and shows itself in a want of feeling and of consciousness, and in a connexion of tonic with clonic cramps. In Miss G., as in all of the most difficult and incurable cases, there were no foreboding signs of the attacks ; she generally began to have at once tonic, afterwards clonic cramps, distortion of the face, Tiead, neck, and extremities towards the left side, the face turned blue, she screamed; groaned, and fell to the earth, the mouth closed, the eyes rolled slowly, the pulsation slow and suppressed, &c. After about twenty minutes the stadium soporosum appeared, and soon patient fell asleep for about an hour. The pulsation became more regular and full, a 23 HYSTERIA. copious, bad-smelling sweat came forth, and the whole ended with vomiting of green bile. As there was no other member of the G. family afflicted with this disease, as the menstruation had no influence whatever on the attacks, and as I could not find any cause on the head or in former diseases, I concluded that worms and fault of the digestive organs might be the principal cause of her suffering; I therefore made, the following plan of curing her: Everything was to be avoided which could produce congestion to the head (no sweating in dry blankets, only enveloping in wet sheets to moisten the skin, with constant application of cooling bandages over the whole head, the oftener renewed as the body became hotter; much drinking, cooling, thin diet; a tepid half-bath, with pouring some cold water over the head and down the back); avoiding causes for passion, emotion, or vehement exercise, and particularly constipation (therefore repeated cold injections); any flushing of the face was to be immediately suppressed by tepid foot-bath and cooling bandages to the head; any inclination to vomiting was encouraged by drinking large quantities of water. Besides this, I had the patient every night put in a double wet sheet, from the pit of the stomach down to the upper half of the thighs, only covered that the warmth was comfortable, not for sweating, and during the day she wore an exciting bandage over the whole abdomen. Soon there appeared round the waist a very much itching eruption, connected with copious discharges of slimy matter and ascarides. In this manner Miss G r, who had before every day regularly an attack, lived with me for nine weeks without having any attack, and left me in perfect health, which, I understand, continues. Hysteria. Miss M. W., a poor teacher of a public school in this city, some thirty years of age, consulted me on her case, when I found her in this condition: The sight very much affected, scintillation, great irritability of the eyes, trembling contractions of the muse, orbicularis. The hearing very irritable, a whizzing noise in the ears, every exterior affected the patient much. The olfactory organs very strangely excited, the same was the case with her taste. The extremities generally cold, were sometimes burning .lot; flushing of the face, constant changes in the feel- 24 WATER CURE IN AMERICA. ings of the legs. In regard to her mental faculties, phantasy and imagination were prominent; she was very industrious, but without energy and perseverance, for she soon felt so weak and enervated that she had to rest. The passions and emotions always changing from one extreme to the other. Though pious, and of a very kind disposition and good education, she was sometimes spiteful, malicious, cunning, crafty, and haughty. She ©ften wept or laughed in quick succession, without cause for either. Menstruation very irregular. Convulsions and other spasmodic difficulties, viz. yawning, stretching, cramps in the calves, irregularities in the urinary organs, motions of the musculus orbicularis oris, oculi, &c, made frequently their appearance. Circulation of the blood and respiration were disturbed, and the secretions changed ; she was fat, skin dry, urine before an attack white and clear, after it thick and colored; saliva was more acid, and the secretion of it very much augmented. She had fluor albus. The bowels very irregular. She suffered often from flatulence, colic, cramps in the intestines, cardialgia, dyspnoea, cramps in the bladder and sphincter ani, pains in the chest, sensation of a contraction of the throat, pains in the right and left hypochondria (without hepatitis or splenitis). The uterus was also afflicted, as if drawn upwards. Not only adiposis, but even dropsical accumulations were visible. The only causes of the disease I could find out, were a very sedentary life, reading of novels, tendency to mysticism, and irregular, suppressed menstruation. I first had the patient removed in my house, and tried to prevent her from any unnecessary care and anxiety. Next, I cured her fluor albus, and restored the regularity of her menstruation, by putting her in wet sheets from neck to the knees, every morning from two to four hours, which was followed by a plunge-bath of one to two minutes, by taking sitting-baths from twenty-five minutes to one hour, according to circumstances ; finally, by footbaths up to the ancles for thirty minutes, with constant rubbing. In two months all was right, and I now recommended a quieting and strengthening treatment, viz. daily washing of the body with cold water ; every other or third day enveloping in a wet sheet, in which she remained till thoroughly warm ; sitting-bath daily once or twice, of fifteen minutes duration, and rubbing of the spine with hands dipped in cold water; finally, I ordered the douche-bath on the spine and feet from fou *o five minutes. The DYSPEPSIA. 25 sometimes appearing constipation was conquered by injections (though I would now prefer half-baths of about 68° Fah., of twenty minutes duration). Congestions to the head and chest were removed by foot-baths and bandages to the head, or rubbing of the chest. During the treatment the patient has had three very severe critical attacks, which followed always after a vehement vomiting of a thick yellow-greenish matter of bad taste and smell. In such case I had her rubbed all over the body, but particularly on the extremities ; as soon as it was possible she was put in a tepid sitting-bath, with continued rubbing, and afterwards carried to bed and well covered. This was always sufficient in this case ; but in another case I have treated in this city, I had to apply a tepid half-bath, and for a minute to pour ice-cold water over the head and body, which was successful; I carried the patient afterwards to bed, and when thoroughly warm, applied n wet sheet, loosely covered with dry blankets. Miss W. is now entirely restored. Dyspepsia. I use this name because it is generally known, though it is too general, and signifies every chronic disorder of the digestive organs with irregular appetite. The case I am to write about is one of Blennorrhoea. Mr. J. L., a gentleman, of high standing, and some thirty years of age, complained of torpidity and atony of his stomach; his tongue was slimy and covered, his taste disagreeable, particularly in the morning, sickish, his mouth dry, Lips broken, region of the stomach often painful; a disagreeable sensation in his throat, which he called bronchitis; he felt weak, his appetite was indifferent, bowels very irregular, generally very costive, &c. I found a too copious secretion of slime, which was not only in quantity, but in quality, abnormal. The sedentary life, want of exercise in open air, the quick changes of our climate, the common fault of our fellow-citizens to eat too much and too rich food, particularly confectionery and mealy victuals ; the heat of the coal-fire, the covering of the skin with thick woollen underclothes,