DISEASES OF THE 
ALIMENTARY CANAL. 
TREATMENT. 
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL HYDROTHERAPY. 
MEDICATION. 
Read before the St. Clair County, 111., Medical 
Society, June 7, 1894. 
RY 
1)R. JAMES OSBOURN DeCOURCY. 
: Member of St. Clair County Medical Society; Mem- 
ber of Southern Illinois Medical Association; 
Member of Illinois State Medical Society; 
Member of American Medical Association; 
Member of Natural Science Society 
of America. 
ST. LI RORY, ILL. 
Published by The Journal 0/ American Medical 
A ssociation /or July 28, 18Q4. DISEASES OF THE ALIMENTARY CANAL. 
TREATMENT. 
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL HYDROTHERAPY. 
MEDICATION. 
By JAMES OSBOURN DeCOURCY, M.A., M.D., 
St. Libory, III. 
Read before the St. Clair County, 111., MedicM Society, June 7, 1894. 
Cleanliness is said to be next to godliness—a very old adage 
which I have found to be no less true in the treatment of all diseases 
which have come under my observation. It is my custom to first 
make clean my patient, outside and inside so far as practicable, by 
the free use of pure water and good soap. I have never seen or had 
a bad result from the use of these agents. I am of the opinion that 
in many cases all the medicine that is needed is the free, judicious 
use of water, abstinence from food, plenty of pure air and sunshine. 
These agents, together with a clear conception and observation 
of the laws of hygiene will figure very conspicuously in the future of 
medicine. 
While I am a strong advocate of the free use of water in the 
practice of medicine, I also have confidence in the therapeutics of 
drugs, and as I believe, have seen many good results from the intelli- 
gent use of them. 
In the treatment of disease there are three distinct steps. They 
are; i, a correct diagnosis—ascertaining the cause; 2, absolute clean- 
liness by irrigation internally and the free use of water externally, 
and by the use of disinfecting agents; 3, repair the damage—heal the 
wound—restore nature—rather assist nature in her work of recon- 
struction. This should be done by the skillful use of the tools best 
adapted to the work to be done. 
In treating diseases of the alimentary canal generally, and in the 
three following cases which I report to you I have endeavored to 
follow the foregoing principles. My results are all that could be 
desired. They have been both interesting and profitable to me, and 
I trust they may be of some interest to this Society. Case i.—Miss Mary; aged 29; American; fawn type; medium 
size and rather stout; was taken at night with pain in lower bowels, 
followed by watery stools. 
I was called in the early morning, March 15. Found her excited 
and suffering very much pain in the bowels; also complained of severe 
headache. Temperature was slightly elevated. Pulse regular, but 
rapid and weak. She gave history of having had several severe 
attacks of ulcerative colitis, during one of which she came very near 
to death’s door. 
There was some tenderness on palpation and percussion over the 
major part of the abdomen and the bowel was very active in evacu- 
ating itself. The stools were thin, and contained mucus with a little 
blood. When food was taken into the stomach, especially milk, it 
was usually ejected in curdy masses within a few minutes. 
The usual agents were used to abate the pain, to check the vom- 
iting; also to restore the bowel to its normal condition. 
The pain was greatly reduced and the rebellious condition of the 
stomach almost entirely overcome; but the bowel persisted in its 
active work of draining the system. The stools became offensive, 
containing more blood and mucus. 
A portion of the lining membrane of the intestine about eight 
inches in length was passed with the feces the fourth day. Having 
a four ounce bottle of Glycozone, I concluded to try it. So 
other internal agents were discontinued, and 2-drachm doses of 
Glycozone given every four hours in a wineglass of water. The 
bowel was washed out morning and evening with warm soap water, 
followed by an ounce of tepid water containing a half drachm tinct. 
opium. 
At the end of the first day after beginning the last method of 
treatment there were marked signs for the better; and the patient 
expressed herself as feeling less bad. The treatment was continued 
with constant improvement in the case until the Glycozone was all 
taken, at which time the bowel and stomach were under good con- 
trol. Pain was all gone; and after a few days of convalescence the 
patient made a perfect recovery without any further treatment. 
Case ii.—Ely, aged 32, medium-size man, general health uni- 
formly good; a blacksmith by trade. First saw the case with I)r. S. 
at 4 p. m., March 30. 
On arrival at bedside of patient, I found him in what seemed to 3 
be a semi-comatose state. The odor of whisky was very marked. 
Examination of the matter ejected showed it to contain blood and 
mucus. 
A few drops of chloroform with cold water were given, and a 
cold pack placed over the epigastrium to check the vomiting. The 
following powders were given to quiet the stomach and to move the 
bowel: 
Calomel, gr. viij. 
Podophyllin, gr. ij. 
Subnitrate of bismuth, gr. xij. 
Bicarbonate of soda, gr. iv. 
M. Pulvis, No. 4. Sig. Dose, one powder every hour. 
The father, mother and wife of the patient gave the following 
history: 
“For the last five years the patient has been drinking whisky, and 
for the last two years, in particular, he has been drinking too much. 
Last October he had an attack somewhat like this, but recovered in 
about one week. 
“His general health has always been good. He has been drink- 
ing too much every day for a week now—keeping his whisky in the 
shop. He was well this morning. Worked in the shop until noon. 
Ate a hearty dinner, but was taken sick soon after eating and in a 
short time began to vomit.” 
Called again at 5 p. M. Found him quiet, but suffering. Left 
some Dover’s powders to be given during the night if necessary. 
At 2 a. m., March 31, was called again. Found him excited and 
suffering very much. Quick pulse and slight elevation of tempera- 
ture. Gave him hypodermatic injection: 
I£ Morph, sulph., gr. 
Atropin, gr. 1-150. 
His wife gave history of his vomiting at irregular periods until 
10 p. m., after which time nothing would pass either up or down. 
Impossible to swallow water. Upon careful inspection the whole 
mucous membrane lining the mouth and throat as far as could be seen 
was in a state of hypertrophy. Indeed, it was simply cooked. (Par- 
don the use of the word, cooked; but it expresses the condition.) 
The stomach, also, was in a state of inflammation. What was to be 
done? 4 
Internal medication and alimentation was out of the question. 
Recognizing the emergency of the case, I determined, if possible, to 
dissolve the mucus about the affected parts, and to attempt to reduce 
the edema of the membranes. 
The nose and throat, therefore, were sprayed every twenty min- 
utes for awhile with Hydrozone and a 20 per cent, solution of the 
same used as a gargle every hour, until he could swallow water, which 
required forty hours. An enema of warm soap-water was given and 
repeated, which produced a soft stool; and he expressed himself as 
feeling better. 
The spraying of nose and throat, together with the gargle, also 
the enema, were continued every day. The inability of the patient 
to swallow made alimentation by the stomach impossible, to say noth- 
ing of the inability of the stomach to perform the work of digestion. 
Boiled milk and warm soups were regularly given in small quantities 
by the rectum. 
“A” “B” 
Photograph of the mucous membrane expelled from the Esophagus of Ely. Cut “A” illustrates 
the ragged surface of the membrane as torn from the muscular coat of the tube. 
Cut “B” illustrates the smooth surface of the same membrane over which food was passed, the 
membrane being turned inside out, just as when expelled. The size of these cuts are two-thirds of the 
natural size of the Esophagus. The cardiac end of the membrane being at the bottom of the cut in 
each case. On the morning of April 7, the whole lining membrane of the 
esophagus was expelled in the attempt to vomit. The membrane was 
neither broken nor perforated; but was turned inside out. I have 
preserved the specimen in an alcoholic solution; and take pleasure in 
presenting it herewith for your inspection and examination. 
There was some fever most of the time. The temperature run- 
ning up as high as 102. The pulse varied from normal to 90, and a 
few times went up to 100. 
The general condition of the patient was fairly good—indeed, 
much better than could have been expected. 
There was very little headache, but a lancinating pain in the left 
hypogastric region was greatly accelerated by coughing, and there 
was more or less tendency to cough during the first week. 
I might state here parenthetically that, in my judgment, the 
trouble in the side had no connection with the condition of the mouth, 
throat and stomach; but, on the contrary, was entirely and wholly 
independent of it. 
The history given of the case showed the last named trouble to 
have been produced some five years ago by prolonged arduous labor 
in which the abdominal muscles were in a constant strain for hours. 
Since which time the trouble has returned at different periods; and 
almost invariably following protracted, or great straining of the 
muscles in that region. The treatment given was palliative. 
The odor coming from the mouth of the patient was offensive 
from the first, and continued to grow more and more offensive until 
after the expulsion of the membrane. 
The kidneys performed their work admirably well. The stools 
which followed the enemata of warm water were rather soft and of a 
greenish color. 
There were no hallucinations, no delirium; and for the most part 
sleep was good. 
To prevent septicemia, to assist nature in the work of recon- 
struction, as well as to counteract any miasmatic influence that might 
be present the following preparation was given: 
Quininse sulphatis, 3 ij. 
Acidi sulphurici aromatici, cc. v. 
Aquae camphorae, 
Aquae destillatae, aa, § ij. 
M. Sig. One dessertspoonful every two hours, being alternated 6 
by half drachm doses of Hydrozone, 20 per cent, solution, given in a. 
third of a glass of water. 
Gradually, but slowly, the condition of the patient grew better, 
with the exception of one day, at which time he had no Hydrozone. 
The other medicine “Would not work without the gargle,” as he ex- 
pressed it; “But worked well together.” 
Immediately after resuming the use of Hydrozone he began to 
feel better. Saw him April 9th. Found him in good condition. 
Pulse and temperature normal. Expressed himself as feeling very 
well. 
He had been sitting up most of the time for several days. £ 
recommended that the treatment should be continued for some time. 
A week later his wife called at my office stating that she thought 
he was doing very well. Since which time I have had no official 
report from the case. 
My candid opinion is, that of all the agents used, the one to 
which he owes the preservation of his life during the first seven days, 
of the attack is Hydrozone. 
Case iii.—Bennie, little boy, aged 9 years, orphan, German, was 
brought to my office May 20. Had diarrhoea which had become 
chronic. Also had intermittent fever—mild form. He was very 
much reduced in flesh and emaciated. 
Various and numerous agents from the list of ordinary remedies- 
were used during the four succeeding days; but the diarrhoea was 
growing worse rather than better. The stools became very numerous,, 
the actions amounting to ten or twelve at night with as many more 
during the day. The malarial fever received appropriate treatment 
and was readily subdued. 
May 26 I planned a new treatment. The patient was thoroughly 
sponged from head to foot once a day with tepid alkaline water. The 
bowel was washed out clean morning and evening with soap-water, 
just warm enough to be comfortable to the patient. After the bowel 
was washed out, 2 ounces of starch water containing 2 drachms of 
Glycozone was thrown into the rectum, and left to be absorbed. The 
internal treatment consisted of a milk diet, fresh water to drink im- 
pregnated with Hydrozone, and dessertspoonful doses of Glycozone 
taken every two hours during the day in a wineglassful of fresh water. 
Improvement began with this treatment. The skin and bowel 
were kept thoroughly cleansed every day as well as medicated, the 7 
bowel being irrigated twice each day. June 4, the child Was reported 
well. His general health is rapidly improving. 
Good or bad, this treatment is purely original with me, 
What effected the cure? My answer is this: 
1. Removing the cause. This was done by abstinence from'all 
solid food. Aliment was restricted to small quantities of pure, fresh 
milk, beef and chicken soups, given at regular periods. 
2. By cleansing the affected parts, as before stated. 
3. By healing the wound. This was done by the use of Glyco- 
zone, which I have found to be one of the most reliable and rapidly- 
healing agents that I have yet used. The Hydrozone was used as a 
disinfecting agent. 
May we not reasonably expect that during the remainder of the 
present decade, and for all time to come, internal as Well as external 
cleanliness shall be to suffering humanity a heavenly 
unction. 
Note.—I have, for some time, substituted Hydrozone in my 
practice instead of Peroxide of Hydrogen as formerly used. 
Hydrozone is “double strength” hydrogen peroxide—so to speak. 
In other words, it has twice the bactericide power, and, therefore, 
requires only one-half the quantity to accomplish the same results. 
It is not disagreeable to the patient when taken internally, if well 
diluted with pure fresh water.