LXX.—Spinal Complaints.
Priessnitz says it is difficult to prescribe for these complaints at a distance; and that except in young people, or where the disease is in its infancy, a cure is seldom effected. It is however always safe to adopt the following treatment, which will refresh and strengthen the patient.
Three rubbing-sheets, at intervals during the day.
One or two foot-baths, but NO sitz-baths without advice.
If the feet swell, continue the treatment, all the same, rub with wet hands, and bandage the legs, from the ankle to the knee, this will reduce the swelling.
Spine complaint and general debility.—A lady.
Morning, packing-sheet until warm, followed by plunge-bath one minute; noon, douche three minutes, return home and then take a rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath, twenty minutes; afternoon, as in the morning.
Rubbed the back and nape of the neck with wet hands, twice a day.
Patient staid all the winter; during which time symptoms were combated as they arose, she gained strength and flesh.
Spinal affection.—A young lady, after submitting to all sorts of medical treatment for three or four years, came to Gräfenberg. She was clothed in flannel, suffered greatly from indigestion, constipation, and languid circulation, feet always cold, walking a short distance brought on pain in the back.
Second day after her arrival, Priessnitz ordered,—
“Put aside all flannel, go as lightly clad as possible, keep bed-room window open day and night, and sleep with only a single sheet as a covering, leave off stockings and run bare-footed on the wet grass near the house, or on the cold stones of the passage for half an hour before breakfast in the morning.
“Eat black bread and drink sour milk, lie on the stomach and have the spine rubbed several times a day with wet hands.”
First four days, patient had cold feet in and after the packing-sheet, this was then followed by tepid, then cold, and back to tepid-bath, feet well rubbed, previous to going into packing-sheet, and last thing at night; by this treatment head-ache was relieved and the feet became warmer.
In ten days began the douche for one minute; digestion improved; no longer constipated. Bandages always round the body, and to feet and legs at night.
Patient was at Gräfenberg nine months, during which time the treatment was often changed to meet circumstances. One time, suppressed catamenia was relieved in two days by sixteen rubbing-sheets a day. At another, patient met with an accident in the leg; Priessnitz to keep this to the surface, ordered more water to be drunk. This patient left Gräfenberg in excellent health, though not entirely cured of the affection of the spine, that being out of its perpendicular position.
Pain in the Shoulder and Chest.—A lady in the treatment complained of pain in the shoulder and left breast, and down the side.
Ordered, when in sitz-bath the upper part of the body to be well rubbed.
Body bandage to be more wrung out than usual, and extra covering over it.
Pain in the side, Chronic cold in the head.—A German officer aged 50, afflicted as above, and with continued stoppage in the nose, and frequent head-aches, was told by his medical man that he had no chance of being cured, was completely relieved at Gräfenberg, in three or four months.
Packing-sheets and tepid baths twice a day. Rubbing-sheet and sitz-baths were resorted to for a short time, the cold bath substituted for the tepid bath, and to this treatment the douche was added.
Weak Chest and Worms.—A child three years old. Wash with tepid water, 12° once, and after some time twice a day.
Wear body bandage always, and drink water.
Pain in the Chest.—A gentleman had pain in his chest, like the hurt from a blow, about the size of a crown-piece.
Ordered sixteen rubbing-sheets a day, four at each time.