XXXVIII.—Fevers.
Two Hundred Years Ago, Dr. Vanderheyden of Ghent wrote a work in which he declared all fevers curable by cold water. Dr. Sir John Floyer, fifty years later, wrote his work, and then came Drs. Hahn, Smith and others, and finally, Dr. Currie of Liverpool, who by their works supported the same theory. It is true that though where medicine saved its hundreds, their practice saved thousands, the Modus Operandi was somewhat speculative. It was reserved until our own time to witness the application of water reduced to a science. Priessnitz by his packing-sheet has produced the great desideratum, which renders his treatment omnipotent over all febrile disorders; and if he had discovered nothing else, this would hand his name down to the latest posterity.
It is often asked what fevers are curable by the Hydropathic processes. To this it may be answered, except where by age or disease patients are not reduced to the last stage of existence, all are curable. I made constant inquiries when at Gräfenberg—witnessed the treatment of innumerable cases of fever, amongst others Typhus and Brain Fever, and I could not discover that Priessnitz during his long practice had ever lost a patient.
I have frequently treated cases of fever and inflammation myself with the most heartfelt satisfaction; as in every instance on the application of the sheet or the bath, the patient was relieved in the same manner that a plant dying for the want of water, is resuscitated on being supplied with it.
After the number of works published on this subject, all protesting the safety of this mode of treatment, and the total absence of danger, it may be fairly presumed, that the packing-sheet process will ere long take the lead in medical practice.
As almost all complaints trace their origin to fever or inflammation, if these can be allayed on their first symptoms, a host of evils to the human family will be avoided.
It does not require any great sagacity to perceive that when the body is surcharged with heat, if enveloped in a damp sheet, the sheet immediately becomes hot; take it away and you remove with it a certain amount of heat. The oftener this is repeated the more the calorie is diminished, and each sheet requires more time to heat; continue changing the sheet, and the body resumes a normal state. When once the heat is eliminated the patient is cured of the Fever.
The following modes of treatment and cases will enable the practitioner to judge how he should treat his patient as circumstances may arise.
As general rules:—
In the cold fit, use rubbing-sheets well wrung out, with a slight interim between each until the hot stage is produced. In the hot stage packing-sheets should be changed as often as necessary. In Typhus I have known them changed forty or fifty times in a day. The bath which ought at first to be a little tepid and cooled by degrees, should be resorted to at intervals twice or thrice a day, from a quarter of an hour to an hour. Should the heat action be prematurely violent, or likely to end in inflammation, resort to a sitz-bath with or without a foot-bath, instead of the tepid bath, particularly where either the brain, organs of sense, or those within the thorax are at all engaged.
Rubbing-sheets, in certain cases where the vital energies are weak or languid, will be sufficient to suppress a febrile paroxysm. Their renewal and time of application must entirely depend on the age, strength and idiosyncrasy of the case: water should be drunk in small quantities, and frequently.
Where the brain is attacked, water must be constantly applied to that locality, so as not to allow of an increase of temperature.
Where there is no want of bodily strength in the patient, the quickest and surest method of putting an end at once to fever, is as follows. Put him into a bath up to the shoulders, tepid 63° or 64° to begin with, and to be renewed constantly by cold water being poured over the shoulders; two persons rubbing the patient the whole time.
When he is quite fatigued, take him out, dry the body and throw the window open for air; when recovered a little, renew the operation, and so on for the third time if necessary. Then dress and go out to walk. Drink plentifully of water.
If very cold on coming out of the bath, walk without the body bandage, but put a large thick one from the hips to the arm-pits on returning home. Let the patient rest two or three hours; and if fever return repeat the foregoing treatment.
A Mr. B——, who was greatly debilitated, had, for fever, a tepid bath for half an hour to an hour and half; also many rubbing-sheets; on one occasion as many as twenty-nine in a day. If the fever resist the above treatment, then resort to the packing-sheet.
Dr. L——, for fever, ordered, five or six rubbing-sheets in succession. Head bath for a quarter of an hour. Bandage from hips to arm-pits, to be changed often, even in the night; to be much in the open air.
In typhus fever, medical men do not make the distinction between congestion of the venous and arterial systems. They imagine that inflammatory action exists, whereas it is in typhus, venous congestion: therefore, the leeching and severe depletory measures are decidedly wrong; they increase the existing evil, lower and exhaust the vital powers, and if persevered in, lead to death, or a long lingering state of convalescence. On the contrary, Hydropathy acts upon a diametrically opposite system: by the imbibition of water, containing as it does an excess of oxygen, the vital forces are sustained, the blood is decarbonised, the appetite improved, the bowels regulated, etc. etc.
Fever.—An English officer who caught a fever twenty years ago in the West Indies, wrote to Priessnitz that all his prospects in life were blighted, and that existence was almost intolerable. He came to Gräfenberg and was treated as follows:
Early in the morning packing-sheet and bath; wore heating bandage always. Breakfasted at eight o’clock, when, from nine o’clock until five o’clock in the evening, he was ordered to change the waist bandage every ten minutes. At five o’clock packing-sheet and bath.
If ague appeared, which it did sometimes, then rubbing-sheets, well wrung out were applied with great friction until the fit was over.
This patient was perfectly cured in three months.
Nervousness and slow Fever, and disposition to a Decline.—A lady was treated as follows:—
Morning, five packing-sheets and bath, 62°; noon, douche and sitz-bath; afternoon, rubbing-sheet and two sitz-baths.
At first, she was ordered to have a cold bath prepared by the bed-side at night, and when fever and sweating came on, to go into the bath, and repeat it if necessary. She had a bad cough at the time; her friends thought such a proceeding would end in her death; the patient, however, recovered from her fever and cough, and left much improved in health.
On awaking in the morning with distracting head-ache, parched tongue, and all the concomitants of fever, a lady was put into a packing-sheet; in twelve minutes, head-ache ceased. After remaining enveloped an hour or two, rubbing-sheets were applied, followed by a sitz-bath of twenty minutes: she drank water freely. This one application effected a cure.
A young lady had her foot and ankle much swollen from rheumatic gout. Second day, arose with head-ache and pain in all her limbs; and towards evening, had a slight fever. For this, she was put into a tepid bath 62°, and rubbed for forty minutes, when the arm-pits feeling no warmer than the other parts of her body, she was allowed to leave the bath. This application was sufficient.
Typhus Fever requires the same treatment as other fevers. The packing-sheet must be changed every ten or fifteen minutes: I have known it changed as much as fifty times a day. When the patient is weary of lying in the packing-sheet, he should be put into a tepid bath and well rubbed for a time; and then lie quiet, with a packing-sheet doubled several times from hips to arm-pits. Then packing-sheets should be resorted to again. If the head is attacked, apply the head-bath whilst lying in packing-sheet. Drink abundantly of water.
Packing sheets, tepid baths, and cold baths (the former often repeated), are also the treatment for brain fever. When a patient was in a state of delirium, Priessnitz ordered her into a cold bath for an hour.
Teething fever.—Tepid head-bath—water gradually made colder—applied to the back of the head for half an hour.
If this had not had the desired effect it was to have been repeated after a short interval. Heating-bandages were to have been applied from the hips to the arm-pits.
Gastric Fever.—A young man attacked with gastric fever, was treated as follows:—
Two packing-sheets, one after the other, until warm, followed, by tepid bath, in which he was rubbed fifteen minutes, then put into cold bath for one minute, and from that back again to the tepid bath for fifteen minutes; patient was then dried, waited a few minutes, and then the bathing as above was twice repeated.
The whole of the treatment, i. e. packing sheet and baths, was repeated three times during the day; between which, a sitz-bath of half an hour was prescribed.
Patient was cured in two days, and then declared himself stronger and better than he was previously to the attack.
A gentleman aged thirty-four was thus treated:—
Packing-sheets twice a day until warm, followed by tepid bath.
Two sitz-baths a day, twenty minutes each. Patient’s back, shoulders, abdomen and chest to be rubbed the whole time whilst taking the sitting-baths.
Patient having lost his appetite, Priessnitz recommended him to eat plentifully of common unripe plums: these deranged his stomach, of which he was immediately cured; and afterwards his appetite was better.
My servant was seized with violent pains in the abdomen during the night, and in the morning head-ache and fever. Dr. Farr of Nice, who saw the case, said depletion was requisite, and that the man might be well in four or five days. I declared with Hydropathy he might be made to wait at table the same day. He was put into a packing-sheet for an hour and a half, then a bath; an hour afterwards a sitz-bath; wore the bandage and required no further treatment. Dr. F——, until the next morning could not believe that the fever was subdued.
Capt. D—— ordered, in the morning, two packing-sheets until warm, with head in a basin of cold water all the time; followed by tepid bath, renewed with cold; noon, cold sitz-bath one hour; afternoon, morning treatment repeated.
Bilious Fever.—A female attacked with bilious fever, swelled face, and violent tooth-ache. Patient in the first instance, preferred consulting a medical man, who administered a strong aperient; ordered the feet to be kept in a hot bath for an hour, and said the fever would certainly last seven days, if not longer.
I applied a packing-sheet, and changed it after twenty minutes; then two rubbing-sheets. Head-bath 62° for a quarter of an hour: hot-water poultice to face. This treatment completely subdued the fever the second day.
Patient attacked with bilious fever, swelled face, and violent tooth-ache.
Packing-sheet for twenty, and another for thirty minutes; then two rubbing-sheets, twice a day; head-bath 62°, and sitz-bath 62°; hot water bandage to face.
On a return of the same in the spring of the next year: morning, packing-sheet and rubbing-sheet; noon, sitz-bath 62°; afternoon, sitz-bath and foot-bath 62°; the swollen part of the face put into cold water fifteen minutes, twice a day. This treatment answered admirably.
Nervous Fever.—Commencement of patient’s illness was attended with violent headache and excessive weakness particularly in his legs—unable to stand. Ordered four rubbing-sheets, not wrung out, four times a day; head-baths three or four times a day; fever, notwithstanding, increased, and, patient was unable to bear the rubbing-sheet: upon which the treatment was changed to four packing-sheets, renewed every quarter of an hour, followed by a tepid bath for ten minutes. This process was repeated three times during the day.
Head became feverish. He took for this, a head-bath five minutes at a time. In a fortnight, fever left him completely; when only three packing-sheets a day, and cold bath after each, was ordered. In three weeks, patient was out of doors.
In the second week of his treatment, patient, besides several small eruptions, had five large boils, which opened in the first week, and discharged copiously for a fortnight, when his health improved daily; and before the expiration of the sixth week, he was perfectly well.
Remains of Fever strongly resembling Gout.—An artist caught a fever in Egypt. In Rome, his fingers and feet became enlarged, in appearance resembling gout, when he was treated for that complaint. Priessnitz at once declared this a mistake, and that it was the remains of the fever.
In three or four days after beginning the cure, patient had fever, and in ten days another strong attack: his feet and legs became much inflamed, attended with headache and great debility.
His former treatment was now abandoned for the following:
Three packing-sheets, one after the other, until warm; then the tepid bath for fifteen minutes: from that into the cold bath for two minutes, and return to the tepid again for fifteen or twenty minutes. This was to be repeated in the afternoon. When fever subsided, patient renewed his former treatment, and was perfectly cured in three months. I saw him in Rome the next year, when he was perfectly well; and as an act of gratitude to Mr. Priessnitz, he had caused to be painted a picture of the “eternal city,” to send for his acceptance.
Intermittent Fever.—General R—— was attacked with intermittent fever at the siege of Mantua, in 1798. His complaint resisted all remedies: his liver became hardened and enlarged, exhibiting a tumour extending three fingers’ breadth above his navel. Came to Gräfenberg thin as a skeleton, complexion nearly livid, unable to walk without the assistance of two persons. Obstinate indigestion and constipation; no motion for fifteen years, without aid; congestion of blood to the head, and threatened apoplexy; insupportable sensitiveness to cold. Arrived at Gräfenberg in 1839; now restored to health: liver restored to normal size, with merely a slight swelling at epigastric region.
His treatment was:—morning, partial baths (tepid), twenty minutes, with strong friction; no water in the bath when patient first entered it, that being poured over his head and shoulders.
After one month of this treatment, sweating for half an hour, followed by partial bath for five minutes; noon, tepid sitz-bath (70 deg.) for half an hour; repeated in the afternoon.
In two months patient could walk alone. During the third month, sweating for an hour, and partial cold bath for five minutes; and sitz-baths were now cold; eighteen glasses of water, drunk daily; fourth month:—after sweating, the large plunge-bath, and friction by two men; twenty to twenty-four glasses of water, daily. Fifth month:—appetite good; commenced ascending the mountains. The douche found to excite too much: therefore abandoned.
August, 1840:—Left Gräfenberg: his liver softer, though not sensibly diminished. Recommended, whilst at home, to wear heating bandages always, and use cold ablutions, but not to transpire, unless pain of liver occurs.
In January, 1841, eruptions on the skin, and many ulcers, made their appearance.
August, 1841, returned to Gräfenberg, and commenced the same treatment as before: sweating one hour; plunge-bath and two partial baths a day; douche for five minutes every other day.
In November, had fever for twenty-five days, and pains in his hands, with open sores on his fingers for nine months; nails dropped off, and were replaced by new ones; fingers always wrapped in heating bandages. For the fever, six packing-sheets, changed every quarter of an hour, except the last: in this the patient remained longer, preparatory to a warm bath.
This was renewed twice a day.
Twenty-four glasses of water daily.
March, 1842.—Left Gräfenberg: liver reduced to one-half the size it was.
August, 1842.—Returned again to Gräfenberg, when his treatment was:—packing-sheet every morning one hour, followed by two rubbing-sheets; noon and afternoon, two rubbing-sheets.
October, 1842.—Was seen at his residence in health; pains from many old wounds no longer felt.
Patient aged forty-five. Ten years ago; caught cold, which ended in intermittent fever, which resisted the usual remedies; was cured at Gräfenberg as follows:—morning, packing-sheet and plunge-bath; noon, rubbing-sheet and sitz-bath; afternoon, as the morning.
Fever and ague returned every fourth day, when treatment was changed. Packing-sheet and tepid bath 62°, ten minutes; then into cold bath two minutes, and back again to tepid, with much friction; at noon, five rubbing-sheets; afternoon, as in the morning. The paroxysm over, resumed the former treatment until perfectly cured.
Fever and Ague.—S—— had fever, attended with ague; took nine packing and six rubbing-sheets, and three tepid baths; two of the tepid baths being followed by cold plunging bath. Cured the same day.
A lady attacked by slight fever and shivering, cured by five rubbing-sheets.
Sudden Fever.—Mrs. H——’s little boy awoke with fever; she kept him in a tepid bath, renewed with cold, until he trembled with cold; then put him to bed, where he immediately fell asleep, and awoke perfectly well. Priessnitz said the mother would have done as well, if she had given him a long sitz-bath.
Catarrh and Fever.—Child restless all night. Tepid bath (nearly cold) for a quarter of an hour; lean back in the bath so that the attendant may well rub the chest and throat. Afternoon, rubbing-sheet and tepid bath for a quarter of an hour.
After each bath, a head-bath for twelve minutes, each side of the head being alternately placed in the water. If this does not succeed, lay the back of the head in water, and well rub the forehead with wet hands. Rub the throat with wet hands three times a day. Eat no meat, and be much out of doors. Child, after first day’s treatment, wretchedly cold; but pain in the head gone, and cough decreased.
Second day, pain in his legs, and weak; which Priessnitz said was the result of the fever. As the cough abated, treatment was moderated. Bath to be tepid. In the middle of the day, throat and chest to be rubbed. In the evening, a tepid bath eight minutes; head-bath as before; these were given in consequence of his feverish state in the night. If the body continued feverish, and the feet and legs cold at night, then heating bandages to the feet and legs, up to the fork, would have been applied all night.
Fever and Diarrhœa.—A Servant of my own, disturbed many times during the night with diarrhœa and fever, and with violent pain in his head and abdomen, was put into a packing-sheet for one hour and a quarter; a rubbing-sheet was then applied, followed by bandage round the waist; at noon, sitz-bath one hour and a quarter. This simple treatment effected a cure in a few hours.
Constipation and Fever.—Patient took tepid-bath, rubbed by three men for one hour and a half, getting out of the bath was dried and walked about the room every half-hour for ten minutes; followed by other treatment.
Second day, the above repeated twice, with the addition of packing-sheets and rubbing-sheets, in the interim.
General laxity of the bowels for several days, rest disturbed for two or three nights; could not rest the last night, diarrhœa and fever, strong pulse (110).
Morning, two packing-sheets, fifteen minutes each. In the first, patient felt (as he said) as though he was in boiling water; on the application of the second he felt cooler, after twenty-five minutes he was put into a cold bath and there remained until heat had left the arm-pits, which required seventeen minutes. Then a large towel was doubled four times and placed round his loins, drank six tumblers of water and went to bed.
At twelve o’clock all fever gone—to put an end to Diarrhœa, I ordered two rubbing sheets three minutes each, to be followed by tepid sitz-bath fifteen minutes, wet bandages and water to be drank as before.
At five o’clock sitz-bath twenty minutes.
Patient passed a good night, and next day found himself well.
P.S. I treated this case myself at Naples.
Cold Shivering by Day, and Feverish Heat when in Bed at Night.—A young man—ordered three rubbing-sheets on rising quite warm from bed in the morning; the same at noon, and in the afternoon drink plentifully of water.
Symptoms continuing—An additional three rubbing-sheets were used previous to going to bed, and when heat commenced in the night, the body bandage, which had been worn from the beginning was changed, and water drunk. If in a state of perspiration early in the morning, a tepid bath. This treatment had the desired effect.