XXXV.—Rheumatism, etc.
Gout, rheumatism, sciatica, lumbago, tic doloureux, and neuralgia, all being attended with inflammation, are so nearly allied, that the same treatment as for gout, with slight variation, might be applied to any or all of them.
Rheumatism.—On a slight attack of rheumatism, rub the part affected with wet hands three times a day, from a quarter of an hour to an hour each time; then apply a bandage, which change when dry, and wear it until the pain ceases.
Rub the body all over with a wet towel, then a dry one; wait five minutes, then repeat the same operation four times in succession: this will animate the circulation. Then apply a bandage as in the case of gout. This treatment should be applied several times a day. Rheumatic subjects ought never to be overclothed, wear flannel, or fail drinking water.
When the attack is more severe, three rubbing-sheets in succession, allowing an interim of from three to five minutes between each. The body must be dried after each rubbing-sheet; this increases the effect of the next rubbing-sheet. Rub the parts affected often with wet hands, and apply bandages. This treatment may be repeated three or four times a day. If there is a great want of circulation, the patient may lie in bed until warm, between the application of each rubbing-sheet.
Neuralgic Pains.—Whatever the nature of these pains may be (supposing the patient not too debilitated), perspiration will generally be found to relieve them. To effect this:—
When in bed in the morning, add a number of blankets, and on them a feather-bed: there remain until in a profuse perspiration; then cool the body, either by rubbing-sheets, a cold bath,—or get a washing-tub, stand up in it, and have some jugs of water poured over the head and shoulders. This very often settles the affair at once.
A patient was afflicted in every joint so that he could not be moved in bed without great pain.
Packing-sheets until warm, which required about half an hour, ten times a day, allowing an interval between them. Each packing sheet was followed by a rubbing with wet hands.
This treatment in one day enabled patient to stand; then the packing sheets were used four times a day, followed by rubbing sheets. Parts affected and loins always enclosed in bandages. Patient drank sixteen to twenty glasses of water a day. He was out of doors the third day, and afterwards pursued a more vigorous treatment, such as sweating, douche, &c.
A——, had a severe rheumatic attack in both knees; he thought swinging his legs backwards and forwards would relieve him; instead of which, it brought on enlargement of the joints and inflammation: whilst at Gräfenberg I inquired of Priessnitz what he ought to have done.—
Answer—He ought in, the first instance, to have rubbed the knees well and often with wet hands and worn a bandage. If this was not sufficient, then to have put the feet and legs, over the knees into cold water for half an hour at least, rubbing them all the time, and apply a bandage from the calf of the leg to the middle of the thigh.
Chronic Rheumatism.—A——, contracted rheumatism in 1837, which commenced as sciatica. Constitution greatly debilitated. Medical advice, sea baths, hot baths, and other remedies, useless.
Patient went to Gräfenberg, August 1843, and left in May following.
Treatment.—Packing-sheet, followed by cold bath twice a-day; noon, sitz-bath and foot-bath, fifteen minutes each; legs rubbed all the time up to the knee. Douche three minutes daily.
In November, one of his usual attacks came on, when sixteen rubbing sheets a-day were resorted to. Four of these were given in succession four times a-day; between each rubbing sheet, the patient being weak lay down in bed, until warm bandages were applied as usual.
This attack subsided after the second day, when patient renewed his former treatment.
B——, travelling in North America, and exposed to severe rains without the means of changing his clothes, suffered the consequences such circumstances frequently entail. Rheumatism almost beyond endurance induced him to go to Gräfenberg.
At the first interview, Priessnitz put him first into a tepid bath 64 deg., out of which he plunged into a cold bath, where he staid about a minute, and from that he returned again to the tepid, when bandages were applied to his waist and parts affected.
Treatment.—Morning, packing-sheet until warm, then cold bath; noon, rubbing-sheet; afternoon, packing-sheet, twenty minutes, and then rubbing-sheet again.
Left Gräfenberg in a month, during which time patient used the rubbing-sheet mornings and evenings; exposed his body (after that in the morning) quite naked in his room, from a quarter to half an hour.
On returning to Gräfenberg, the douche was substituted for the rubbing-sheet at noon. After continuing the treatment for some time, rheumatism returned, when he was ordered three rubbing-sheets five minutes each, twice a-day; between each an air bath of five minutes.
A crisis of boils ensued, and after they healed, patient was perfectly well. The patient writes to a friend—“I now leave Gräfenberg with a clean body, and a sincere wish for your own speedy cure, and that of all the agreeable acquaintances that I leave behind me, under the safe care of our virtuous and sagacious friend V. Priessnitz.”
Chronic Rheumatism, Chronic Headache, Constipation, Piles, &c.—A Gentleman, aged about 45, was treated as follows:—
Morning, sweating process and cold bath, three minutes; noon, douche, three minutes; an hour afterwards, sitz-bath fifteen minutes; foot-bath fifteen minutes; head-bath ten minutes; one following the other immediately; afternoon, noon treatment over again; all night—loins, feet, legs, and thighs, to the fork, were encased in bandages.
In a few months, rheumatism, piles, and constipation were cured, but head-ache returned at intervals.
Rheumatic attack in the Back, Shoulders, and Neck.—The sweating process, followed by three rubbing-sheets not much wrung out, applied without intermission for five minutes each, put an end to the attack at once. If this number of rubbing-sheets had not cooled the body, more must have been used.
Had rheumatism continued, rubbing-sheets must have been resorted to again in the afternoon, and the sweating resumed the next day.
Rheumatic Fever.—For a slight attack of rheumatic fever, three rubbing-sheets three times a-day were found sufficient.
Rheumatic Gout.—A gentleman named Heymann, about 34 years of age, at the fire at Hamburg was exposed to the wet from the engines for several days and nights. The result was, a violent attack of rheumatic gout; first in the knees and feet, then neck and arms; afterward in hip and both breasts, which confined him to bed a whole year, from April 1843 to April 1844. During this time he took large quantities of medicine, and used steam and sulphur baths: about seventy of the former, and near a hundred of the latter. Also mud and sulphur baths, which enabled him to walk for about a month, when he was again confined to bed. Gout having attacked the breast, both his medical attendants declared they could do no more. 1st May, 1844, he was conveyed to Gräfenberg, so crippled that he could not dress himself. He began the treatment as follows:—
Morning, packing-sheet and tepid bath; noon, three rubbing-sheets, at intervals of five minutes, with open windows; afternoon, packing-sheet one hour, and tepid bath; bandage round the body, and from ankles to knees during the night.
Pain increasing, parts affected were rubbed with wet hands both day and night until they became hot. Body entirely bandaged by night. Bandage changed three or four times as pain resulted from the bandages being dry.
At the expiration of three months, patient enabled to walk out. Treatment changed.
Morning, packing-sheet and tepid bath; noon, one rubbing-sheet, followed by sitz-bath for quarter of an hour; douche before and after breakfast for three minutes; then morning and evening packing-sheet and bath; tepid for two minutes; then cold one minute and back to tepid bath for two minutes, instead of an entire tepid bath.
Two months’ continuation of this treatment brought out an eruption around the body, and on the calves of the legs; also a strong fever which lasted nine days, which was succeeded by boils.
Then three packing-sheet a-day were applied, and tepid, cold, and tepid baths; continually changing from one to another for an hour and a half. Douche and rubbing-sheet stopped during the fever.
The eruption continued for three months, discharging whitish brown matter. During all this time the last treatment was persevered in.
The eruption and boils gave great relief. When pain was diminished and the eruption ceased, the body bandage was relinquished and those of the waist and calves retained, and cold bath for one minute, succeeded the packing sheet.
1st April, 1845. Douche, from three to five minutes, substituted for the rubbing-sheet.
May 16th, 1845.—Patient was declared perfectly well. He had gone the whole of the winter without stockings, neckcloth, or waistcoat, wearing only linen coat and trousers, and sleeping with his windows wide open. When I saw him at Gräfenberg, in May, I thought I never saw a man in such robust rude health in my life.
This case made a great sensation at Hamburg, as the party is well known on the exchange of that city.
Sciatica.—A soldier aged 35, after having been three months in the hospital with Sciatica, without relief, was cured in five days by the following treatment:—
In the morning sweating process and cold bath; noon, two rubbing-sheets; afternoon, the same; much rubbing at other times with wet hands. Bandages to the part were applied, and much water drank.
This case was treated by the author at Limerick; and the following process was adopted:—
Sciatica and Lumbago.—Patient ordered:—Morning, four rubbing-sheets; at noon, the same; afternoon the same, and if necessary, to be repeated on going to bed. The usual interval of time between each sheet to be observed, and parts affected covered in bandages. The treatment to have been repeated next day, had not the first removed the pains.
In all cases of this nature, Rubbing with wet hands is highly beneficial, and sometimes Enemas of cold water should be resorted to. If obstinate, the sweating process must be employed. I knew a very severe acute case of Sciatica and Lumbago relieved in two days, by the application of four rubbing-sheets at four intervals during the day, and the evening bandages were applied, and water drunk in abundance.
Lumbago or Rick in the Back.—A young man woke early in the morning with a most excruciating pain in his loins. He could not determine whether it was simply Lumbago, or a Rick in the back, brought on from playing at skittles or chopping wood the day before.
Priessnitz had him turned on his stomach, his back rubbed for an hour with wet hands, and then covered with a bandage.
The Rubbing was to be repeated every four hours, and the bandage changed every two hours.
The patient was to remain lying on his stomach the whole day and night if not cured. The reason for this must be evident to those who reflect upon it. Cured the same day.
Violent attack of Lumbago, supposed to have been brought on by using the dumb-bells; the party being unaccustomed to their use.
Patient had rubbing with wet hands, and wearing a bandage for two days, when he could hardly rise from a chair; then he commenced the following treatment:—
Saturday.—Morning, packing-sheet for an hour, followed by three rubbing-sheets; noon, two rubbing-sheets and an Enema; night, a rubbing-sheet. This was not renewed at night, as patient’s extremities were cold and prevented his sleeping.
Sunday.—Four rubbing-sheets; after this operation, the improvement was almost miraculous. Patient took a long walk.
Monday.—Treatment as yesterday; could turn in bed with less difficulty.
Tuesday.—Packing-sheet forty minutes, preceded by a tepid-bath sixteen minutes, with great friction; noon, four rubbing-sheets; evening, loins rubbed with wet hands for half-an-hour.
Wednesday.—Slept well and could turn with ease in bed; three rubbing-sheets and friction thrice during the day with wet hands.
Drank fourteen tumblers of water daily, and wore a bandage night and day.
Thursday.—Perfectly well. By the means here described, patient’s bowels were kept in order; his tongue always clean. Had his treatment failed, the sweating process must have been resorted to.