1. Soon after entering the bath—say at blood heat—innumerable globules of carbonic acid gas are seen on the surface of the body. 2. Many people perceive a redness of the skin, soon after immersion, accompanied by a sense of heat, even when the bath is not above 88° or 90° of Fahrenheit. 3. Some people of irritable and sensitive constitutions, on the contrary, experience a slight shiver, even when the temperature of the water is above that of the blood. This phenomenon is, however, rare. 4. The bath occasions a prompt and copious secretion from the kidneys. 5. Many people who have had old wounds, fractures, or ulcers, feel pains in the parts, while immersed in the water. 6. The same may be said of gout and rheumatism; and this renewal of pains is considered a favourable omen. 7. Old and ill-conditioned ulcers soon assume a more healthy appearance under the use of the baths, and take on a more active, or even inflammatory condition. Ulcers ought to be covered with oil-silk or other defence while the patient is in the bath. 8. In the course of the bathing—generally after ten or fourteen days, any eruptions that previously existed become more developed—and very often new cutaneous eruptions come out. These are considered to be more or less salutary.
The Marienbrunn water is much weaker than the Kreuzbrunn and other drinking springs, and is soon decomposed by exposure to the atmosphere. These baths are contra-indicated, or even prejudicial in cases of dropsy, phthisis, aneurysms, irritations or inflammations of any important organ, especially if accompanied by fever or suppuration—disposition to hæmorrhages, or vomitings of blood—disposition to miscarriage—paralyses the result of apoplexy. With these exceptions there are few chronic diseases which may not be benefitted by the Marienbad baths in conjunction with the internal use of the waters.
It is chiefly, however, in gout, rheumatism, tic-douloureux, paralytic debility without preceding apoplexy or affection of the head, scrofula, cutaneous eruptions, stiffness and contractions of joints, and old sores, that the baths of Marienbad are recommended as essential auxiliaries to the waters internally. The baths are generally used at a temperature of 94° to 98°, and at any time of the day except when digestion is going on after dinner.
MUD-BATHS.
These are in great requisition at Marienbad. The peat bog is found near the spa. It is of a very dark brown colour—friable when dried, and unctuous to the feel when wetted. It is here, as elsewhere, the product of vegetable matters decomposed by water, and highly impregnated with carbonic acid gas and sulphuretted hydrogen, which gases are disengaged in prodigious quantities. Much sulphur is found in this earth, together with various mineral salts, as hydro-chlorate of soda, sulphate of soda—sulphates of lime and magnesia—carbonate of iron—silex—alum—bitumen, &c.
Besides the general effects of hot, warm, and tepid baths of mineral water, the mud-baths exhibit effects peculiar to themselves. They may be taken at a higher temperature than water-baths, without inconvenience. They are never employed cold. They excite the skin much more than the liquid baths,—cause a greater degree of redness—bring out more eruptions—and stimulate the nerves of the surface, as well as the vessels. They are employed by the Marienbad physicians in all those cases where the mineral-water baths are used. They are preferred, however, to the latter, in all those maladies where the natural and salutary crisis takes place chiefly through the excretories of the surface, and by determination to the joints, as in gout; and in those cases where the disease is attributed to checked perspiration. The mud-baths are much employed by Dr. Heidler, Dr. Herzig, and others, as local applications in various local maladies, as, for example, in swellings and stiffness of the joints—old wounds—ulcers—neuralgic affections, &c.
As the stratum of mud in contact with the body soon loses some of its caloric, it is proper and even necessary, to keep moving about in the bath, and using friction with the hands as well as motion with the limbs. The fluid bath, which is placed at the side of the mud-bath, loses temperature also, while the bather is in the latter, and as it is often a moveable tub, warm water cannot be always added to it—therefore it should be two or three degrees higher than usual when operations are commencing. No time should be spent in the washing-bath longer than is necessary for cleaning the surface of the body.
Having used the mud-baths both at Franzensbad and Marienbad, and accurately watched their effects on my own person, I can aver that I perceived no difference, either in sensible properties or physiological results, between the mud-baths of the two places. I always felt more exhilarated through the day, when I used the mud, than when I took the common mineral-water bath.