This being at about one o’clock in the night, I directed that if the pains should again come on, as they probably would, she should be rubbed as before a long time in the shallow-bath, have the wet-sheet renewed, use the wet towels about the abdomen and genitals, as we always do, without exception, in such cases, and to repeat these processes without any reference to hours or time of day, as might be needed to keep off the pains. Once only before morning was it necessary to repeat them, and she enjoyed, on the whole, a good half night’s rest in the folded wet-sheet. In the morning another bath was taken, when she found herself very comfortable, and, withal, strong.
This patient being at a considerable distance from my home, I saw her, I think, but twice after the birth. She bathed three or four times daily, used the wet compresses freely, and took injections according to need, and suffered almost nothing with after-pains. She kept her strength well, and sat up to rest herself more or less every day.
The third or fourth night—the latter, I think it was—she was a good deal wakeful from fever. Seeing her in the morning, I directed the bath and folded wet-sheet as before, which at once subdued all unfavorable symptoms. Had she resorted to them in the night time as often as the symptoms might have demanded, she would have obtained a good night’s rest.
All things considered, our intelligent patient found a vast difference between water-treatment and that to which she had been before subjected; and she was well rewarded for the heroism, self-denial, and perseverance which she manifested at and before the time of her confinement.
Case XIV.—November 10, 1850.—This is a case of an intelligent young lady of this city, of apparently delicate health, and, I should judge, twenty-two or twenty-three years of age.
Having been recently married, she spent the winter of 1849–50 probably in too much excitement for the health of one in her state. Her home besides—a fashionable boarding house—was not one at which the proper food could be obtained; in short, she lived too freely, and that upon food of improper character.
In the month of May she experienced a severe attack of bilious fever, and also, comparatively unacquainted with the water-treatment, she had the good sense to determine at once to submit herself confidently to the new method; she had, indeed, no confidence in any other, and her intelligent husband coincided with her in opinion, while the other friends objected strongly to what they considered a piece of fool-hardiness.
By the freest use of packing sheets, of short duration, shallow-baths in the wash-tub, the wet girdle and tepid clysters frequently repeated, together with entire abstinence from all food, she was completely cured in a few days.
Here let it be remembered, that such attacks of fever, as indeed of all severe acute diseases, are far more dangerous when they occur during pregnancy.
After recovering from this attack, our patient went for a time to the country, and followed all along a good course of bathing, with more attention to diet. Her health improved constantly up to the close of her period.