The uses of water in health and disease

by John Harvey Kellogg

No harm results from repeated freezing if proper care is used in thawing the frozen parts. They should be kept immersed in cool water, or covered with cloths kept cool by frequent wetting with cold water, until the natural feeling is restored.

The application of ice is found extremely serviceable in many inflammatory diseases, and in some nervous affections. In inflammation of the brain, the ice cap is of inestimable value. Ice applied to the spine will check the convulsive spasms of chorea and hysteria when other remedies fail. In putrid sore throat, or malignant diphtheria, ice is a sovereign remedy. It should be applied to the neck externally, and held in small bits in the mouth. Small bits swallowed will sometimes relieve the pains of gastralgia.

Rubber bags are very convenient for applying ice or iced water; but their place can be very well supplied by dried bladders filled with pounded ice. The ice cap is a double head cap stuffed with pounded ice.

Some physicians recommend the application of ice to the spine in cases of congestive chill and paralysis, and in inflammation of the stomach, kidneys, uterus, and other internal organs. The real worth of such applications in these cases has yet to be determined by careful and repeated observations. We would not recommend an unskillful person to attempt to relieve a violent ague chill by rubbing ice on the patient’s back, and we have some fears that a very skillful operator would hardly succeed to his entire satisfaction and that of the patient.

The snow bath, applied by rubbing the part vigorously with snow, is a useful application for restoring the circulation to frosted parts. In cases of extreme chilling or absolute freezing, there is perhaps no better remedy. Powdered ice may be used when snow cannot be readily procured.

MISCELLANEOUS BATHS, ETC.

VAPOR BATH.

This bath can be readily and successfully administered with such conveniences as every family possess. Place the patient in a cane-seat chair, having first taken the precaution to spread over the seat a dry towel. Surround the patient and the chair first with a woolen blanket, and then with two or three thick comfortables, drawing the blankets close around his neck, and allowing them to trail upon the floor so as to exclude the air as perfectly as possible. Now place under the chair a large pan or pail containing two or three quarts of boiling water. Let the blankets fall quickly so as to retain the rising vapor. After a minute or two, raise the blankets a little at one side and carefully place in the vessel a very hot brick or stone, dropping the blankets again as soon as possible avoid the admission of cold air. Before the first brick or stone has cooled, add another, and so continue until the patient perspires freely. The amount of perspiration must be judged by the face and forehead, as much of the moisture on the skin beneath the blankets is condensed steam. Should the bath become at any time too hot, a little air may be admitted by raising the bottom of the blankets a little, being careful to avoid chilling the patient in so doing. The bath should seldom be continued more than half an hour, and fifteen to twenty minutes will usually accomplish all that is desired by the bath. If too long continued, it induces faintness. A too high temperature will be indicated by a strongly accelerated pulse, throbbing of the temples, flushed face, and headache. The head should be kept cool by a compress wet in cool water and often changed. The temperature of the bath should be from 100° to 115°. Unpleasant effects are sometimes produced at 120°.

After this bath, apply the tepid spray, rubbing wet-sheet, pail douche, or full bath. No time should be allowed to elapse after the blankets are removed before the concluding bath is applied, as the patient will chill. He should not be allowed to become chilly by exposure to cool air before the application of the spray, douche, or other bath, which should be followed by vigorous rubbing.

For “breaking up a cold,” relieving rheumatism, soreness of the muscles from overexertion, and relaxing stiffened joints, this is a valuable agent. It may also be used to advantage in chronic diseases in which there is torpidity of the skin; but great care must be exercised to avoid excessive use, as too frequent repetitions of the bath produce debility.