Drowsiness.—Foot-bath, and rub the head with wet hands. If these means are not sufficient, use the packing-sheet, followed by friction in tepid bath for an hour.
A patient complaining to Priessnitz of feeling heavy in the head after dinner, was ordered to pour a bottle of water on his head, and take head-baths occasionally.
Hysteria.—Rubbing-sheets every five minutes, until every appearance of hysteria is gone. The patient should lie in bed between each packing-sheet to get warm.
Ague.—Tepid bath 62° with great friction until fever is reduced; then packing-sheets, changed on becoming warm; followed by tepid bath, bandage, drinking water, etc. The sweating stage is much relieved by packing-sheets.
Shivering.—For a shivering fit, a patient was ordered five rubbing-sheets, with an interval of five minutes between them—patient to walk about the room during that time: first application effected a cure.
A young lady strong and robust, always cold, sleepy, and indisposed to leave the house, was ordered to use the packing-sheet until warm; then a tepid bath for an hour and upwards, three times a day. In three days she was perfectly well.
Weakness of Chest and Short Breathing.—A delicate lady was ordered two packing-sheets, from the arm-pits to knees, and tepid bath 64°. Feet being cold were rubbed in shallow foot-bath for a quarter of an hour, then dried, and she walked about her chamber for a quarter of an hour before going to bed.
Itching of the Fingers, like the approach of Chilblains.—Wash hands in tepid water, 64°, three times a day for five minutes; wear heating-bandage from the wrist to the elbow.
XLVII.—Sore Mouth—Inflamed Gums.
For this complaint, sweating twice a day, long tepid baths, head-baths, and sitz-baths, were ordered. Tepid water, 68°, should be held in the mouth.