The treatment must be regulated by circumstances: sometimes sweating, at other times the packing-sheet, tepid bath, and bandage.
XC.—Hydrocephalus.
A child one year and a-half old had water on the brain, and a large protuberance in the middle of the forehead. Ordered, a tepid bath morning and evening; a rubbing-sheet after an hour’s sleep at noon, and repeated before going to bed at night. Drank water only at meals, and then but little. Bandage from arm-pits down to the knees; was much in the open air. After twelve months, the protuberance went down, leaving a ridge like a pigeon’s breast down the centre; shape of head completely changed, and the boy was perfectly well.
XCI.—Syphilis.
This complaint always succumbs to the treatment; and a cure effected by it leaves none of those lamentable consequences which attend the exhibition of drugs. By Hydropathic means, the virus is completely thrown out of the system through the pores; whilst the administration of mercury is attended with secondary symptoms, which are more fatal than the disease itself. If taken in time, secondary symptoms are also cured at Gräfenberg. It frequently happens, that patients treated for another complaint, find syphilis return, though they imagined themselves cured of it years before. Recent cases of syphilis in otherwise healthy persons, are generally cured in less than two months; but the cure of secondary symptoms is a work of time. There are many sufferers from this undermining malady, who have been at Gräfenberg one, two, and even three years. In health, they, are much improved; but the malady is too deeply seated to be eradicated. One gentleman, when I was there, was refused admittance; he died in a few days, when it was found that mercury had eaten part of his wind-pipe away—a result that never could have been brought about by water. The following is another deplorable case, the result of bad treatment:—Patient aged thirty-five, tall, thin, and bent when walking; supports his head by pressing his hands on each side of it; part of the cranium destroyed. The brain covered over by a skin; the parietal bones destroyed, and thick pus exudes between the skin and bone, and smells horribly. Inside of the left eye is an ulceration with raised borders, which allows a portion of the orbital arch to be seen surrounded with pus; pulse weak and irregular; constant pain. Treated for secondary symptoms, with mercury in 1841; came to Gräfenberg with three ulcers the size of a shilling on his forehead, with burning pains. Packing-sheets and tepid baths morning and evening, with other intermediate treatment. This case is introduced to show the sort of cases Mr. Priessnitz will undertake: of course, a cure will require a considerable time.
XCII.—Chancre.
Case of a very strong young man:—
For five days—sweating (after perspiration broke out) morning, one hour; afternoon, half an hour; then tepid bath, followed by cold bath and back to tepid. After five days—from sweating went into plunging cold bath; in another week, douched from two to five minutes at eleven o’clock; bandage round the body and on the sores, which were bathed and had water thrown on them frequently; wore suspending bandages; eat sparingly; no meat or butter, and took but little exercise. Perfectly cured in six weeks.