Out of the general treatment, persons troubled with piles may take sitz-baths and wear a bandage on the part affected.
A patient having piles and sore eyes, was advised neither to take sitz-baths or eye-baths. When Priessnitz was asked the reason, he said, “Because you have too much bad matter in your system, which I am afraid of attracting to those parts.”
In a common attack of piles, two or three sitz-baths a-day, fifteen minutes each, and wearing a bandage upon the part at night, will afford relief.
Persons subject to piles should especially avoid all heating and stimulating drinks.
XCVI.—Rupture.
I knew of a case of double rupture, in an officer 34 years of age, which was perfectly cured at Gräfenberg in three years. Another case of single rupture was cured in nine months, and a recent one cured in four months.
There can be no doubt of the complete omnipotence of Hydropathy over this malady; its cure is only a matter of time. It is difficult to lay down any prescribed treatment, as the chief aim of the practitioner must be to bring his patient into fine health. All organic action is contraction; all strength depends upon the power of the different parts of the body to contract, and nothing will aid the operation so much as the different appliances here made use of. As a rule, I observed that when rupture exudes, the sweating process should be resorted to; when perspiration has broken out, gently rub the part with the hand until the rupture is gone in again. Bandages are worn continually.
XCVII.—Chilblains.
Rub the feet or hands affected for a quarter of an hour in tepid water three times a-day, and bandage the leg from ankle to knee if in the feet. If in the hand, the arm from wrist to elbow.