“The enemies of the system frequently assert that it cures only imaginary diseases; how many would rejoice if it could be proved that white swelling properly came under this category!
“From the details of this case, it appears that, by the advice of Priessnitz, an operation was performed by the late very eminent surgeon, Dieffenbach; and this affords occasion to observe, that Dieffenbach several times remarked, that patients sent to him from Water-cure establishments were in a healthier condition for the knife than others, and more speedily recovered from the effects of an operation.
“‘Until the age of four years my daughter was perfectly healthy, when, at the commencement of winter, she was attacked by cough and wheezing on her chest, which gave the idea that her lungs were affected. Leeches were applied, and medicine given with little effect. She continued to look very ill, and became extremely peevish and inactive. In the spring she was suddenly seized by a pain in her left knee, which rendered her quite lame. The complaint was pronounced to be white swelling. One of our first surgeons assured me the attack was of a most acute nature, the joint of the knee being considerably enlarged, and the suffering very great. By steam-baths and leeching the inflammation was in some degree subdued, and mercury was used in various ways, internally, and externally. In a week or ten days the violent pain subsided, but she could not bear the limb to be moved in the slightest manner. In that state the child continued for eighteen months, during which she had three acute attacks similar to the first, which were got under in the same manner, after each attack the limb became more contracted, and the constitution was evidently sinking, although wine, porter, and fresh meat, etc. etc., were allowed, in order to keep up her strength, but they did not succeed. She was at the sea-side for the benefit of the bathing, which appeared to strengthen her more than anything else, when I learned something of the water system from Captain Claridge’s book, and subsequently from himself. At first, I must confess, I was rather startled at the idea of trying such an experiment on my child, but, as every thing else had failed, I made up my mind to go to Gräfenberg and put her into the hands of Mr. Priessnitz. In the beginning of September he commenced with her, giving her at first two packings up and a tepid bath, and one knee-bath during the day, and compresses on the knee and body. He desired that she should have crutches, and try to move about as much as she could without hurting herself. She continued the same treatment during the ensuing winter, during which she had a constant rash on her entire leg, and subsequently several gatherings on and round the knee, none on any other part of her body. In the spring she commenced the cold bath after the packing up, and the douche bath. Her strength increased rapidly, her looks became quite healthy, and her appetite excellent. The appearance of the knee was very variable until the end of the summer, when it diminished considerably in size, and she could bear to have it moved without any annoyance; but about Christmas it became suddenly nearly as bad as ever it had been. All cure was then stopped, except one packing up and tepid bath, and the knee compresses were changed every quarter of an hour. The inflammation and pain were soon got under, but she continued the slight cure until the spring, when she commenced the packing up and cold bathing twice a day—douche-bath twice, and knee-bath twice, with rubbing with the wet hand, and compresses changed after every operation. During this summer she made a wonderful improvement, and the limb became so strong that she could bear to have it pulled so as to drag her about by it. Mr. Priessnitz said he thought the child was now quite free from all disease, and that I might have an operation performed to straighten the limb, in which opinion several English medical men quite agreed with him. I then took her to Berlin, having been two years at Gräfenberg; the leg was made quite straight by Dr. Dieffenbach, and since then the child enjoys perfect health, being quite strong on her limbs, though still somewhat lame. She continues the use of the cold bath and douche every day. It is generally thought that she will outgrow the lameness. I forgot to mention that from the time the knee was attacked, the chest and cough quite recovered.’”
Swallowing Glass.—A cure effected in the house of the Princess Sophia, by her priest, the Rev. Mr. Klose:—
June 1st, 1843.
A married woman, 26 years of age, in eating, swallowed a piece of glass, which stuck in her throat; after many unavailing efforts, either to force it up or down, she sent for a surgeon, who gave her an emetic, which also proved unavailing; then he tried to extract it with instruments, and applied a number of leeches to the throat, to no effect. The second day, the surgeon declared he could do no more, and she was attacked with inflammatory fever. As a dernier ressort, Mr. Klose determined on trying hydropathy.
She was enveloped and kept in the wet sheet, with bandages round the throat, day and night, both being changed as soon as they became warm.
At the beginning of this treatment, the invalid was unable to swallow even a drop of water, could scarcely breathe, and a horrid smell came from the mouth. Her medical attendant said that mortification had set in, and gave it as his opinion, that she could not live through the next day.
Third and fourth days, the same treatment was continued, with the addition of three enemas, which operated slightly. The packing-sheet, instead of being changed, was wetted with a sponge: moving the body occasioned pain. She threw up a great deal of phlegm and matter, which stank so horribly, that no person could remain near her bed-side.
Fifth day.—Vomiting increased, also the heat of the whole body; the increase of heat rendered it necessary (notwithstanding the pain she felt on being moved) to administer a tepid-bath 18°. Whilst in the bath, her head, throat, and chest, were frequently wetted with cold water, and the abdomen and feet were well rubbed. This bath afforded her great relief, and whilst in it, she threw up much matter with ease and without coughing. She remained in the bath thirty-five minutes, the same temperature of the water being maintained throughout. At the expiration of this time, the body was considerably cooled, but the pulse was still very high; for which reason, recourse was again had to the packing-sheet, which produced a regularity of the pulse. She was now enabled to swallow the first drop of water.