Every Man His Own Doctor / The Cold Water, Tepid Water, and Friction-Cure, as Applicable to Every Disease to Which the Human Frame Is Subject, and Also to the Cure of Disease in Horses and Cattle

by R. T. Claridge

D——, a gouty subject, forty-five years of age. Priessnitz, called up in the middle of the night, found the Baron labouring under an attack of gout in his chest and stomach, which almost prevented his breathing. He was immediately put into a packing-sheet for from five to ten minutes, and out of that into a tepid bath, where two men rubbed him for a quarter of an hour; cold water being continually thrown over his head and shoulders; this effectually put an end to the attack, and the patient afterwards slept soundly until the time for his usual treatment next morning. This case shows that the fear of this treatment driving gout to the stomach, is groundless and it combats a dangerous attack, and quicker than it can be done by any other means.

Hereditary Gout.—E——, a Polish nobleman, fifty-four years of age, suffered two winters from hereditary gout, which had existed in his family for upwards of forty years.

He was attacked in his feet and arms, which confined him to his bed several months.

Treatment:—In the mornings, packing-sheet and tepid bath; noon, rubbing-sheet followed by sitz-bath, fifteen minutes; afternoon, rubbing-sheet.

In eighteen days he had boils on his feet and arms, from which matter continued to exude for three or four weeks; at the expiration of which Priessnitz said, “Now we will increase the treatment, to see if any more bad matter remains in the system.”

The sweating process and cold bath were now resorted to three or four times a week; the packing-sheet and cold bath other days; and the douche every day for three minutes. This treatment was continued for several weeks, during which no change of any kind was produced, a confirmation of the cure being effected.

On leaving Gräfenberg, Priessnitz advised him to return the next year, to see if the cure was a radical one.

In 1845, the Count returned, when he was subjected to a most vigorous treatment, such as sweating, douche, etc., for a month, without any return of gout.

On leaving Gräfenberg he assured me, that he was not only cured of gout; but that his digestive powers, which for years had been deranged, were in perfect order, and that his general health was completely restored.