Sixteen years previous to the Count’s going to Gräfenberg, he had his elbow wounded by a ball in a duel, which occasionally caused him great pain. For the cure of this, he, at the time, rubbed in a yellow ointment. Singular to say, after a lapse of sixteen years, during a crisis, this ointment re-appeared on the elbow and arm, so thick as to be taken off with the finger. The exuding of this ointment lasted about eight days. Since the cure of his gout was effected, the arm has been pliant, and the elbow has been free from pain.
Gout in Head and Feet.—F——, a German professor, aged sixty; a small delicate man, with gout in both hands and both feet: all were contracted, he had been a martyr to gout for years and upwards, when a paroxysm of gout came on the following morning.
The following treatment was resorted to. Morning, packing-sheet until thoroughly warm; then tepid bath 64° for two hours, during which time 200 cans of cold water were thrown over his head and shoulders.
Twenty-five cans were first thrown; then great friction for some time; then twenty-five cans more, followed by friction; and so repeated until two hundred cans had been thrown over him.
Heating bandages were applied to all parts afflicted, and kept there day and night.
The above treatment was resorted to again in the afternoon.
One paroxysm that I witnessed, lasted three weeks. It was astonishing to see the courage displayed by this patient.
Each operation afforded relief for the time; but the enemy had strong hold upon the system, and was ejected with difficulty.
During all the time the patient had a good appetite and slept soundly at night.
He was still under the cure when I left Gräfenberg. Priessnitz said, to effect this cure, it would require at least four years’ treatment, which the patient said he would prefer to a renewal of the suffering he had already undergone, previously to coming to Gräfenberg.