The principles and practice of medical hydrology : being the science of treatment by waters and baths / by R. Fortescue Fox.

  • Fox, R. Fortescue (Robert Fortescue), 1858-1940.
Date:
1913
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The principles and practice of medical hydrology : being the science of treatment by waters and baths / by R. Fortescue Fox. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE After a long period in the extreme of unbelief, the pendulum of opinion is now everywhere moving towards belief in the value of physical agencies in medical treatment. Without some rational oscilla¬ tions the clock of progress would no doubt stop, and therefore both hypothesis and criticism should be alike welcomed. Unfortunately in the past too many extravagances, both of assertion and denial, have hindered the attainment of a true doctrine. I hope that there is nothing in the present work, however imperfect in other respects, that departs in letter or in spirit from this ideal. My aim has been to discuss and describe the various actions both of Waters *and of Baths upon the body, without more detail than may be necessary to enable medical men to apply for themselves these methods of treatment, both in acute and chronic disease. Precise directions for the exact procedures to be followed in a particular complaint are often invalidated by differences of individual reaction. Therefore even the most experienced practitioner must feel his way in the use of Waters and Baths, and be willing to be guided from day to day by the results of his treatment. A sound knowledge of the principles of Medical Hydrology is necessary to the medical man who undertakes to apply them in practice. But I am per¬ suaded that he who draws upon these rich resource's will often be agreeably surprised at the benefit obtained for his patient, and will also (if so disposed) find an