The spas and mineral waters of Europe : with notes on balneo-therapeutic management in various diseases and morbid conditions / by Hermann Weber and F. Parkes Weber.

  • Weber, Hermann, 1823-1918.
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The spas and mineral waters of Europe : with notes on balneo-therapeutic management in various diseases and morbid conditions / by Hermann Weber and F. Parkes Weber. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    cise the voluntary muscles are enabled to make use of the sugar circulating in the blood in glycosuric cases. On the action of regular exercise in helping to hinder exces- sive development of fat m the body, we need not enter here. A moderate amount of muscular exercise in those who are able to take it, helps the body to get rid of waste products, and promotes the healthy nutrition of all the tissues. - When, owing to debility, obesity, stiff joints, or certain affections of the circulatory and respi- ratory systems, sufficient ordinary muscular exercise, such as walking, has become impracticable, massage or some modified form of exercise can often be practised with advantage. It is probable that courses of the various active and passive exercises, and of hydro-therapeutic treatment, all help to get rid of the toxic materials and waste products which have accumulated in the body. This is effected either by oxidation within the body, or by elimination in the urinary and other excretions. It is therefore of great interest to hear from Dr. Blanc, of Aix-les-Bains, that Monsieur A. Eanglaret has recently proved by in- jections into rabbits that the specific toxicity^ of the patient's urine is increased on his commencing a course of the * douche-massage' treatment (see p. 215). ^ It is not improbable, as suggested, that the group of symptoms, known as 'well-fever,' often appearing during spa treatment, is due to a temporary excess in the toxic materials circulating in the blood previ- ously to their elimination. If this supposition be correct, 'well-fever' may be regarded as analogous to the pains and stiffness felt at the com- mencement of a walking tour, or after any unusual muscular exercise in persons who are ' out of training.' [Exercise in persons out of training perhaps gives rise to the familiar pains and stiffness, firstly by induc- ing a too sudden catabolism in the muscles, secondly by bringing into the circulation waste products which were previously stored up in the tissues.] Bearing also in mind the analogy between the temporary D 2