The mineral waters of Vittel: grande source and Source Salee : their nature and uses.

  • Lassere, Edward.
Date:
[1912]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The mineral waters of Vittel: grande source and Source Salee : their nature and uses. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

    19/42 (page 15)
    tion for exercise, but, since the muscular contractions they produce are regular, a health}' circulation is promoted, the terminations of nerve filaments stimu- lated, and due oxidation obtained. Another advantage is that the amount of work done by the muscles can be graduated with almost mathematic precision according to the needs of each patient at the moment, besides being made either purely passive, purely active, or a mixture of the two. The passive movements are specially useful in dealing with the muscular and articular results of old gout, for the daily movements, in addition to freeing stiffened joints and stretching contracted tendons, lead to progressive movement in the nutrition of the tissues concerned, and thus form a valuable adjuvant to Vittel treatment. WARM AND SUPERHEATED AIR. The visitors to Vittel include many sufferers from chronic pain, in whom warm air applications as an adjuvant in treatment proves of value. Patients, for instance, with neuralgia of rheumatic or gouty origin, general muscle pains, and lumbago of obstinate character, are often quickly cured by com- bining Vittel treatment, warm-air applications, and vibratory massage; the relief from pain is in many cases immediate, and becomes permanent after a certain number of sittings. In cases of long-standing sciatica, chronic arthritis, stiff and ankylosed joints, superheated air is to be preferred. After a few applications coupled with massage, movement becomes freer, the local circulation is improved, and exudations rapidly clear up. Indeed, as an adjuvant to Vittel treatment, the indications for the use of either warm or superheated air are numerous. It constitutes, perhaps, the most important physical remedy available, and in combination with massage and mineral water may be regarded as essential in the treatment of arthritics. MASSAGE. Massage is frequently a useful, and sometimes an indispensable, adjuvant to treatment. In cases of defective nutrition the system must be freed from the waste matter encumbering, it. This is the task of Vittel water, and it is aided therein by massage, which makes these waste matters re-enter the cir- culation, and thus facilitates their elimination by diuresis. At the same time it reflexly stimulates the sympathetic system and improves the general circula- tion. Massage also comes usefully into play in cases of constipation due to insufficiency in bile secretion. On these Vittel water has a special action, and massage of the liver assists it. Finally, massage is of importance in dealing with the cases of hypertension which come to Vittel, for the work both of Cautru and Huchard has proved that its action on the vasomotor system is in the nature of a preventive, and thus a valuable ally to the rest of the treatment. ELECTRIC INSTALLATIONS. The electric appliances in use differ in no wise from those found in well- equipped hospitals and nursing homes in large cities. In the treatment of joint conditions and of the gouty and neuralgic, electric baths play a consider- able part, sometimes as local, sometimes as general applications. They are also employed in cases of obesity and hypertension in order to provoke per- spiration and increase the output of metabolic products. The X-ray outfit provided often proves of much assistance in confirming or negativing the existence of renal or hepatic calculi. OPEN-AIR EXERCISES. The provision for what has been termed Oertel treatment is of a satis- factory kind, promenades of .ill gradients being available. Originally this system of graduated exercise was reserved for myocardiac cases, but is now being employed with increasing frequency in all conditions associated with imperfect nutrition, and also in the obese, especially when accumulations of fat round the heart an ed. In the case of those whose exercise need not be precisely regulated, golf, clay-pigeon shooting, and whatever more active -ports, such as tennis, may b( considered desirable, form valuable aids in treatment, especially as they all centre round the establishment itself.