The hydropathic encyclopedia : a system of hydropathy and hygiene in eight parts ... designed as a guide to families and students, and a text-book for physicians / by R. T. Trall, M.D.

  • Trall, R. T. (Russell Thacher), 1812-1877.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The hydropathic encyclopedia : a system of hydropathy and hygiene in eight parts ... designed as a guide to families and students, and a text-book for physicians / by R. T. Trall, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    or steam may be increased or diminished by regulating the position of the boiler over the fire. The sweating-cradle (fig. 173) is a convenient apparatus for such in valids as are obliged to k jep the bed. Fig. 173. PERSPIRATORY, OR SWEATING-CRADLE. Fig. 173 is a drawing of the perspirator, or sweating-cradle, a is a tin or copper bent funnel-shaped chimney, with a door, which is seen b ton ding open. The small end of this chimney ia open. The large end below has a tin bottom, with a hole in it to receive the little upright tin saucepan, b; c is the wooden bottom or end of the cradle, with a hole in it to receive the small end of the chimney, into which it fits accurately, but ensily; d d d d are hoops of wire or wicker; / is a long, narrow piece of wood, into which the ends of the hoops are inserted; e is a similar piece of wood running along the top, and perforated by the hoops. When the cradle is to be used, the clothes are to be taken off the bed, and the patient is to lie down on his back, with his head on the pillow. The cradle is Uien to be placed over him as high as his throat, its wooden bottom being at the foot of the bed, even with the bedstead. It is now to be covered with the whole of the bedclothes, and an addi- tional blanket or two. The clothes are to be neatly tucked in every where, so as not to let out the heat at any point But they must not hang down over the wooden bottom, and the foot valance of the bed had better be tucked up out of the wny. The tin chim- ney must be kept clear of all clothes. Every thing having been thus neatly prepared, the tin saucepan, b, is to be filled three-quarters full with alcohol, nnd the spirit is to be set on fire. Then, taking hold of the long, straight handle of the snucepan, it is to be carefully let down through the hole in the bottom of the chimney, and the door closed. The Wave-Bath.—This process consists merely in extending the body at length in a swift current of water, the patient holding on to a rope, or some other contrivance, to enable him to keep his position. It helps to make an amusing variety in the watery part of our materia medica, but has no other advantage not obtainable by the douche and plunge. The Rivef-Bath.—This amounts practically to an out-door, cold,