Outlines of a new theory of disease : applied to hydropathy, showing that water is the only true remedy. With observations on the errors committed in the practice of hydropathy; notes on the cure of cholera by cold water; and a critique on Priessnitz's mode of treatment. Intended for popular use / Tr. from the German by Robert Baikie.

  • Francke, Heinrich F., 1805-1848.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Outlines of a new theory of disease : applied to hydropathy, showing that water is the only true remedy. With observations on the errors committed in the practice of hydropathy; notes on the cure of cholera by cold water; and a critique on Priessnitz's mode of treatment. Intended for popular use / Tr. from the German by Robert Baikie. 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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    cise; and, finally, that he now only prescribes clysters in chronic disease, as an exception, and for a very short time, in exceedingly rare cases, or, perhaps, not at all. At least this is what I have been assured of by all those persons* who have lately gone through a cure at Graefenberg. Priessnitz makes his patients go about, summer and winter, in the lightest clothing ; in the depth of winter, in thin linen coats and pantaloons, most of them without stockings, neckcloths, or any covering on the head. Along with this he advises them not to heat their rooms in the coldest weather, and allows, at most, a temperature of 54°.f A great number of his patients have actually carried this out, not once warming their rooms during the whole winter, and going about in summer clothing. They obtain thereby the praise of their physician—but health never. In Part II., I have already stated some reasons why continued freezing, in a cold room, and light clothing, are highly injurious. The organism cannot protect itself against the surrounding cold, otherwise than by the exaltation of several vital processes, and es- pecially by an acceleration of the circulation up to the pitch of febrile excitement. It is self-evident, that such exposure to cold, when long continued, must consume the vital power by an- ticipation. It is also of itself clear, that, when the organism is forced to make abnormal efforts against evil influences without, it has, least of all, the power to react against internal, old, morbid matter, and to expel it. It may be, perhaps, objected, that I my- self, in my pathology, have stated that cold, by releasing and agi- tating the morbid matter, may produce an acute disease and a crisis, and thereby may become a real remedy. The answer to this is a ready one. First, I observed that when the constitution of a patient admits of so forcible an excitement of the morbid matter, it must be done always by exposure to cold, in water, and never in air, because, after the former, the reaction and the re- warming sets in incomparably more surely and more strongly than after the latter. Secondly, I observe that, after every exposure to cold, purposely made to produce a crisis, care must be neces- sarily taken to produce the consequent re-warming and reaction, by satisfying the instinctive demands of the body. Accordingly, ♦ To this I can testify; in my own case, he told me to use a clyster if I had much pain in the bowels, but not otherwise; and to the best of my belief he did not go even so far in a single other case while I was there— Translator. f I believe he now allows 59° to 62°, at least in some cases— Translator.