Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-11-20
NUMBER I3.

expected in this stage Of that melancholy disease,
the water cure utterly fails 10 restore but have
known il even here prolong life beyond all reason
able calculation, and asonishingly relieve the more
oppressive symptoms. In all cases where the
exhaustion is great and Of long standing, and
is accompanied with obstinate hypochondra, hy-
dropahy, If successful at alb, is very slow IN lis
benefits and the patience OF the sufferer is too Oft
en- ont before the favourable takes place.
have also noticed that obstinate and deep-rooted
maladies IN persons otherwise of very athletic
frames, seem to yield much more tardily to the wa
ter than similar complaints in more delicate
constitutions that you will often Of two per-
sons afflicted by the genera of complaints, the
feeble and fragile one recover before the stout man
with Atlantic shoulders evinces one symptom Of
amelioration.
Those cases, on the other hand, in which the
water cure seems absolute panacea, and in
which the patient may commence with the most
sanguine hopes, are, First, rheumatism, however
prolonged, however complicated. In this the cure
is usually rapid-nearly always permanent. Sec
ondy, govt. Here its efficacy is little less start
ling 10 appearance than in the former case it
seems to take up the disease by the roots; it ex-
tracts the peculiar acid which often appears in dis
celebrations upon the sheets used in the application
or is elected in other modes. But here, Judging
always from cases subjected TO my personal knowl-
edge, have not seen instances 10 Justify the
ton of some water DOCTORS that returns Of the dis
ease do not occur. The predisposition--the ten
deney, has appeared to me to remain. The patient
is liable 10 relapses-but have invariably found
them far less frequent less heightened; and readi-
ly susceptible Of simple and speedy cure, especially
il the habits remain temperate.
Thirdly, that wide and grsly family OF affection
classed under the common name ofdyspepsid. All
arrangement of the digestive organs, imperfect
powers Of nuirition-ihe Bgaiaisc Of an injured
stomach, appear precisely the complaints which
H.. e Ill =. Il =.
fects those cures that convert existence from bur-
den into blessing. Hence it follows that many
nameess and countless complaints proceeding
from arrangement OF the stomach, as that
great machine is restored to order. have seen
disorders of the heart which have been pronounced
organic by the learned authorities of the profession
disappear in an incredibly short iime-cases Of in
cplent consumption, in which the seat is in the
nutritious powers, hemoFrhages, and various
gestons shortness Of BREATH habitual fainting fts
many Of what called improperly, nervous com
plants, but which, in reality, indications from
the main ganglionic spring; the disorders produced
by the abuse Of powerful medicines, especially
curry and iodine, the loss Of appetite, the dBiled
sense, and the shaking hand Of intemperance, skin
complaints, and the dire scourge Of scrofula-aI
these seem to obtain from hydropathy relief--nay,
absolute and unqualified cure, beyond not only
the means of the most skifu drug DOCTOR but the
hopes OF the most sangulne patient.
The may be divided into two branches
the process for acute compaints-,hat for chronic;
have Just referred to the last. And great as are
there its benefits, they seem commonplace beside
the eject the system produces in acute complaints
Fever, including the scarlet and the typhus infu-
enza measles, smallpox, the sudden and rapid dis
orders Of children, are cured with a simplicity and
precision which must am persuaded sooner or
later render the resources Of the hydropathst the
ordinary treatment for such acute complaints in
the hospitals. The principal remedy here employ
ed by the water doctor is, the wet-sheei packing
which cxcites much terror amongst the uninitiated
and which, Of all the curatives adopted by hydro
patty is unquestionabIy the safest---thc one that
can be applied without danger TO the greatest var-
ETY. OF cases, and which do not hesitate to aver
rarely, il ever be misappled in any cases where
the pulse is hard and high, and the skin dry and
burning. have found in conversation so much
misspprehenson Of this very easy and very luxuri-
Gus remedy, that may be pardoned for reexplain-
ing what has been explained so often II is not,
people persist in supposing that patients are put
into wet sheets and there lef to shivert The
sheets, after being saturated, are well wrung out
the patient quickly wrapped in them-several
blankets tightly bandaged round and feather-bed
placed at top; thus, especially where there is the
least fever the first momentary chill is promptly
succeeded by gradual and viyiiying warmth, per-
ectiy free from the irritation Of dry heat-a deli
cious sense of ease is usually followed BY sleep
more agreeable than anodynes ever produced. II
seems a positive cruelty TO be relieved from this
magic girde in which pain is lned, and fever cool
eu' ana waichiuiness tapped IN snmoer' The bath
which succeeds reireshes and braces the skin,
which the operation relaxed and soifened they on
lv who have tried his afier fa,ione or in fave,
form The Ie,s, no,on If he nlessr, shls san..,;o