The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1885-02-20
TIE HOT WATER cUEE.
The Method of Treatment, the Effect
of IL, etc.

80 If
said DIR. Ambrose L. Ranney in a recent
lecture before the Academy of Medicine, in
Hartford. Some Of the effects are mani
tested almost Immediately in organs not
connected directly with the digestive ap-
paratus.
RULES FOR ADMINISTRATIONS.
I. The water may be taken in doses Of
from one goblet to one-and-a-half. An or
binary goblet contains about ten ounces.
The dose must be modified in accordance
with its effects.
.. 1t must be drunk hot, and not warm
410 to $50 degrees. If necessary, fifteen
minutes or more may be consumed in sip
ping a gobletful. Wooden cups prevent
the water from cooling quickly. The
water may be favored with lemon. sugar,
salt, ginger. etc. ii necessary. but it be-
comes very agreeable to the palate without
such after the patient has taken it for a
short time.
8. The dose must be taken one hour and
a half before each meal with absolute
~punetuality, and one at bedtime. Patients
have the first dose brought to their bedside,
and consume it before rising. The passage
of the fluid into the intestine. or its absorp-
ton before the meal, is insured by this
rule. The quantity taken daily must be
modified according to the effects produced.
4. The temperature of the water should
be increased as fast as the patients can bear
it. 1t is remarkable how high a degree of
heat some patients can endure after taking
hot water for months. At first sueh a
temperature would blister the mouth. Be-
low 40 degrees the heat is not sufficient,
as a rule. to have any effects, save as an
emetic.
). The administration of hot water must
be continued for a least six months in
order to get its full effects. 1t will be some
weeks, as a rule, before any beneficial
effects become markedly apparent. 1t is
not sufficient for a test of its value that it
be given at irregular intervals, with yaria-
BILE degrees of temperature.
The use of cold fluids, in the form of
beverages, must be absolutely prohibited.
A restricted diet is often necessary to the
full effects of the treatment, in some forms
of nervous arrangements. It is customary
with some patients to forbid all sweets,
pastry, fresh bread in any form and fats.
The sour wines are not usually forbidden.
nor is tea or coffee, unless they are APP
p~arently injurious to the patient. The con-
dition of the subject, in respect to flesh, is
a guide, as a rule, to the character of the
diet prescribed. provided that marked dis
turbances TO digestion are not to be COM
bated.
EFFECTS OF THE TREATMENT.
1. On drinking a goblet Of hot water for
the first time a sense of warmth within the
stomach will be produced, u~naccompanied
with nassau. Fluctuations of gas from the
stomach commonly occur within a few
minutes after the first dose of hot water.
This effect may persist for some weeks.
Excessive eructations indicates that fermen-
tation of food occurs after eating.
?. The skin soon shows the effect of the
heat. A gentle glow, with a tendency to
perspiration, is developed rapidly. This is
diffused over the entire body. Goodness of
the extremities is often very much bene-
fitted, and in a short time, by this treat
ment. The circulation of the body appears
to become more uniform.
3. The kidneys exhibit marked effects of
this treatment early.
4. The accessory organs of digestion
(the liver and pancreas) seem to be stimu-
lated by the internal use of hot water.
Flatulence and constipation are enumerated
as things of the past.
). The nervous system seems to be pro-
foundly impressed by a prolonged use of
this agent. Especially is this the case
among that class of patients who suffer
from the effects of anemia of the brain and
of the spinal chord and spinal nerves.
This method of treatment has certainly
one thing in its favor that few possess, viz,
it is harmless. Because its remedial effects
are slow in some cases, it is no proof that
they are not doubly permanent.
-lQSN VI Qui HaNloAlakits NAiA thClA
stomachs with ice water between meals
and during the act of eating. Who would
think of feeding a horse and placing a
bucket OF ice water by his side. The ques-
ton may be raised if this one habit alone
has not lone more harm to the nervous sys-
TEN of men than tobacco or alcohol.
CONCLUSIONS.
/. 1t is harmless if properly administered.
A degree of temperature that can be en-
dured by the mouth will not impair the
integrity of the stomach. Many of us drink
coffee and tea at an equally high tenpera-
ture, and in as large quantities as are COM
patible with the hot water treatment.
.. Its effects are comparatively uniform,
provided it be given for a sufficient period.
Exceptions prove a rule. Isolated cases
may be occasionally encountered where the
results as stated do not occur.
3. 1t seems to exert curative influence
upon many of the chronic diseases that in.
fuenee and disturb the proper assimilation
of food. Some of these are important fac
tors in the development of nervous derang-
ments.
4. Il appears that the curative influence
Of hot water is not usually transient. In