Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-18
WITH GERMAN DOCTORS.
AN INvALID'S EXPERIENCE WITH
 DlSAGREEING PHYSICIANS.


 DISAGREEING PHYSICIANS.
 Treatment Recommended to Man in
 Search of Health-"When Doctors Dis
 agree'' It Is Sometimes Bad for the
 PatieDt-The Result.
 In the month of August, 1882, I came down from Engelberg to Luzerne The next day met friend who, knowing of my search for health, informed me that the great lung specialist, Professor Kussmaul, of Strasburg, was at Rigi-Kaltbad and advised that con- suit him. Within few hours I had made an appointment by telegraph, and the follow ing day the train carried me from Vitznau, up the famous Rigi mountain. The doctor perfect type of German professor-re- ceived me cordially, auscultated my lungs with care, and pronounced the following opinion. Said he: ssYou are not very sick man and, with prudence, ought to live to old age. find catarrhal condition at the base of the right lung. This you should try to remove The lung is sluggish at that point and needs some shock to make it work Go to the great water cure establishment at Divonne, near Geneva The French under stand the water cure treatment better than we Germans. Dr. Vidart, the physician of the Divonne establishment, will arrange cold douche to fall direct on the catarrhal point with great force, say from height of twenty to thirty feet. A few weeks of such treat ment will help to remove this catarrhal condition"
 paid liberal fee and returned to Luzerne. The doctors advice filled me with concern. feared that such a violent shock might in- duce hemorrhage. The same night wrote particulars of this interview with request for advice to Dr. Messing, 8 clever physi- clan of Meran, Tyrol, who knew my condi- tion perfectly. Three days later came the telegraphic response: ''Do not go Divonne. Such treatment dangerous for you. Mess ing" So did not go, but went to Italy and, later, Mentone instead.
 The following summer I spent several weeks at Richenhall, Bavaria. I heard so much of the ability of Dr. Schmid that I consulted him. His diagnosis and treatment agreed with that of Professor Kussmaul. He advised strong douches on the affected part of the lung. I still had my doubts. The next day consulted Professor Schnei- der. He rather undecidedly advised against the douche business. A day or two after I had my chest thumped by Dr. Kammerer, physician of reputation. He opposed the douche idea most decidedly. Said he: ''It can only do you harm. You eat well, sleep well, feel we'll and, to all practical purposes, are we'll Be satisfedl Don't try dangerous experiments" The balance stood-two for cold water treatment, three against So still kept away from Divonne.
 A few months thereafter, en route from Frankfort to Baden Baden, left the train at the little station whence one drives to Falkenstein. I was curious to inspect the great Sanitarium and to meet the eminent Professor Dettweiler. Soon after arriving I had the professor pronounce on my condi- tion, telling him the treatment Kussmaul had advised Dettweiler thought it good idea; said, however, that it was not neces- sary to go to Divonne, that fine water cure establishment was conducted at Baden Baden; that should call in Dr. Schliep, e man of ability physician of the Empress of Germany, who thoroughly understood water cure treatment and would arrange to give me the powerful douches required I left Falkenstein delighted. At last was to have my douches. The very day reached Baden Baden I sent for Dr. Schliep-a bright, wide awake young man, who has a hobby that the majority of lung and throat diseases origin ate from breathing through the mouth. I explained to him all that Dettweiler had said. He examined me attentively, then asked what form of bath was in the habit of talk ing. answered that for many years I had taken daily cold sponge bath, followed by vigorous massage. ''That," said Dr. Schliep, "is all you need. l see no necessity for any violent douches in your case" Cheated againl
 spent part of the winter in Mentone. I laid the case before Dr. Stiege. His opinion was that the treatment proposed wouldn't do me much good, but that it couldn't do me any harm. Then I consulted Dr. Cube, a Russian physician. He most emphatically believed in the treatment, and urged me to go to Divonne Then l went to Nice and consulted Dr. Drummond, scotchman. He just as emphatically, with the broadest brogue, said: Don't you go to Divonne. You'll burst the machine"
 My medical balance now stood four. in favor, five against and one on the fence. The physicians of greatest reputation, however, favored the treatment. I had pondered on the subject some two years, and so finally decided that I should at least visit Divonne. In the month of April, 1884, therefore, en- tered the Establishment Hydrotherapique de Divonne, and stood in the presence of Dr. Vidart. I explained to him the original sug gestion of Professor Kussmaul, that a very violent cold water shock should be made tc fall on the diseased part of the lung, with all the other medical pros and cons. The doctor devoted considerable time and care to the examination, and finally delivered the fol lowing opinion: 'Cold water douches will do you good, but not violent douches, and the whole body must be douched except the very part which has the chronic catarrha affection"
 | Comment unnecessary. Did follow the
 treatmenta Yes, for five weeks. Did it bene
 fit mes Nol It robbed me of flesh anc
 vitality, which it took me tive. years to re
 gain.-Louis R. Enrich in New York Fri
 bune.
 | An Actors Memory Fails.
 Provost used to relate laughingly how on