Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-05-25
WITH GERMAN DOCTORS.
AN iNVALID'S EXPERIENCE WITH
DISAGREEING PHYSICIANS.

DISAGREEING PHYSICIANS.
Treatment Recommended to a Man in
Search of Health-"When Doctors Dis.
agree' 1t Is Sometimes Bad for the
[ Patient-The Result.
In the month of August, 1882, I came down
from Engelberg to Luzerne. The next day l
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 a 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
a perfect type of German professor-re-
ceived me cordially, auscultated my lungs
with care and pronounced the following
opinion Said he: ''You are not very sick
man and, with prudence, ought to live to old
age. I 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 filed me with concern.
I feared that such violent shock might in
duce hemorrhage The same night wrote
particulars of this interview with request
for advice to DR.. Messing, a clever physi-
clan of Meran, Tyrol, who knew my condi-
tion perfectly. Three days later came the
Geographic 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. heard SO
much of the ability Of a 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 undoubtedly advised against
the douche business. A day or two after
had my chest thumped by Dr. Kanmerer, a
physician of reputation He opposed the
douche idea most decidedly. Said he: sit
can only do you harm. You eat well, sleep
well, feel well and, to all practical purposes,
are well Be satisfied 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, I left the train
ot tbo Itf1a ctotia 1U1aa ~,
Falkenstein. l was curious to inspect the
great Sanitarium and to meet the eminent
Professor Dettweiler. Soon after arriving l
had the professor pronounce on my condi-
ton, 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 a fine water cure
establishment was conducted at Baden
Baden; that 1 should call in DIR. Schliep, a
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 sent for DR.. Schliep-a bright, wide
awake young man, who has hobby that the
majority of lung and throat diseases origin
ate from breathing through the mouth 1
explained to him all that Dettweiler had said.
He examined me attentively, then asked
what form of bath I was in the habit of tax
ing. answered that for many years I had
taken daily cold sponge bath, followed by
vigorous massage. ''That," said DR.. Schliep,
sis all you need. I see no necessity for any
violent douches in your case' Cheated
again!
spent part of the winter in Mentone. 1
laid the case before DIR. 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,
Russian physician. He most emphatica1ly
believed in the treatment, and urged me to
go to Divonne. Then l went to Nice and
consulted Dr. Drunmond Scotchman He
just as emphatically, with the broadcast
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 had pondered on
the subject some two years, and SO finally
decided that 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. explained to him the original sug-
gestion of Professor Kussmaul, that a very
violent cold water shock should be made to
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 catarrhal
affection"
Comment unnecessary. Did follow the
treatment? Yes, for five weeks. Did it bene-
fit me2 No! 1t robbed me of flesh and
vitality, which it took me two years to re-
gain-Louis R. Enrich in New York Tri-
bune