The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-12-08

mas brougnt Bucn . I8vorepte "
Spouse from several Of my valued
DR.. Clendening will answer
questions Of general interest
only, and then only through
his column.
readers who have urged me to
continue the discussion. that this
article 10 in the nature Of . by
request" contribution
Water can be used in treatment
by varying its modalities = hot
and cold. still and moving. and
the length Of time employed. A
cold stream Of water played on
the body forcibly from . hose has
. different effect from . hot bath
In the bath tub and almost endless
variations Of these simple modal
= ties can be used in various dis
eases.
II must be remembered also that
they can be used either for local
affections or for general condi-
tons. For instance, . hot pack on
an infected finger II an example
Of local treatment, and enveloping
the entire body in . wet pack over
night 10 an example Of general
treatment for the purpose Of in
ducing sleep and overcoming IA
tigue and nervousness.
Home Treatments
Il said In my previous article
that most effective hydrothers-
peutic procedures could be car
ried out In any American bath
room. There IL one, however,
which requires the facilities Of Q
hydrotherapeutic establishment
and where this 10 available, ]
strongly recommend IL.
That 10 the Scotch douche which
consists Of q stream Of cold water
and . stream Of hot water directed
on the naked body from. two hoses
ct the same time. know Of moth
ing that Il calculated 10 be mors
beneficial for the tired, nervous,
over-active business man in these
wartime days than . Scotch
douche.
The streams Of water can be
played, alternately hot and cold,
along the spine and over the rest
Of the body. The impingement ID
the water is stimulating to great
degree. You can just feel your
nerves straighten out with the re-
suit that every muscle in the body
Is relaxed and you can lie down
for few minutes before the appe-
tite comes surging for that dinner
that should make you Danish the
cares Of the day.
A6usion
A somewhat similar treatment
which results in somewhat the
same reactions In the body can Be-
carried out in your bathroom and
Is called affusion. Affusion is usu-
ally given with the patient sitting
In an empty bath tub. The bottom
Of the bath tub should be covered
with . bath towel A pitcher Of
water with . temperature Of 80
to So F. IL poured on the body
by the attendant who holds the
pitcher about head-high and with
appraised arm.
The simplicity Of the technious
Of the affusion idea has caused II
to be neglected for more compli-
Gated and spectacular forms of
treatment. It Is valuable in any
condition which is accompanied by
fatigue, nervous exhaustion and
characterized by loss of tong and
resistance.
The effect Of the affusion In not
the same as that Of q cold bath
and not the same as a cold shower.
The shock caused by q broad
stream Of cold water is the secret
OF its effectiveness. In the case of
the weak patient it is well TO be-
gin with warmer water and grad
ually reach the colder tempera-
ture. 1t can be carried out in the
evening before going to bed day
after day for many weeks in sue
cession.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
c. e. C.:-"What causes ST.
Vitus dance? Is it easily cured!"
Answer: st. vitus dance, which
the doctors call chorea, 10 an in
fictitious disease related to infiam-
matory rheumatism. It affects the
nervous system and causes the pa
tient to make continuous purpose
less movements. It responds very
well to treatment. An attack lasts
about two months.