The Montreal Medical Journal (Volume 12) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1884 Excerpt: ... Extracts from British and Foreign Journals. Unless otherwise stated the translations are made specially for this Journal. The Therapeutic Use of Hot Water taken Internally.--This is the subject of a very interesting article by Dr. Ephraim Cutter in Gaillarcfs Medical Journal. The article starts out with a remmS of the history of this therapeutic measure. It originated in 1858 with Dr. James N. Salisbury, who undertook a series of extended experiments with a view to demonstrating the correctness of the theory on the strength of which the practice is based. Its object is to remove from the stomach the results of processes complicating digestion, but not necessarily a part of it, the principal of these processes being fermentation. The results of fermentation in the stomach are acetic, butyric, hydrosulphuric, lactic and saccharic acids, and sulphide of ammonium, vegetations and yeasts. The absorption of these gives rise to a variety of constitutional disturbances, which may even result in organic trouble, the seat of this organic trouble being the lungs, the liver and the kidneys, or other organs. It is probably generally well known, that Dr. Salisbury associates the absorption of these products of fermentation very directly with the causation of phthisis pulmonalis, and it is upon the assumption of this connection of cause and effect that he bases his well-known treatment of this disease by raw meat diet and copious washings of the stomach with hot water. Dr. Cutter is an enthusiastic disciple of Dr. Salisbury, and has done probably more than Dr. Salisbury himself to familiarize the profession with the latter's peculiar views and practices. Tho article gives explicit directions for the carrying out of this hot water treatment. 1. The water must be hot--not ...