Outlines of a New Theory of Disease; Applied to Hydropathy, Showing That Water Is the Only True Remedy. with Observations on the Errors Committed in the Practice of Hydropathy Notes on the Cure of Cholera by Cold Water and a Critique on Priessnitz's Mode (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.1849 Excerpt: ... the organism produces increased warmth of the cooled spot. This reaction is often called an after-effect of cold. If we expose any one part of the body much oftener than the rest to a short cooling, the flow of blood must thereby be gradually directed specially to this cooled spot, and habituated to remaining in it. By the increased afflux and efflux of the blood, the part, or the organ in question, must be specially nourished and warmed. For the law holds good, that the reaction always far exceeds in duration the first effect of cold shortly applied, and exceeds it also in strength when the organism is strong. The reaction in people of strong nerves is so much the stronger as the difference of temperature between the body and the cold is greater, and the more sudden the passage from warm to cold. It follows from this, that in cold we have in our hands a means of regulating, at pleasure, the circulation of the blood, and that where the cold is most applied, thither also the powers of the organization, its blood and heat, are mostly directed. The reaction against the cold of the air, however, is much less in proportion than that against cold water, because water, from its composition, exercises a more decomposing effect than air; and, therefore, an increased reaction, and greater afflux of blood, is called forth by cooling a part with Water than with air. Enervated people, inclined to rheumatism, can, for this reason, not be hardened by the coldness of air alone, but only in combination with that of water. People whose nerves are shattered can bear no considerable degree of cold, and must, therefore, use water much less cold than those with sound nerves. Air, water, cold, are also called excitants (stimulants), the favorite word of the doctors. It is in this...