The water-cure manual : a popular work, embracing descriptions of the various modes of bathing, the hygienic and curative effects of air, exercise, clothing, occupation, diet, water-drinking, &c. : together with descriptions of diseases, and the hydropathic means to be employed therein, illustrated with cases of treatment and cure containing, also, a fine engraving of Priessnitz / by Joel Shew, M.D., practitioner of water-cure.

  • Shew, Joel, 1816-1855.
Date:
1849, ©1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The water-cure manual : a popular work, embracing descriptions of the various modes of bathing, the hygienic and curative effects of air, exercise, clothing, occupation, diet, water-drinking, &c. : together with descriptions of diseases, and the hydropathic means to be employed therein, illustrated with cases of treatment and cure containing, also, a fine engraving of Priessnitz / by Joel Shew, M.D., practitioner of water-cure. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    if for no other, it will be more generally used. A simple apparatus, however, is quite sufficient for giving the best of vapor baths. From a small covered boiler, a tin, or other pipe, is made to pass to the lower part of a box, or under a chair, when the patient wishes to sit. By having a hole and fastened funnel in the cover of the boiler, the vapor may be diminished or increased, as may be required. The head is left out in the cool air, the cooler the bet- ter, and water may be put upon the part. Rushing of blood is thus prevented, if the vapor is not made too hot. Some dexterity is needed in these matters, and then every thing acts like a charm. Many think the vapor bath must always cause one to sweat. The simple warming of the surface is highly ben- eficial, preceding the cold bath. The warmer the surface, if the system be not weakened thereby, the more salutary is the action of the cold, and the better it is borne. In cases where real sweating is needed, the vapor bath, properly used, is one of the best possible modes. By alterations from cold to warmth, and the reverse, strong and salutary impressions upon the system may be made. Thus, if a cold bath is taken, then instantly a' vapor, and then again, a cold one, to be followed by exercise, strong work may be done. Boils and eruptions are thus often made to appear. We need more scientific experiments of this kind before we can determine accurately how much good may be done in this way. Why does the vapor bath act only skin deep, as has been said by objectors ? Because it is made too violent, and is, therefore, necessarily continued but a very short time. Make it moderate in temperature, and you may parboil and blanch the system as effectually by the vapor bath as by the wet sheet. I trust I shall now be understood on the subject of the va- por bath. It is a warming means, a sweating means, and a killing means, not more than the sweating blanket or the envelopement in the wet sheets. Persons have been made to swoon in the vapor bath, and so, also, in the blanket and the sheet. The improper use of, or the remaining too long