Page:The American improved family physician, or home doctor.djvu/14

8 say let every patient drink as little water as possible while eating, but in one hour after eating; then is the time the patient ought to drink a good deal more water than he has thirst for, say for instance from five to ten tumblers more than his thirst demands a day. There are some diseases were fluids ought not to be taken into the stomach, (such as dropsy, &c.,) or rather not more than to quench the thirst.

Chest Wrapper.—This is advantageously employed in nearly all Chronic diseases of the Chest, as Consumption, Bronchitis, &c, &c. This is used in the following manner, take linen or toweling and make a jacket, and this one must be wetted, and make one of the same pattern of flannel, to cover the wet or linen one, the last one or flannel one, ought to be pretty thick or double; these must be always worn as tight as the patient can bear it. Changed three or four times a day.

Hip or Sitz Bath.—The sitting-bath answers the indications of Tonic, Sedative, &c. It is very excellent in weakness, irregularity, obstruction and torpor of the lower organs of the Pelvis and Abdomen. (For instance in bowel complaints, they are infallible remedies; also, Leucorrhoea or Whites in females, &c.) Any common wash-tub will answer the purpose; if a common wash-tub is used the back side ought to be raised a few inches by laying a piece of wood under, to make it a little more comfortable. The water as a general rule should cover the hips and lower portion of the abdomen. It must be used of all temperatures, from very cold to very warm, according to the case; and the time of application varies from five to thirty minutes. The best effect as a Tonic or strengthening remedy are of short duration, and often repeated, say applied five to fifteen minutes. In cases where there are chills the very warm are indicated, and cold or tepid as a Tonic; a blanket must be thrown around the patient while sitting in the bath—and he ought to be almost continually rubbing his belly and back with his hand or hands. Do not forget the flannel or linen rubbing after he comes out of the bath.

Wet Sheet Packing.—These are very good in both Acute and Chronic diseases. In Chronic diseases where there is a deficiency of blood in the superficial and capillary vessels or pores, and an accumulation or enlargement in the large internal vessels, with consequent congestion in some one or more of the viscera. To reverse this condition, relieve the overburdened internal organs, and supply this deficient external circulation, the wet-sheet process, aided by the proper help, is the best known remedy. This process repeated day after day, and sometimes twice daily, at length fixes a quantity of blood in the blood-vessels of the entire skin, and thereby reduces the disproportionate quantity which was congested in the inner