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 of treatment. Intended for popular use

Front matter

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Preface To The Third German Edition

BY THE AUTHOR.

Since I wrote my first hydriatie pamphlet, eight years have elapsed. The enthusiasm fur the creation of Priessnitz, which seizes every one who succeeds in finding the way into this new intellectual world, at that time guided my pen. Enthusiasm is in its nature glowing but fleeting ; it ceases to glow in time, and is quite extinguished, or it cools and hardens into a steadfast conviction, which must be rooted as well in experience as in reason and science. To such n, conviction has my experience cooled and hardened in these eight years. The experience which I have collected in that period, first in private practice, and then in the establishments founded and directed by me, has furnished me with proofs that hydropathy is the only right method of cure, and that the theory of it, and of pathology, which I have laid down, is in all essential points true.

On the other hand, my experience, and the zealous inquiries of these eight years, have strengthened my conviction, that however hardly I had judged of the medicinal method of cure, I have done it no injustice, and have been guilty of no exaggeration. I am satisfied that in all diseases medicinal remedies can only produce increased mischief, although in acute diseases they may frequently appear to be useful ; and I am further convinced that there is no disease, and no case of disease, in which water will not be of essential service.

This book contains physiological and pathological proofs that medicinal treatment must always inflict injury. It contains also the outlines of a new system of pathology, which is deduced as well from the results of the new method of cure, as from acknowledged physiological principles. Proofs are moreover adduced, that the pathology and therapeutics of physicians are in contradiction to that physiology which they themselves recognize and teach, and that my pathology contains nothing that is not a logical conclusion from known physiological principles.

Few readers will require to be warned that this book is no system of therapeutics, or imagine that with its assistance alone they can conduct water-cures. But many people, as soon as they have acquired confidence in the water-cure, think they may begin its practice at once, imagining that no special knowledge or experience is required for it. This is a dangerous error, which has already produced much mischief, as well to mankind as to the science. Even under the guidance of an hydro-

VI EXTRACTS FROM GERMAN PREFACE.

pafhist at a distance, the result of the cure is doubtful, since misconceptions of many kinds cannot fail to occur. When by such misconceptions an aggravation of the complaint instead of a cure is the result, the patient blames the water, which brings the science into discredit.

Such misconceptions can only be obviated by a hand-book of hydrotherapeutics, which shall exhaust the subject and be available for general use. I am now engaged in the composition of such a hand-book, and hope, in the course of the year 1849, to lay before the public the first part of it, comprising the treatment of acute diseases.*

To prevent my being accused of general or indiscriminate censure, I must here remark, that when in this work I speak of physicians in general, and of the incorrigible nature of their errors and prejudices, I by no means mean, by this general mode of expression, to say, that there are not honorable exceptions. In all professions common minds form the great majority. In all professions there are some noble-minded men to whom truth is of more value than their own interest. Many physicians who love and and acknowledge truth have come over from medicine to water, and these conversions will, in future, become more common.

H. F.

Stuer, December, 1845.

* This book had. unfortunately, advanced no further than the Introduction when the melancholy event already alluded to took place.

Part I

sect. page

Outlines of Pathology 1

A. Assimilative and secretive powers in general . . . . 11

B. Appropriative and secretive powers of animal organisms in par-

C. What is instinct 1 . .17

D. Definition of the terms, health and disease . . . .23

E. Division of the causes of disease into classes .... 24

F. Classification of diseases themselves — various rules for classifica-

G. Symptoms of diseases and classification thereof .... 28 H. Proofs of the materiality of the causes of disease . . .29 I. Proofs of the correctness of the division of diseases into curative

and destructive 38

K. What is poison ? What is medicine ?...... 40

L. On the effects of cold water on the human organism in general . 51

M. Primary or curative diseases ....... 54

1. Mode of origin in general . 54

2. Hydriatic cure of'primary disease . .... 55

3. Medicinal cure of primary disease ..... 55

4. The normal stomach ........ 57

5. Primary diseases of the stomach in general ... 60

6. Cure of primary disease of the digestive organs in general . 62

7. Nausea and vomiting — diarrhoea 62

8. Sliming up of morhid matter, particularly of poisonous sub-

9. Nature and object of fever .... 74

10. The internal process of taking cold 77

11. Cold drink when overheated 80

12. Dysentery . 81

13. Cholera 85

14. Primary inflammatory diseases in general . . . .88

15. Inflammation of the eyes — of the brain — of the neck (croup)

— of the lungs 94

16. Cough and catarrh 99

17. Intermittent fever 100

18. Concluding remarks on primary disease .... 103 N. Secondary or destructive diseases .... . 104

1. General preliminary remarks 104

2. The mode of origin and three stages of secondary diseases . 105

3. Cure of secondary disease ....... 108

4. Want of appetite — heartburn and eructation — hard and slug-

gish stools — false mucous obstruction — worms . . . 110

5. Exhausting diarrhoea — true mucous obstruction — indurations of

slime, and indurations in the walls of the digestive canal — chronic inflammation, or suppuration in the digestive canal — cancer of the stomach . . . . . . .113

Vlll

CONTENTS.

and suicidal

6. Mucous fever — nervous fever — putrid fever

7. Nervous pains (neuralgia) — cramps

8. Hypochondria and hysteria — disgust for life,

mania . . • •

9. Rheumatism .

10. Gout

11. Chlorosis — scrofula — rickets

12. Hemorrhoids .

13. Aneurism, varicocele, varicose sores

14. Sleeplessness . .

15. Lingering fever— chronic night-sweats— dropsy

16. Concluding remarks on secondary diseases Q. Contagious diseases . ... p\ External or surgical diseases Q,. Critical occurrences in the, water-cure R. What diseases are curable by the water-cure 1 . £■>. Challenge to pliysicians

Additional Chapter.— On the lodgment of hardened mucus in the : walls of the digestive canals

PAGE

124 128

PART II. Observations on the Errors usually committed in the Employ

menT'OF Water as a Remedy . . 187

Sect. I. Employment of medicines and abstraction of blood in the

II. Mistakes in distinguishing the applicability of strengthening

cures and radical cures . .... 194

III. Injurious influences during the water-cure. . . . 197

IV. Injurious occupations during the water-cure . . . 203 V. Employment of water of a wrong temperature . . 205

VI. Errors in regard to the number and duration of baths, and

also the quantity of drink . ... 210

1. Full-baths 212

2. Bathing the whole body 213

3. Sitz-baths 213

7. Clysters 218

VII. Errors in regard to clothing and temperature of rooms . 225

Appendix A. The best diet . . ... 231 Clothing . . ... 235

Baths 235

B. The best season for the water-cure. .... 235

C. Cases illustrative of the treatment of mucous obstruc-

tion 236

D. Note on the treatment of cholera by cold water . .239

Part III

critiftue on the hydropathic method of treatment of v. priessnitz, at graefenberg, with prefatory remarks by the Translator 241

Part I. Outlines Of A New Theory Of Disease, Applied To Hydropathy

Hor. Epist.

OUTLINES

NEW TI EORY OF DISEASE.

A.

ASSIMILATIVE AND SECRETIVE POWERS IN GENERAL.

The power of appropriation, of assimilating foreign matter, of making it part of the body, is the fundamental groundwork, on which the system of nature is built.

This impulse, this power is the first, not only in all organic but also in all elementary bodies.*

In the beginning the earth was a motionless rock ; on it air and water exercised their power of decomposition.

Assimilation is only possible through decomposition. In order to assimilate, air and water decomposed the earth-crust; thus arose the weather-beaten surface, capable of producing and nourishing organic beings.

As these beings, animals and plants, were destined to live in a world in which the elements continually exercise, on all substances, their power of decomposition and assimilation, so was it necessary from the beginning that in organic beings the same power should develop itself as guardian, as first and fundamental power.

Proofs of the impulse to assimilation in the elements are, among others — air decomposes water into vapor, in order to appropriate to itself gases therefrom ; water, again, absorbs carbonic acid gas from the air ; fire devours the oxygen of the air, it dissolves water into its two fundamental constituents, — hydrogen and oxygen, and

* The words " elementary bodies," " elements," are here used in their older popular sense, in which they signify water, air, earth, fire ; not in the chemical sense, in which they signify chemically undecomposable substances in contradistinction to compound or decomposable.

thus, while it makes them into flame, it converts water into fire ; air swallows up many gases which fire sets free out of burning substances, and the air sucks gases out of the clod, the clod swallows oxygen out of the air. Thus are the elements in constant conflict with each other ; each would wish to decompose the other, and appropriate its substance to itself.

Proofs of the conflict of assimilation between the elements and organisms are, — organic bodies draw oxygen from the air into themselves by the process of respiration, which is also inherent in all plants ; the latter by the suction of their roots, animals by eating these plants draw into their own substance all that is assimilable in the earth. Vice versa, fire decomposes and assimilates to itself all organisms, and their products ; the same is attempted on organic bodies by water and air, but is on]j partially attained during their lives by appropriation of their transpiration, entirely however after their death. The earth exercises this power on living organisms only conditionally and partially, namely, while they reside in the earth ; as, for example, many animals do, and as is done by all plant-roots. The earth exercises this power on man, usually, only when he is dead, unless it be on those who use Dr. Graham's earth-baths, which Lichtenberg reckons as a part of the materia medica, perhaps because they sometimes do no harm.

Somewhat, however, of this power is exercised by the earth on those living men, who in the savage state reside in caves, or sleep on the bare ground ; to this category belong especially most of the tribes in New Holland.

This power is a co-operating cause why, with us in the country, excitement often follows sleep on the bare earth, even when no catching cold comes into play ; and when this is treated by the medicinal regime, it often degenerates into a real illness. We are accustomed to say, therefore, that the exhalations of the earth are unwholesome, but they are so only for the enervated, and those who are weaned from nature.

Proofs of the assimilative conflict between organisms themselves are, animals eat each other, and eat plants, ;'. e., they appropriate to themselves, with the help of the stomach, so much of their substance as is assimilable. Plants, again, convert many parts of dead animals and plants, in the shape of manure, into their own substance.

Besides this power of assimilation, and that of reaction against external attempts at decomposition, every being, element, and organism requires to be exposed to the operation of foreign assimilating influences.

This is the fundamental position of the true doctrine of healing.

Froofs of this position are ; — water stagnates and rots, when it is withdrawn from the decomposing power of air in motion ; air loses its oxygen and becomes azote, when it finds no water, and no plants with which it can reciprocally contend for decomposition and assimilation ; animals and plants get sick and die when their surfaces are covered, so that neither air nor water can act decomposingly on them.

When nourishment is withdrawn from an organic body, that is, when it loses the opportunity of appropriating to itself foreign substances, death follows from want of the efflux of juices (sap, blood) ; when on the other hand this body is withdrawn from the operation of external decomposing powers, sickness follows through stagnation and corruption of the juices from want of separation of the excretive fluids by the power of external assimilation.*

B.

APPROPRIATE AND SECRETIVE POWERS OF ANIMAL ORGANISMS IN PARTICULAR.

The essence of vitality (powers of life) in general is as yet undiscovered, still less the separation of vitality into genera, species, and individuals.

Single powers and processes of vitality in different species of beings, as for instance in the plants and animals of the earth, have been investigated, and we are accxistomed to call the systematically

* The opponents of hydropathy will perhaps try to turn this fundamental proposition into a proof against it by saying, that in the conflict with the decomposing power of water, the powers of life are sooner exhausted than under the dry regime. This would be true if we used water continually in superfluity, which however is scarcely possible, as instinct opposes itself decidedly to this. Mouth and skin defend themselves equally against this excess, and indicate quite unmistakably and much more justly than the best water-doctor, the fitting number of baths and the quantity of drink, so soon as by the operation of the water-cure the ruined nerves of instinct are again brougbir into life and activity. , foes,

.ole, therearranged doctrine of these processes, the physiology of plants and animals.

Among the hitherto known laws of physiology (we have only to do here with that of animals), one of the most generally important, and in regard to the art of healing decidedly the first, is the law of appropriation (assimilation) and separation (excretion). A necessary consequence of this law is the replacement of matter in animal bodies, which replacement extends itself even into the innermost and firmest parts, into the very bones ; i. e., all parts of the animal body take up, daily, foreign matter and convert it into their own property, they make it like themselves, hence the word " assimilate ;" in like manner these bodies throw out daily something from their own substance, and in this way renew by degrees their entire contents.

Learned natural historians have brought forward learned proofs of the existence of the law in question, which, however, to the time thinker, are quite superfluous, as the single unlearned perception, that no animal organism can remain alive without nourishment (i. e., can maintain itself, independent in its individuality, separated from the external world), gives the thinker the proof of the law of assimilation and secretion, and therewith of that of the replacement of matter in animal bodies.

For, if no part of the nourishment of animals passed into their substance, the whole of it would pass out again, unused, and would be superfluous; and consequently the many sufferings which arise from the want of, and the struggle for, nourishment, might have been spared them. This, however, is impossible, as in nature there is no contradictory law. If, however, much of the nourishment passes into the substance of the animal body, so, on the other hand, much must go out of it, as otherwise the body would, up to its death, be continually increasing as much in weight as it assimilates nourishment to itself. The secretions must, however, be distinguished into those which consist of unused, useless nourishing matter, and those which consist of matter separated from its own organism.

As, however, I live in an age more learned than reflecting I

must here put down some learned proofs of the replacement of

matter in animals. Readers who do not care about learnino- will

t>ass this over.

externa. ^ n ana tomical researches, certain differences between older

iger bodies strike the eye distinctly ; namely, an increase of earthy and fibrous matter, and a diminution of gluten and moisture. This difference does not arise exceptionally from disease, but normally, and always from age.

2. The bones of animals become red when they are fed on madder.

3. The roots of the milk-teeth disappear.

4. The bones, in old age, diminish in circumference and weight.

5. Cartilage passes into bone, losing thereby a portion of its bulk.

The proof of the manner in which solid parts of animal bodies are turned into fluid, is not more difficult than the explanation of how solid parts are prepared from fluids ; this last strikes the eye most strongly in the increase of the bones during the age of growth, being undoubtedly concocted, mediately and immediately, from blood.

The conversion of fluids into solids happens thus : at the extremities of the arteries, where they deposit serum in the fibres, the blood parts with its oxygen, which converts the fluid serum into solid matter.

The conversion of solid into fluid happens in the following way : the absorbents, or lymphatic veins, soften hard substances by damping them and then sucking them up ; they carry the absorbed fluids out of the branches into the trunks, and empty themselves, through the main trunk of the absorbents (thoracic duct) in the posterior part of the thorax, into the left subclavian vein. After solid matters have in this way been made fluid, and been brought into the above-named veins, there occurs the excretion of the fluid through the organ of the skin, and further, by the assistance of glands, out of the orbits, the ears, and the nose, partly likewise through the bladder and rectum.

The processes, also, by which on the one side the formation, nourishment, and increase of the bones, on the other hand the removal of their separated parts, are carried on, have already been followed up,,and investigated in all their details by learned physiologists.

Numerous experiments, which are also confirmed by Troja's method, have proved that the formation, increase, and nourishment of the bones are carried on by the outer periosteum, but that absorption takes place by the inner or marrow skin. The following facts have relation to this : — -

1. After destruction of the marrow skin, the corresponding ' & , '

of bone dies away, whereupon a new marrow skin and a new piece of bone are produced.

2. The latter forms itself between the new marrow skin and the periosteum.

3. These two make together only one single very thick skin divisible into lamina.

4. The new marrow skin separates itself by degrees from the periosteum, by interposition of the new bone.

5. The texture of the marrow skin, at first very thick and dense, becomes gradually thinner, filled with fluids, and finally quite similar to the original skin.

6. The inner stratum of the new marrow skin, which exhibits alternate cavities and eminences, dissolves and destroys the old bone and absorbs it entirely. If we separate, with the point of a knife, the medullary skin of the end of an amputated bone next the body, the un-injured periosteum swells up ; a stratum of cartilage arises on the outer surface of the periosteum, is intimately connected with it, and out of it the new bone proceeds.

The transposition of matter in organic beings, as well as in the elements, is an evident truth, which, so far as I know, since the discovery of this law, has never been disputed by any natural historian. This transposition in organic bodies is only possible by rendering fluid what is solid ; on the other hand, by changing fluid into solid. This unceasingly succeeding transposition can onl)' be effected by oxygen and hydrogen, as oxygen hardens fluids ; and hydrogen softens hard substances, as has been proved by many concurring researches and experiments ; among others, by the discovery first made at St. Petersburg, by Dr. Curssel, that muscular flesh hardens at the oxygenic-pole of the galvanic circle, and softens at the hydrogenic. Curssel has proved the dissolving power of the hydrogenic-pole, and the drying, hardening power of the oxygenic on many other substances.

From these premises, we now make the following deductions : — 1. Water, as is well known, consists of oxygen and hydrogen. 2. It follows, that these constituent parts effect the transposition of matter in organic bodies. 3. It follows, finally, that the undisturbed and normal transposition of matter is the fundamental condition of the life and health of organic beings. From these three DiJata taken together we arrive at the deduction, that water is the extern- - lt ' a ^ foundation °f health, and principal healing substance for

OUTLINES OF A NEW THEORY Or DISEASE. 17

organic bodies, and therewith that the water-cure is the only true one, firmly and eternally founded on nature.

Those who by means of what precedes are not yet in a condition to fill up the small intervening links of the adduced, deductive reasoning, will find below these intervening links, and therewith the detailed proof of the conclusion arrived at.

WHAT IS INSTINCT?

The law of assimilation and secretion which governs, certainly the terrestrial creation, and probably the whole universe, brings forth numerous collisions and conflicts to procure matter for assimilation, among the different beings inhabiting it. The very existence of animals of prey in the animal kingdom is a consequence of this law. Most important also are its philosophical consequences, particularly for the justification of optimism ; — but this does not belong to this book.

To bring these collisions and combats for assimilation into accordance with the persistence and the propagation of races was, beyond doubt, one of the most important tasks for the creative principle, which has been solved with the most lofty, most admirable wisdom.

A host of dangers, from all sides and from all provinces of nature, threaten the existence of the young inexperienced animal (we shall now only consider this division of beings). How was it possible to impart to it protection against these dangers, as experience and knowledge are not innate ? The assertion that the parents protect the young until maturity is, for many reasons, quite untenable. First, the fact is incorrect ; in the natural state, the parents never remain with the young until maturity, and a host of animals never see their progenitors ; namely, fishes, insects, and amphibia, which spring from eggs left by their parents to be hatched by the sun.

What a host of dangers for animals already lurks in the vegetable kingdom, from the presence of poisons ! What a still greater host in the animal kingdom, from the presence of assimilating foes, commonly called predatory animals ! How was it possible, therefore, in a creation where the law of assimilation dominates, to insure the persistence of species ? It is only possible through instinct, which is implanted in animals by nature.

What is instinct ?

This is a question full of meaning ; the correct answer to which gives into our hands the proofs of the false and the lost in most of the throes and births of civilization among mankind, from the beginning of history to the latest times.

What is instinct ?

This is an embarrassing question, which the learned of all ages have answered very differently, and the greater part of these highly learned explanations have, in the literal sense, been without sense.

What is instinct ?

Ah ! that is so simple, so easy a question, that every plain and unperverted understanding must always give the same answer to it. Instinct is a pure sensual power (faculty) in all creatures, to distinguish by their sensations, agreeable or disagreeable, what is suitable to health and life, from what is injurious to both ; to seek the former and fly from the latter.

Not only has man this sensual power in common with animals, but of absolute necessity every animal organism in every star of the universe must have this power, if, as on earth, the law of assimilation and excretion prevails thereon.

Why does the new-born infant whimper for the mother's breast ? He has a desire for it, because he needs it to support life ; this is already instinct. Why are the smell and the taste of all poisons repugnant and unpleasant to the man of nature? To preserve him from their deadly effects through instinct. Even among civilized men there are still remnants of instinct. There is no poison, which, when unmixed with well-tasted substances, does not inspire every palate with disgust and fear, and impels it to reject it. Truly, indeed, when, a little poison is combined with a larce quantity of wholesome matter, such as alcohol in wine mixed with the precious fruit-juice and sugar, then can the palate, at least the already corrupted, be deceived. The natural palate, on the first humefaction with any intoxicating liquor, is alarmed ; for all sailors and discoverers, with one accord, assure us that every savage spits out, or at least swallows with reluctance and disgust the first mouthful of intoxicating liquor. This is stated by all voyao-ers in the South Sea — Cook, Bougainville, Dumont, d' Urville, &c.

Truly is the first -warning of instinct soon overcome by intoxicating drinks ; the instinct-nerves are soon poisoned and the tippler is formed. That all savages, after long intercouse with Europeans, learn to combat this warning and to drink, is the consequence of their idolatrous respect for the thunder-gods, whom they seek to imitate in all things. Further, man and every animal to whom poisonous snakes are hurtful, feel instinctively, without help of experience or previous warning, a shuddering fear, a deadly anxiety, at the aspect of all such snakes, and either fly or cautiously kill them. On the other hand a pig, whom their bite does not injure, shows no fear, but seeks out and devours snakes as he does larvae or acorns ; so also the stork and crane. Proud king lion flies from the scorpion : in a cage he trembles before it, and crouches timidly in the farthest corner.

All warnings of instinct are purely innate and require no cultivation from experience, which builds up cunning. Instinct confines itself to absolute life-questions, and is absolutely infallible. Cunning presumes to look farther, investigates, and is very fallible.

As instinct is absolutely infallible, so is it absolutely necessary for the persistence of the species ; every species of animal which has corrupted and killed instinct in itself is the prey of destruction ; and it does not require much acuteness to perceive that the human race is ripening, or rotting, for destruction ; salvation is only practicable if it reconquers for itself instinct and nature, which is yet possible.

At all events the race has many centuries before it previous to its extinction, though any race of mere animals would have died out in much shorter time had it renounced instinct ; for throughout the whole chain of animal organization, the law holds good that the more perfect a species is in corporeal respects, in the same degree has it a more confined instinct, though at the same time it has a more extended capacity for cunning, for intellectual and voluntary functions : so that it finds in this last capacity a substitute, though a very deceitful one, for suppressed instinct. In the most intimate accord and connection with this first law stands the second — that the senses are less trustworthy for the guidance of instinct in proportion as they are nobler, more intellectual, and more extendedly perceptive ; accordingly, in this order : feeling and taste nearly alike, then smell, hearing, sight. Of this an explanatory proof : — The young hare can sometimes be entrapped by the fox, when the latter dances round it in artfully imitated hare-fashion, so long as the little hare is counselled by no other sense than sight ; so soon, however, as it hears the voice of the rapacious beast, or smells him, it is undeceived, and makes its escape if it is yet time. On this account the old fox always tries to remain to leeward. This is already cunning, of which animals of the higher order are decidedly capable, and that often to an astonishing degree ; but more of this does not come in here.

With these and similar fundamental traits in the essential constitution of animal organism, learned natural historians have but little occupied themselves. So much the worse !

From the explanation given of the nature of instinct, and the law of assimilation and secretion taken together, it follows that the means of keeping themselves alive and in health by their bodily impulses must have been revealed (imparted) to animals. Likewise, on approaching sickness, must the means of cure have been indicated to them by the same instinct. This follows as a consequence of the first ; it is, however, equally a postulate of reason, that to the creatures of a rational creation the capability of a rkriit choice of the means necessary to their welfare, must have been imparted in an infallible shape. This capability must have been imparted, in like manner, to all grades of the animal creation, and therefore it must consist in a revelation to the sensual feelings, not however in a function of intellectual activity, or in a result of experience, still less of real education.