A Medical Revival by John Harvey Kellogg

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 11, 1875

A Medical Revival.

By John Harvey Kellogg

AT a recent meeting of the New York Academy of Sciences, at which we chanced to be present, the learned president of the society, Dr. Austin Flint, read a paper on the “Researches of Currie, and Recent Views concerning the Medical Use of Cold Water.” The society met at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the capacious lecture room being well filled, the subject of the evening having been previously announced. The following is a brief summary of the chief points of the address:—

The use of water externally as a means of reducing the temperature of the body in disease has recently been coming quite prominently into notice. According to Liebermeister, a noted German medical author, Currie was the first to systematize the use of water. His work was published in 1797. Liebermeister, in his recent article on typhoid fever, accords to cold water the first place in importance as an article for reducing the temperature. The use of water for this purpose is at present attracting much attention; and it is safe to predict that it will soon occupy an important place as a remedial agent.

The author thought that although much harm had been done by the “rude empiricism” of Priessnitz, and the various water cures in the country, much good had also been accomplished by the latter institutions, and they had in a measure prepared the public mind for the general introduction of water as a remedial agent.

After the publication of the views of Currie in 1797, his method of practice, which was chiefly hydropathic, became quite general; but it was soon nearly forgotten. Trousseau recommended water treatment in scarlatina, and the use of the remedy has continued to be recommended in the text-books; but as a measure of treatment in practice, it has nearly become obsolete. It is, however, obvious that, unless we accept the absurd proposition that diseases have changed since Currie’s time, the remedy which he recommended so highly must be just as efficient now as then.

Dr. Currie made use of the cold douche in fevers, applying it vigorously to the patient while in the height of the fever, and continuing it until the temperature became decreased, as indicated by the thermometer and the pulse. He treated seven cases of continued fever by this method, at the Liverpool Infirmary. All recovered. In an epidemic of typhoid fever among a regiment of troops, he treated fifty-eight cases, using the cool or tepid douche in all but two cases. The latter died. The remaining fifty-six recovered, the disease being greatly shortened in more than half the cases.

Dr. Currie asserted that in small-pox the use of the bath afforded instant relief to the patient, and caused the disease to assume a benignant form.

He found the cold bath always effectual in tetanus and convulsions, as also in hysteria.

In temporary insanity from the use of liquor, this acute observer found that the cold plunge was a most efficient remedy for the worst cases.

But Dr. Currie’s practice was not confined to cold water. He observed that affusion with tepid water was not only a more pleasant application, but that it was even more effectual in reducing unnatural heat than cold water, as it produced no reaction, not being at all stimulating in character.

With regard to the efficacy of this agent, Dr. Currie stated that by its use in fevers the pulse would be reduced thirty or forty beats, with a corresponding decrease of temperature with almost immediate relief of headache.

In his second volume, published some six years after his first volume, Dr. Currie declared that although his experience in the use of water, especially in fevers, had been very extensive, he had had only four fatal cases in which water was employed, and had never met with a single evidence of its being in the least degree objectionable or injurious. Neither had he found that it had been thought to be objectionable by those whom he treated. He details a very interesting account of his treatment of scarlatina, in the cases of his two sons, aged, respectively, three and five years. He gave the older, in thirty-two hours, fourteen affusions, varying from cold to tepid. Twelve were found to be sufficient for the younger boy. Both became convalescent in three days.

It was clearly established by Currie that by the use of water, the course of typhoid fever might be abbreviated. This is not even claimed for the modern remedies in common use.

In referring to his own experience in the use of water, Dr. Flint remarked, “The relation of my own experience will of necessity be stated in a few words, as my employment of the remedy has heretofore been much more limited than it will be in the future if my life is spared.” He then related some very interesting cases in which water was employed as the chief remedy with the most excellent success. He also took occasion to recommend, as one of the best means of applying water in fevers, the wet-sheet pack as employed in the various hydropathic institutions of the country. He had used the continued cold pack in a number of the worst cases of sun-stroke, in Bellevue Hospital, with marked success. This remedy is still employed there in this class of cases.

In a case of obstinate remittent fever, which was not in the least benefited by quinine, he employed the cool pack thirty-five times in a week, continuing each from ten to thirty minutes, and always with great relief to the patient, although he finally died. He expressed the opinion that if he had employed the pack more thoroughly, continuing it longer, the patient might have recovered. Currie announced a true principle when he said that the voice of nature should not be superseded by theories. He advocated the free use of water as a beverage in febrile diseases as an important remedial agent. Dr. Flint unhesitatingly advanced the belief that the chief benefit derived from the numerous mineral waters, so largely used as beverages, was only that which was due to the properties of pure water. He stated as proof that it was not long since proved by chemical analysis that the only thing peculiar about the water of a certain spring, famous for medicinal virtues, was its remarkable purity. He also suggested the introduction of distilled water for drinking and cooking as a necessary sanitary measure.

Dr. F. then related a very remarkable case of acute inflammation of the kidneys in which the patient exhibited the characteristic symptoms of uræmic poisoning. Other remedies were tried in vain, and the patient’s life was saved by the simple administration of water in small quantities at short intervals. It soon washed away the poison and gave immediate relief.

After the conclusion of the paper, by Dr. Flint, the venerable Dr. Richards arose and gave a little of his experience in the use of water in treating disease. His ideas of hydropathy were obtained from Dr. Currie’s works when he was a young man. He adopted his practice at that time in an epidemic of typhoid fever, with such remarkable success as to astonish old practitioners. He stated that he had cured more than one hundred cases of obstinate constipation by simply directing the patient to drink a glass of cold water half an hour before breakfast each morning. In one of these cases the individual had not had a natural passage from the bowels for a number of years; but he was effectually cured by the simple remedy mentioned, in the course of a few months.

Dr. Loyle gave an interesting résumé of ten years’ experience in the use of water, with uniform success, especially in convulsions and scarlatina. He had employed water alone in about one hundred cases of acute nephritis and anasarca after scarlatina, and with wonderful success in every case. Had found it equally successful in coma, restoring consciousness when life was apparently extinct. During the late war he on one occasion renovated twenty ambulance loads of exhausted soldiers who had fallen on the march, by the judicious use of water. He recommended water most highly as an excellent diuretic, and a capital regulator of the bowels, far superior to “after dinner pills.” Commended it also as an efficient remedy for sun-stroke and frozen feet.

The sentiment of the audience, which was wholly composed of medical gentlemen, was shown by the hearty applause with which the remarks of each speaker were received. We did not fail to do our part in the cheering, and would warmly commend the good sense, honesty, and evident desire for truth, which led these eminent gentlemen to make so frank an avowal of a truth which, as hygienists, we all entertain,—J. H. K. in Health Reformer.