Lecture on the progress and success of the Droitwich brine baths : with a short history of cases and their treatment / by Mr. Bainbrigge.

  • Bainbrigge, William Henry, 1806-1884.
Date:
[1877]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Lecture on the progress and success of the Droitwich brine baths : with a short history of cases and their treatment / by Mr. Bainbrigge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    external skin in absorbing, not only their gaseous products, but the various saline particles held in solution, and hence arises improved general circulation from increased capillary action. The Baths also lessen the solids and the blood corpuscles, increase the proportion of water, and it is in this way that Gout, with or without Rheumatism, Rheumatism, and Rheumatic enlargements with stiffened joints, are decreased and modified, and all the natural secretions vigorously augmented, I have had cases where every joint in the body has been affected, the patients unable even to stand or walk, or even use their fingers, from excessive pain. The account these patients give is, “ Medicines relieved me at first but failed to do any permanent good, and months and years passed away and I became a confirmed cripple.” These cases, most distressing to the anxious practitioner, as well as pr(-)ducing intense suffering to to the patient, have been greatly benefitted and enabled to walk from the use of the Baths, and it is truly gratifying to find that these Brine Baths have the power of producing such wonderful amelioration under such distressing circumstances. Next in my list stands Paralysis, a feai'ful spectre in the shape of disease. The aged, middle aged, and youth, struck motionless and helpless almost without any apparent cause, a sad spectacle to beholding friends, rendered more so life being often un- disturbed for years. Patients labouring under partial paralysis fr’om variety of causes have been more numerous. Here the Baths were most efficient, and proved their wonderful tonicity in restoring the loss of nerve power. The remaining cases. Diabetes three, accidental causes not affecting health three, and 41 cases suffering from General Derangement with various symptoms I shall only briefly allude to. The three former Avere very serious cases, and these had previously been under the care of other professional men. On examination, these patients presented evident symptoms of Diabetes. After some Baths their general appearance showed marked improvement, the symptoms gradually disappeared, and in a feAv Aveeks they Avere enabled to return to their homes quite Avell. I do not hesitate to affirm after careful consideration (though others may differ Avith me), that in these cases a vicarious
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