Account of the bathing seasons, 1854 and 1855 / by P. M. Mess.

  • Mess, Pieter Marinus.
Date:
[1855]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Account of the bathing seasons, 1854 and 1855 / by P. M. Mess. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    organs of respiration, of two young men, one 21, and the other 22 years old, both with tuberculosis of the lungs. They resided during ten Aveeks in the establishment, with no sanction from me for a plan which was in reality opposed to my views. But, as they did not consult me, and as they so acted by the recommendation of their physician, I followed my custom, not to offer advice where advice was not asked. The issue of this residence was, that the former died of haamoptysis two months afterwards, and the latter, who re- turned, to the establishment in the following year, died during the winter. And whilst I now write, I leam the death of a third patient, who, in the same unfavourable condition, followed the cure in the last season. Among the neuralgice occurred the case of a man, suffering from a vehement neuralgia supra-orbitalis.^ This affection, which at the beginning of the cure improved, and at the end might be judged recovered, must still remain longer under observation, in order to justify a decision. A year later, however, I received a letter from him, stating that the neuralgic pain had not then returned. Several interesting circumstances attended the convalescence of a lady 18 years old.- Her illness had already lasted five years, accom- panied by somnambulismus, epilepsy, erethismus nei'vosus. It was before omitted to mention a pain seated in the bursa mucosa, below the ligament of the patella. This pain was so intense, that neither could a touch be endured, nor was the patient able to stand unsup- ported, and she was therefore compelled to employ crutches. She returned a second year. The epileptic attacks had disappeared, ant the general nutrition was very much improved : the knee, however was in the same state, and she still required crutches. She prog nosticated that in two days the pain would cease. At the fixec day, she took a bath, and had scarcely entered the water, when she was suddenly seized with violent spasms in the affected leg. The pain in the knee, which had continued there for about three years disappeared, and the sole of the foot touched the floor. On tht same day, she complained of severe pain in the eye of the same sidt as the affected knee. The conjunctiva of the eye became red accompanied by an abundant epi])hora; but eight days afterward; this symptom had also subsided. The pain in the knee did not re^ turn ; she ceased to require her crutches ; the universal convalescenct made great progress ; and the parents judged a repetition of the sea bathing cure in the following year superfluous, althougli this wouk have been more prudent, to improve her ercthlsnms nervosxis. In tliii case, her presentiment of what should happen nn'ght seem very rem ark able, and her parents -were inclined to impute to it the significanc< of a wonderful or preternatural event. But, when we reflect on hei earlier state of soranambulismus, followed by epilepsy, which hac left a high nervous excitement, such singular phenomena lose theii ' Loco citato. ^ See the third part of the Report, Daa die Chlorosc, etc