An improvement in the mode of administering the vapour bath, and in the apparatus connected with it; with plans of fixed and portable baths for hospitals and private houses, and some practical suggestions on the efficacy of vapour, in application to various diseases of the human frame, and as may be beneficial to the veterinary branch of medecine [sic].

Date:: 1809

Credit: An improvement in the mode of administering the vapour bath, and in the apparatus connected with it; with plans of fixed and portable baths for hospitals and private houses, and some practical suggestions on the efficacy of vapour, in application to various diseases of the human frame, and as may be beneficial to the veterinary branch of medecine [sic]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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[ 535 ] fever, with all it's concomitant symptoms, was subdued ; the pains iii her head, complaints in her stomach, and disordered state of the bowels, were entirely renroved ; her appetite returned, she gained strength daily, and visibly grew better; but the incontinence of urine was just the same. It is needless to say, how miserable the unfortunate patient must be in such a situation. Every kind of prescription, which seemed likely to reviv'e the tonic powers of the organ, sheath it against irritating acri- mony, or lull sensation to the common action of the salts of the urine, was tried in vain; and it appeared, from the very great excoriation of the parts adjacent, that a particular sharpness prevailed in the fluids. Topical applications relieved the skin, and by co-operating wnth internal assistance, this sharpness was subdued ; but cold water, though applied repeatedly to the pubes, &c. never communicated the least retentive fa- culty to,the bladder, or animated the sphincter into action. At last, every other symptom being removed, I thought she was very fortunate, to have preserved life, on which she must congratulate herself, and bear this inconvenience with patient resolution during the remainder of her days. Ilelative conversation led me to describe her unhappy state to you. Hope of giving assistance and commiseration joined to desire she would attend you at home. Medicine was suspended. In a fortnight or three weeks after the oxygenated or combined preparation of air had been ad ministered, she grew better: her nights Ai'cre more comfortable, and she became sensible of a want to evaciiate'the bladder; as she could retain the urine to a quarter of a pint, and in two or three months double this portion. Those medicines, which before had been of no avail, however calculated to recover tone and excite action, were now resorted to vath good effects. She sustained scarcely any inconvenience during the day time, being for the most part sensible when nature u’anted relief. Her looks, health, and spirits Avere wonderfully improA'cd : insomuch, that E life

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