Neuralgia and kindred diseases of the nervous system : their nature, causes, and treatment : also, a series of cases, preceded by an analytical exposition of them, exemplifying the principles and practice of neuro-dynamic medicine / by John Chapman.

  • John Chapman
Date:
1873
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Neuralgia and kindred diseases of the nervous system : their nature, causes, and treatment : also, a series of cases, preceded by an analytical exposition of them, exemplifying the principles and practice of neuro-dynamic medicine / by John Chapman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

    564/568 (page 8)
    SEA SICKNESS, & HOW TO PREVENT IT: An Explanation of iU Nature and Successful Treatment tlirough the Agency of the Nervoiis System, by means of the Spinal Ice-bag. WITH AN INTRODUCTION ON The General Principles of Neuro-Therapeuties. Second Edition, in 8vo, price 3s. [Tlie work contains reports of about Forty Cases, proving that Sea-Sickness is both preventable and curable by means of the Spinal Ice-bag. Its application is agreeable (See pages 8, 9, and 10 of this Circular; it gives immediate comfort and relief; while arresting the sickness, as well as any cramps or spasms which may be experinced, it restores the impaired circulation of the blood to its normal standard; and thus the patient, wlio may be cold, pallid, apathetic, and completely prostrate, quickly regains tile ruddy glow and the mental and physical energy of health.] Certainly, so far as the history of these voyages across the Channel goes, it is highly in favour of the author's ingenious recommendations. . . . We advise, both for practical and theoretical purposes that the pages of his pamphlet be carefully persued.—Lancet, March 4, 1805. I had some difficulty in persuading passengers to try it (the spinal ice-bag), but those who did were benefited.—C'oiJ/. ^Vhite, Commander of one of the Neiohaven and Dieppe boats. In severe cases where other remedies have failed, I have very generally found it (the spinal ice-bag) do n-reat good, I have applied it to young children, delicate women, and old people. In no case does it do harm • but in the great majority of instances it soothes the nervous irritability which so commonly ac- companies sea-sicloiess, induces sleep, and so enables the stomach to receive light food, and consequently relieves exhaustion. .... I order it to be kept on a couple of hours ; though if the patient sleeps, aa is often the case, I never remove it until after waking.—Letter of,S. J/. Bradley, Surgeon, Ciinard Service, in the Lancet^ December 3,1SG4. The following is an extract from a letter addressed to me, June 3, ISGo, by Dr. Hayle, of Eoch- t1;-ile; ' I recommended a patient about to cross the Atlantic to try one of your ice-bags for sea-sickness. Tlie result was most satisfactory. He was never sick when wearing the ice-bag. Once he went without it, and then, and then only, was he sick.' In the latter part of 1SC5, Mrs. Charles Darwin wi'ote to me, that her son had resently experienced the benefit of the spinal ice-bag, while passing from Holyhead to Ireland ' on a rough morning.' She said, ' He is very subject to sea-sickness, and is convinced that, without the ice, he would, on this occasion, have been very bad. He put on the bag soon after starting, when already disordered, and at once felt x'^liQi:'—Diarrhxa and C/iolera. By John Chapman, M.D. Second edition, p. 1S2. If Dr. Chapman has proposed to us a means of alleviating, with almost perfect certainty, that most distressing malady, sea-sickness, we are criminally neglectful if we'refuse to employ it. . . .' The case (in question) is as conclusive as a single case can be, in regard to the great practical value of his dis- covery. . . . The effects of the application of the ice-bag were little short of miraculous. In three minutes the retching ceased and the spasms were calmed. In a quarter of an hour she (the patient) had fallen into a quiet sleep ; and in half an hour her hands and feet were of natural warmth, and her face had regained its wonted colour. In two hours she awoke, greatly refreshed, and from that time did not mfss a single meal. I can see no reason why the process may not be successfully extended over twelve days as well as four (the treatment was continued during the whole voyage—a rough one, lasting four davs and a half—witli comi^lete success), with proper care and management.—llejiort of'■ Case of Sea- sickness successful ij treated by Ice to the Spine.''—By B. Leis, M.D., in the Philadelphia Medical and Surgical Eeporter. Among the thousand and one remedies that have been proposed for sea-sickness, there is one which, in a scientific point of view, towers above them all. . . . We are not accustomed to devote our leadin columns to the advocacy of any therapeutical system, but we feel it due to a most able physio- logist to testify to tlie necessity of submitting his conclusions to the test of experience. In a short time BvSficient facts may be accumulated to confirm the only scientific theory [of Sea-sickness] which has been put forward; a theory, be it remembered, of the utmost significance in reference to other more impor- tant diseases' and which has been applied by its author to an elucidation of the pathology of Cholera, Epilepsy, Paralysis, and other equallj' diverse conditions. ... It would seem from numerous instances, that, properly applied, the ice is not only safe, but positively pleasant. Moreover, the soothing effect is so o-eneral, that sound and refreshing sleep is frequently induced, so that we constantly read of pa- tients men women, or little children—falling asleep on the ice bag, and waking up refreshed and ]iuugrj.--MedKal Press and Circular, June, 18G7.