STOMACH DISEASE WITH LETHARGY.

J01

fourteenth day, he could drink any quantity without the least inclination to reject it.

Now I ask you, learned doctor, whether, if this patient had been sickened with ipecacuanha, or his stomach cleared with warm water, he could sit down, half an hour afterwards, with a merry face, and the appetite of a ploughman to eat a hearty breakfast?

STOMACH AND LIVER COMPLAINT, WITH DEPRESSED MIND AND LETHARGY.

Mr.

after great parliamentary fatigue, came here complaining of all the symptoms of indigestion that accompany disorder of the stomach, liver, and bowels: in addition to which, there was extreme depression of mind, and a general lethargic condition and indisposition to use mental or bodily exertion. He regretted his inability to join in and enjoy field sports, to which he was much attached.

After three weeks' treatment, I gave him permission to join a shooting party, on condition that he wore the wet compress and dry bandage on the stomach, and pursued some of the processes upon which he had already entered. A short time ago I heard that he was in robust health.

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RHEUMATISM AND SPORTING.

and his complexion changed, that he still in some measure followed up my injunctions, and "could walk down the best man in the field." All this was done without a grain of physic, and before this it might be said that " Physic was his food."

RHEUMATISM.

Colonel came into this neighbourhood for his September shooting, but, in a few days, was so severely attacked with rheumatism in the lower part of the back, the groins and legs, as to oblige him to give up all his sporting engagements, and lay himself up. The same thing had occurred to him in several previous years, and had confined him more or less during the winter. When I saw him he complained of great and incessant pain and when he attempted to walk, he was nearly bent double.

During the first fortnight that I treated him, the pain, though severe when present, became intermittent, and there were intervals when he could walk straight. Still there was every appearance of its being one of those obstinate cases, which usually baffle all treatment. He was a good patient, however, and stuck to the plan of treatment I laid down for him, with perseverance.

CURE FOR TIC DOULOUREUX.

103

Before five weeks from the commencement were over, all pain was gone, both in the trunk and limbs; and he was able to walk as well as ever A few days ago I met him at a battue chasse, Lord Beauchamp's, at Maddersfield, where he took his share with us in killing a great many pheasants; and although the day turned out very wet, he stood it out, laughing at the idea of a return of rheumatism. His general health and appearance also underwent a very marked change for the better; indeed, his health may be said to be perfect.

TIC DOULOUREUX.

Soon after settling in Malvern, I was sent for, at seven in the morning, to see a clergyman, who had arrived on the previous night from London to put himself under my care. He told me that, for more than six years, he had suffered incessantly from violent tic, which had completely undermined his health. The tic affected more particularly the right leg and thigh, and on sundry occasions he had been laid up several weeks with intense accompanying erysipelas of the whole leg, reaching above the knee.

I found him in one of these attacks of tic and

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SENSITIVENESS TO AIR.

erysipelas, caused by the journey from London hither. He was in excruciating pain, and every minute grasped the leg with violence. His face was shrunk and sallow, and gave the expression of intense anguish. His tongue was as bad as it could be, and indicated internal disease of long standing. Altogether, his condition was one of great disorder: such as might well deter a medical man from promising any considerable amendment.

By the steady and vigorous application of the Water-cure, he was relieved from pain in twentyfour hours, and in a few days was out walking. The last attack he had had similar to this had laid him up for several weeks. In fact, he had been in that state for several years in London, that when he ventured out to an evening party, he was obliged to sit with a shawl thrown over his legs, as the least draft of air brought on the tic, both in the leg and different parts of the body.

For six weeks he had no return of tic, and he got into that condition that he could walk six miles before breakfast, and face all weathers. At the end of that time he talked of returning to London, but I told him he had full six or twelve months' work before him in following up the treatment, to ensure a perfect restoration of

MEDICAL EDUCATION NECESSARY.

105

health, and a complete cure of the tic. Before returning home, he went to Worcester, not feeling very well at the time, and there he played some additional tricks with himself, and among these, eating a quantity of oysters, without any other food, making them serve for his dinner. The very thing to bring on erysipelas. The next day the erysipelas appeared again on his legs, almost as bad as before; but it was subdued with greater facility than the first time, and in a few days he went to London. I have heard since that he is daily gaining ground, and now, after having been incapacitated for his calling for more than six years, is looking out for the means "of returning to his labours in the vineyard.”

These cases, learned doctor, taken at random, will, I think, be sufficient to convince even your anxious spirit that the Water-cure, when practised by those who have studied it, and who have also studied the human body in its diseased states, is a system which will bear the test both of inquiry and practice. I purpose, some of these days, to do myself the honour of dedicating to you a small