Science. The Therapeutical Drinking of Hot Water; its Origin and its Use.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1833, 5 April 1884, Page 6 (Supplement)

Science. The Therapeutical Drinking of Hot Water; its Origin and its Use.

Bi LriIK.UM CUTTEU, 11. D., MSW \OIUv. Tiil thcrapGutieal drinking of water at a lemperatuie of blood heat to 150 cleg. F. having become popular enough to call for an allusion to it in The Lancet, as a valuable American contribution to medicine, and since it seems to be used at random from the directions of its distinguished introducer, I have thought that the origin and proper use of hot watei should become history.|The practice dates buck to 1858, when Dr. Jameß H. Salisbury of this city concluded a series oi experiments on feeding animals to ascertain the relations of food as a cause and cure of disease. Besides swine, he experimented on men. These he took in companies of six healthy laborers, placed under military discipline, which he enioiced himsell. He also ate and drank as they did. The men were kept on single ai tides of food, coffee, and water. Among these articles were beef, beans, bread, chicken, crackers, fish, lobster, mutton, potatoea, rice, turkey, oatmeal. The blood, urine, and freces of the animals weie carefully examined micioscopically and chemically daily without any preconceived idea to develop, but simply to aiceitain fact 3 and develop ideas from those facts. In this manner he went through the whole range of food to show the permanent vrlao when lived on exclusively and singly. Among other things, he found that the fermentations of food, and the products of these fermentations, Avere the chief prirnai v lot Loia in pio'lucuig the disea.-cs which anse from unhealthy alimentation. With the idea of removing thcte diseases by re-

moving their causes, he employed hot water in order to wash out the saccharic, acetic, butyric, hydrosulphuric, and lactic acida, and snlphida of ammonium fermentation vegetations (yeasts) from the stomach and intestines. At first he tried cold water on hia men to remove these products of fermentation, but the cold water caused distress, pain, and colic, so he increased the temperature of the water. Lukewarm water made them sick at the stomach, and excited peristalsis upward. The temperature of the water was increased to hot— llo deg. to 150 deg. This was well borue, and afforded a feeling of agreeable relief, which thousands since testify to. The hot water excites normal downward peristalsis of the alimentary canal, washes down the slime, yeast, and bile through its normal channels, washes out the liver and kidneys, and the bile is eliminated through the bowels, and not through the blood via the kidneys. It was Eome time before the proper times of administration, and proper number of ounces of hot water, and the proper number of ounces to be drunk at meals could be settled in order to obtain the best results. These directions may be found published in connection with the Salisbury plans for the treatment of consumption, Bright's disease, diabetes, fibroids, sclerosis, and colloid diseases. At the risk of repitition, and for the sake of a more thorough understanding of the subject, these detaili will be plainly and simply given. 1. Directions for uung Hot Water according to the Salisbury' Plans. — The water must be hot, not cold or lukewarm. By hot water is meant a temperature of 110 deg. to 150 deg. F., suoh as is commonly liked in the use of tea and coffee. This is to excite downward peristalsis of the alimentary canal. Cold water depresses, as it requires animal heat to bring it up to the temperature of the economy, and there is also a loss of nervo force in this proceeding. Lukowarm water exoites upwaid peristalsis *or vomiting, as is well known. In cases of diarrhoea the hotter the better. In cases of hremonhages the temperatmo should be at a blood heat. Ice water is disallowed in all cases, sick or well. 2. Quantity of Hot Water at a draught. — Dr. Salisbury first began with one-half pint of hot water, but he found it was not enough to wash out, nor to bear another test founded on the physiological fact that the urine of a healthy babe sucking at the breasts of a healthy mother, the best standard of health, stands at sp. gr. varying from 1015 to 1020. The urine of the patient should be made to conform to this standard, and the daily use of the urinometer tells whether the patient drinks enough or too much hot water. For example, if the sp. gr. of the urine stands at 1030, more hot water should be drunk, unless there is a loss by sweating. On the other haud, should sp. gr. fall to 1010, leas hot water should be drunk. The quantity of hot water varies usually from half to one pint, or one pint and a half at one drinking. The urine to be tested should be the urina sanguinis, or that voided just after rising fiom bed in the morning, before any meals or drinks are taken. The quantity of urine voided in twenty-four hours should measure from forty-eight to sixty -four ounces. The amount will, of course, vary somewhat with the temperature of the atmosphere, exercise, sweating, &c, but the hot water must be given ao as to keep the specific gravity to the infant's standard — to wit, 1015 — 1020. The urinometer will detect at once whether the proper amount of hot water has been drunk, no matter whether the patient is present or absent. Another test is that of odour. The urine should be devoid of the rank urinous smell, so well known but indescribable. It should be like the babe's urine, free from odour and deposit on cooling, and the colour like that of champagne. The Salisbury plans aim for this in all cases, and when the patients are true and faithful the aim is realised. 3. Timci, of taking Hot Water. — One hour to two hours before each meal, and half an hour before retiring to bed. At first Dr. Salisbury tried the timß of half an hour before meals, but this was apt to be followed by vomiting. One hour to two houis allows the hot water time enough to get out of the stomach before the food enters or sleep comes, and thus avoids vomiting. Four time 3 a day gives an amount of hot water sufficient to bring the urine to the right specific gravity, quantity, colour, odour, and freedom from deposit on cooling. If the patient leaves out one dose of hot water during an astronomical day, the omission will show in the increased specific gravity, as indicated by the urinometer, in the colour, etc. Should the patient be thirsty between meals, hot water can be taken any time between two hours after a meal and one hour befoie the next meal. Thia is to avoid diluting the food in the stomach with water. 4. Mode of takhr] Om Hot Water. — In drinking the hot water it should ba ripped, and not drunk so fast as to distend the stomach, and make it fool uncomfortable. From fifteen to thirty minutes may be consumed duiing the drinking of the hot water. 5. Length of time to continue the the of Hot Water. — A period of six months is generally required to wash out the liver and intestines thoroughly. As it promotes health, the procedure can be practised by people in health throughout life, and the benefits of cleanliness inside be enjoyed. The drag and friction on human existence from the effects of fermentation, foulness, and indigestible food when removed, give life a wonderful elasticity and buoyancy, like that of the b*abe above alluded to. 6. Additions to Hot Water. — In case it is desired to make it palatable, and medicate the hot water, aromatic spirits of ammonia, clover blo&soms, ginger, lemon juice, sage, salt, or pulphate of magnesia are sometimes added. Where there are intense thirst and dryness, a pinch of chloride of calcium or nitrate of potash may be added to allay the thirst and leave a moistened film over the parched and dry mucous membrane surfaces. When there is diarrhcea, cinnamon, ginger, and pepper may be boiled in the hot water, and the quantity lessened. For comtipation a teaspoon ful of sulphate of magnesia, or half a teaspoonful of taraxacum may be used in the hot water. 7. Amount of Liquid to be drwik at a Meal. — Not more than eight ounces. This is in order not to unduly dilute the gastric juice or wash it out prematurely, and thus interfere with the digestive processes. 8. The Effects of Drinking of Hot Water as indicated are : — The improved feelings of the patient. The fajces become black with bile washed down its normal channel. This blackness of ffoces lasts for more than six months, but the intolerable foetid odour of ordinary freces is abated, and the smell approximates the odour of the fasces of healthy infants sucking at healthy bi easts: and this shows that the ordinary nuisance of fcetid freces is due to a want of a proper washing out and cleansing of the ailmentary canal from its fermenting contents. The urine is as clear as champagne, free from deposit on cooling, or odour, 1,015 to 1,020 sp. gr., like an infant's urine. The sweat starts freely after drinking, giving a true bath from the centre of the body to the periphery. The skin becomes healthy in feel and appearance. The digestion is correspondingly improved, and with this improvement comes a better working of the machine. All thirßt and dry mucous membrane disappear in a few days, and a moist condition of the mucous membrane and skin takes place. Ice water in hot weather is not craved ; and those who have drunk ice water freely are cured of the propensity. Inebriety has a deadly foe in this use of hot veater. 9. Summaiy of General Considerations on the Therapeutical Drinking of Hot Water. — (a) Foundation for all treatment of chronic diseases, (b) Excites downwards peristalsis, (c) Believer spasm or colic of the bowel 3by applying the relaxing influence of heat inßide the alimentary canal, just as heat applied outside the abdomen relieves, (d) Dilutes the ropy secretions of the whole oody, and renders them less adhesive, sticky, and tenacious. (t) Inside bath. (/) Dissolves the abnormal crystalline substances that may be in tho b'.ood and urine, (q) Necessary to have the

hot water out of the stomach before meals. (/() Its use is to wash down the bile, slime, yeast, and waste, and have the stomach fresh and clean for eating, (t) Promotes elimination everywhere. ( ;) If objection is made, it must be remembered that we are seventyfive per cent, •water, (k) The gas that soraetimeß eructates after drinking hot water is not formed by the hot water, but was present befoie, and the contractions of peristalsis eject it, or sometimes it is the air that is swallowed in sipping, a«s horses suck air. The amount of gas contained in the alimentary canal is laiger than most are aware of, and yet it is not excessive, as it takes -some time to eruct a gallon of gas from the stomach. This time can be tested by submerging a gallon jag filled with air under water and observing how long it will be in filling with water. (I) Some physicians have advised against hot water on the ground that it; would barn the covering off the stomach. If this is so, then a denudation of the lining of the stomach for twenty-five years is compa tible with a state of otherwise peifeot health with no signs of illness for that period of time, and 13 also compatible with the numerous cures that have occurred under the use of hot water a<3 a foundation during the past twenty-five years. Again, the flame physicians diink tea and coffee at the same temperatures, and this act belies their warning and shows their inconsistenoe and want of consideration before speaking, (m) These dicta about the therapeutical drinking of hot water weie founded on physiological experiments at the outset, verified in pathology, and based on the experience derived from the treatment of thousands of case 3 since 1858. Personal Estimate of the Founder of this Practice, — "If I were confined to one means of medication, I would take hot water." It may be added that he has drunk hot water for twenty-five years. Combo ration of the Writer. — The writer testifies that his own personal experience and observation .corroborate the truth of these statements of the Saliabury plan. — London Lancet.