On cold bathing, considered in its purgative effect, in fever, dyspepsia, cholera, tetanus, and in the treatment of infants / Extr. from Dr. Hamilton's Observations on ... purgative medicines, 8th ed.

  • Hamilton, James, 1749-1835
Date:
[1826?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On cold bathing, considered in its purgative effect, in fever, dyspepsia, cholera, tetanus, and in the treatment of infants / Extr. from Dr. Hamilton's Observations on ... purgative medicines, 8th ed. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    and transmission of nourishment promoted. Health of body and peace of mind are the consequences. The influence of the solar heat in the equatorial regions, and in the lower tropical latitudes, and the warmth of summer in more temperate climates, in- crease the flow of perspiration, and cause a propor- tional diminution of the excretions from the internal organs. The intestinal canal, thus deprived, in a great measure, of the usual stimulus from these excretions, acts with less energy, and is exposed, more or less, to a certain degree of constipation. Under these cir- cumstances, unguarded exposure to the dews of the evening, to the cold of the night and of the morning, to currents of cold air, or to the diminished tempera- ture which in autumn succeeds to the heat of summer, will give a sudden check to this increased perspiration, and determine its course inwards. The impression thus made on the intestines, unequal, on the instant, to remedy their torpid and constipated state, occasions irregularity in their action, with bilious and other ac- cumulations, the precursors of cholera and tetanus, the acknowledged diseases of hot countries and du- ring warm seasons.