Round Hill Water-cure Hotel, and Motorpathic Institute : at Northampton, Mass. / H. Halsted.

  • Halsted, H.
Date:
[1860]?
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Round Hill Water-cure Hotel, and Motorpathic Institute : at Northampton, Mass. / H. Halsted. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    bath iu Turkey is familiar tu most persons. He says : I walked about and looked with surprise at the rolls of skin taken off, and felt almost transparent. .... I have had ever since a feeling of suppleness and lightness, which is like wings growing at my leet. It is certainly a very great luxury. These baths are made two stories in height, the neat increasing as the hot steps are slowly ascended, until a sweating point is attained suited to the strength and idiosyncrasy of the patient. Here the bath-nurse applies such frictions and lubrications as the diseased condition demands. After this, a lingering descent is made, being from time tit time refreshed by cooling appli- cations. A tepid bath concludes this part of the course, and the patient is put snugly into bed in the large sleeping-room, ami allowed an hour's refreshing repose. A tonic or invigorating bath follows, and be is set free, with a plump, fresh, youthful look, and limbs filled with an elastic buoyancy of motion, which had long been a stranger to them. , These baths can be filled with hot vapor in its simple state, or made healing, stimulating, and fragrant, from aromatic herbs or medicinal plants ami gums. In these the patient can lave the body, and bathe (he lungs by prolonged in- spirations of health-diffusing elements. A freshness, purity, and completeness of medicated inhalation for lung and throat diseases are thus attained, not easily compassed by other means. The Russian Bath is a succession of warm or hot full-length tub-baths, ei- ther simple or medicated, as the exigencies of the patient may require, in which lie is manipulated, and occasionally taken out and placed for a moment under a tepid or cool spray, and again thrust into a bath of increased temperature, until he is so limbered that his joints aro as supple as a child's. The freedom and elasticity given by these baths inspire the lame, the stiff, and the gouty with newness of life. In cases of extreme obesity, tho weight can be reduced from five to twenty pounds per week. The feeble aro sustained by manipu- lations, medicated waters, and an occasional invigorating bath through the course. These baths are admirable for throwing out impurities of the blood, softening tumors, dislodging any active virus in tho system, or creating a healthy determination of the blood and fluids to the surface. They aro of in- estimable value in those occasional cases of dry, constricted skin, upon which nothing seems to succeed in bringing healthy moisture and softness. These, with the Electro-Chemical Baths, — long in use here, for extracting from the human system all metallic substances, whether taken as medicine or otherwise absorbed, — and the chemical baths, medicated with the phosphates of lime or soda, the proto-phosphito of iron, phosphoric acid, or other elements, for re- storing the waste in consumptive and scrofulous cases, make tho system of baths complete. It is curious to note, how the little hungry mouths of tho absorbents, which everywhere diverge from the internal organism to the sur- face, select with organic instinct tho elements most needed to repair organic decay from the compounded waters. Diseased nature is ever thirsting after healthy supplies, and in the effort to remove disease. In some cases of lung diseases, medicated oils are used over the chest and body on removal from the bath, to break up night sweats and to keep up a continued stimulation from the absorbents of the skin,— an object of essential consideration in diseases of this nature. These, together, aro valuahie auxiliaries to the peculiar stimu- lation of cold baths and the invigoration of Motorpathic treatment, which last permeates and braces up, as with fibres of strength and vitality, the whole system, not only freeing it from disease, but building up tho constitution, and making it a life-battery of power. In speaking of this system of treatment, it would bo impossible to enumcrato and explain all tho different modes and means used to vivify and mako active every part of the body ; and not only to produce a vigorous action in every or- gan and gland, but to establish a balance of motion in the system as a whole. Suffice it to say, that every therapeutic agent is chosen with direct reference to its capability of increasing, producing, or continuing action ; whether it ho wa- ter, electricity, exercise, medicine, or any other means. The test of choice is its availability to this one end, — the establishment of motion. Among these therapeutic agents, that part of Motorpathic treatment given personally, which is a process of statuminating vitalization, stands at tho head. Diet, the use o( water, magnetism, dry-cupping, various modes of exercise, and medication by internal or external application, arc resorted to, when occasion demands, as aids to a more speedy realization of the object proposed. Gymnasium and Bowling-Alleys. —These are connected with tho Institution for the use of guests and patients. Gymnastic and Calisthenic ex- ercises are of the utmost importance for tho expansion, development, and healthy action of the lungs and various other organs, and in some cases aro indispensable. They aro led by a competent instructor regularly twice a day ; and great care is taken with fecblo patients and children, that they commence very lightly, and gradually increase the number and vigor of tho motions. Woman's Diseases and Weaknesses.— Dr. Halsted, the proprietor and principal physician, continues to pay particular attention to these difficul- ties. Tho success which has attended his method of treating such complaints has given him in this department a most extended practice. Motorpathy gives vitality and force to the functional powers, and controls tho most obstinate or- ganic weaknesses with case and certainty. The cure is speedy and reliable. Those brought on beds oven are soon enabled to walk ; and sterility itself yields to its vitalizing effects, unless combined with some incurable malady. Spinal Diseases. — His success in the treatment of theso diseases, in which he has had unusually large experience, and of the many dangerous af- fections growing out of them, are an evidence of tho superior efficacy of his method, — as is also his success in the treatment of Paralysis, Diseases of the Joints, and loss of the uso of limbs. Many under his caro have been made to walk, whom it was supposed would be helpless for life. In addition to baths, manipulations, and exercises, in certain cases — such as spinal curvature, en- largement of one shoulder, or of one hip, accompanied or not by impaired action or shortness of one of the limbs — inclined planes or beds, tho extension and walking chair for those unablo to hear their weight upon their feet, and tho crutch-elevator, resting upon the hips to relieve tho spine from tho Incumbent weight of the body, aro moderately used, among othor remedial agents, to bring back the parts to their natural shape and functions. By this course, extreme deformities may be prevented, and slighter ones cured. Spinal irritation at onco subsides, when the pressure is taken from tho nerves and the weight venience. Full muscular development is promoted by systematic exercises. Weak backs are thus strengthened ; and whatever advantago may bo obtained in uprightness of form or carriage is made a permanent gam by tho rounded elastic muscles, which brace themselves firmly, and strengthen with tho treat- ment. To Invalid Gentlemen. —The intelligent must at onco seo that this Institution possesses superior advantages for breaking up insidious and dan- gerous diseases, dependent upon impurities in tho blood, and of scrofula in tho system. In the cure of nervousness, sleeplessness, debilitating dreams, low spirits, loss of memory, dyspepsia, liver complaint, rheumatism, and gout, the success of the treatment here is unparalleled. Dr. Halsted continues to devote himself to tho cure of all the various kinds of chronic diseases of either sex; among which ho would particularly men- tion apoplectic tendencies, catalepsy, catarrh, chronic diarrhoea, chronic in- flammation of stomach and bowels, bleeding at the lungs and other hemorrha- ges, dropsy, disease of kidneys, diseased action of heart, imperfect vision, in- flammation of the eyes, and epilepsy as it generally presents itself. Occasionally a case is found on which this treatment has little effect. But tho numbers of these unhappy sufferers benefited or cured by it would perhaps warrant tho assertion that its general success is unequalled. Hysterical fits and nervous convulsions have presented so little stubbornness under this treatment that they are considered easy of cure. It is useless to again mention jaundice, neuralgia, skin diseases, scrofulous enlargements, and various kinds of tumors. But its signal success in remedying sick and other headaches, of however confirmed a habit, may bo mentioned without repetition, and also its unequalled happy effects in restoring the system from spermatorrhoea. To Clergymen.— In cases of incipient consumption, chronic bronchitis, and other affections of tho lungs and air-passages, Dr. Halsted has long prac- tised tho inhalation of medicated vapors, in combination with appropriate Hy- dropathic and Motorpathic treatment. His later improved system of baths, not only as cleansing and alterative, but for feeding the system in advanced cases, before spoken of, gives greater certainty of success. By these combined means, many very obstinate cases, unreached by any other treatment, have been restored. Thoso who have induced chronic affections of tho throat, and bronchia, by exposure, by public speaking, or by over-exertion in business or study, find tho system here employed peculiarly happy in its results. Believ- ing clerical gentlemen, as a class, aro inadequately remunerated for their own arduous labors, they aro taken on reduced terms. To Physicians.—Dr. Halsted gratefully acknowledges his indebtedness to your favoring influence, and respectfully solicits the continuance of your patronage. Ho cordially invites you to call and test the practice at Round Hill, and witness its results. Having had twelvo years of riding practice, and more than fifteen of hospital practice, and within that time having treated many thousands of the most obstinate and complicated cases, he has had tho opportunity to acquire skill in the management and control of protracted and difficult complaints. Ho is aware that the most successful of practitioners occa- sionally have a case which lingers upon their hands, and is, to say the least, troublesomo to treat. Some pMtents may bo raised to a state of health and strength in an institution, who would ho impossible of euro by tho sanio phy- sician, if attended at home. New associations, tho greater ease of forming new and better habits, are sometimes weighty considerations. Should you havo suth a case, on whose behalf you arc revolving tho possible benefit of change, he would suggest the advantages of Round IXill. Patients Entering the Institution may expect a careful and crit- ical examination. They aro kindly and tenderly treated, and nothing is re- quired of them but what they are abundantly able to perform. Good and ex- perienced bath-nurses are provided by the institution, and everything is dono to minister to tho comfort and convenience of both patients and their friends ; it being one of tho objects of tho institution to bring both body and mind under the influenco of active contentment and happiness. Landlord and Medical Assistant—Having secured an able femalo assistant, and an experienced, accommodating, and efficient landlord, the whole establishment is now under tho best management, and the Hotel De- partment is expected to give universal satisfaction. Tables. —Two tables are set; one for guests, provided with tho luxuries of the season, pastry, dessert, &c., and another for patients, provided with meats and a great variety of siniplo nutritious dishes. Terms.— From $8 to $12 per week. Large, well-furnished double rooms, commanding beautiful landscape scenery, & 12 to SM per week. Parlor fur- nished rooms, including wardrobo and private bathing-room attached, S 14 to li? IG per week. This includes board and treatment, except extra Motorpathic attentions in some special organic cases, and calls to rooms not at ordinary hours. Children and nurses, seated at nurses' table, and not occupying extra room, are charged $5. Children, when seated at guests' table, tho same as adults. Nurses are provided for thoso who tako their treatment in the bath- ing-rooms without charge. But when more than this ordinary nursing is required, it is charged extra;—for a nurso at command, or her undivided attention, $7 per week ; or, for baths and meals in room, dressing, and other occasional attentions in room, $5 per week; or, for baths and meals in room, and dressing, $4 per week ; or, for baths and meals in room, $3 per week. For baths only in room, $2 per week ; and, for meals only in room, SB 1 per week. For examination of patients, on entering tho Institution, $5 is charged; for prescription by letter, $3. Each patient is expected to provide, for bathing purposes, 1 pair of blankets;, 1 pair of sheets, 1 dozen crash towels (or 2 pairs of sheets and (i towels); otherwise & I per week extra will ho charged if furnished by tho Institution. Application should be made in advance, if a choice of rooms is desired. Northampton is accessible by railroad from all parts ; in five hours from Bos- ton and Albany, and in six noun from New York. There aro carriages at the depot, to take patients and guests to and from the Institution. Gooil horses and carriages are always at command. Circulars will be sent to any address on application. A Treatise on Motor- pathy— Motion, Life — with cases under treatment, results, &c, will be sent postage free, on receipt of twenty-fivo cents. * 'Via Rri6