The sulphureous bath at Sandefjord in Norway / by Doctors Ebbesen and Hörbye, physicians at the bath.

  • Ebbesen, Dr.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The sulphureous bath at Sandefjord in Norway / by Doctors Ebbesen and Hörbye, physicians at the bath. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/54 (page 12)
    Water drinking and bathing. The bathers must begin their day early. At 6 in the morning they assemble (fasting) at the spring. Weak and sensi¬ tive persons may indeed be permitted to come a little later, or also to take a glass of milk or a little weak coffee before¬ hand; but as this may easily diminish the effect of the water, it is best avoided. The sulphureous water is then taken in cups — 4 to 6 oz. — slowly and with intervals of from 10 to 15 minutes, the patients walking about constantly; usually the water is taken cold, but sometimes warm, which, as well as the quantity and number of cups &c., depends on the disease, constitution, age &c. Children must be attended to, so that they do not drink too much, as many are inclined to do. Some patients are advised to drink in bed, others to take very small and frequent doses; most of them take 3 cups of 6 oz. After the last they take a brisk walk for an hour, and then breakfast at or 8 o’clock. The sulphureous water is not exactly pleasant to the tasto, particularly when warm, and therefore sometimes produces qualms in sensitive persons; but the taste is soon got rid of by rinsing the mouth wTith fresh water. An easier and more copious evacuation is the immediate effect of drinking the water. Two or three abundant and agreeable motions follow in the course of a few hours, and often even earlier. The next effect is improved appetite, and therefore the breakfast is enjoyed. The breakfast is to consist only of coffee, milk, bread and butter. \ After breakfast the patients rest a little until bathing time. The most favourable bathing time is between 10 and 12, so that the bath can be taken a few hours after breakfast, and as many hours before dinner. But this can only be the case with a few patients. Each must therefore endeavour to arrange his meals so that there shall be at least 1^ hour between the