Traditional Hydrotherapy

from Dr JH Kellogg's Hydriatic Techniques...

Prolonged Neutral Tub Bath 35°C as long as required

• Rub the skin at least once a day to prevent maceration

Skin disorders:

• Variola
• Pemphigis
• extensive Burns
• Gangrene of the Skin
• Bed Sores
• Psoriasis
• Eczema

Antipyretic:

31°C whenever body temperature 39°C until 38°C then removed

Sedative 4-8 hrs daily in:

• Nervous System Irritability or Spinal Irritation especially
  • Meningitis
  • Sclerosis
  • Tabes Dorsalis
  • Paraplegia
  • Hemiplegia
  • Stroke
  • Chorea
  • Epilepsy
• Nervous System Irritability
  • Intractable Sciatica
  • Oedema
  • Hyperaesthesia
  • Chronic Diarrhoea
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Cerebral Irritability
  • Delirium
  • Mania
  • grave Hysteria
  • irritable Neurasthenia,

from Dr GK Abbott's Prescriptions...

Uses special tub 190cm long with

• large outflow vent near the top
• large drain so it can be emptied and cleaned quickly
• inflow consisting of one large opening near head and smaller openings around the sides connected directly to the mixer
• a mixing chamber with thermometer where water is mixed before inflow usually to 36.5°C
• a continuous supply of hot water at constant temperature
• continuous supply of cold water
• inflow is reduced to a gentle stream when bath is full to overflowing
• the patient is on canvas cot or hammock in the tub with a canvas cover and plastic pillow
• Ice Bag on head
• free Cold Water Drinking
• attendant constantly present to check on patient and maintain temperature of bath by bath thermometer
• very excited or violent patients should be in a dry sheet, pinned on, then placed in tub

Duration depends on degree of sedation required -

• hours to days
• if long term remove every 12 hours for bowel care and rubbing of skin with olive oil