The History of Baths

Bathroom Hydrotherapy Part 2

The greatest progress in the application of cold-water treatment was made when Ernst Brand in 1861 discovered, a new treatment for typhoid bathing in a 650 bath. Unfortunately, it was not adapted in his native Germany despite the fact that Brand’s clinical trials had affirmed the life saving value of the Brand bath in typhoid fever. These statistics were vouched for by the Imperial Statistical Bureau in Berlin, Professor Guttstadt, condemned it as barbaric, heroic, or otherwise reprehensible without actually tying it out. Brand’s work was validated in France and the United States, because the method was given a fair trial and found to reduce the fever.

Winternitz named hydrotherapy “the stepchild of medicine.” Because it was not taught correctly, its primary value is as a medium for application or reduction of heat. Wet heat helps relieve pain and improves circulation it promotes relaxation and rest and in the case of some mental disturbances, it may calm an agitated and hyperactive individual.

Wet cold decreases body temperature, which cause the blood vessels to close and reduces the blood flow. It thus reduces and helps to prevent swelling following injury and decreases the pain caused by bruises, sprains, and strains. Compresses wool, and other cloth materials are effective for reducing headache pain, slowing blood flow of nosebleeds, relaxing muscle spasms, localizing infection and subcutaneous bleeding from contusion, and reducing body heat in feverish conditions.

Underwater exercise is used to strengthen weak muscles, restore joint motion following injury, clean and heal burned flesh, aid muscle function following cerebrovascular accident damage, and as a treatment for deformity and pain in arthritis and related ailments.

Whirlpool baths and the Hubbard tank are forms of underwater massage in which the water swirls in constant motion over legs and arms or the entire body to promote healing. Likewise, the shower, a stream of water under pressure, can be directed to specific areas or may include the whole body, with the purpose of stimulating circulation.

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