Note 38 — PART III.

I think of the obstinacy of a medical friend, who refused to take a lesson from Priessnitz, and constantly looked for advice, in cases of need, in works written by learned practitioners. He lost three patients in one family from scarlatina anginosa, which would certainly have been cured by the packs. In two other cases I was called to his assistance, when he insisted upon putting ice upon the head of the patients to remove the affection of the brain (the reaction was sthenic! See 50). I told him that in the cases before us, repeated packing was the only safe application, and we had a few unpleasant words, when I yielded, promising him that he would come round to my opinion within a few hours. And so it was; the patients grew worse and worse, with their heads shaved and ice upon them, till my good friend requested me to take the rudder in my own hand, with the promise not to interfere any more. By packing, the patients improved visibly and were out of danger within two days.