University of Virginia Library

CHAPTER XVI.

(Dr. Huntt.)—The following four cases were
communicated by a distinguished physician
of South Carolina, who passed the summers of
1822-23 and part of '24 at the Red Sulphur
Spring, and whose name commands as much
respect and confidence as that of any other
gentleman in the Southern country:

"I shall give you a few of the very many
cases that have come under my notice, of the
efficacy of the Red Sulphur water in pulmonary
diseases. This is due to the community,
and also to the intelligent proprietor, who
unites in himself the good manners and politeness
of a gentleman, with the capacity and
disposition to add all that he can to the comfort,
both of the valetudinarian and traveller
who may be in pursuit of pleasure.

Case 1.—"In the winter of 1821, it became
the duty of B. H. to devote himself to his
friend, A. B., far advanced in pulmonary disease.

B. H. was in good health, and not in
the slightest degree predisposed to pulmonary
consumption, either by figure or inheritance.
A. B. died during this winter with the tuberculous
form of this disease. In the spring,
B. H. began to feel pains in the chest and
sides, and frequently to have a tickling sensation
about the epiglottis. In July, a slight
cough made its appearance, and after a week
or ten days, was followed by an attack of
hæmoptysis. The use of the lancet, low
diet, and some mild expectorant, afforded so
much relief that the usual occupation of B.
H. was resumed. In August, another attack,
more severe, was experienced, and a troublesome
cough excited more alarm. The usual
remedies were used, and with relief. In
September, a severe attack ensued, a large
vessel was ruptured, nearly a pint of blood
was thrown up from the lungs, and great
emaciation took place. The cough could not
be checked, and in October B. H. sailed for
the Island of Cuba, with little expectation of
ever returning; but his situation was improved
by the mild winter of this delightful climate.
In April, 1822, he returned to Carolina,
still coughing. His situation now became
very alarming to his friends, and it was
decided that a trip to Virginia should be tried.
B. H. rode through the western part of North
Carolina and East Tennessee, and came into
Western Virginia at Abingdon, and reached
the Red Sulphur early in June. At this time
I was called upon to visit him, and found his
pulse 106, cough troublesome, pains in the
chest, appetite very variable, tongue preternaturally
clean, bowels much disordered and
irregular, skin dry and feverish about noon.
I directed three tumblers of water to be taken
at bed-time, four before breakfast, and as many
as were necessary to satisfy thirst during the
other times of the day. In two weeks, the
pulse was reduced to 84, 78, and then 75;
the cough very much diminished, the pains
in the breast were gradually disappearing.
The digestion became good, the bowels regular,
the skin comfortable, and the appearance
of the patient much improved. The diet was
very simple, and the greatest attention was
paid both to the quality and quantity of it;
tea and coffee were abandoned; homony, rice,
or rye mush, with milk, constituted the breakfast;
a small portion of mutton or venison,
with rice, made the dinner, and dry toast and
water the supper. At the end of five weeks,
B. H. left the Spring perfectly renovated, and
apparently quite well, having gained 15 lbs.
in weight.

"In 1823 and '24, he again visited the
Spring, and remained several weeks; he was
not sick, but unwell, and returned to the
Spring rather to confirm, than to renew his
health. This is a strong case. The circumstances
of it authorize me to make it stronger,
but I am unwilling to excite doubts of the
value of the Spring, by writing extravagantly
of its water."

Case 2.—"Mr. J. S., of Mississippi, reached
the Red Sulphur Spring in July, 1822. I
being the only physician on the spot, was requested
to visit him professionally. I found
my patient the most emaciated object I ever
saw, to be moving from place to place. The
history of his case, as I learned from himself,
was very concise. He had been a soldier at
New-Orleans, and bore his share in the dangers
and difficulties of the campaign, had suffered
much from exposure, and at the close of

the war, was, like the rest of the volunteers,
sent home, and like many others, was the
worse for the services he had rendered. His
constitution was shattered, and he had been,
more or less, an invalid, until within a few
months of his arrival at the Red Sulphur. A
severe cold had left him with a cough, and
after a while, this had been succeeded by
hæmoptysis of a most alarming character;
repeated attacks left him without strength,
and without hope. He had no hereditary
predisposition to pulmonary disease. He had
been on the road for some time, and seldom
travelled more than five miles a day. His
cough was very distressing, pulse quick to the
touch, and counting 125 in a minute, night
sweats and diarrhœa, pains in the chest, and
very hurried respiration, with profuse expectoration,
all presented themselves. To me
this seemed a hopeless case, and, as I thought,
beyond the reach of the profession. A large
blister was applied to the chest, an expectorant
mixture was prescribed, a table spoonful
to be taken whenever the cough was
troublesome. He was directed to commence
with the water in small quantities, (for I was
fearful of increasing the diarrhœa.) He took
two tumblers at bed-time, and two in the
morning early. Upon visiting him the next
day, I was informed that he had passed a comfortable
night, comparatively speaking, had
slept several hours, and was not as much
harassed as usual, either by the bowels or
cough. He was directed to live upon rice
and milk, dry toast, and weak tea. This plan
was persisted in, as my notes show, for ten or
twelve days, with a gradual improvement in
the case. After this time, the water was increased
to eight, and sometimes ten tumblers
in the day. The pulse was soon reduced in
force and frequency, and the cough much
mitigated. The sweats at length ceased, and
the diarrhœa disappeared. The effect of the
water upon the pulse in this case was very
remarkable; it seemed to control it as you
would the horse with the bridle; the patient
was so sensible of this, that he used to laugh,
and say, if he took an over-dose of the water,
his pulse, he believed, would cease entirely.
He rode on horseback at the end of a few
weeks, ten miles, without inconvenience; his
weight was very much increased, and he
thought himself well. In six weeks after his
arrival, he left the Spring, certainly more improved
than any one I had ever seen, with no
symptoms of disease remaining except the
cough, and that very much mitigated. In
1823, Mr. J. S. returned to the Spring, and I
saw him daily; he stated that he had continued
well until March, when a sudden
change of weather, for which he was not prepared,
brought on a catarrhal affection, upon
the subsidence of which, a cough, and much
debility ensued. He remained for three weeks,
and again left us in good health, with the exception
of a cough, which was by no means
troublesome. From this period I have heard
nothing of Mr. J. S., but am persuaded that
he recovered entirely."

Case 3.—"Mr. J. C., of North Carolina, was
directed to go to the Virginia Springs by his
medical adviser, in 1823; but was left to find
out the particular Spring that was adapted to
his case. I was on a visit to the — Spring,
and found Mr. J. C., who, upon hearing that
I was a medical man, asked for advice. He
was of a robust habit originally, (as he stated,)
and was most unexpectedly attacked by hæmoptysis,

whilst in the midst of his usual
occupations, which were mercantile. His
strength was at this time considerable, his
pulse full and strong, respiration laborious
and painful, skin dry, appetite inordinate, and
the cough allowing him no rest at night. I
used the lancet very freely, limited the diet to
bread and milk, and water, and desired him
to remain quiet. Upon the ensuing day, the
lancet was again used freely, the symptoms
not being mitigated; on the third day, there
was little or no improvement, and I desired
him to proceed to the Red Sulphur, and to
use the water in full doses, say, four tumblers
before bed-time, and four before breakfast, to
live low, to take no exercise, and be as quiet
as possible. In a week or ten days I returned
to the Red Sulphur, and the first person that
greeted me was Mr. J. C.; his symptoms had
all subsided, which the lancet failed to control,
and yielded at once to the use of the
water. This is certainly a most remarkable
property in this water, but it is so well known
to the surrounding country, as well as to numerous
persons who have visited the Spring,
that we incur no risk in making the statement
we have. It is also peculiar to the water, that
although on the lowest diet, the strength improves,
and the weight is uniformy increased.
After some few weeks Mr. J. C. returned
home, restored to the enjoyment of health, and
I have never heard of his return to the Spring,
which he would certainly have done had it
been necessary to do so. I could go on, my
dear sir, and add case after case; but it is
unnecessary to do so, the reputation of the
Spring is too well established to require any
eulogy. I will add one more case, and that
not of a pulmonary character, in which the
water of the Red Sulphur evinced all the virtues
that I have attributed to it in the cases
stated."

Case 4.—"General B., from Prince Edward
county, in Virginia, arrived at the Red Sulphur
Spring in August, 1823, so much swollen
as to be taken from his carriage with difficulty.
The face, hands, feet, and legs, were
swollen to an enormous size; the abdomen
was absolutely pendulous, and the whole appearance
indicated dropsy in its most terrible
form. The bowels were torpid, the urine
scanty and high-coloured, the appetite bad,

and the digestion worse, sleep was disturbed
and painful, from the inability to lay down,
and the strength reduced, and daily becoming
less.

"The General seemed in much better spirits
than could have been expected, and stated,
that he had come there on a former occasion
quite as sick as we then saw him, and that he
had reason to have all confidence in the water.
No medicine was taken, but the water was
used in such quantities as the stomach would
bear. In a few days the bowels became loose,
and at the same time the kidneys began to secrete
and pour forth urine in large quantities.
The swelling of course began to subside, and
all the functions to assume a more healthy
tone and character. The General remained
until the latter end of September, and returned
home apparently in good health. The patient
whose case has been stated, lived in a fever
and ague country, and had suffered much from
this disease; his liver was certainly very much
deranged in function, if not in structure; his
physicians at home had pronounced it an incurable
case of hepatitis, and did not think he
could reach the Spring.

"In '24 I saw the General at the Spring
again; his health was apparently good, but he
complained of indisposition, and certainly improved
during his residence at the Red Sulphur.
I have thus, my dear sir, made from
my notes the statements herewith sent you.
I could multiply them to a considerable extent,
but it is useless, as they all go to prove
the same thing, viz., the influence that the
Red Sulphur water exercises over the arterial
system. I shall not attempt to reason the subject;
it would be satisfactory to me if I could
account for the facts, but it is sufficient for me
that the facts do exist.

"I do not wish to be understood as stating
that the water of the Red Sulphur will cure
confirmed phthisis, or tuberculous consumption;
but I believe that we are very often mistaken,
in supposing a case of pulmonary irritation
more desperate and hopeless than it
really is, and I believe that in most cases, if
this Spring is resorted to early, and the clothing,
and diet, and exercise, duly attended to,
its waters will be found a most powerful adjunct
and assistant in the management of these
hitherto unmanageable cases."

During my visit to the Red Sulphur, every
day was devoted to the investigation of the
various diseases which afflicted the visiters at
that place; noting particularly the effects of
the water in the different diseases.

Most of the cases were various forms of
pulmonary consumption. In the earliest stage
of tuberculous disease, the patients generally
complained of abdominal plethora, with cough,
some oppression, and restless nights, with frequent
pulse. In all these cases, where the
water was taken in such quantities as to
operate on the bowels for a week or ten days,
and afterwards increasing the quantity so as
to act freely as a diuretic, and the patients
were abstemious in their diet, and took exercise
regularly, a rapid improvement was most
generally the consequence. On the contrary,
those who used but little exercise, and indulged
their appetite without restraint, were slow
and tedious in their convalescence. Let it be
impressed on the minds of all tuberculous
patients, that sedentary habits are among the
most powerful causes of tuberculous diseases.

Many persons arrive at the Red Sulphur,
who are not prepared to use the water, in consequence

of high inflammation, or congestion
of the lungs or other organs, attended with
pain in the side, constriction at the breast, or
hot and restless nights, with a quick, sharp
pulse; all such cases must have the vascular
excitement subdued, before the water can be
taken to advantage. I saw several of those
cases under the management of Dr. Saunders,
the resident physician of the place, who treated
them very successfully, by means of bleeding,
local and general, emetics of ipecac before
bed-time, blisters, and occasionally the blue
pill.

Most of the visiters at the Red Sulphur this
season were labouring under tuberculous consumption,
of the second, or middle stage; many
of them had visited the Spring one or two
seasons, and there was scarcely an exception
among them, who had not experienced one or
more attacks of hæmoptysis; and hæmoptysis
may generally be considered as an indication
of tubercles in the lungs. Those who had
visited the Spring before, would say, that they
returned home apparently cured, cough, night
sweats, expectoration, frequent pulse, all relieved,
a good appetite restored, and flesh increasing

daily. Towards the spring season,
the pulmonary symptoms would commence to
kindle up again, and by June or July it would
become necessary to repeat the visit to the
Red Sulphur, although the symptoms were
much less aggravated, and the constitution
much less enfeebled than during the previous
season.

The water of the Red Sulphur seems to act
by soothing irritation, lessening the frequency
of the pulse, and by subduing the inflammation
of the tissues in contact with the tubercles,
and thereby rendering the tubercles
harmless; and also by suspending that tendency
of the system to generate or deposit
tuberculous matter. It is not unusual in postmortem
examinations to discover tubercles in
the lungs of subjects who had never exhibited
any signs of pulmonary disease during their
lifetime; and in visiting the slaughter-houses
of butchers, we have been astonished to observe
numerous tubercles in the liver and
lungs of animals, particularly the hog, and
the sheep, which were fat, and otherwise in a
healthy condition.

"Dr. Carswell," says Dr. James Clark, "has

remarked it as an important fact, that the mucous
and serous tissues in contact with the
tuberculous matter, are often found in a
healthy condition; while this continues, tubercles
may remain an indefinite length of
time in their original state, or the softer part
of the tubercle may be absorbed, leaving the
more solid calcareous portion on its site,—a
termination which occurs more commonly, I
believe, than is generally supposed."

Among this description of patients who had
visited the Red Sulphur two seasons, was Mr.
Jacob S. King, of Henry county, Va., who
stated he was taken ill with influenza in February,
1835, followed by pulmonary symptoms
of a serious character. "About the 7th
of August following," says Mr. King, "I arrived
at the Red Sulphur Spring, labouring
under diarrhœa, with acute pain in both sides,
so much so that I could not remain on either
side for one minute at a time without great
suffering. My pulse was from 120 to 130 in
a minute, and my cough very troublesome.
The second day after my arrival at the Red
Sulphur, I was freely cupped and leeched on
both sides, and at night took a pill composed

of morphine, ipecac, and blue mass. The
third morning I took an emetic of ipecacuanha.
My diet was simply one glass of milk,
and a piece of stale light bread, three times a
day for fourteen days, and drank the water
freely during this period. I gained a pound
of flesh daily, and my pulse was reduced to
76 in a minute; my cough, strength, and general
feelings were very much improved; bowels
entirely regular, and in good condition.

"I am now at the Red Sulphur, August,
1837, enjoying much better health than in
1835, my cough being very slight, although
my health is not entirely restored."

The cases, generally, labouring under this
stage of pulmonary disease, improved in their
health, particularly if they remained long
enough at the Spring, restricted themselves to
proper diet, and took sufficient exercise; but
there were a few among them who took little
or no exercise, and gave unlimited indulgence
to an inordinate appetite. In such cases I
took no interest, and observed but little change
in their appearance.

On examining the visiters labouring under
pulmonary disease, I observed that all those

patients who drank the water so as to act freely
on the bowels, for any length of time, did
not improve in their health, because active
purging is not proper for the lungs in this
disease. The water must be drank in such
quantities as to act freely on the kidneys.
There seems to be an intimate association[1]
between the lungs and the kidneys, and the
kidneys seem to be the great emunctories by
which the lungs are relieved in all pulmonary
diseases. This idea has been repeatedly suggested
to me, in my attendance on patients
labouring under this disease; on inquiring
into their condition, they frequently said, "I
feel much better to-day; I have had a copious
flow of urine, which has afforded me great
relief." This view of the connexion between
the lungs and the kidneys has been confirmed
by witnessing the diuretic effects of the
Red Sulphur water in pulmonary diseases. I
have a friend who is a physician, and who has
laboured more or less under pulmonary disease
for twenty years. He informed me that
when his lungs were disturbed by irritation,
he always resorted to "cooling diuretic medicines
for relief."

There are but few persons labouring under
the third or last stage of tuberculous diseases,
who visited the Red Sulphur this season, and
among those few there was scarcely a case
that derived any advantage from the use of
the water. When tuberculous disease arrives
at this stage, and the constitution is broken
down, it is not only useless but cruel to send
the patient to the Red Sulphur. I am sorry
to say, that several of my patients in this condition,
by my advice, visited the Red Sulphur
this season, and I witnessed the bad effects of
the water in their cases, as well as in the cases
of others of a similar character. They were
labouring under that peculiar irritation, and
perhaps ulceration of the bowels, so common
in this stage of the disease. They were unable
to drink but a small quantity of the water,
and the consequence was, that the bowels were
purged and griped, the secretion of the kidneys
was not increased, and the patient grew
worse daily.

The following case of rheumatism of the

heart was communicated by Wallace Allen,
Esq., of Richmond, Va., dated Feb. 15th,
1838:

"For some years I was a martyr to rheumatic
affections, and finding no permanent
relief from the various remedies proposed
either by my friends or attending physicians,
I was induced, as a dernier resort, to visit the
Hot Springs in the summer of 1831. After
remaining there eighteen days, I found my
health so far restored as to deem a longer stay
unnecessary. From that period, my health,
though not robust, suffered little apparent declension
until 1835, when I began to experience
a change of feeling, commencing with
irregular and inordinate action of the heart:
that organ being evidently enlarged, and its
vessels, together with the arterial system, suffering
great derangement, and producing violent
palpitations. During the latter part of
that year, and beginning of the next, my disease
gained ground to an alarming extent. I
became listless and inactive. My mental
faculties seemed obscured in a cloud, and my
physical energies so prostrated, that an entire
suspension of my regular pursuits became

imperious. Under these circumstances, I consulted
a medical gentleman of great eminence
residing in Philadelphia, who, after minute
investigation, pronounced my disease rheumatism
of the heart, and prescribed, as the
only means of cure, moderate exercise, meagre
diet, and a trip to the Hot Spring. At this
time, the symptoms were so severe as almost
to threaten the extinction of life; intense
throbbing of the temporal arteries, great debility,
and depression of spirits, were the characteristic
features of my complaint. In the
month of July, 1837, I visited the Hot Spring,
where I remained thirty days, and experienced
considerable alleviation. I then determined
on removing to the Red Sulphur, thinking to
test by my own observation and experience
the high renown of their medical properties,
as famed for allaying arterial excitement. Accordingly,
early in September, with some
agreeable companions, (which formed a great
inducement,) I wended my way to that beautiful
valley, where health and pleasure seem
to dwell as tutelar guardians of the lovely
spot. There I determined to remain some
days, that I might inhale the invigorating
freshness of the mountain air, and luxuriate
in the delights of the mountain scenery. And
well was I repaid, not only in the happy results
of the experiment, as it regarded my
health, but further, as it enabled me to cultivate
some valuable acquaintances recently
formed, among whom I am pleased to recognize
a physician, who evinced no common
interest and sympathy in my case. By his
advice I remained three weeks, making free
use of this health-restoring fluid, and receiving
therefrom benefit transcending my most
sanguine expectations. During my stay at
this Spring, I found each painful and alarming
symptom gradually subsiding, and the
pulsations of the heart and greater arteries decreased
from 96 to 72 vibrations in a minute,
the throbbing of the head ceased to annoy me,
and I have every reason to consider myself
convalescent. The last week in September I
returned home with renewed health and invigorated
feelings, and am now daily growing
better. My usual amount of strength has returned,
and I am confirmed in the opinion,
that the malady under which I had so long
laboured, and all its consecutives, have been
totally eradicated by the free use of the Red
Sulphur water.

"Here let me bear testimony to the polite
kindness of the worthy proprietor of that celebrated
watering-place, whose unceasing attentions
to the wants and comforts of his guests
call for high eulogium."

The Red Sulphur water may be used with
the most decided benefit in obstinate cases of
bowel complaints, gleet, leucorrhœa, catarrh
of the bladder, and uterine derangement.

It is not unusual for persons while using
this water to pass calculi from the bladder,
some specimens of which are in my possession,
about the size of common beans. I do
not pretend to assert that the water has any
specific action on the stone; but by its powerful
diuretic effects, by allaying irritation, and
probably by relaxing the urethra, the calculi
are washed from the bladder as it were without
pain. This fact is worthy the consideration
of all persons labouring under affections
of the kidneys or bladder.

The general instructions which have been
given regarding the mode of using the Red
Sulphur water, may not be considered sufficiently

condensed to meet the view of the
general reader; I will, therefore, recapitulate
the directions. Begin the use of the water
with great caution. If the system should be
too plethoric, or too much excited, the use of
the water should be postponed until the excitement
shall be reduced to a proper state.
Commence by taking one glass of water at bedtime,
and one before breakfast; after a few
days, take two glasses at bed-time, and two
before breakfast, one at 11 A. M., and one at
5 P. M. This quantity will generally operate
freely on the bowels; if it should fail to produce
this effect, a little common salt, magnesia,
or cream of tartar, may be added. If it is desired
to act on the kidneys, increase the quantity
of water to three or four glasses between
a light supper and bed-time, and the same
quantity between daylight and breakfast time,
two glasses at noon, and one or two glasses
about 5 o'clock P. M., taking care to exercise
freely after drinking. The most proper periods
for using the water are at night before
bed-time, and in the morning before breakfast
time.