TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 217 



cated ; but as I have been using it with satisfaction In several cases of dyspepsia 

 I think it will be found generally useful. I will here say that I 

 recommend the water to be heated to 140" F. in summer, and 145*^ to 150*^ in win- 

 ter, in quantity about % to ^ of a pint as a general thing, and taken about J^ 

 to ^ of an hour before meals. If one should be very thirsty at bed-time, then 

 also, but not unless necessary to allay thirst. 



I. " The Water Must be Hot, Not Cold Nor Luketcarm.— This is to excite 

 peristalsis (like peristaltic, a successive contraction and relaxing of the muscu- 

 lar coats) of the alimentary canal. Cold vratcr depresses, as it uses animal heat 

 to bring it up to the temperature of the economy (body), and there is also a loss 

 of nerve force in the proceeding. Lukewarm water excites upward peristalsis, 

 or vomiting, as is well-known. By hot water is meant a temperature of 110° 

 to 150° Fahrenheit, such as is commonly liked in the use of tea and coffee. In 

 cases of hemorrhage, the temperature should be at blood heat (98" F.). Ice- 

 water is disallowed in all cases, sick or well. 



II. " Quantity of Hot Water at a Draught. — Dr. Salisbury first began 

 with one-half pint of hot water, but he found that it was not enough to wash out, 

 nor to bear another test founded on the physiological fact that the urine of a 

 healthy babe suckling a healthy mother — the best standard of health— stands at 

 a specific gravity varying from 1.015 to 1.020. The urine of the patient should 

 be made to conform to this standard, and the daily use of the urinometer (an 

 instrument for telling the specific gravity of the urine, but not generally neces- 

 sary to have nor obtain except in hot-water cures) tells whether the patient 

 drinks enough or too much hot water. 



"For example, if the specific gravity of the urine stands at 1.030°, more 

 hot water should be drank, unless there is loss by sweating. On the other hand, 

 should the specific gravity of the urine fall to 1.010, less hot water should be 

 drank. The quantity of hot water varies usually from % pt. to \% pts. at one 

 time of drinking. 



"The urine to be tested should be the iirina sangmnis, or that passed just 

 after rising from bed in the morning, before any meals or drinks are taken. 



" The quantity of urine voided in 24 hours should measure from 48 to 64 

 ozs. (IJ.^ to 2 qts.). The amount will, of course, vary somewhat with the tem- 

 perature of the atmosphere, exercise, sweating, etc., but the hot water must be 

 given so as to keep the specific gravity of the infant's standard, to wit: 1.015 to 

 1.020. The urinometer will detect, at once, whether the proper amount of hot 

 water has been drank, no matter whether the patient is present or absent. 

 Another test is that of odor. The urine should be devoid of the rank Mnnowa 

 smell, so well known, but indescribable. [The absence of this " rank smell " is 

 a sutficient guide for home tests; take enough to get rid of this rank odor, is all 

 sufficient.] 



" The Salisbury Plans aim for this in all cases, and when the patients are 

 true and faithful, the aim is realized. [If a patient will not be true to himself, 

 or herself, you may as well give up trying at once.] 



III. " Times of Taking Hot Water. — One to two hours before each meal, 

 and half an hour before retirine at night. [I have taken it myself, and so recom 



