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Chapter VI: The Internal Bath.2131
Miscellaneous Notes. Some who have practiced this treatment have
found that in cases of extreme constipation and congested colon, the
addition of a tablespoonful of glycerine to the hot water worked excellent
results in the direction of softening the impacted faecal matter, lubricating
the walls of the colon, etc.
Many persons ask whether the treatment is not weakening. To such we
say that the extended experience of leading practitioners have shown that it
has a contrary effect, a marked feeling of increased vitality being manifested
by persons taking the treatment, after they have restored normal conditions.
It does not weaken the intestines, but restores normal functioning to them,
by reason of removing the obstructing materials.
The natural question is “How often should this treatment be applied” The
answer is that at the start it would be well to apply it three nights in succession;
then three times more “every other night;” then three times more, “every
third night;” then three times more “once a week.” After this time a normal
condition will have been restored, and by following our instructions in the
preceding chapter regarding the drinking of a sufficient amount of fluids,
one should be able to keep his colon in good condition. To those who do
not take sufficient exercise, or who are confined to in-door life much of their
time, or who, in other ways, are unable to live naturally and normally, we
would suggest the benefit of a monthly treatment to prevent future returns
of the old conditions. It would be well to set some particular time of the
month, say the first or the middle of the month for such treatment, as one is
more apt to remember such a set time when it “comes around.”
Some practitioners of this form of treatment, recommend that after
the treatment with hot water is completed, and the contents of the colon
fully evacuated, it is advisable and helpful to inject a small quantity—say
one pint-of water of the ordinary cold temperature, into the colon for
the purpose of invigorating the colon and adjacent parts. The tonic and
invigorating qualities of a cold douche, or treatment, after an application
of hot water, is well known, many persons always taking a cold sponge after