It has been originally said that it is contraindication for the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis to bath and drink hot spring. For a long time we have been doubtful and incomrehensible of its reason as we could not systematically justify it by experimental and scientific foundation.
Therefore, since about thirteen years we have investigated the influence of the bathing and drinking on the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis excluding severe cases at Tokura-Kamiyamada Spa (sulphated alkaline spring). The main results of the experiment were as follows.
1) Bathing and drinking were used as the experimental method. In the former the slight cases took bath (40°C) every day or every other day, the moderate cases 1 or 2 days every week. And each patient drank 200cc of spring (indifferent temperature) in the morning and in the evening.
The next various items of investigation were inspected for comparatively long period at the fixed time before and after bathing and drinking.
2) Acidity of gastric juice, liver function, gastrointestinal disturbance, haemogram, E. S. R., sputum, X-Ray finding of chest and stomach, body weight, subjective symptom, basic metabolic rate, adrenocortical function, urinary excretion of dihydroascorbic acid, degree of fatigue, blood pressure, CRP, serum protein, ventilating function, resistance in air way, E. C. G. and statistical observation were studied.
3) From above effects of some items we can recognize a little good influence on patients rather than bad influence. In short, the liver function and hemoglobin concentration were increased by bathing and drinking, the improvement of adrenocortical function was indicated, basic metabolic rate was modulated, ventilating function and recovery from fatigue was influenced well. 94% of patients discharged during the past 10 years were statistically occupied by the improved cases in discharge who took both ways, bathing and drinking.
4) According to these results of the experiment it can be said that the Spa treatment is far from injurious, it is useful, for the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.
I believe Spa treatment should be carried out more positively if we have correct knowledge about character of Spa and stadium of pulmonary tuberculosis.
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