A trial of the Bath Waters: the treatment of lead poisoning

Abstract

The Reverend Joseph Glanvill, FRS' was expressing a contemporary view of the aims of the Royal Society when in 1668 he wrote, "We must seek and gather, observe and examine and lay up in bank for the ages to come. This is the business of the experimental philosophers." These words could be applied to the foundation of the Bath General Hospital, which opened in 1741, where it was hoped that by means of a "trial of the waters" it would be possible to show that Bath spa therapy as then practised was effective against many diseases. This was possibly the first extensive trial of any medical therapy. It is commonly assumed that spa therapy has only a placebo effect; that the pleasurable activity of immersion in warm mineral water has social and psychological benefits, but no physiological value. But the records of the Bath Hospital show that Bath spa therapy was an effective treatment for one common and chronic condition, the paralysis that occurs as the result of chronic lead intoxication (colica pictonum). Chronic lead poisoning is a characteristic disorder, presenting with severe abdominal colic and constipation followed by a loss of function of the limbs without loss of sensation. It has been possible, therefore, to use the information collected in the records of the Bath Hospital2 from 1760 to 1879 to identify cases and to show that Bath spa therapy was indeed of value in its treatment.3 During this period of 120 years, 3,377 patients (6.9 per cent of the total admissions) were admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of paralysis due to lead poisoning; 45.4 per cent of these

A brief history of spa therapy

“…A decade ago, Heywood reviewed well documented records on spa treatment for lead poisoning in the 18th and 19th century in Bath. 19 Paralysis occurring as a result of chronic lead intoxication (colica pictonum) was a common problem in those days owing to the widespread use of lead in household ware, cosmetics, food colorants, wine, and salts for medicinal use. Already at the beginning of the 16th century, Bath was famous for curing paralysis, even in those patients who were regarded as incurable.…”

“…19 During these five years, 285 patients with colica pictonum were admitted in Exeter and 281 patients in Bath. Seventy three per cent of the patients from Exeter were cured or improved, whereas the figure was 93% from Bath.…”

“…Moreover, the group in Bath included some 80 patients referred from Exeter who had not been cured by treatment in Exeter. 19 From 1760 to 1879, 3377 patients were admitted in Bath for paralysis due to lead intoxication. Forty five per cent were cured and 93% had at least improved.…”

“…Forty five per cent were cured and 93% had at least improved. 19 The high cure rates for paralysis by spa therapy in Bath may be attributed to several factors. Sitting in warm water produces diuresis, with increased excretion of sodium, potassium, calcium, and also lead.…”

A History of Natural Membranes in Dialysis

“…8, 9). Audrey Hcywood has done a very detailed analysis of the pathophysiological manner by which the mineral waters at Bath, England were, through their action over the skin, relieving patients with lead poisoning and increasing diuresis [26]. Early in the 19th century', the skin was regarded and referred to as a functional organ of the body [27], Jenner, responding to the success of the smallpox vaccination declares that 'all diseases can be cured when excreted through the pores of the skin'.…”