ShevV(P"o,li- >
 
ARMY MEDICAL LIBRARY
FOUNDED 1836
WASHINGTON, D.C. 
 
 
 
   Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1846, by
                  JOEL SHEW, M. D.
In the Clerk's OflBce of the District Court of the Northern District
                     ' of New  York. 
BULWER'S  LETTER  ON WATER-CURE.
From the New Monthly Magazine, (a leading English Periodical)
                  for Sep tember 1845.
  »,#       *      *         *      «       *       ##
   " T have been a workman in my day.  I began to write and to
  toil, and to win some kind of a name, which I had the ambition to
  improve, while yet little more than a boy.  With strong love for
  study in books—with yet greater desire to accomplish myself in
  the knowledge of men, for sixteen years I can conceive no life to
  have been more filled by occupation than mine. What time was
  not given to the action  was given to study; what time not given
  to study, to action—labor in both!  To a constitution naturally far
  from strong, I allowed  no pause or  respite.   The wear and tear
  went on without intermission—the whirl of the wheel never ceased.
  Som ;imes, indeed, thoroughly overpowered and exhausted,  I
  ^_p t for escape.   The physicians said ' Travel,' and I travelled.
  [JJ ->.to the country,' and I went.  But in such attempts at repose,
  t-i my ailments gathered round me—made themselves far more
  ulpable and felt.  I had no resource but to fly from myself—to fly
  nto the other world of books, or thought, or reverie—to live in
  some state of being less painful  than my own.  As  long  as I was
  always at work, it  seemed that  I had no leisure to  be ill.—Quiet
  was my hell.
    " At length the  frame thus long neglected—patched up for  a
  while  by drugs and doctors—put off and trifled with as an intrusive
  dun—like a dun who is in his rights—brought in its arrears—crush-
  ing and terrible, accumulated through long years.   Worn out and
  wasted, the constitution seemed wholly inadequate to meet the
  demand.  The exhaustion of toil and study had been completed by
  great anxiety and grief.  I had watched -wfith alternate hope and
  fear the lingering  and  mournful death-bed of my nearest relation
  and dearest friend—of  the person around whom was entwined the
  strongest affection my life had known—and when all was over, I
  seemed scarcely to live  myself.
    "At this time, about  the January of 1844,1 was thoroughly shat-
  tered.   The least attempt at exercise exhausted me. The nerves
  gave way at the" most ofuinafy excitement—a chronic irritation of
  that vast surface we call the mucous membrane, which had defied
  for years all medical skill, rendered me continually liable to acute
  attacks, which from their repetition and increased feeblenessof my
)» frame, might at any time be fatal.  Though free from any organic
( disease of the heart, its action was morbidly restless and painful,



             3S7009 
2                   bulwer's  letter,
My sleep was without refreshment. At morning I rose more weary
than I laid down to rest.
  " Without fatiguing you and your readers further with the longa
cokors of my complaints,  I pass on to  record my struggle to resist
them.  I have always had a great belief in the power of the will.
What a man determines to do—that in ninety-nine cases out  of the
hundred I  hold that  he succeeds in doing.   I determined to have
some insight tnto a knowledge I had never attained since manhood
—the knowledge of health.
  " I resolutely put away books and study, sought the airs which
the physicians esteemed the most healthful, and adopted the strict
regimen on which  all the children of iEsculapius so wisely insist.
In short, I  maintained the same  general habits as to hours, diet,
(with the exception of wine, which in moderate quantities seemed
to me indispensable,) and, so  far as my strength would allow, of
exercise, as I found afterwards instituted at hydropathic establish-
ments.  I dwell on  this  to forestal, in some manner the  common
remark of persons not well acquainted with the medical agencies
of water—that it is tp the regular life  which water patients lead,
and not to the element itself, that they owe their recovery.* Never-
theless I  found that  these changes, however salutary in theory,
produced  little, if  any, practical amelioration  in my health.  All
invalids know, perhaps, how difficult, under ordinary circumstances.
is the alteration of habits from bad to good. The early rising, if   I
walk before breakfast, so delicious in the feelings of freshness ai.
vigor which they  bestow upon the strong, often become punish  jt
ments  to  the valetudinarian.   Headache, langour, a sense oh ||
weariness over the eyes,  a sinking of the whole system  towards
noon, which seemed  imperiously to demand the dangerous aid of
stimulants, was all that I  obtained by the morning breeze and the
languid stroll by the  sea-shore.  The suspension from study only
afflicted with intolerable ennui, and added to the profound dejection
of the spirits.  The brain, so long accustomed to morbid  activity,
was but withdrawn  from its usual occupations to  invent horrors
and chimeras.  Over the  pillow, vainly sought two hours before
midnight, hovered  no golden  sleep.  The absence  of excitement,
however unhealthy, only  aggravated the symptoms of ill-health.
  " It was  at this time that I  met by chance, in the library at St
Leonard's,  with Captain  Claridge's work on the "Water-Cure,''
as practised by Priessnitz at Graefenberg.  Making allowance for
certain exaggerations therein, which appeared evident to my com-
mon sense, enough still remained not only to captivate the imagin-
ation and flatter the hopes of an invalid, but to appeal with favor
to his sober judgment.  Till then, perfectly  ignorant of the subject
and the system, except by some such vague stories and good jests
as had reached my ears in Germany, I resolved at least to read

  *As well might we  undertake to invigorate the faithful horse all jaded and
worn, by beating him, as to really strengthen and invigorate the system by
poisonous BtimulantB.—[Ed.) 
ON WATER-CURE.
3
what more could he said in favor of the ariston u&or, and examine
dispassionately into its merits as a medicament.   I was then under
the advice of oneof the first physicians of our age.  I had consulted
half the faculty.  I had every reason to be greatful for the atten-
tion, and to be confident in the skill, of those whose prescriptions
had, from time to time, flattered my hopes and enriched the chemist.
But the  truth must  be spoken—far from being better, I was
sinking fast.

  " I resolved then to betake  myself to Malvern.  On my way
through town I paused, in the innocence of my heart, to inquire of
the faculty if  they thought  the water-cure would suit my case.
With one exception, they were unanimous in the vehemence of
their denunciations.  Granting even that in some cases, especially
of rheumatism,  hydropathy had  produced  a cure—to my com-
plaints it was worse than inapplicable—it was highly dangerous-
it would probably be fatal.  I had  not stamina for the treatment-
it would fix chronic ailments into organic disease—surely it would
be much better to try what I had not yet tried.  What had I not
yet tried 7  A course of prussic  acid!  Nothing was better  for
gastric irritation, which was no doubt the main cause of my suf-
fering!   If, however, I were  obstinately  bent  upon so mad an
experiment, Dr. Wilson was the last person I should go to.  I was
not deterred  by all these intimidations, nor seduced by  the salu-
brious allurements of the prussic acid under its scientific appella-
tion of hydrocyanic.  A little reflection taught  me that the mem-
bers of a learned profession are naturally  the very persons least
disposed  to favor innovation upon the practices which custom and
prescription have rendered sacred  in  their eyes.   A lawyer is not
the person to consult upon bold reforms in jurisprudence.  A phy-
sician can scarcely be expected to own that a  Silesian peasant
will cure with water the diseases  which resist an  armament  of
phials.  And with regard  to  the peculiar objections to Doctor
Wilson, I had read in his own pamphlet attacks upon the orthodox
practice sufficient to  account for—perhaps to justify—the disposi-
tion to depreciate him in return.
  " Still my friends were  anxious  and fearful; to please them I
continued to  inquire,  though not of physicians, but of patients.
I sought out some  of those who had gone through the process.  I
sifted some of the cases of cure  cited by Dr. Wilson.  I found the
account of the patients so encouraging, the cases quoted so authen-
tic, that 1 grew  impatient of delay.  I threw physic to the dogs,
and went to Malvern.
  "It is not my intention, Mr. Editor,  to detail the course I under-
went.  The different  resources of water as a medicament are to be
found in many works easily to be obtained, and well worth the
study.  In this letter I suppose myself to be addressing those as
thoroughly acquainted with the system as myself was at the first,
and I deal therefore only in generals. 
4                  BULWER'S  LETTER
       4>

  " The first point which impressed and- struck me was the ex-
treme and utler innocence of the Water-Cure in  skilful hands—
in any hands indeed not thoroughly new to the system.*  Certainly
when I went, I believed it to be a kill or cure system.  I fancied
it must be a very violent remedy—that  it doubtless might effect
great and magical cures—but that if it failed it might be fatal.  Now,
I speak not alone of my own case, but of the immense number of
cases I have seen—patients of all ages—all species and genera of
disease—all kinds and conditions of constitution, when I declare,
upon my honor, that I never witnessed one dangerous symptom
produced by the Water-Cure, whether at Doctor Wilson's  or the
other Hydropathic Institutions  which I afterwards visited.   And
though unquestionably fatal consequences might occur from gross
mismanagement, and as  unquestionably have so occurred at vari-
ous establishments, I am yet convinced  that water in itself is so
friendly to the human body, that it requires a very extraordinary
degree  of  bungling, of  ignorance, and  presumption,  to produce
results  really dangerous; that  a  regular practitioner does more
frequent mischief from  the misapplication of even the simplest
drugs, than a water doctor of very moderate experience does, or
can do, by the misapplication of his baths and friction.  And here
I must observe, that those portions of the treatment which appear
to the uninitiated as the most perilous, are really the safest, (such
as the wet-sheet packing,) and can be applied with the most impu«
nity to the  weakest constitutions; whereas those which appear,
from our greater familiarity with them, the least  startling and most
inocuous, (the plunge-bath—the douche,) are those which require
the greatest  knowledge of  general pathology and the  individual
constitution.   I shall  revert to this part of my subject before I
conclude.
  *' The next thing which struck me was the extraordinary ease
with which, under this system,  good habits  are  acquired and bad
habits relinquished.   The difficulty  with which, under orthodox
medical treatment, stimulants are abandoned, is here not witnessed!
Patients accustomed for half a century to live hard  and high, wind
drinkers, spirit-bibbers, whom the regular physician has sought in
vain to reduce to a  daily pint  of sherry, here  voluntarily  resign
all strong potations,  after  a day or two cease to feel the want of
them,  and  reconcile  themselves to  water as if they  had drank
nothing else all their  lives.  Others, who have had  recourse for
years  and years to medicine—their potion in the  morning, their
cordial at noon, their pill before dinner, their narcotic at bed-time
cease  to require these  aids to life, as if by a charm.   Nor thija

  * Let a person, for instance, who has suffered all the horrors of indigestion
and has tried, to his satisfaction, the various modes of drugging, notomittin"
either the round of pill and nostrum-mongers—let such a one set about
washing thoroughly the whole surface, at first once daily, and afterwards"
twice, obsi rvirig that it be done when the stomach is empty, the body warm
and not fatigued, with water of such temperature as can be borne,  so that
by exercising after the bath,a glow of warmth is experienced ,ajid he will soon
be convinced of the safe and friendly action of water.—[Ed. Jour J 
ON WATER CURE.
5
alone.   Men to whom mental labor has  been a necessary—who
have existed on the excitement of the passions and the stir of the
intellect—who have felt these withdrawn, the prostration  of the
whole system—the lock to the wheel of the entire machine—return
at once to the careless spirits of the boy in his first holiday.
  " Here lies a great secret; water thus skilfully administered is
in itself a wonderful excitement;  it supplies the place of all oth-
ers—it operates powerfully and rapidly upon the nerves, sometimes
to calm them, sometimes to irritate, but always to occupy.  Hence
follows  a consequence which all  patients have  remarked—the
complete repose  of the  passions during the  early stages  of the
cure ; they seem laid asleep as if by enchantment.  The intellect
shares the same rest;  after a short time, mental exertion becomes
impossible ; even the memory  grows far less tenacious of its pain-
ful  impressions, cares and griefs are forgotten ; the sense  of the
present absorbs the past  and  future;  there is a certain freshness
and yoath which pervade  the spirits, and live  upon the enjoyment
of the actual hour.  Thus the great agents of cur mortal wear and
tear—the passions and the mind—calmed into strange rest—Nature
seems  to leave the body to its instinctive tendency,  which is al-
ways towards recovery.  All that interests and amuses is of a
healthful character;  exercise, instead  of  being an unwilling
drudgery, becomes the inevitable impulse of the frame braced and
invigorated by the element.  A series of reactions is always going
on—the  willing exercise produces refreshing rest, and refreshing
rest willing exercise.   The extraordinary effect which water taken
early in the morning produces  on the  appetite is well known
amongst those who have tried it, even before  the Water-Cure was
thought of;  an appetite it should be the care  of the skilful doctor
to check into  moderate gratification ;  the powers of nutrition be-
come singularly strengthened, the blood grows rich and pure—the
constitution is  not only amended—it undergoes a change.
  " The safety of the  system, then, struck me first; its power of
replacing by  healthful  stimulants the morbid ones it withdrew,
whether physical or moral, surprised me  next;  that which thirdly
impressed me  was no less contrary to all my preconceived notions.
I had fancied that, whether good or bad, the  system must be one
of great hardship, extremely repugnant and disagreeable.  I won-
dered at myself to find how soon it became  so  associated with
pleasurable and  grateful feelings  as to dwell upon the  mind
amongst the happiest  passages of existence.  For my own part,
despite all my ailments, or whatever  may have been my cares, I
have ever found exquisite pleasure in  that sense of being which is,
as it were, the conscience, the mirror of the soul.  1 have known
hours of as much and  as vivid happiness as perhaps can fall to the
lot of man ; but amongst all my most  brilliant recollections I can
recall no periods of enjoyment at once more hilarious and serene
than the hours spent on tlie lonely hills of Malvern—none in which
nature  was so thoroughly possessed  and appreciated.  The rise 
6
BULWER's  LETTER
from a sleep as sound as childhood's—the  impatient rush  into the
open air, while the sun was fresh, and the birds first sang—the sense
of an unwonlled strength  in every limb and nerve, which made so
light of the steep ascent to the holy spring—the delicious sparkle
of that morning draught—the green  terrace  on the brow of the
mountain, with the rich landscape wide and farbelow—the breeze
that once would have been so keen and biting, now but exhilara-
ting the blood, and lifting the spirits into religious joy ; and this
keen sentiment of present pleasure rounded by a hope sanctioned
by all I felt in myself, and nearly  all that I witnessed in others-=-
that that very present was but the  step, the threshhold, into an
unknown and delightful region of health and vigor:—a disease and
a care dropping from the frame and the heart at every stride.
  " But here I must pause  to  own  that if  on the one hand the
danger and discomforts of the cure are greatly exaggerated (exag-
gerated is too weak a word)—so on the other hand, as far«as my
own experience, which is perhaps not inconsiderable, extends, the
enthusiastic advocates of the  system  have greatly misrepresented
the duration  of the curative process.  I have read and heard of
chronic diseases of long standing cured permanently in a very few
weeks.  I candidly  confess that I have seen none such.  I have,
it is true, witnessed many chronic diseases perfectly cured—disea ses
which had been pronounced incurable by the first physicians, but
the cure has  been long and fluctuating.  Persons so afflicted, who
try this system, must  arm themselves with patience.  The first
effects of the  system are indeed  usually bracing,  and inspire such
feelings of general well-being, that some  think they have only to
return home, and carry out the cure partially, to recover.  A great
mistake—the alterative effects begin long after the bracing—a dis-
turbance in the constitution takes place, prolonged more or less, and
not till that ceases does the cure really begin.  Not that the pecu-
liar " crisis" sought for so  vehemently by the German water-doctors,
and usually under their hands manifested by boils  and eruptions,
is at all a necessary part  of the cure—it is, indeed, as far as I have
seen, a rare  occurrence, but a critical action, not single, not con-
fined to one period, or one series of phenomena, is  at work, often
undetected by the patient himself, during a considerable (and that
the latter) portion of the  cure in  mosl patients where the malady
has been grave,  and where the recovery becomes permanent.
During this time the patient  should be under the eye  of his water-
doctor.
  " To conclude my own case: I staid some nine or ten weeks at
Malvern, and business, from which I could not escape, obliging me
then to be in the neighborhood of town, I continued  the system
seven weeks longer under Dr. Weiss, at Petersham.   During this
latter period the agreeable phenomena which had  characterized
the former,  the cheerfulness, the bien aise,  the consciousness of
returning health vanished ; and were succeeded by great irritation
 of the nerves, extreme fretfulness, and the usual characteristics of 
ON WATER-CURE.
7
the constitutional disturbance to which I have referred.  I had
every reason, however, to be satisfied with the care and skill of
Doctor Weiss, who fully deserves the reputation he has acquired,
and the attachment entertained for him by his patients;  nor did
my judgment ever despond or doubt of the ultimate benefits of the
process.  I emerged at last from these operations in no very portly
condition,  I was blanched and emaciated—washed  out like  a
thrifty house-wife's gown—but neither the bleaching nor the loss
of weight had in the least impaired my strength ; on the contrary,
all the muscles had grown as hard as iron, and 1 was become capa-
ble of great exercise without fatigue ; my cure was not effected,
but I was'compelled  to go into Germany.  On my return home-
wards, I was seized with a severe cold which rapidly passed into
high fever.   Fortunately I was within reach of Doctor Schmidt's
magnificent  hydropathic establishment at Boppart: thither I
caused myself to be conveyed ; and now I had occasion to expe-
rience  the  wonderful effect of the Water-Cure  in acute cases;
slow in chronic disease,  its beneficial operation in acute is imme-
diate.  In  twenty-four hours all fever had subsided, and on the
third day I resumed my  journey, relieved from  every symptom
that had before  prognosticated a tedious  and perhaps alarming
illness.
  " And now came gradually, yet perceptibly, the good effects of
the system  I had undergone ;  flesh and weight returned; the  sense
of health became conscious and steady; I had every reason  to
bless the hour when  I first sought the springs of Malvern.  And
here, I must observe, that it often happens that the patient makes
but slight apparent improvement, when under the cure, compared
with that which occurs  subsequently.  A water-doctor of repute
at Brussels, indeed, said  frankly to a grumbling patient, ' I do not
expect you to be well while here—it is only on leaving me that
you will know if I have cured you.'
  " It is as the frame recovers from the agitation itundergoes, that
it gathers  round it  power utterly unknown to it before—as the
plant watered by the rains of one season, betrays in the  next the
effect of the grateful dews.
  "I had always suffered so severely in winter, that the severity
of our last one gave me apprehensions, and I resolved to seek shel-
ter from my fears at my beloved Malvern.  I here passed the most
inclement  period of the winter, not only perfectly free  from the
colds, rheums and catarrhs, which had hitherto visited me with the
snows, but in the enjoyment of excellent health ; and I am per-
suaded that for those who are delicate, and who suffer much during
the winter, there is no place where the cold is so little felt as at a
Water-Cure establishment.   I am persuaded also, and in this I am
borne out by the experience of most water-doctors, that the cure is
most rapid  and effectual during the  cold  season—from  autumn
through the winter.   I am thoroughly convinced that consumption
in its earlier stages can  be more easily cured, and the predisposi-
tion more  permanently eradicated by a winter spent at Malvern, 
8
BULWER's  LETTER,
under the care of Doctor Wilson,  than by  the  timorous flight to
Pisa or Madeira.  It is by hardening rather than defending the
tissues that we best secure them from disease.
  " And now, to sum up, and to dismiss my egotistical revelations,
I desire in no way to overcolor my own case;  I do not say that
when I first went to the Water-Cure  I was  affected with any
disease immediately menacing to life—I say only that I was in that
prolonged and chronic state of ill health, which made life at the
best extremely precarious—I do not say that I  had any malady
which the faculty could pronounce  incurable—I say only that the
most eminent men of the  faculty had failed to cure  mc.  I do not
even now affect to boast of a perfect and complete deliverance from
all  my ailments—I cannot declare that  a constitution naturally
delicate has been rendered Herculean, or that the wear and tear
of a whole manhood have been thoroughly repaired.  What might
have been the case had I  not taken the  cure at intervals, had I
remained at it steadily for six or eight months without interruption,
I cannot do more than conjecture, but so strong is my belief that the
result would  have been completely successful, that I promise my-
self, whenever I can spare the leisure, a long renewal of the sys-
tem.  These  admissions made,  what have I  gained meanwhile to
justify my eulogies and my gratitude?—an immense accumulation
of the capital of health.  Formerly it was my favorite  and queru-
lous question to those who saw much of me, ' Did you  ever know
me  twelve hours without  pain  or illness V  Now, instead of these
being my constant companions, they are but my occasional visitors.
I compare my old state and my present to the poverty of a man who
has a  shilling in  his  pocket, and whose  poverty is, therefore, a
struggle for life, with the occasional distresses of  a man  of .£5,000 a
year, who sees but an appendage endangered or aluxury aDrmged.
All the good  that I have gained, i3 wholly unlike what I ever de-
rived  either from medicine or  the  German  mineral baths; in the
first place, it does not relieve a single malady alone, it pervades the
whole frame  ; in the second place, far from  subsiding,  it seems to
increase by time, so that I may reasonably hope that the latter part
of my life, instead of being more infirm than the former, will be-
come—so far as  freedom from  suffering,  and the calm  enjoyment
of external life are concerned—my real, my younger, youth.   And
it is this profound conviction which has induced me to volunteer
these  details, in the hope (I trust a pure and kindly one) to induce
those, who more or less have suffered as I have  done, to fly to the
same  rich and bountiful  resources.  We ransack the  ends of the
earth for drugs and  minerals—we extract  our potions from the
deadliest poisons—but around us and about us,  Nature, the  great
mother, proffers  the Hygeian fount, unseated and accessible to all.
Wherever the  stream glides pure, wherever the spring sparkles
fresh, there, for the vast proportion of the maladies which art pro-
duces, Nature yields the benignant healing.
#       *        #        *       *       #        #       *

  " Those cases  in which the Water-Cure seems an absolute pana- 
ON WATER-CURE.
9
cea, and in wn.ch the patient may commence with the most san-
guine hopes, are—First,  rheumatism, however prolongued, how-
ever complicated.  In this the cure is  usually rapid—nearly always
permanent.  Secondly, gout.  Here  its efficacy is little less start-
ling to appearance than  in the former case; it  seems to take-up
the disease by the roots ;  It extracts the peculiar acid, which often
appears in discolorations upon the sheets used in the application,
or is ejected in other modes.  But here, judging always from cases
subjected to my personal knowledge, I have not seen instances to
justify the assertion of some water-doctors, that returns of the  dis-
ease do not occur.  The predisposition—the tendency, has appeared
to me to remain.   The patient is liable to relapses—but I have in-
variably found them far less frequent, less lengthened; and readily
susceptible of simple and speedy  cure, especially if the habits re-
main temperate.
   " Thirdly, that wide and grisly family of affliction classed under
the common name of dyspepsia. All derangements of the digestive
organs, imperfect powers of nutrition—the malaise of an injured
stomach, appear presisely the complaints on which the system takes
firmest hold, and in which it effects those cures that convert ex-
istence from a burden into a blessing.  Hence it follows that many
nameless  and countless complaints proceeding from derangement
of the stomach, cease as that great machine is restored to order.  I
have seen disorders  of the heart which have been pronounced or-
ganic by the learned authorities of the profession, disappear in an
incredibly short time—casesof incipient consumption, in which the
seat is the nutricious powers, hcDmorrhages, and various conges-
tions, shortness of breath, habitual  fainting fits,  many of what are
called, improperly, nervous complaints, but which, in reality, are
indications  from the main  ganglionic spring; the disorders pro-
duced by the abuse of powerful medicines, especially mercury and
iodine, the loss of appetite, the dulled sense, and the shaking hand
of intemperance, skin complaints, and the dire scourge of scrofula—
all these seem to obtain from hydropathy relief—nay, absolute and
unqualified cure, beyond not only the means of the most skilful
drug doctor, but the hopes of the most sanguine  patients.
   "The cure may be divided into two branches—the process for
acute complaints—& that for chronic; I have just referred to the last.
And great as are there its benefits, they seem common-place beside
the effect the system  produces in acute complaints.  Fever, in-
cluding the scarlet and the typhus, influenza, measles, small-pox,
the sudden and  rapid disorders of children, are cured with a sim-
plicity and precision which must, I am  persuaded, sooner or later,
render the resources of the hydropathist the ordinary treatment for
such  acute complaints in the hospitals.   The  principal remedy
here  employed by  the  water-doctor  is, the wet-sheet packing,
which excites such  terror amongst the uninitiated, and  which, of
all the curatives adopted  by hydropathy, is unquestionably the
safest—the one that can  be applied without danger to the greatest
variety of cases, and which I do not hesitate to aver, can rarely> u 
10                  BULWER'S LETTER
ever, be misapplied in any cases where the pulse is hard and high,
and the skin dry and burning.  I have found in conversation so
much misapprehension of this very easy and very luxurious reme-
dy, that I may be pardoned for re-explaining what has been  ex-
plained so  often.  It is not, as people persist in  supposing, that
patients are put into wet  sheets and there left to shiver.  The
sheets, after being saturated, are well wrung out—the patient
quickly wrapped  in  them—several blankets  tightly bandaged
round,  and  a  feather-bed placed at top; thus,  especially where
there is the least fever, the first momentary chill is promptly suc-
ceeded by a gradual and vivifying warmth, perfectly free from
the irritation of dry heat—a delicious sense of ease is usually fol-
lowed by a sleep  more agreeable than anodynes ever produced.
It seems a  positive cruelty  to be relieved from  this magic girdle
in which pain is lulled, and fever cooled,  and watchfulness lap-
ped in slumber.  The bath which succeeds refreshes and braces
the • skin, which the operation relaxed and softened; they only
who have tried this after fatigue or in  fever, can form  the least
notion of its pleasurable sensations, or of its extraordinary efficacy ;
nor is there any thing startling or novel in its theory.  In hospitals,
now, water-dressings are found the best poultice  to an  inflamed
member; this  expansion of the wet  dressing is a poultice to  the
whole inflamed surface of the body.   It does not differ greatly, ex-
cept in its cleanliness and simplicity, from the old  remedy of the
ancients—the wrapping the body in the skins of animals newly
slain, or placing it on dung-hills, or immersing it, as now in Ger-
many, in the soft-slough of mud baths.  Its theory is that of warmth
and moisture, those friendliest agents to  inflammatory disorders.
In fact,  I think it  the duty of every man, on whom the lives of
others depends, to make himself acquainted with at least this part
of the Water cure :—the wet sheet is the true life preserver.   In
the large majority of sudden inflammatory complaints, the doctor
at a distance, prompt measures indispensible, it will at least arrest
the disease, check the fever, till, if you prefer the drugs, the drugs
can come—the remedy is at hand, wherever you can find a bed and
a jug of water; and whatever else you may apprehend after a
short visit to a hydropathic establishment, your fear of that bugbear
—the wet sheet—is the first you  banish.  The  only cases, I be-
lieve, where it can be positively mischievous is where the pulse
scarcely beats—where the vital sense is extremely low—where the
inanition of  the frame forbids the  necessary reaction, in cholera,
and certain disorders of the chest and bronchia  ; otherwise at all
ages, from the  infant to the octogenarian, it is equally applicable,
and in most acute cases, equally innocent.
  " Hydropathy being thus rapidly beneficial in acute disorders,
it follows naturally that it will be quick as a cure in chronic com-
plaints in proportion as acute symptoms are mixed with them, and
slowest where such complaints are dull and lethargic—it will be
slowest also where the nervous exhaustion is the greatest.  With
children, its effects, really and genuinely, can scarcely be exag- 
ON WATER-CURE.
11
gerated ; in them, the nervous system, not weakened by toil, grief,
anxiety, and intemperance, lends  itself to the gracious element
as  a young plant  to  the rains.—When I see how some tender
mother, coddling, and physicking, and preserving fromevery breath
of y.ir,  and swaddling in flannels, her pallid little ones, I long to
pounce upon the callow brood, and bear them to the hills of Mal-
vern, and the diamond  fountain of St. Anne's—with what rosy
faces and robust limbs  I will promise  they shall return—alas! I
promise and preach in vain—the family apothecary is against me,
and the progeny are doomed to rhubarb and the rickets.
  " The Water-Cure  as yet  has had  this evident injustice—the
patients resorting to it have  mostly been desperate cases.  So
strong a notion prevails that it is a desperate remedy, that they only
who have found all else fail have dragged themselves to the  Beth-
seda Pools.  That all thus not only abandoned by hope and  the
College, but weakened and poisoned by the violent medicines ab-
sorbed into their system for a score or so of years—that all should
not recover, is not surprising!  The wonder is.jthat the number of
recoveries should be so great;—that every now and then we should
be surprised by the man whose untimely grave we predicted  when
we last saw him,  meeting us in the streets ruddy and stalwart,
fresh from the springs of Graefenberg, Boppart, Petersham, or
Malvern.
  " The remedy is not desperate ; it is simpler, I do not say than
any dose, but than any  course of  medicine—it  is infinitely more
agreeable—it admits  no remedies for the complaint  which  are
inimical to  the constitution.  It bequeathes none of the mala/lies
consequent on blue pill and mercury—on purgatives and drastics
—on iodine and aconite—on leeches and  the lancet.   If it  cures
your complaint, it will assuredly strengthen  your whole frame ;
if it fails to cure  your complaint, it can  scarcely fail to improve
your general system.  As it acts, or ought, scientifically treated,
to act,  first on the system, lastly on the complaint, placing nature
herself in the way to throw off the disease, so it  constantly hap-
pens that the patients at a hydropathic establishment will tell you
that the disorder for which they came is not removed, but that in
all other respects their health is better than they ever remember it
to have been.  Thus, I would not only recommend it to thosewho
are sufferers from some grave disease, but to  those who  require
merely the fillip,  the alterative, or the bracing which they now
often seek  in vain in country air or a watering-place.  For such,
three weeks at Malvern will do more than three months at Brighton
or Boulogne ; for  at the Water-Cure the whole  life is one remedy ;
the hours, the habits, the discipline—not incompatible with gaiety
and cheerfulness (the  spirits of hydropathists are astounding, and
in high spirits all things are amusement) tend perforce  to train the
body to the highest state of health of which it is capable.  Compare
this life, O  merchant, O trader, O man of business, escaping to  the
sea-shore, with that which you there lead—with your shrimps and
your shell-fish, and your wine and your brown  stout—with all
                 B 
12                bulwer's  letter,
 which counteracts in the evening,  the  good of your morning dip
 and your noon-day stroll.  What,  I  own, I should envy most is
 the robust, healthy man,  only a little knocked down by his city
 cares or his town pleasures, after his second week at Dr. Wilson's
 establishment—yea,  how 1  should envy  the exquisite  pleasure
 which he would derive from the robustness made clear and sensi-
 ble to him.  The  pure taste,  the  iron muscles, the  exhnberant
 spirits.the overflowing sense of life.  If even to the weak and languid
 the Water-Cure gives hours of physical happiness  which the
 pleasures of the grosser senses can never bestow,  what would it
 give to the strong man, from whose eye it has but to lift  the light
 film—in whose mechanism, attuned  to joy, it but brushes away the
 grain of dust, or oils the solid wheel.
  " I must bring my letter to a close.  I meant to address'it through
 you, Mr. Editor, chiefly to our brethren—the over-jaded sons of
 toil and  letters—behind whom I see the warning  shades of de-
 parted martyrs.  But it  is aplicable to ail who ail—to  all who
 would not only cure a complaint, but strengthen a system and pro-
 long a life.  To  such, who will so  far attach value to my authority
 that they will acknowledge, at least, T am no interested witness,—
 for I have no institution  to establish—no profession to build up—
 I have no eye to fees, my calling is but that of an observer—as an
 observer only do I speak, it may be with enthusiasm—but enthu-
 siasm built on experience and prompted by sympathy ;—to such
 then as may listen  to  me, I give this recommendation :  pause if
 on please—inquire if you will—but  do not  consult your doctor.
  have no doubt he is a most honest, excellent man—but you can-
 not expect a doctor of drugs to say other than that doctors of water
 are but quacks.  Do not consult your doctor whether you shall try
 hydropathy, but find out some intelligent persons in whose shrewd-
 ness you  can confide—who have  been patients themselves at a
 hydropathic establishment.  Better still,  go for a few days—the
 cost is not much—into some such institution yourself,  look round,
 talk to the patients, examine with your own eyes, heaT whlxyour
own ears, before you adventure the experiment. Become a wit-
ness before  you are a patient; If  the  evidence does not satisfy
you, turn and flee.  But if you venture, venture with a good heart
and a stout faith.   Hope, but not with presumption.  Do not fancy
that the disorder which has afflicted  you for ten years ought to be
cured in ten days.  Beware,  above  all, lest, alarmed  by some
phenomena which  the searching element produces,  you have re-
course  immediately to drugs to disperse them.  The water-boils,
for instance, which  are sometimes, as I have before said, but by no
means frequently, a critical symptom of the cure, are, in all cases
I have seen, cured  easily by water, but  may become extremely
 dangerous in the hands of your apothecary.  Most of the few
 solitary instances that have terminated  fatally, to  the prejudice
of the Water-Cure, have been those in which the patient has gone
from water to drugs.  It  is the axiom of the system  that water
 only cures what water produces.  Do not leave a hydropathic es-
I 
ON WATER-CURE.
13
tablisment in the time of any " crisis," however much you may be
panic-stricken.   Hold the doctor responsible for getting  you out
of what he gets you into;  and if your doctor be discreetly chosen,
take my word, he will do it.
  Do not begin to carry on the system at home, and under any eye
hut that of an experienced hydropathist.*  After you  know the
system, and the doctor knows you, the curative process may proba-
bly be continued at your own house with ease—but the commence-
ment must be watched, and  if a critical  action ensues when you
are at home, return to the only care that can conduct it safely to a
happy issue.  When at the institution, do not let the example of
other patients tempt you to overdo—to drink more water,  or take
more baths  than are  prescribed to you.   Above all, never let the
eulogies which many will pass upon the douche (the popular bath,)
tempt you to take it on the  sly, unknown to your adviser.  The
douche is dangerous when the body is unprepared—when the heart
is affected—when apoplexy may be feared.
*        #        #       **   *    #       *        *        *
   " Here, then,  O brothers, O afflicted ones, I bid you farewell.
' I wish you one of the most blessed  friendships man ever made—
the familiar intimacy with Water.  Not  Undine in her virgin ex-
istence more sportive and bewitching,  not Undine in her wedded
state more tender and faithful, than the  Element of which she is the
type.  In health, may you find it the joyous playmate,  in sickness
the genial restorer and soft assuager.   Round the healing spring
still literally dwell the jocund nymphs  in whom the Greek poetry
personified Mirth and Ease.   No drirfk,  whether compounded of
the gums and rosin of the old Falernian,  or the alcohol and acid of
modern wine, gives the animal spirits  which rejoice the water-
drinker.  Let him who has to go through severe bodily fatigue try
first whatever—wine, spirits, porter, beer—he may conceive most
generous and supporting; let him then go through the same toil
with no draughts but from the chrystal lymph,  and if he  does not
acknowledge that there is no beverage  which man concocts so
strengthning and animating as that which God pours forth  to all the
children of Nature, I throw up my belief.  Finally,  as health de-
pends upon healthful habits, let those who desire easily and luxu-
riously to glide into the courses most  agreeable  to the human
frame, to enjoy  the  morning breeze, to grow epicures in the sim-
ple regimen, to become cased in armor aarainst the vicissitudes of
our changeful skies—to feel and to shake off, light sleep as a blessed
dew, let them, while the organs are yet sound, and the nerves yet
unshattered, devote an autumn to the Water-Cure.

   * Every person  should daily, on rising, wash the whole body with water
 of a temperature  tepid, cool or cold, as may be comfortably borne. Physic-
 ally speaking, there is much more need of this practice than  the washing
 of the hands and face.  This daily ablution, persevered in, will suffice, in a
 ereat number of instances, to effect cures,—son'etimes most remarkably,
 When all other means  have failed.  The practice, too,  will aid  much the
 practitioner in future and more powerful modes, and judiciously  practised,
 is always perfectly safe.—[Ed.] 
14
bulwer's letter
  "And you, O parents! who, too  indolent, too much slaves to
eustom, to endure change for yourselves, to renounce  for a while
your artificial natures, but who still covet for your children hardy
constitutions, pure tastes, and abstemious habits—who  wish to see
them grow up with a manly disdain to  luxury—with  a vigorous
indifference to climate—with a full sense of the value of health, not
alone foritself, but  for the powers it elicits, and the virtues with
which it is intimately connected—the serene unfretful temper—the
pleasures in innocent  delight—the well being that, content with
self, expands in benevolence to others—you I adjure not to scorn
the facile process of which  I solicit  the experiment.   Dip your
young heroes in the spring,  and hold them not back by  the heel.
May my exhortations find believing listeners, and may  some, now
unknown to me, write me word from the green hills of Malvern,
or the groves of Petersham,  " We have harkened  to you—not in
vain."  Adieu, Mr. Editor, the  ghost returns to silence.
                                   E. Bulwzr Lytton."
  Our limited space causes the omission of Bulwer's introductory
remarks on the injurious effect of excessive literary labor, sustained
only by the aid of temporary and destructive stimulants—some of
his reflections and opinions as to the extent to which Hydropathy
is applicable—remarks upon the English establishments, for its
practice, &c. 
FACTS IN  HYDROPATHY.
   Remarks on Crisis, by Sir Charles Scndamore.

   The  very important matter of crisis is always
sought for with much solicitude both by Priessnitz
and the patient.  He believes that it could  not be
produced in a healthy man; and that its occurrence
is  a sure proof that nature is successfully exerting
herself to throw off the disease, by the exit of bad
humor from the mass of blood.   It is a sort of whole-
sale theory, and equally serves for all persons, and
for every known disorder ; and assuredly is the most
convenient for one ignorant of medical science.  I
conceive that Priessnitz must  have been gradually
led to this idea of morbid blood, by the observations
which his experience enabled  him to make;  for, as
before explained, he entered into the water-cure
practice by accident, and not from tuition. His prin-
ciples have arisen out of his practice in it as an em-
piric art, and were not as a precursor first implanted
in  his mind.  He has, in innumerable instances, so
that the contrary forms the exception to the rule, wit-
nessed the formation of crisis in the progress of the
water-cure,  amongst which boils take the lead in
pre-eminence and importance of character.   But
            b 
4
FACTS IN  HYDROPATHY,
the term also appliesto any very marked disturbance
of the system, or cutaneous change, as the crisis fe-
ver ; odorous perspiration ;  odorous urine;  vomit-
ings ; diarrhoea; hsemorrhoidal discharge of blood;
and various kinds of eruption on the skin.   It was
a fact of ordinary occurrence, presenting itself to the
mind of Priessnitz, that the great crisis of boils, in
proportion to their free suppuration, proved in  the
highest degree remedial, removing chronic pains
and internal sufferings of long standing; and that
no marked amendment did take place until the event
of some crisis.  Also the  additional fact must be
mentioned, that very frequently indeed, the boil cri-
sis would appear in the  immediate vicinity of  the
disease, sometimes on the very spot.  It is no longer
surprising, therefore, that the idea of humor in the
blood should be strongly confirmed in the mind of
Priessnitz, and have grown with him into a rule of
practice.   The patient very naturally cares not for
the absence of scientific explanations, but renders
his faith to fact, and to the long list of very extraor-
dinary cures which have been performed, after the
failure of  regular medical  art.   But it will not be
uninteresting to examine more closely this doctrine
of the bad  blood, with reference to crisis and treat-
ment.
  In the case of morbid  poisons, as,  for example,
small pox, measles, and scarlatina, nature evidently
makes a  vigorous  effort  to free the blood from the
virus, by producing in the skin a characteristic erap-
tion, attended by a symptomatic fever.  After a cer-
tain period, health returns, and no reminiscence of
the poison occurs.   I adopt this illustration to shew
that the blood  can in  this manner, by the medium
of the skin, clear itself of the offending cause, how- 
OR WATER-CURE.
5
ever difficult the explanation may be.   In the very
familiar  examples of cutaneous disease, as erysip-
elas, the shingles,  nettle-rash, &c, we commonly
refer to the blood as the source of disorder, although
we can only generalize our  notions;  or, by other
theory, we may  regard these disorders as the off-
spring of some internal vitiated secretion, as acrid
acid in the stomach,* or bad bile, affecting the  skin
by supposed sympathy;—which is equally figurative
language, if we are driven to close  and searching
analysis.
   Boils and carbuncles do not occur in healthy sub-
jects;  and, when they happen naturally, are always
looked upon as indicating a bad habit of body.  The
surgeon may take a different view of the subject, and
call it weak and unhealthy inflammation,affectingthe
outward texture of the body differently from phlegm-
on or true inflammation. I will not therefore, for the
sake of language, attempt to dispute the plain notion,
so familiarly adopted, of the nature of crisis in the
water-cure treatment; but I do think it of great im-
rortance that it should have its sober limits, and not
be made an ignis fatuus to  the practitioner or the
patient.   The benefit  arising from crisis must not
be referred merely to  the  depuratory or  cleansing
process for the blood. Boils and rashes act as coun-
ter-irritants, in the ordinary and most accepted view,
and  in this  way also  prove useful; on the same
principle that we see advantage derived from  blis-
ters,  and artificial  eruptions produced by external
applications,  tartar emetic, croton oil, &c.;  and
even the use of setons and issues is connected  with

  " A breaking out, as it is called, on the lips and chin, would
probably be produced in any one, by eating for a continuance rich
sauces, especially if made with bad butter. 
6
FACTS  IN  HYDROPATHY,
this principle of counter-irritation equally with the
idea of discharging  the offending humor from the
blood.   It is very evidently the formation of an arti-
ficial disease, with the hope that it may be a substi-
tute for the real one, and cause its removal.
  It certainly happens in this way that much incon-
venience must be  sustained by the patient in the
progress of his  cure; and he must submit to be
worse, before he can be better.
  The occurrence of boils is not, however, invariably
necessary to the cure.  Nature determines this, and
may give another kind of crisis; and even none that
is notable may be  the pleasing fate of some,  who
still receive every benefit and recover.
  From all that I  have seen, and my opportunity
has been extensive, I am  deeply impressed with the
conviction  that  the  employment of  a very  large
amount of treatment, at one and the same time, in
order to urge the circulation  to prodnce crisis, de-
mands  most  prudent consideration, and  especially
in irritable constitutions.   I  am free to admit that,
in chronic cases of long standing, superficial meas-
ures would be of  little or no avail, and that there
must be efficient treatment.  If too active measures
be pursued in these exceptionable instances to which
I allude, a sudden and too  severe crisis  might be
produced, creating high suffering and  possible dan-
ger.  Instead of the favorably suppurating boils,
such as are of untoward character might  arise.  I
am sure that  these unfavorable consequences may
always be avoided  by ordinary care, aud do not be-
long to the water-cure treatment, as of right, more
than any accidental untoward result belongs to the
regular practice  of physic.
  Whenever  a threatening appears of too strong a 
OR WATER-CURE.
7
crisis,  the treatment is to be immediately reduced ;
and, being  nicely  adapted also to the particular
circumstances of the  case, all anxious embarrass-
ment will be removed.
  In conclusion of this subject, I advert with regret
to reflections which I have seen in print on the skill
of Priessnitz, on account of a particular case which
occurred at  Graefenberg,  unfavorable in respect to
the constitution of the patient, and having a fatal
termination.   In its treatment at the  latter period,
there had been, on  the part of the individual, much
improper deviation from  the  directions laid down,
owing  to an impatient desire of'urging a crisis for the
sake of a more speedy cure.  From this cause, fe-
ver crisis set in suddenly and with destructive vio-
lence.   Continued high irritation and fatal exhaus-
tion ensued.
  A lamented event of this kind, happily most rare,
should serve as an occasion for such reflections as I
have already suggested.   No remedy that is power-
ful  for  good, can be so weak an instrument as not to
be also capable of  evil.   Neither  the  skill nor the
prudence of Priessnitz should be lightly called in
question by any one.  1 am  convinced that, with
regular superintendence of a case, he would never
provoke a crisis beyond his power of convenient con-
trol.  The very large number of patients on his list,
varying from two to five  hundred,  could not allow
of watch being kept over  every case, and he must
be sought for  rather than seek. He is most atten-
tive on  every important  occasion ; and it must be
the fault of the patient if he do not report progress ;
and more especially if he do not seek prompt aid in
the event of ihe least  unfavorable occurrence.
  Another  and very important consideration pre- 
8
FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
sents itself on the subject of crisis ;—for how long a
time is its occurrence to be viewed  as an indication
for the continuance of treatment ?  Evidently it re-
quires judgment to know what may be referred to
the influence of the constitution not yet delivered
from its errors; and what to simple morbid action
of the vessels of the skin, existing as a secondary
and a local disease.  I know an instance of the oc-
casional formation of boils on the legs, causing much
inconvenience, although the general health is quite
restored ;  the full water-cure treatment, which was
carried on nearly two years, having been laid aside
for one ;  with the exception that the patient applies
water dressings to  the  skin when it inflames, or to
a boil; and uses a cold bath daily.
   I have now to treat of the practical result of the
water-cure treatment, in the narrative of some cases;
selecting from the large number which, through the
kindness and courtesy of many friends, I have had
the  opportunity either of seeing or becoming ac-
quainted with,  those which I  hope may  prove of
sufficient interest and instruction.
   And that I may  present to  the reader a familiar
picture of the nature of the  different processes, I
will give some account of my own treatment; adopt-
ing the maxim of Seneca,

1  " Longum iter per prascepta, breve  et efficax per exempla."

   I have for many years experienced inconvenience
from rheumatic and nervous headache, with noises
and  deafness in the left ear ; always  dependant on
medicine for the function of the bowels,  yet very
seldom requiring active treatment.
  'I waited a few days, to recover  from the fatigue
of travelling, before I began the treatment.  At C a. 
OR WATER-CURE.
9
M. Tuesday,  April 18, I was visited by Priessnitz
and  the  Badediener, (both attended,) who rubbed
me down with the wet sheet for two or three min-
utes ; following it with an equally diligent applica-
tion  of the dry one.  The cold application being
accompanied with such immediate friction, no se-
vere  shock was experienced.  It  was merely disa-
greeable, and that only in the first impression. The
reaction  was  quickly established,  and a safer mode
of bathing cannot, I  think, be imagined.  The best
results must  follow  from this effective  cleansing
process for the skin, tending to maintain it in health
and  to remove its  diseased conditions.   By  the
recommendation of  Priessnitz, I put my flannel
waistcoat over  my linen.
   The wet bandage was applied round  my body,
the dry part being closely rolled over it.  The cold
sensation was  unpleasant at first,  but quickly re-
moved by exercise.   I next used hand-rubbing for
my head most  freely, with cold water in a basin,
and was careful, by Priessnitz's  desire to chill the
nape of the neck.  I next took a long walk, and drank
three half-pints of water at suitable intervals.
   At 11  a. m. sheet process repeated, and, in addi-
tion, a sitz-bath,  with water at 65° Fah., to reach
to the  navel.   I continually rubbed the abdomen
and loins with the water, and remained a quarter of
an hour.  The unpleasant first impression does not
last more than  a minute, and it is not disagreeable
to remain for any length of time, unless the water
should be changed.   At 5 p. m. this treatment was
repeated.  I  came in from a walk, much heated by
exercise  in the sun,  waited a  few minutes  till the
pulse became quiet, and then had the wet sheet ap-
plied with a most refreshing and satisfactory effect. 
10          FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

  19th. Placed in the wet sheet; the first lying down
on it and investment with it were very disagreeable:
but, immediatly after the packing up with the blank-
et, Sec, was sufficiently comfortable ; and, in a few
minutes more, so much so that the effect was quite
soothing and tending to sleep.  At the end of three
quarters of an hour, warmth came which would have
produced perspiration, and this not being desired,
I was taken out, and immediately entered the shal-
low bath, at 62°, and  was well rubbed with the
water for about two minutes.  The immersion being
so slight, the impression of the cold water was very
bearable, and the warmth of surface was afterwards
quickly restored.   Rubbing wet sheet at  11 a.m.,
and at 5 p. m., this and the sitz-bath at 62°.  Each
time rubbed the head.
  20th. Same treatment.  Examined  my animal
heat before being rubbed with the wet sheet; it was
97° 5, and the sheet 50° ; no alteration produced—
shewing  the mildness of this refrigerant process.
  After the  lein-tuch  this morning, went  first into
the shallow bath at 62°, and then into the  plunging
bath,  which was 44°,  and  cutting cold;  returned
quickly to the  shallow bath, which now seemed
pleasantly tepid.  I found the animal heat reduced
one degree by the plunging bath, although the sen-
sible reaction was excellent:  and, after the dry rub-
bing and dressing, I was comfortably warm.
  23d. Same treatment. In using the  sitz-bath,
found  the temperature of the water raised  by the
warmth of the body 2 degiees in 5 minutes, 4 in 10,
and C in 15.  Hence the necessity of a change of
the water, if a continued cold sitting be desired.
  Being, in the common language, bilious from the
change of diet, and such a free use of milk morn- 
OR WATER-CURE.
11
ings and evenings, the bilious secretion suspended,
with loss of appetite, took blue pill and colocynth
at uight, and next morning the improved  Chelten-
ham salts.  It was my object to save time ; and I
was confident that I should have this error more
quickly corrected than by  leaving it to the sole in-
fluence of the water cure treatment.
  25th. I used the  lying sheet  and shallow tepid
bath yesterday, but  no other treatment.   Every
success and benefit from the medicine.
  26th. To-day  resumed  the  plunging bath, and
went on with the same treatment to the end of the
month, but changed the mid-day process for the use
of the regular  head  bath and foot  bath ; having
recourse to the latter also,  from being much subject
to coldness of feet.   I received the head bath for a
quarter of an  hour,  allotting five minutes to the
back, and the same to each side of the head.*  I lay
on the floor, and had a good proof of the superior
conducting power of air over water for sound, in the
strong perception of any  contiguous accidental
noises.  From this application of cold water I always
felt sensible invigoration of the nerves  of the head.
  The foot bath was also  sensibly useful,  tending
to comfortable warmth of the feet; and the further
rubbing of the ankles and muscles of the leg much
relieved the consequences of fatigue.
  May 1st.—In using the lein-tuch this morning,
applied a long towel, wetted, from the arm-pit down
the sides,  and found its effects agreeahle ;  the sens-
ations, from the complete contact of wet linen, more
pleasant on that side  than  the other.   Indeed, the
effect of this process is very soothing; and it be-

  * I find a shallow wooden vessel, with a rounded groove to re-
reive the neck, answers the purpose of this process very well. 
 12          FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

 comes a punishment to be unpacked.  Every one
 would willingly go to sleep in the wet sheet.  If, in
 any particular case, the feet fail to become warm
 with the rest of the body, socks may be worn.
   May 5th.—To-day used the douche, the tempera-
 ture of which was 44°, for two minutes; it immedi-
 ately reduced the  animal heat  one  degree ; but I
 had a comfortable reaction.  I felt very sensibly how
 much the most active this is  of all the processes,
 when the  douche is strong and the water cold.   I
 used  it afterwards occasionally during1 my stay, but
 not regularly, as I did  not require full treatment.
   I proceeded regularly till the 16th, when I tried
 the experiment of lying on three wet sheets instead
 of one.  The first impression on  lying down was
 that of greater coldness ; but, when packed up, this
 subsided into a sense of pleasant coldness that was
 refreshing.   This  remained, so that at the end of
 an hour and a quarter I was not warmer than I had
 been in ten  minutes with  the  one sheet.  It was
 particularly agreeable that the back remained eool
 so  long.  In an hour and  a  half, I had  the same
 general warmth as  with  half an hour of the one
 sheet.  In another quarter of  an hour, I was be-
 coming so warm that the animal heat had risen half
 a degree.  Had I remained longer, I should, doubt-
 less, have  perspired freely.  I was much satisfied with
 the experiment, as shewing the long-continued re-
 frigerant power of  the three sheets, in comparison
 with the one.
  Two days after, I made the experiment of usinnr
 the sweating blanket.  On awaking at 6 a. m., I had
 some head-ache : pulse rather full, at 56° ; animal
 heat 98°.  In the course often minutes after being
packed up, I was comfortably warm ; least so in 
OR WATER-CURE.
13
the feet, where I desired more weight.   At the end
of an hour and ten minutes, when the warmth of
the whole body was much increased without sensi-
ble perspiration, the pulse was iucreased to 66°, full
and soft; the animal heat 99°.  At the end of two
hours, the  perspiration was  universal, but  not co-
pious, p. 68, animal heat 100°.  In  another half
hour, perspiration  in  a greater degree,  but not
streaming, p. 68, animal heat 101°.  At the end of
two hours  and three quarters, I quitted the bed, for
the full bath, into which I plunged instantly, while
hot  and perspiring, made  two  immersions, and
came out exceedingly refreshed.*  On being dressed,
the pulse was as in the  beginning, and the animal
heat 97-5.
   On the  following day,  returning from a long
mountain walk, the sun shining,  my pulse was ex-
cited and my animal heat 101°.
   I waited a few minutes only for a quiet circula-
tion ; I wiped off the flowing perspiration, and then,
while yet  hot  and perspiring, was  freely rubbed
down with the wet sheet, holding more water than
usual. I was highly refreshed and agreeably cooled :
my pulse became natural, and the animal heat, ex-
amined during dressing, was 98°.  Hence another
proof of the perfect safety of applying sudden cold

  * It is to he considered that with the elevation of the animal
heat, the nervous energy also is simultaneously increased or more
diffused.
  t In a paper on heat, which I had  the honor of reading at the
evening meeting of the College of Physicians, March 5th, 1838, I
quoted the experiment of Sir Joseph Banks, Dr. Fordyce, and
other3, shewing that one may with impunity pass immediately
from an apartment heated  to 260  deg. Fah., into a  very cold
atmosphere;  the effect indeed being agreeable, refreshing, and
useful. 
14          FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

to the heated bodyt with perspiring surface, when the
anima-1 heat is raised beyond the natural standard.
  I proceeded with regular  treatment to the 20th,
and then desisted.  After this period, in consequence
of a severe cold from remaining in wet clothes, when
I had no opportunity of  changing them, I was at-
tacked with slight general fever, rheumatic pains,
and severe throbbing head-ache.  I immediately had
recourse to a lein-tuch, followed by the shallow tepid
bath, and to affusions with cold water.   The relief
was  immediate :  the  animal heat which had been
increased to 100°, was immediately reduced to 97-5.
One repetition of this treatment was so successful,
that in twenty-four hours I found myself quite well.
  The final result of the whole proceedings has been
a most  satisfactory improvement of my health, in
all the failings which I mentioned ;  and I have not
found the least occasion for medicine during the last
two  months.  On my journey homeward, which
was  most extremely fatiguing, I took every oppor-
tunity in my power to use, on first  rising, the rub-
bing wet sheet, hip bath, head and  foot bath, and
always with the greatest comfort and advantage ; a
plan which, together with early rising, drinking cold
water freely, and an active walk, I followed up with
the highest  advantage and  sensible comfort  and
benefit.
                Indigestion, &c.

  A. B., ffit. 44,  for the last seven years during a
residence in India, liable to severe head-aches; com-
plaining frequently of heat on the top of the head, 
OR WATER-CURE.
15
and a weight at the back.  After a time, these head-
aches became much worse periodically, accompanied
with  sickness approaching to faintness, and a mo-
mentary loss of recollection.   These periodical re-
turns at length becoming so frequent as every twenty-
five days, and the illness much more severe, accom-
panied with pain in the lower part of the spine, he
was advised to try change of air from the sultry cli-
mate of India, to the Neilgherry hills, where, during
a residence of two years, he  became much better,
the  periodical returns  being forty-five and  forty-
six  days apart.   As his general tone of health
improved, the illness also  became  slighter.   His
health not being  however  established,  he was di-
rected to return to his native climate, and proceeded
to Europe by the overland route, via Malta, where
he changed his route, and proceeded to Graefenberg,
via  Naples, Leghorn,  Florence,  Trieste, Vienna.
Durino- this journey, his complaint  returned every
twenty°-six, thirtieth, or thirty-sixth day, and the
illnesses  were not so slight as they had been during
the latter period of his residence on the Neilghernes.
 He complained a good deal of cold feet and frequent
 head-aches.  The latter might perhaps be attributed
 to improper diet  at the hotels, and  the fatigue and
 irregularity incident to travelling.  It was the opin-
 ion of his medical friends in India, that there was
 no organic disease, and that his complaint was to be
 attributed to indigestion and the exposure to the
 climate of India.  He  had  a return of illness on the
 29th of March, in the carriage between Olmutz and
 Graefenberg.  PriessnitzW him on the 30th and
 commenced treatment on the 31st, with abreibung
 and head-bath,  the back and sides being immersed
 for  a quarter of an hour.  On the first of April, he 
16
FACTS IN  HYDROPATHY,
had lein-tuch at 5  A. M.,  followed  by a tepid bath.
Lein-tuch again at 12, followed by au abreibung and
head-bath ; at 5 p. m., an  abreibung;  this treatment
continued until the 20th of April, when he had a
return of illness in the night.  Priessnitz being sent
for, he directed his head  to be wetted before  using
the lein-tuch, and an abreibung after it, instead of
the tepid bath ; the abreibung to be repeated at 9
a. m., 12 noon, 3 p.m., 5p. m., and 9p.m.; in addi-
tion to which he was to have an abreibung  every
fifteen minutes for one  hour  after the faintness.
This treatment of six abreibungs a day and lein-tuch
at 4 in  the  morning, head-bath at 9 a. m. and 12
noon, continued several days; was then reduced to
five abreibungs in a day, then to four ; and lastly,
he went back to the former treatment, which con-
tinued until the first of May, when he  had another
return of  illness.   Priessnitz was  then of opinion
that the present treatment proved too severe for him,
and must  be modified; that the tepid baths were to
be left off, but  that he must continue the lein-tuch
once in the day, head-bath once, four or five abrei-
bungs in the course of the day, and a foot-bath twice
in the day ;  and that as soon as the present illness
had passed off, the head-bath was to be discontinued,
and the head to be simply rubbed with water.  He
directed an abreibung every fifteen minutes,  to be
repeated four times after any faintness ;  also one
foot-bath after a paroxysm.  On being told that the
patient was  fatigued with the exertion of dressing
and undressing every fifteen minutes whilst ill, he
directed that he should go  into bed between each
abreibung, be kept quiet, and that if he fell asleep,
he was not to be disturbed.
  During the first three weeks of the time that this 
OR WATER-CURE.
17
gentleman was under treatment, he was remarkably
well: had no head-ache whatever, and never com-
plained of indigestion since the 20th of April (it is
now 12th of May) ;  he has occasionally complained
of head-ache, but is  nevertheless better than he was
before he  arrived ; his general tone of health is im-
proved ; the pain in  his back quite gone, so that he
can run down  a hill without uneasiness, whereas
even walking fast down a hill formerly used to shake
and jar his system.   His feet are always warm ; he
no longer starts in his sleep as he used to do, and
can sleep  on his back as  well as on his side, which
he could never do before, since he resided in India;
and he no longer complains of indigestion after din-
ner.   Before adopting the treatment, he was always
dependant on the aid of medicine for the bowels ;
since, he has not had the least occasion for any.   It
must also be mentioned, that, although the two last
attacks of illness occurred within very short intervals
of time, the head-aches were slight and the illness
only a mild one.   His chest appears to me to have
become wider.   I saw this gentleman almost daily,
and left him in a fair way of recovery.

   Nervous Indigestion With suicidal propensity.

  The subject of this distressing malady was a gen-
tleman of 46 years of age, who, after eighteen years
of active and incessant attention to commercial af-
fairs, retired with a moderate fortune from them in
consequence  of the  growing distress  both  in the
stomach and brain,  which unfitted him for further
action, and, as he said, " rendered the sight of the
ledger intolerable."   It avails not  to repeat all the
means he  tried previous  to his trial of the Water
Cure : suffice it that they comprised  all the circle 
18           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
of drug medication and, what is for the most part as
bad, drug dietetics, by which is meant the system
of keeping up a certain amount of stimulation from
food and  wine on the condition of maintaining a
proportionate amount of stimulation from medicines.
He came here eomplaining that he only got one hour
or one hour and a half sleep in twenty-four hours,
that he had the most horrible mental  sensations, the
predominating one being that he was doomed to be
his own destroyer:  indeed for the last  two years he
had never been left without some one to watch him.
His bowels always costive, and his belly  protuberant,
no pain was present when they were pressed ;  but
eating always brought on a more intense degree of
the mental pain.  His volition was quite gone, and
his moral courage extinguished.  The contents of
the chest were perfectly sound.
  We commenced the treatment of this case with
hot fomentations to the stomach and  bowels at bed-
time, the wet sheet bath in the morning and evening,
a sitz bath in  tbe middle of  the day,  and  he also
commenced lying in the wet sheet; the  result of*
which was tbat on the fourth night he had five hours'
sleep.  From the bowels, too, he had on the morn-
ing following this a good natural evacuation.  The
mind,  however, still held by its painful sensations.
He now began to lie every morning  from one hour
to one bour and a half in the wet sheet, followed by
a bath ; the sitz bath at noon and the wet sheet bath
being continued.  During this  time he went  every
morning to St.  Ann's Well,  and, walking on  the
hills, drank from three to six tumblers of water, as
he felt inclined.  In the course of the day he drank
from eight to twelve tumblers, taking exercise, which
varied from five to ten miles  a day.  At the end of 
OR WATER-CURE.
19
nleven weeks he  left Malvern perfectly reeovcred,
having, during the  latter  half of that period, used
the douche daily, and broken upon the wet sheet by
occasional sweatings in the blankets.  His capability
of taking water increased  with his progress towards
health,  and  he sometimes  took fifteen or twenty
tumblers a day.   The changes in the expression of
his face indicative of that  in his  feelings, was stri-
king to all the patients in the  establishment, and
from being the most  lugubrious he became the most
laughter-loving of them  all.  He slept invariably
from the time he went to bed—ten o'clock—until
the servant awoke him  in  the  morning; and his
sleep was dreamless.
   The  only evident  crisis in this case was an in-
creased action of the bowels for  a fortnight, carried
to the degree of diarrhoea for two or three days, but
without any pain, griping, or  debility.  The wet
6heet, however,  in which he lay, for a long time
rendered  the water in which it was daily washed
dark and turbid, with a copious flocculent  sedi-
ment.—Drs. Wilson and Gully.

 Indigestion, IVervons Debility and Hypochondriasis.

   A gentleman,  aged 25, had brought himself into
a state of great nervous debility from excess of study.
   He was at length incapable of any mental  appli-
cation, had great nervous depression, and was hy-
pochondriacal.   The sight  so much weakened that
he could  neither read nor write, and even blindness
was  apprehended.   Often had  severe head-ache.
 Greatly lost both flesh and strength ; the digestive
 functions torpid.  He related to me that he first
 came to Graefenberg three  years ago,  in the state
 of indisposition  above described.  His treatment 
20           FACTS  IN  HYDROPATHY,
then as follows :  The plunging-bath in the morning
on first quitting the bed.  After breakfast, the douche
from five to ten minutes even in the coldest weather.
In the afternoon, a sitz-bath for half an hour : drank
water in the usual quantity.  For five months there
was no change in the treatment.   He observes, " I
had no crisis, not even the water-rash ;  my health
improved gradually.   After this, I  returned home,
where I used a cold bath every morning, and avoid-
ed all sorts of spices and  fermented  liquors.  My
health improved more and  more ; My eyes grew
stronger again, I could read and write ;  and, of my
former complaint, there remained merely a pressure
on the chest; inability for strong mental exertion,
accompanied with some dislike for society.   Three
months ago Treturned  to Graefenberg, when Priess-
nitz ordered me  to be packed up in  a  wet sheet
morning and  afternoon, followed by the plunging-
bath; to douche for two minutes; to take two head-
baths ; and a  sitz-bath  for a quarter of an hour.
He recommended me to make a practice of walk-
ing in the airwith my head uncovered, however cold
the woather."   I saw  much of this very interesting
person, who quitted  Graefenberg  dnring my stay.
He was quite well.  The digestive functionsbecame
regular very soon after the commencement of the
treatment.   This is  an example of no  sensible
crisis  occurring, although the treatment was very
active.—Sir Charles Scudamore.

Indigestion -with threatening inflammation of the brain.

  The patient, a gentleman of 40 years of age, had
undergone excessive mental excitement, accompa-
nied with constant and distressing sinking about the
stomach and bowels, tendency to fainting and cold 
OR WATER CURE.
21
sweats, all which he had endeavored to fight against
by frequent taking of stimulants.  With all this he
had been unable to procure even a small amount of
sleep.  In our first interview with him, his speech
was almost incoherent, his gestures violent, and his
whole appearance  that of a person on the verge of
insanity or inflammation of the  brain.   His tongue
was  fiery red, his  bowels constipated, and his skin
dry and harsh, except when the cold sweat suddenly
appeared on it, together with the symptoms of faint-
ing.   All this plainly indicated  the use of the wet
sheet, in which he was made to lay for an hour twice
a day, with sitz-baths in the intervals.   In twenty-
four hours this patient became  calm, and slept al-
most all the time he was in the wet sheets, of which
he spoke as the most delightful remedy he had ever
experienced.   On the first night after commence-
ment of the treatment, he slept five or six hours con-
secutively.   His bowels also opened, and his tongue
became paler; of  course  no stimulants whatever
were allowed, although  up to  the moment of his
treatment he had  taken them largely,  and  he ex-
pressed surprise at not feeling  the want of them.
At the end of a week he pronounced his feelings to
be better in all respects than they had  been for more
than a year   Nevertheless we thought it advisable
he should continue the general  treatment for a fort-
night longer,  which he accordingly did  ; and at the
end of three weeks returned to London, speaking of
himself as " a miracle," and extolling the water-cure
in enthusiastic terms.
  Remarks.—Nothing could be more striking than
the immediately sedative  effects of the wet sheet
upon the highly excited nervous system of this pa-
tient.  It is impossible to conceive of any medicinal 
22
FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
opiate acting so quickly and so efficiently ;  neither
had the sleep any of the disagreeable characters of
that  obtained by opiates, for he awoke soothed, re-
freshed, and with a moist tongue.   This effect, too,
continued throughout  the  case ;  the patient never
retrograded  for a single  day.   Although when ht
came his limbs would scarcely carry him half a milt,
within a week he was able to mount to the top of the
highest of these hills.   The harassing condition of
mind disappeared, and he frequently expressed his
surprise at the totally altered view he took of the
circumstances which had previously so painfully ex-
cited him.   We confess our ignorance of any medi-
cinal treatment which could remove the symptoms
enumerated, and restore the general health so rap-
idly and completely as the much-abused means em-
ployed in this case.—Drs.  Wilson and Gully.

                Ncrrous Debility.

   A gentleman, aged 25, tall and slight, had brought
on debility by excess of study, attended with circum-
stances  distressing his mind.   For  two years, suf-
fered from great and  almost continued pain in the
head,  chiefly in the back  part;  with  pains of the
teeth and down the cheek ; constant  noises in the
ears.  Was also generally weak, and in a very ner-
vous state.   Circulation irregular, with ice-cold feet.
Bowelstorpid. Had been at Graefenberg six months.
The treatment:—lein-tuch in the first of the morn-
ing for half an hour, followed by the abreibung.—
 Both repeated in  the afternoon.  Used also daily
 head-bath, and foot-bath, the feet being well rubbed
 for half an hour.  Was desired, in addition to the
 regular head-bath, to rub the  head very freely
 with cold water, whenever it  was painful.   Drank 
OR WATER-CURE.
23
  water as usual.   In the first week, the functions of
  the bowels became quite regular,  and he was re-
  leased from his  former  necessity of  taking one or
  other kind of medicine.   This benefit arising from
  the water-cure treatment is one of the highest mag-
  nitude, and happens, as far as my inquiry went, al-
  most without exception.   This gentleman assured
  me that he found himself well at the end of three
  months, and only remained at Graefenberg longer
  in order to confirm the establishment of his strength.
  It was pleasing to hear him describe the altered state  \
  of his nerves for the better, the loss of all pains of.
  the head  and face;  and the improvement of his
  circulation.   He was  no longer troubled with cold-
  ness of the feet.—Sir Charles Scudamore.

         Hypochondriasis with hallucination.

     A gentleman aged 28 consulted us, presenting the
  following symptoms :—Face  shrunk and pinched,
I  with an expression of anxiety and anguish ; com-
  plexion  dingy yellow ;  tongue silvery and split;
  bowels not acting except by medicine ; general ema-
!  ciation.  To these  physical ailments was added a
!  state of mind which he characterized as most humil-
1  iating.  At one time he conceived the most uncon-
  querable disgust at his wife's nose, because it was
i.  not perfectly straight.   At another he was haunted
k  by a small mole  on her  neck, and the  complexion
j  of the throat.  These  and  other phantasies  tor-
.  mented him  night and day, and he never was  free
J  from some crotchet or other.   Daily at about six in
]r  the evening a fit of profound mealoncholy invaded
I  him, and all appeared cheerless to him for two or
j,  three hours, though on the score of  wife, and for-
i  tune, and station,  few men  had more  right to be
             D 
24
FACTS  IN  HYDROPATHY,
contented.   The  causes of this  complication  of
bodily and mental ailments were to be found in early
excesses, acting on an originally weakly frame and
not a strong mind.  It should be mentioned that he
attributed the major part of his ills to medicine, of
which he had taken largely.
  The treatment in this case consisted in the syste-
matic employment, morning and evening, of the wet
sheet, sitz-baths, and shallow baths. By these means,
conjoined with ten or twelve tumblers of water daily,
regular exercise on  foot and  on horseback, simple
but nutritious diet, and early hours, he was put into
a state to bear the daily use of the douche.  Some
time, however, previous to the use  of this last, hia
bowels had got into perfect order, his skin had taken
a healthier hue, and he allowed that his nervous sen-
sations and  mental  phantasies had undergone ma-
terial amelioration.   And be it remarked, that when
a hypochondriac allows that he is better at all, it may
always be concluded that he is considerably so ;  for
croaking is  his principal attribute.  But although
the patient was convinced  that a little  more time
would  have certainly  effected his cure, circum-
stances  intervened  to prevent his further stay at
Malvern ; yet he  left behind him  a host of physical
and moral troubles.
  Remarks.—Very few  of our non-professional
readers are aware of the extreme difficulty in pro-
ducing any  impression  whatever  on the miserable
condition of the nervous system of a confirmed hy-
pochondriac such as this was.  That condition ia
essentially one of deeply-rooted irritation of the whole
of  the nerves  which regulate the functions of the
stomach, bowels,  and liver; an irritation which,by
sympathy, is propagated to the brain, thereby pro-
ducing low  spirits, harassing and  horrible fancies, 
OR WATER-CURE.
25
and sometimes an almost total loss of the voluntary
power.  In  such shades of mind, the patient be-
comes one of the most disagreeable that can be met
with ; he torments himself and all around him ; and
but few medical men are otherwise than glad to get
rid of such a patient.  The effects, therefore, of the
water-cure in  similar  cases are the more to be ad-
mired, as they are produced in persons who are most
unwilling to acknowledge that they are benefitted
by any treatment whatever ; and as it is universally
acknowledged by medical men that they are, in fact,
seldom or never benefitted by any medicinal treat-
ment in ordinary usage.  This  case bears  some
analogy with  the first one mentioned,  inasmuch as
at times the suicidal  propensity was present; and
like the case in point, would have prospered to a
perfect cure  had time been given.   We know,
however, that the treatment, as far as it can be
managed, will  be  persevered in, and the  patient,
as well as ourselves,  is assured of  the ultimate re-
sult.—Drs. Wilson and Gully.

   Intense Hypochondriasis and Mercurial Disease.

   A gentleman, of large fortune, was the subject of
this intolerable disease,  of  which he  had all the
prominent  symptoms in their worst  degree.   It
owned both physical and moral causes. The former
 consisted in the frightful and long-continued  appli-
cation  of mercury, which had been given when the
 disease was yet slight ; and the latter  in  a severe
 and permanent domestic disappointment.  All the
 secretions, both of the skin and of the internal mem-
 branes of the body, were depraved.  He remained
 at Malvern several weeks, but only slight ameliora-
 tion of the symptoms  was obtained.   All parties 
26
FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
concerned became impatient; and he gave up the
water-cure,  having previously tried all manner of
treatment.
  Remarks.—We mention this  case  only as an
instance of those who leave the water-cure disap-
pointed, and in ill  humor with themselves and the
treatment.   How far the treatment was to blame
for the want of success, may be gathered from the
fact, that we discovered in the  course of it that the
patient persisted secretly in an old habit of drinking
brandy, when, with any chance that the candor and
perseverance of the  patient could have given us,
it would  have taken at least ten or twelve months
of steady treatment to bring  about  his recovery.
As it is, the case is a forlorn one, both  as regards
the  causes  and any future treatment  that may be
adopted.—Drs. Wilson and Gully.

        Indigestion and Pain in the Side.,

  A gentleman, aged 40,  arrived at Graefenberg, in
a weak state, with  bad digestion and constant pain
in the right side. He went at once from his lein-tuch
into the cold bath.   He abstained from the douche
when the weather was severely cold, and never took
it more than two minutes.  He was several months
before he got a crisis; but was cured of his indiges-
tion before that time.  When the crisis came, it was
on the opposite side, a large boil,  very painful, ac-
companied by much irritative fever for near a week;
but it has cured the pain in his side, for which he
could get no remedy before.—Sir Ch's Scudamore.

  liirer and Stomach Complaint with Emaciation.

  Mr.----, a Liverpool merchant, in consequence
of long-continued exertion in the climates of South 
                OR WATER-CURE.              27

America, irregular living, and considerable labor of
brain, had at length fallen inte a state of disease in-
dicated by the  following symptoms.  Complexion
pale yellow, without a sign of circulating blood ; face
thin and haggard ; body generally emaciated : pain
in the right  side of many years standing, bowels
confined, appetite gone ; great lassitude and indis-
position to exertion.   For these ailments he  had
gone through various  courses of medicine, mercu-
rials, purgatives, tonics, &c.;  he had also tried dif-
ferent mineral waters,  and had finished the list with
a course of Morrison's pills;  all to no purpose, for
he came to us with enlarged liver, and all the symp-
toms of confirmed stomach disease.  It should  not
be  omitted  that he suffered  from frequent tic  and
cramps in the leg.  His age was thirty-six years.
   Alternate wet sheets and sweatings, with frequent
sitz-baths, compress constantly kept to the abdomen,
and latterly the douche, produced, in the course of
a few weeks, a most decided change in his appear-
ance.   His appetite became enormous, his digestion
undisturbed, and the evacuations from the bowels,
twice a day, very copious ; he slept well,  and his
spirits were of the highest order.   At  the end of a
month a crisis of boils commenced, principally  over
the region of the liver and right siue of the body,
which,  however, were rather a subject of jest than
of alarm to him, since, notwithstanding there were
as many as twenty or  thirty at one time upon him,
he was never once absent from the breakfast, dinner,
and supper table, and took his walks as he had al-
ways done.  The only difference in treatment, re-
quired for these boils was an extra wet sheet in the
middle of the day, which, Avith the refreshing of the
linen compresses, he  found removed all inconven-
            d 
28
FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
ience and  disagreeable  sensation, which  might
have arisen from the existence of the boils.  Under
the action of these boils, the enlargement of the liver
rapidly gave way, and the diminution of its disease
was  palpably  exhibited in  his face, which became
round and red from being pale and thin.
  Remarks.—In every way this case is satisfactory,
and the result was obtained in much shorter time
than we expected, being a little above six weeks.   It
is further satisfactory, as it  gives the opportunity of
demonstrating the perfect safety of the crisis of boils,
when these are produced with discretion, and treated
with judgment.   Being withdrawn from  business,
free from all artificial stimulants, both mental and
bodily, we perceive how small  an  affair this  crisis
is.  But had this patient left us a fortnight before he
did, with the boils  upon him, and entered upon the
cares of his business at  Liverpool, or  had he put
himself under a  course of drug medication at that
time, we venture to say tnat the result would have
been very different.  As it is, we hear at this time
(now five months) that he is on the point of embark-
ing for Canada,  and says,  " that he has got a new
lease of life from  the  water-cure."—Drs. Wilsou
and  Gully.

                  Brain Fever.

  A person who had recently lost his wife and two
children, was attacked with brain fever.  Priessnitz
ordered him a tepid bath, in which he sat and was
rubbed by two men, who were occasionally changed.
The man became so derangcVl, that it was with dif-
ficulty he could  be kept in the bath.  In  ordinary
cases, this disease succumbs to the treatment in two
or three hours; but the patient in this case became
speechless at the end of this time. 
OR WATER-CURE.
29
  Priessnitz, with that coolness which is so leading
a feature in his character, said, " Keep on until he
either talks much or goes to sleep."  The latter the
man at last did, but not until he had been in the bath
for nine hours and a half, when he fell asleep from
exhaustion at half past ten at night.  He was then
put to bed, and the next day the fever had left him,
and, though weak, he was  able to walk about.  If, in
this case, Priessnitz had become alarmed, after the
first two  or three hours, and had discontinued the
mode of treatment, to try some other experiment, the
consequence might have proved fatal.— Claridge.

  Inflammation of the Stomach and Bowels, treated
                  by Priessnitz.

  A child, three years old, was subject to inflamma-
tion of the stomach and bowels.  A second attack,
with aggravated symptoms, which he had while at
Graefenberg, was treated as follows :—The well-wet
bandage, covered only with a thick dry sheet, was
applied every five  minutes, from  the neck to  the
knees, for upwards of an hour, when, the heat being
reduced, the last was permitted to remain ten min-
utes ; the head and  chest being also implicated in
the inflammatory action,  thicker umschlags were
applied to those parts ; the feet and legs being cold,
they were well rubbed with the hands, and covered
with  a blanket.   After the application of the last
umschlag he was placed in a tepid bath at 70° Fah.,
where he was retained for an hour;  his body being
rubbed gently during the whole time ;  additional
cold water was occasionally added to  retain the bath
at a uniform temperature, and a tumbler of cold wa-
ter was also poured on his head, at intervals of about
a minute.   Four times during the day was this pro- 
30           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

cess repeated ;  the periods being reduced as the
fever became less, and at night the bandage was
changed every half hour.  On the second day the
little sufferer refused to go into the bath, but begged
himself from time to time for fresh bandages.  Priess-
nitz at once adopted the child's suggestion, and di-
rected  that his feelings should be attended  to.  In
the course of the day the child desired  the bath, in
which  he was accordingly placed, and where he re-
mained till the heat in his armpits, and back of his
neck, was reduced to that of the rest of his body;—
this being Priessnitz's index of the proper duration
of a bath under such circumstances.   In four days
the child was quite restored.   Subsequently a pus-
tule appeared on one foot, which discharged freely,
and his cure was perfected.—Beamish.

  Ulcer^ with Caries of the Bone, front a Gun-shot
                    Wound.

  The cadet Prince Lichtenstein, of middle size and
of a full and corpulent habit  of body, had received,
whilst  on service in Italy, a  gun-shot wound in the
leg, which injured the tibia.  The wound remained
open  for two years, degenerating into a foul and
fistulous ulcer, and  discharging a fetid sanies, ac-
companied with caries of the bone.   The surgeons
of Vienna advised amputation ;  and, as a last re-
source, the prince went to Graefenberg.
   Treatment.—Wet bandages to the ulcer, sweating
every morning in a blanket, followed by  friction in
the half-bath, or plunging into the cold  bath, and
drinking copiously of cold water.  This was contin-
ued without intermission for  two years.   The habit
of body and general health became improved, and
there was no loss of flesh, notwithstanding the con- 
OR WATER-CURE.
31
tinual  sweating.   The diseased or carious bone
was gradually exfoliated in a great many pieces.
The ulcer,  soon  after the commencement of the
treatment, assumed a healthy  action and appear-
ance, and was nearly healed at the perriod of the
prince's departure.  He fully recovered the  use of
his leg.—Dr. R. H. Graham.

  Indigestion,  and I^irer Disease, with asthmatic
     breathing and internal accumulation of fat.

   A lady, about fifty years old, of strong constitu-
tion, had been for many years in the habit of indulg-
ing a pretty large  appetite to its full extent, and en-
tering into  all unhealthy ways of  fashionable life.
The consequences were, in time, shown in constant
pain of the right side over the liver, and in the back,
which  was soon followed by asthmatic  breathing,
laborious action of the heart, and,therefore,the great-
est difficulty in ascending stairs. At the same time
she became inconveniently fat on the surface, and
gave likewise every indication of a  similar accumu-
lation within, and more  particularly of that which
is so apt to take place about the heart, the kidneys,
 and  coverings of the bowels.   The other common
 symptoms of a deranged state of the  digestive ap-
 paratus,  especially  costiveness, were  all present.
 With these ailments she  came to Malvern.
    It is tedious to  recapitulate  frequently the treat-
 ment of indigestion and  its  accompaniments; suf-
 fice it to say, that in ten  days  this lady was able to
 walk up the hills with but little difficulty of breath-
 ing,  an undertaking she  would not previously have
 dared to attempt; the pain in the side, for which she
 had been frequently cupped by other practitioners,
 was gone; the functions of the stomach and bowels 
32
FACTS  IN HYDROPATHY,
were regularly performed; and her spirits rose to the
highest state of exuberence.   She continued the
treatment for six weeks, at the end of which time a
crisis appeared in one of the legs in the shape of
boils;  which, however, did not confine  her to the
house.  It is now about eight months since she left
this place, and a week or two back we had the grati-
fication to hear, through the medium of a lady  resi-
dent at Malvern,that she continues in perfect health,
and speaks of herself as " better than she ever re-
members herself to have been."
  Remarks.—In the ordinary mode of treatment by
drugs, &c, this lady would have occasionally had
temporary relief by doses of mercurials, salines, and
purgatives;  she would have  been  (as indeed she
frequently had been) cupped over  the  side,  and
sometimes at the back of the neck;  and many would
probably have bled her from the arm also.   A sound
pathologist,  looking to the case as it was presented
here, would have no difficulty in predicting to what
such treatment would eventually lead.  Most un-
questionably dropsy of the chest or belly would  have
been the result, if, in the mean time, some acute in-
flammation had not intervened to carry her off.   On
the other hand, the water treatment, by setting up
and maintaining  a vivid action of the skin, by indu-
cing a healty degree of waste through it, and a
healthy state of all the secretions, by the transfer of
irritation from the internal parts to the point at which
 the crisis appeared ; and by  enabling the patient to
 take agreat amount of active exercise, brought about
 a state which annihilated the local congestion of the
 stomach and liver, and put a stop to the enormous
 accumulation of fat about the heart, which they who
 are in the habit of seeing these kind of cases readi-
 ly detect.—Drs.  Wilson and Gully. 
OR WATER-CURE.
33
                 Scarlet Fever.

  In the month of May, 1842, Mrs. Klauke, (aged
about 25,) was seized with pains in the head and
back, and calves of the legs.  Her face, neck, arms,
and legs, and subsequently the whole body, became
brightly scarlet,  and she complained of a soreness
in the throat.  The pulse was rapid, and skin dry.
She was packed in  the lein-tuch for half an hour;
then rubbed all over in a tepid bath for twenty min-
utes  with the wet hand.   She was now ordered to
wear an umschlag round her stomach night and day.
When she felt cold, she  was rubbed down with the
wet sheet—when hot, packed in the lein-tuch ; and
so on all through.
  The tepid bath was suspended until by the applica-
tion of asuccessionof sheets the fever was reduced.
Then the tepid bath was repeated.  Every morning
she was packed  up  in a blanket, in which she was
allowed to  perspire  for an hour; then she was put
into  the tepid bath.   This treatment was continued
for a fortnight.   At  the close of the sixth day all fe-
ver was extinguished, and at the close of the whole
treatment her strength was undiminished.
  In addition to the above a lavement of cold water
was  administered every night.   During the whole
time  she ate and drank as usual, and one evening
went to a ball, (in the saloon of Priessnitz's establish-
ment,) and danced for hours, whilst her whole body
was  crimson with scarlatina.   On returning home
from the dance, she was rubbed down with a wet
sheet, went to bed, and slept  soundly.—Dr. Ed.
Johnson.
                Hereditary Gout.

   A gentleman, aged 50, of middling bulk and stat-
ure, had hereditary  gout first 20 years ago, brought 
34
FACTS IN HYDROPATHY
on by violent efforts in swimming, to save himself
from  drowning, on a winter's day;  was for years
subject to fits of great severity, and of six or eight
weeks' duration ;  has chalkstones in  various parts,
particularly in the hands and feet; disappointed by
allopathic medicine,  of which colchicum and mer-
cury formed part, he tried  homoeopathic, with no
other result than the longerstayingawayof the gout;
and this  benefit he  attributed to the care in diet.
The fits were of equal severity when they did return.
For some time he adhered to a diet offish and veg-
etables, and for several years has wholly abstained
from wine.  Five years ago, went to  Toplitz and
Carlsbad, without benefit, and afterwards to Wies-
baden, going through a full course of treatment
there, still  without apparent  advantage.   He next
proceeded to Franzens-bad, in Bohemia, and tried
the mud baths for a month, sitting in the mud, up to
his neck, at 97° Fahrenheit, for half an hour, each
other day, with no other good  result than curing his
lumbago, which has never returned.   He came to
Graefenberg three years and nine months ago, in a
state of such lameness and continued suffering, that
he felt himself fast approaching to a bed-ridden state.
For  the space of two years, with the interruption
only of two months, he made daily use of the sweat-
ing blanket, with  this frequency more by his own
desire than the wish of Priessnitz, wishing to force
crisis; but he is convinced that it was an error, and
that he was weakened.  In six weeks, he had boils
on the insteps, which remarkably relieved the chronic
pains; and, some time  after, the urine deposited
much  substance, which appeared to him like wet
chalk. In the  beginning of the  treatment, Priess-
nitz examined him, first at the half-bath, then after 
                OR WATER-CURE.             35*

the plunging, and told him his complaint would be
cured in time, and even encouraged him to expect
the recovery of the hands; but I am persuaded there
was too much disorganization of parts to admit of it.
In some of the joints of the fingers there was anchy-
losis, and here and there  absorption of cartilage.
However, much of the chalkstone deposit had been
removed  by the treatment, and I doubt not he will
obtain further  improvement.   After five months, he
had an acute  attack, which at first he left to itself,
but afterwards used rubbings in the shallow tepid
bath, with tepid effusions and umschlags :  all with
much advantage.  He remained the whole  winter,
but considers  that the "winter  cure" did  not suit
him, the cold being often severe, from 4° to 10° Fah.
for a continuance ;  but he says that the atmosphere
was so clear and still, with often  a full sun, that the
cold was agreeable to those who could take  very
active exercise.  When restored  from the fit, he re-
sumed treatment.  His skin  was with difficulty ex-
cited  to  perspiration ;  and  Priessnitz had desired
him to use two douches a-day,  and even  advised
three occasionally;  but he  continued with  two,
sometimes  using a plunging bath also, and  always,
twice a week,  after the  sweating in the blanket. He
quitted Graefenberg for a time, and returned.  He
has used umschlags always, and drunk 10 or 12 half-
pints of water daily. He related to me that the gout
now very rarely and very slightly affects him, and
that he can walk ten miles with more ease than one
formerly.   He looked  well.   He had not touched
medicine since he had been under the water-cure
treatment, which he extols in  the highest terms.—
Sir Charles Scudamore.
E 
36           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

 Stomach and Iiiver Disease, with Tie Douloureux—
       Cure arrested by falling in Love, «&c.

  A gentleman,  about thirty-seven years of age,
was advised to try the water-cure by a learned phy-
sician at Cheltenham.  He had been many years in
India, where the climate, joined with the usual mode
of  living  there,  had  produced the diseased  states
above mentioned. He had a completely withered
look, the  skin  being  deeply wrinkled, sallow, and
without any appearance of blood ;  the liver was en-
larged, with all the ordinary symptoms of long-stand-
ing indigestion ;  added to these, he suffered from
severe tic.  After going through a carefully gradu-
ated system of treatment for a few weeks, he waa
able to bear water at  the coldest temperature. In
six weeks his face was much fuller, with the tinge
of health appearing upon it, as well as on the  whole
surface  of the  body.   All the functions of the di-
gestive  organs were  regularly performed, and his
tic was gone.   At this time he unfortunately  fell in
love ; but, like all true love, its course did not run
smooth.   The lady was insensible, and would not
listen to the last serious question.  His nights now
became restless,  his appetite vanished, and the tic
returned with violence.   We advised him to  leave
Malvern, which he did, much dissatisfied that water
could not  wash out a settled trouble from the  brain,
and, in secret, a little  vexed with himself.
  Remarks.—This  is  a very interesting and in-
structive case.  There could not be a better illustra-
tion of what has  been so  much insisted upon, viz.,
that any absorbing or long-continued mental  irrita-
tion is not compatible with a regular application of
the water-cure for a chronic disease.  This includes
the cares  and  anxieties of business, the pleasures 
OR WATER-CURE.
37
and mode of living in towns, and the effects of spirit-
uous  or medicinal matters ; in fact, to continue it
under such circumstances it is not without danger.
In this case the same processes which ten days be-
fore produced an agreeahle effect, were now insup-
portable.  Similar caseswill often occur; when they
do, the ill success  is invariably laid on the  treat-
ment and the doctor, rather than on the patient's
own folly.—Drs. Wilson and Gully.

    Cntancous Fruptions and Universal Pains.

   A gentleman, aged 49, robust and rather corpulent,
after syphilis five years ago, had a  fever in Italy, for
which he was bled so freely that  his strength was
exceedingly reduced. He kept his bed three months;
was bled from the arm 15 times, and had leeches,
also,  very freely applied to different parts.   On re-
covering sufficient strength, he went to Graefenberg,
then having universal pains of a doubtful character,
with  much  cutaneous eruption;   sweated  in the
blanket every morning for four months; and, instead
of being weakened, gained strength regularly ; al-
ways the plunging bath after it.  At that time the
lein-tuch was seldom  used, except in fevers.  He
douched also occasionally, and drank from 12 to 15
glasses of water daily.   He recovered perfectly, and
remained well three years.  By many acts of impru-
dence he lost his health again ; had an inflamma-
tory attack  on the  chest, for which he was freely
bled, and with relief at the moment; but other evili
followed—lumbago and sciatica, of the most painful
description.   Leeches and blisters were applied to
the hip  repeatedly, without relief!  He consulted
the most eminent physicians in Germany; and, by
their advice,  used  leeches, blisters, and mercurial 
38           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
frictions; in opposition to which the sciatica increas-
ed.  He went to a water establishment in his neigh-
bourhood,  his convenience not permitting him to
travel to Graefenberg.   He  used, first,  a plunging
bath, then the vapour bath for one hour, and next the
plunging bath again ;  but this treatment much disa-
greed, causing particularly oppression of the  chest.
The sciatic pain still  increased, and at  length be-
came so intolerable, that the actual cautery was ex-
tensively applied to the  hip, of which I saw the evi-
dence.  He took mericurial purgatives frequently.
  By these means the violence of the disorder was
broken ; but he got cold and had inflammation of
the larynx.   After much interval, it was with great
difficulty he could accomplish the journey to Graef-
enberg, where his anxious thoughts were directed.
At length he again presented himself to Priessnitz;
then having severe sciatica; pain also of the  femoral
nerve;  indigestion;   haemorrhoidal  suffering;  hy-
pochondriasis and general debility.  At first, the
treatment consisted of lein-tuch, shallow tepid baths,
sitz-baths;  and wet bandages, covered  by dry, to
the affected parts.  Afterwards, he sweated in the
blanket, and used the plunging batfy not finding any
disagreement, as he had .dope,with the vapor bath,
&c.   After three or fouFmonths, had gener*] crisis,
but no boils in the affected ^limb till eight, months
had elapsed, when also*the thigh was covered wnji,
a scaly rash.  The  pains  were entirely relieved'
when the last boils had suppurated freely.  He next
used the douche very regularly ; and, when I saw
him, did so for eight minutes every day.   The limb'
had recovered its size and power:  he could  walk
almost any  distance without inconvenience.   He
remarked that, till within the last few weeks, the bad 
OR WATER-CURE.
39
limb had never perspired when the other parts of the
body freely  yielded to the influence of the blanket
process.
  This was a very important case, aud one that did
infinite credit to Priessnitz and the water-cure means.
It shows also the necessity of their being used with
judgment; for, till he came to Graefenberg, he had
been injured rather  than assisted.^$ir  Charles
Scudamore.

             Black or Brown JJeprosy.

  Ayoung gentleman, fourteen years of age, became
a patient  here in December last.  Over the greater
part of both legs there existed a scaly eruption, the
individual scales being dark in color, easily detached,
about  the size of a human nail, and when detached,
leaving the surface underneath raw and tender, the
latter  discharging a bloody  serous fluid, until the
scales became again formed.  This had been going
on for a long time, gradually increasing in extent,
without the least amelioration.  He remained in the
establishment nearly  thirteen weeks, and left it to
return to  his father at Cheltenham, with his skin
clean  and healthy, and all the external appearance
and internal signs of a robust state of health.  He
sweated  every other  day,  and lay in the wet sheet
every  day, and on alternate days, twice. On com-
ino- out of the blankets or wet sheet, his attendant, as
well as ourselves, witnessed a very  strong and pe-
 culiar  odor emanating from them, and continued
 for several  weeks of the treatment.   The regular
 employment of the sitz-baths and of the douche also
 formed a part of the treatment.  Compresses were
 kept constantly upon the diseased parts, and he took
 from twelve to fifteen glasses of water daily.
            e 
40           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

  Remarks.—Here is a case in which the simple
operations of the water-cure not only eradicated a
local disease, which all medical men know and ac-
knowledge to be one of the most difficult, but also
brought the  patient into robust and general health.
Compare with this the following list of  medicines
usually given in this disease, and  which medical wri-
ters tell us are all more or less uncertain:—muriatic
acid, corrosive sublimate,  preparations of arsenic,
caustic potash, white hellebore, &c, all of which, if
uncertain to  cure the skin, are pretty certain to injure
the general  health, by establishing disease in the in-
ternal  organs.—Drs. Wilson and Gully.

               Great Nervousness.

  A military man, aged 32, had used mercury for a
long time,  which created  great neavousness even-
tually ; and, in a state of much debility,  with wan-
dering pains, he went to Graefenberg.   He began
with two lein-tuches, a shallow tepid bath, and sitz-
bath.  Soon after, a plunging bath was added every
other day.  But his zeal led him into error; he would
go far  beyond his instructions in every filing.  One
morning, he drank eight large glasses of water, in-
stead of the  four perscribed, before breakfast; and,
omitting the necessary walking exercise, went into
the billiard  room.  The kidneys  had not actively
secreted.  His feet became cold,  and he was alto-
gether uneasy.   He went out  for a walk,  accom-
panied by a friend.   He soon  fell into  incoherent
conversation, and was got home with some difficulty;
He did not quite lose consciousness, but was speech-
less ; made  signs for  pen and ink, but could not
write.   He  had a violent head-ache.  Priessnitz di-
rected a tepid (62°) foot-bath, with  free rubbing; 
OR WATER-CURE.
4i
sprinkled water on the face and head ; and shortly
after were applied three abreibungs in the course of
half an hour; and wet bandages to the head: he
was put to bed.  Intense  pain of the head ensued,
with some general fever and extreme feebleness of
the limbs. "Priessnitz, at his-next visit, a few hours
after, ordered two  abreibungs, with an interval of
ten minutes ; then a foot-bath for an hour, the water
being changed two or three times ;  next a lein-tuch
for 20 minutes, followed  by the shallow tepid bath,
in which  he was rubbed for half an hour by two at-
tendants, with occasional effusions of cold water over
the head.   He now vomited  freely, and thus got
relief.  The whole treatment was so successful, that,
in another hour, he recovered sense and speech, and
lost the pain of the head.  In  a few  days, general
treatment was resumed,  and continued with great
regularity.   He was now always careful to take free
exercise before and after every process.  Numerous
 boils formed chiefly in the upper  part of the back,
 but also in the thigh, and they suppurated favorably.
 He was called away suddenly by military duty, but
 pursued treatment at home to a certain extent; and
 a letter from him to Priessnitz, a short time ago, an-
 nounces  his complete recovery.—Sir C. Scudamore.

           Acne and Sycosis, with  Crisis.

    A  military officer, twenty-four years old, com-
 menced  treatment here, in December last, for the
 above very common and disfiguring disease. His
 face was covered with red pimples, many of them
 with white heads, one crop of them succeeding ano-
 ther.  He  had been for several years troubled with
 severe headaches and  a confirmed stomach com-
 plaint, showing itself in flushings after dinner, de- 
42
FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
pression ofspirits, and obstinately constipated bowels.
His appetite  was entirely gone, and he had conse-
quently fallen into the habit of taking a strong dose
ofspirits and bitters immediately before dinner, with-
out which he was unable to  eat any.  He had had
his gums "touched" more than once with mercury,
and had no relief of bowels except from purgatives,
from which period he dated the  commencement of
his complaints, both  local and general.
  As there was much internal irritation to subdue,
the treatment was commenced by lying twice a day
in the wet sheet, followed by a general bath ; a hip
bath being taken at mid-day, and  six or eight tum-
blers of water taken daily, the major portion before
breakfast, while using exercise on the hills.  The
feverish symptoms reduced, and the  bowels relieved
naturally, which took place in the second week, he
commenced sweating, the douche and the hip bath,
with an occasional application of the wet sheet.   In
consequence  of this treatment, a crisis of  boils ap-
peared in the third week,  showing itself on the ab-
domen and extremities.   In the meanwhile, as early
as the second  week, the appetite had become good—
indeed, almost too good, and continued undimin-
ished during the whole treatment.  AVhat frequently
occurs in  skin diseases took place in  this case,
namely, an increase  of the original eruptions at the
outset of* the treatment.   But as  the critical boils
appeared on other  parts  of  the body, those on the
face disappeared,  and ceased to be renewed.  In-
deed a striking change took place in the whole of
the skin, which, from being  harsh and inactive, be-
came  pliant and healthy in appearance.  The total
cure was effected in five weeks.
   Remarks.—It is only necessary to observe in this 
OR WATER-CURE.
43
case,  that the eruption depended on the diseased
condition of the stomach, liver, and bowels, and that
this appeared to have been much aggravated by the
medicines he had taken, the first course of mercury
being, most probably, the starting point.  Add to this
the hurtful habit he had  acquired of taking bitter
stimulants before dinner to force a fictitious appetite,
and stimulants after dinner to mask the  pains of in-
digestion.  This patient declared that for years he
had not  been in such spirits as he was during the
time  the crisis of boils was present, all  of which
time he never walked less than from six to ten miles
daily.—Drs. Wilson and Gully.

                Mercurial Disease.

   Mr. R----, a young Scotch gentleman, had con-
tracted syphilis at Messina, two years previously to
his visit to Graefenberg.  Was treated  by the Sici-
lian, and afterwards the Neapolitan physicians, with
mercurial inunction, blue pills, and corrosive subli-
mate.   This last preparation had been taken in such
large quantities, by mistake, that it endangered his
life, causing violent  vomitings  and  colliquative
diarrhoea.   He became so extremely sensitive to the
electrical changes of the atmosphere, that he assured
me, he could not only predict rain, but could antici-
pate the approach of a cloud, and tell when it was
passing over him, though blindfolded.   His friends
frequently made this experiment  upon him.  He
had suffered from a mercurial eruption, and pains
in the head, joints, and spine; ulcerated sore throat,
loss of appetite, and extreme emaciation.  The En-
glish medical practitioner at Naples afterwards cured
him of the secondary symptoms, with the hydriodate
of potass and the compound decoction of sarsapar- 
44           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
 ilia.  But the pains in his head and  joints, loss of
 appetite, debility, and emaciation, continued, com-
 bined with an hysterical affection, that caused him
 frequently to shed involuntary tears.   He was per-
 suaded to consult Priessnitz, and went through the
 entire curriculum of the " cure."   The " douche"
 produced much feverish excitement,  followed hy a
 mercurial eruption, accompanied with several boils,
 not venereal ulcers.   Sweating in a blanket promo-
 ted the discharge of the mercury accumulated in his
 system.   In four months he was perfectly restored
 to health, regained his strength, flesh, and appetite,
 which last was by no means inconsiderable.   He
 frequently walked twenty or thirty miles a day, and
 was free from every pain.   This was the best  and
 most complete cure that fell under my observation.—
 Dr.  R. II. Graham.

 Congestion of the Head, with threatening  Apoplexy.

  A gentleman, aged forty-five years, well known
 in the county of Worcester, had for years been suf-
 fering under the triple excitements of complicated
 affairs, field sports of all kinds, and high living, and
 in the vain endeavor to starve off the  evil  results by
 constant and violent purgation, had increased thern.
 The last three or four years he had been on his es-
 tate, free from business, but still exposed to the other
 causes of his disease.   When he came to us he pre-
 sented the following symptoms.  Face remarkably
 full and livid ; tongue moist and foul; bowels con-
stipated ;  urine not reaching a pint a day.   He had
been for a time affected with giddinessof head, with
tendency to fall on one side or other; dimness of
sight; at intervals he was seized with extreme de-
pression ofspirits, excessive irritability, and stron* 
OR WATER-CURE.
45
inclination to be violent to those around him ;  hia
thoughts were frequently so confused as to deprive
him of all  moral courage, and of the power of at-
tending to  any thing.   His nights  were frightful,
moaning, groaning, and tossing about.   With such
symptoms  (which had existed  for several years) it
will scarcely be  credited that he had been advised
to  take  at least a pint of wine daily,  and, as  his
spirits notwithstanding became worse, to augment
the quantity to a bottle !  Equally  incredible is it
that, whilst this  treatment was going on, he had
been repeatedly  bled, both from the arm and  the
nape of the neck.  It is  to be remarked that this
gentleman, hearing  of the water-cure, and feeling
that he was getting rapidly worse, and threatened
daily with apoplexy, took the resolution to abandon
all advice,  medicine, and wine, and to take to water
drinking.  This last relieved him so much, that he
further resolved to put himself under our care.
   It is impossible in our space to detail all the man-
agement that was required in this very perilous case.
Suffice it  to mention, that the greatest care was
taken in graduating the different processes of  the
water-cure, so as to induce a better distribution of
the blood, and  the diminution of its quantity in  the
head.  All stimulants whatever were withdrawn at
once, and since last September he has not required
any liquid  but water and milk, and has not taken a
grain of medicine of any kind for now more than six
months.  The first effect  of the treatment  was  the
restoration of the secretions of the bowels and  the
kidneys, purgatives and diuretics having previously
utterly failed.   The next effect was the restoration
to comparatively  quiet sleep,  and to  quietude of
mind when awake ;  for strange to say, the water 
46          FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

has given him good spirits, which  the  wine had
rather  depressed than otherwise.  The third effect
was the disappearance of an immense quantity of
superfluous fat, the chief accumulation of which was
about the bowels, giving him an enormous paunch;
for which, however, a quantity  of hard, muscular
flesh had been substituted on the limbs.  His figure
is now what it was when he was a young man.  It
need scarcely be added, that all fear and  every
symptom of apoplexy had vanished.—Drs. Wilson
and Gully.

  Priessnitz's General Bules for the Treatment of
           Goat during the Paroxysm.

  Lying in two or three wet sheets consecutively,
ten or  fifteen minutes in each, according to the de-
gree of fever or of animal heat, so that the sheets be
changed when they become warm.   On quitting the
wet sheets, a demi-bath is to be taken, at about 60°
or 65° Fahrenheit, from half an hour to an hour,
dependent on  the heat of the body.   This is to be
done just previous to going to bed.  In the morning,
sweating in a blanket  and the demi-bath afterwards.
Should there be much debility,  the blanket is to be
used only on  alternate days; the wet sheet every
evening.  When the patient is strong and robust,
the blanket may be had recourse to twice a day, and
the half-bath an hour  after each sweating.  If there
be much heat, or much fever, the friction in the demi-
bath may be repeated  at twelve o'clock.  The foot-
bath and hip-bath are not used during the paroxysm.
The parts affected are enveloped in wet bandages,
which are to be changed as often as they become
hot and dry;  or, they may, from time to time, be
moistened or wetted on the outside with cold water. 
OR WATER-CURE.             47
Gout is not to be treated as a local disease, but as
affecting the whole system.   A rigid diet is tobe ob-
served  during the  paroxysm, animal  food entirely
abstained from, and generally but a moderate quan-
tity of any  taken.—Dr. R.  II. Graham.

Threatening Apoplexy, with extensive  disease of the
         liver and other digestive organs.

  Our patient in this case was a gentleman fifty-three
years of age, of large  landed property and great
political eminence, who, after many years  of an
active  and  useful parliamentary career, retired into
the country.  Whether  from  the cessation  of his
previous exertion, or from the excess of that exer-
tion, his health soon began to give way; symptoms
of indigestion, with low spirits, and strong tendency
of blood to the head, began to show themselves.—
These becoming more alarming, after undergoing
sundry plans of medication under several country
practitioners of eminence, he went to London, and
took the advice of the most fashionable physician of
the day, who put him through along course of mer-
curial   and purgative  medication ;  but after some
months' trial, he  found himself somewhat  worse
than better.  Returning on another occasion to the
physician in  question, he was candidly told that no-
thing further could be done for him, and that he must
expect to suffer more or less for the rest of his life, an
encouragement which brought him, as it has many
others, to the water-cure.   The appearances left no
doubt  of  the true condition of this  patient.  His
eyes  were yellow and  suffused ; his complexion
and lips were waxy ;  his tongue enlarged, spongy,
and thickly  coated;  the breath acid;  the bowels
strictly constipated ;  the urine depositing copiously 
48           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

of lithic acid, and scanty in quantity ; accumulation
of fat in the belly.  There was frequent depression
of spirits, and irritability of temper ; giddiness of
head, and confusion of thought, sometimes amount-
ing to actual suspension of the mental faculties;
sleep heavy,  but much  disturbed.   All the other
symptoms were equally strongly indicative of the mis-
chief going on in the digestive organs and the head.
  The almost immediate effect of the water-cure was
to bring on a bilious crisis  in the shape of copious
evacuations of thin acrid bile by the bowels, by which
a powerful derivation was made from the brain, and
that important organ thus rescued from danger.—
This past, he was placed under the different pro-
cesses of the water-eure,  as the symptoms required ;
into the lengthened details of which the space which
we  have in this work will not allow us to enter.  Suf-
fice it to say, that after four months of assiduous
treatment, this gentleman  has been enabled to re-
enter upon the activities of life, and very recently
presided most ably at a  public dinner in London,
and is now amusing himself by travelling  on the
continent; and  we heard a few days ago from his
sister, that his greatly altered appearance was the
subject of constant congratulation from all  his old
London friends.  It may be mentioned, that in the
course of the treatment a tendency to gout was de-
veloped, which  no doubt existed previously in the
internal organs, and had been fixed  there ;  but this
was relieved by the same means which were improv-
ing his entire system.—Drs. Wilson  ond Gully.

  Priessnitz's Rules to arrest an Attack of the Gout
               on its first approach.

   A demi-bath,  with the chill off, for half or three
quarters of an hour; the body well rubbed, espe- 
OR WATER-CURE.
49
                                              *
cially those parts of it in which the gout is seated;
but should they  be too painful to admit of it, then
friction  is to be applied to  the neighboring parts.
  Friction with cold water every evening in a demi-
bath, and continued until the sensation of cold  is
succeeded by a  warm glow.  Sweating in  a blan-
ket  for an  hour,  after which a wash in the demi-
bath for a minute or two, and then a walk out,  if
practicable.—Dr. R. H. Graham.

      Inflammation and Swelling of Breasts.

  On the evening of the third day after my wife's
first accouchment, I came home from Guy's Hos-
pital, where I had been detained since morning, and
found  her  groaning and weeping with  intense
pain, the  breasts red,  and  enormously enlarged,
which the frightened nurse was vehemently rubbing
with brandy and oil.  The skin was excessively hot
and dry, and the pulse was leaping along at the rate
of 120°.  It was in the month of January—so I
walked into the street with a pail, which I filled with
snow, and bringing it into the sick room, I piled a
heap of it over both breasts, continually adding fresh
snow as it melted.  In  a very few minutes the milk
span out in a stream, to the distance of more than a
foot, and the tears of torture were at once changed
for those of pleasure, accompanied by that hysterical
sobbing, which is the  common result of a sudden
transition from intense suffering to  perfect ease.
 The mere absence of pain in these cases takes all
 the characters  of the  most delicious and positive
 pleasurable sensations.   In half an hour the inflam-
 mation had subsided, the breasts had become com-
paratively flaccid, the  fever had entirely subsided,
 and not only all danger, but  all inconvenience, had 
50
FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
.»
 utterly vanished.  But for this timely succor, sup-
 puration must have supervened in both breasts, and
 large abscesses would have been the inevitable con-
 sequence.—Dr. Ed. Johnson..

        Deafness following IVcrvous Fever.

   This case was given by the patient himself.
   In his twelfth year, after a dangerous nervous fe-
 ver, his hearing was found to be nearly gone. Opin-
 ions were obtained from the most eminent physicians
 in Germany, all of whom declared, after having ex-
 perimented on him, that he would ever remain deaf,
 and that,  as years advanced, the deafness would be
 more confirmed.
   He arrived at Graefenberg in January, 1843
   The treatment was as follows:—
   Morning, wet-sheet, and plunging-bath, with rub-
 bing ; but for the first fortnight the bath was tepid.
   Noon,  head-bath, from 12  to  fifteen minutes.
 After which a walk ;  then wet-sheet, followed by
 rubbing  with the dripping-sheet  (abreibung), and
 sitz-bath for twenty minutes.
   Afternoon, head-bath ; walk; wet-sheet, followed
 by plunge-bath, and hand-rubbing.
   Night,  head-bath twelve to fifteen minutes.
   In eight days,  on coming out of the  plunge-bath,
 he perceived a difference in his power of hearing, as
 his nose, which had been longstopped up,had begun
 to cleans  itself.   The idea then oecurred to him of
 sniffing water up his nostrils; he obtained Priessnitz's
 sanction,  and thus conducted his operations :—
   Head-bath, twelve and a half inches diameter, four
 and a half inches deep ; from two to three inches of
 water.
   1st. Face well rubbed with  water twenty times. 
OR WATER-CURE.
51
  2d. One side of his head immersed till cold, then
rubbed till warm.
  3d. Back of head, ditto.
  4th.  Ears well rubbed  till warm, and again the
side of the head immersed  as before.  This three
times.  The other side then followed, in a similar
manner.   Water now sniffed three times, and forced
through the passages to the mouth  ; the head then
being thrown back, the water was  returned by the
same channels to the nostrils.
  The face  once more rubbed twenty times :  again
the water  was sniffed, and again the head was im-
mersed and rubbed.  The sniffing was repeated,
and the operation  concluded by rubbing the face
twenty times.
  In four weeks he was enabled to hear distinctly.
A quantity of white matter continued, however, to
exude  from  his ears.  Sweating was  now ordered ;
but it proved too much for  him, causing him to swoon
after the plunge-bath, and he was unable to resume
it until he had been four months under treatment.
  In four months and a half he commenced the
douche, Priessnitz desiringhimto proceed with great
care, for fear of a relapse.  For some weeks he only
used it for  one  minute at a time, which he subse-
quently increased to five minutes.   During the pro-
gress of the  cure he had many attacks of fever, which
readily yielded to the wet-sheet and abreibung.
  When he arrived at Graefenberg he  was in a
state  of  great debility ;  but when  I  became ac-
quainted with him in June, he was one of the most
robust of the patients.   He took his departure  on
the 12th of July, deeply  impressed with the value
of hydropathy, and bearing within  himself the best
testimony to its power.—Beamish. 
52
FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
               Hip-joint Disease*

  In December of the last year, we were placed in
communication by letter with the parents of a young
gentleman who resided near to Edinburgh, on the
subject  of a disease wbich, from  the description
given,  appeared to be rather referrible to the spine
than the hip.  Some directions as to constitutional
treatment proved  beneficial;  but  acting  on a rule
we  have established, we declined further responsi-
bility in the  case at that distance.   The youth (six-
teen years of age) was  then  placed  under the care
of a surgeon inEdinburg, who placed splints around
the left  hip, and bound them tightly down.  Pain
then began  to be severely felt; and as the advice of
the first surgical authority in Edinburgh only tended
to the adoption of bleedings and blisterings over the
hip-joint, the parents preferred to make a  journey
to Malvern, and see what could be done by the water-
cure.  The boy arrived here on the 16th of March.
His habit of body  was highly scrofulous, the left
buttock was greatly  enlarged, the left leg shorter
than the right by three or four inches ;  there was
severe  pain on moving the leg, and also when the
joint was pressed upon either directly, or by pushing
up  from the sole of the foot;  there  was no flexion
of the thigh  on the trunk, and there was much sym-
pathetic pain in the knee.  Every thing showed that
the ball of the thighbone was considerably protruded
from the socket of the hip, constituting the formi-
dable malady known as " hip-joint disease."
  We commenced the  treatment  at once with wet
sheets, in which he lay for an hour night and morn-
ing, and, as it was difficult to move  him, his body
was rubbed  as he lay  with wet towels when he came
out of the sheets.   A large compress was kept con- 
OR WATER-CURE.
53
stantly over the hip, and down to the knee.  Fric-
tious  with the wet hand were  also used.   After a
month of this, the sheets were suspended for a week
or ten days,  and warm  fomentations of the belly
employed.   The sheets were subsequently and more
vigorously used,with the cold shallow bath,into which
the boy was lifted without bending a joint of either
leg.  He drank from six to ten tumblers of water
daily  ; and he ate  and slept uniformly well.  Per-
severing in the-treatnient, with slight variations ac-
cording to uprising circumstances, the  boy was en-
abled by the 20th  of May to walk on  crutches for
half an hour, two or three  times daily;  a power
that has been increasing ever since until now, (6th
June) ; he can go up a hill with his  crutches, and
walk  for an hour and a half at one time.  The size
of the buttock has become natural ; the left leg is
now only half an inch shorter than the sound one ;
indeed, by a trifling effort he can put the left foot
flat upon the ground.  He can also sit in an ordi-
nary chair, and raise himself out of it without assist-
ance.   Meanwhile there are  signs of an approach-
ing crisis in  the feet; and we make  no doubt that
this fine and interesting boy will leave this not only
cured of the local disease, but with a constitution
altered for the better, so as to prevent the possibility
of its recurrence.
   Remarks.—When the above case had been under
treatment about one month, we  took an eminent
physician, himself under treatment of the water-
cure  to see it.  After minute inspection, he shook
his head increduously, and observed to the mother
of the youth, "If the water treatment will cure this
joint, it will cure anything.''''  And he afterwards
expressed to ourselves his total disbelief in the possi- 
54           FACTS IX HYDROPATHY,

bility of such  an event.  It has, however, come to
pass,—come to pass, too, in one of the worst con-
stitutions that could have been selected.  But herein
is one of the chief beauties of our treatment, that du-
ring two entire months,  in  which the patient was
stretched on a sofa without air or exercise, the pro-
cesses of the water-cure were not only remedying
the joint disease, but improving his general  health.
Had he been  kept in the house, as he must  have
been, his joint leeched, blistered, and burnt all the
time, his inside worried with mercurials, iodine, ton-
ics, and other supposed anti-scrofulous medicines,
where would his general health have been "?  Gone,
irrecoverably gone, we have no hesitation in  saying.
As it is, we have no question that he will grow into a
strong and active man.—Drs. Wilson and Gully.

    Symptomatic Fever.  (Related by the Mother.)

  Alexander Klauke, aged three years, was a fine
lively child, but with a disposition to inflammatory
affections of the  stomach and  bowels.  A  month
previous to the present disease, he had an attack of
inflammation  of the  stomach,  accompanied with
strong fever, and determination to the head.  In the
evening the child was put into a bath not quite cold,
in which he remained about twenty minutes, addi-
tional cold water being added as the  temperature
arose by the heat from the child.  During this time
cold water was poured from a tumbler glass on the
head, repeated at intervals  of a minute, and, as is
usual, his whole body  was rubbed cautiously by the
maid.   He  was  then  taken out of the bath and
placed on the  sofa, covered over with a sheet and
blanket, with the back part  of his head in cold wa-
ter,  for ten minutes.   By this time reaction had 
OR WATER CURE.
55
taken place, when wet compresses were applied to
the head and back part of the neck, and the body,
from the armpits to the hips, wrapped in a similar
way.  He slept quietly till three o'clock in the morn-
ing, when the  same process was repeated, the pre-
vious symptoms having returned.  The child was
again placed in bed, where he slept till morning, and
was then found to be quite well, and went out as usual.
  A month after this attack he was taken ill in a
similar way, but with symptoms much more severe.
The fever running high, and  accompanied by de-
lirium.  The treatment was commenced by placing
him successively in nine wet sheets, from which the
water was but slightly wrung out. In each of these
he remained about five minutes.  Towards the last,
the heat being  diminished, he was allowed to re-
main ten minutes.  To the  head and breast a thick
wet compress was applied  in addition, these being
the parts where  the  heat was  greatest.  The feet
were cold, and as long as they remained so the wet
sheet was only applied down to the knees; in the
mean time the feet and legs were rubbed strongly
with the hands.  While the extreme heat continued,
the wet sheet was covered by a thick dry one in-
stead of a blanket, as is usual, the feet only being
covered (with the blanket.)  After the last wet sheet,
he was placed at once in a tepid bath,  where he re-
mained an hour, the  same process of rubbing and
pouring water over the head being practised.   The
first day the same process was repeated four times,
the duration of the last being not so long, when the
fever was not so high.  During the night  the wet
cloth was changed every half hour.  On the morn-
ing of the second day the child refused to go into the
water, calling out himself at intervals for additional 
56           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
wet sheets.  Orders were given that the inclination
of the child should be obeyed.  In the course of the
morning the child desired himself that he might be
put into the bath, where he remained until the heat
in the armpits and on the back of the neck was the
same as on the rest of the body; this being the gen-
eral guide for the duration of a bath.
  The same treatment, slightly varied, was contin-
ued four days, when the child was well,  and was
sent out to play with the other children.   In eight
days after this  a pustule appeared  on the foot, which
discharged matter freely.—Dr. Ed. Johnson.

Intense Nervous Indigestion, with Constipation, &c,

  A lady, past sixty, came to Malvern to be under
the care of Drs. Wilson and Gully.  She had suf-
fered for more than  thirty years  from indigestion,
had severe illness, rheumatic fever, bile, acid, tic,
violent headaches, palpitation of the heart, debility
of limbs, nerves much shattered, thin and palid.very
little appetite, a gnawing pain in the stomach after
eating, weary  pain in the back, and at the back of
the neck: for  twenty years her bowels were hardly
ever moved but by medicines.   For a month after
her arrival in Malvern, she lived upon plain boiled
rice, which gave her less pain to digest  than any
other food.   The dripping sheet was first applied
three times a day for five days, then the  damp sheet
an hour every  morning, with the shallow bath after;
sitz-bath at twelve, and shallow bath at night;  her
bowels were assisted by an enema every other day,
first of tepid water, and then quite cold  ;  she every
day walked an hour before breakfast, and drank six
tumblers full of water, and several more through the
day.  At the end of a fortnight, the pain after eating 
OR WATER-CURE.              57
subsided, her strength was much increased, and ap-
petite improved.   The sudorific blanket was next
applied,  followed by  a cold shallow bath every
morning, sitz-bath at twelve, and cold shallow bath
at night.  In six  weeks she felt perfectly well, free
from every pain and ache, and ready for every meal.
Her food was then bread and butter,  with at times
an egg for breakfast, and a small cup of new milk.
She dined  at two, on roast meat and  plain  rice or
potato, and every second day on eggless rice pudding.
In two months  she could walk ten or eleven miles a
day, which she had not been  able to do for forty
years, and her bowels became perfectly regular.

                    Epilepsy.

   The  next case which I shall mention is  one of
epilepsy.   On  being introduced to  this patient, a
young Hungarian of about 27, he told  me that he
had  been the  subject of epilepsy  for  four years,
having  a recurrence of the fits about every ten days.
He had been under treatment for four months, and
was kept  on a very scanty  diet the  whole  of that
time.  He is now perfectly recovered,  having had
only one fit since he commenced the treatment, and
tliat occurred shortly after his first arrival at  the
establishment.   He was very pale, and considerably
wasted, but was then gradually returning to a full
diet, with a view  to his returning home.
   I suppose this  case to be one of epilepsy, depend-
ing on irritation, set up in the brain, by the presence
of some foreign body, probably a clot of blood ; and
that this clot, under the deprivation of food, had en-
tered into combination with oxygen, in order that it
mio-ht assist in protecting the vital organs from the
destructive action of that element, and  had  quitted 
58
FACTS  IN  HYDROPATHY,
the system in the form of oxydised products.   The
cases of palsy probably depended on similar causes,
which are removed by similar means.
  This  gentleman has made copious notes, both of
his case and of  his treatment, which he intends to
publish  as soon  as he returns to  Pesth.—Dr. Ed,
Johnson.

                 Bilious Fever.

  A lady, thirty-nine years old, came to Malvern in
the early part of April, to be treated for a complica-
tion of  ailments, induced by  mercury, which had
been largely and repeatedly given for a bilious dis-
order.   She was seized with bilious fever two days
after her arrival here, and she had all  the intense
headache, nausea, foul tongue, thirst, constipated
howels, hot skin, &c, which characterise that kind
of fever.  As the fever was  brief, so was the treat-
ment, which consisted in cold hip-baths of half an
hour, lying  in wet sheets, followed by tepid shallow
baths, and abundant drinking of cold water.   The
headache disappeared with the first hip-bath, and the
other symptoms  after four or five wet sheets, copious
bilious evacuations terminating the malady in thirty-
six hours from its commencement.  The patientthen
had a long sleep, in the course of which profuse per-
spiration broke out, and she awoke cool, and without
the smallest thirst.  Sheisnowundertreatmentforthe
restoration of the organic strength of which she had
previously been deprived.—Drs. Wilson and Gully.

             Gout and Rheumatism.

   A gentleman, aged 44, of slight frame and deli-
cate appearance, had received great trials to his con-
stitution, from living in various climates under cir- 
OR WATER-CURE.
59
cumstances of immense exertion of mind and body;
so that he incurred a severe liver disease, followed
by both gout and rheumatism.  His father had been
a sufferer from  gout and from tic-doloureux.   He
therefore had the hereditary predisposition.   By
treatment, his health was improved up to November,
1839,  when, from exposure to wet in shooting, he
experienced painful rheumatism or gout, for each
name was  given,  in  one knee-joint.  It was so
swollen and  misshapen, that some thought it was
dislocated.  The frequent use of leeches;  of iodine,
externally and internally; of calomel;  sarsaparilla
and other medicines,  formed the chief treatment.
The disease increased severely.  He describes that
" the leg wasted away; that the hip had the appear-
ance of being dislocated ; and that some-inflamma-
tion became visible at the lower part of the spine,
with frequent aching pain.  The knee was so bent,
from contraction, that the limb was drawn up almost
to doubling, and quite useless;  in addition to which,
he was reduced to  a skeleton, having lost all appe-
tite and  sleep."   The actual cautery  to the spine
was proposed;  but not having profited by any of the
various means employed, he fell into despair,  and
was urged to try the water-cure at home.   He  here
says, " I was so weak that I could only allow gentle
measures.   My diet was strictly regulated. I drank
plenty of pure water ; morning and evening had an
abreibung and  shallow tepid bath (66° Fah.); in
the middle of the day,  free ablutions of the whole
limb, and wet bandage covered by dry.  From the
commencement I began to  feel  differently.  Sleep
and appetite soon returned ;   and,  my  strength
gradually improving, I was able to bear the use of
the sweating blanket, followed by the  half-bath.—
             G 
60           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

Ere  long, numerous biles  appeared on  the  legs,
which afforded great relief to the deep-seated pains."
Had sitz-baths.   In  one month  he was  so  much
improved that he could use crutches for half an hour;
and at the end of three months he had gained suf-
ficient strength to undertake the  journey  to Graef-
enberg.  But still having a very large number of
boils in a  state  of suppuration, his  nerves  were
greatly disturbed, and he was  rendered very ill by
travelling 500 miles; was much affected with cramps
and hysteria.  He arrived.   Priessnitz told him he
would recover, but along time would be required.
At first, his treatment was moderate, and afterwards
increased, with a cautious use of the douche.  He
drank water very freely.   For a time, its early morn-
ing use was slightly emetic ; but this relieved him
of bile aud  phlegm.   In October, 1840, he  could
walk a little  with two sticks.  The boils  increased
over the body.   In November,  the weather being
unfavorable, he took cold severely from accidental
exposure, and  new symptoms arose.  An abscess
gradually formed between the  bladder and the rec-
tum, and  at  length broke, the  matter  being dis-
charged partly by the rectum, partly by the urethra.
His cramps  and pains of  the bladder and bowels
were so severe, that his life was in imminent danger.
For a fortnight  he was without sleep, could not take
any food, and for ten days had  water only to sup-
port him, if support it could be called.  Cold water
lavements, half and quarter baths,  fomentations,
and wet linen rubbings,  all more tepid than usual
(80°,) were  freely employed.  When the abscess
found free vent, the symptoms so much abated, that
a little sleep and the capability of taking some nour-
ishment returned. He gradually improved, so that 
OR WATER-CURE.
61
by the middle of January, 1841, he could again walk,
with two sticks about the house.   Now more active
treatment was resumed ; and even the sweating in
the blanket twice a week, and the cautious use of
the douche.  The progress of cure became very fa-
vorable.   Before the end of summer he was able to
take exercise and enjoy the mountain  air ; and ap-
petite and sleep returned favorably.
  In April, 1842, he was sufficiently recovered to
leave Graefenberg,  with the use of the  limb quite
restored,  all contraction being  removed, and the
general flesh, strength, and spirits quite regained.
He was the wonder of Graefenberg !  I  saw this
gentleman about ten weeks ago.   He was in good
health and spirits ;  but felt the necessity of avoiding
great fatigue ; as in such cases he was  reminded, by
achings, that his limb,  although so happily restored,
could not possess the vigor of* one that had never
been diseased.   In a review of all the circumstances
of this important case, infinite praise was due to
Priessnitz for its management.  He had been inde-
fatigable in his attentions.—Sir Charles Scudamore.

     Nervous Indigestion, -with Skin Disease.

   We give this case in the words of the patient,
who appends his name to it, and is well known in
this parish.—Drs. Wilson and Gully.
   " I am now fifty  years of age, and have had a
bad stomach for nearly the  last thirty years.  All
that time 1 have been tormented by uneasiness after
eating, and the food returning an  hour or two after
taking it.  It always came back to my mouth just
as I had eaten it.   My  bowels were  always obsti-
nate; indeed I never was without uneasiness from
them and. from the stomach.  Now and then, about 
62
FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
 once in a fortnight or three weeks, I had tremendous
*headache, which lasted generally twenty-four or
 thirty-six hours, and went off with a large discharge
 of clear urine.   So much for  my  stomach disease.
 About thirty years ago, a small patch of eruption
 came on the upper part of the leg, and itched dread-
 fully at night.  Every night, as soon as I was warm
 in bed, it awoke me and obliged me to scratch it
 until some moisture came from it; it then became
 easier, and I got to sleep again, but awoke again in
 the course of half an hour or an  hour  with the itch-
 ing.  This was the case for full thirty years, and I
 can safely say that during all that time my rest was
 constantly interrupted.   I tried all kinds of prescrip-
 tions, and consulted medical  gentlemen without
 number.   Between the disorder of the stomach, and
 the skin disease, and want of sleep, my health  be-
 came so had as to oblige me to give up a good busi-
 ness I had in Worcester, and came  to  Malvern to
 try what  living there would do.  I have now been
 eight years here, but was no better until about six
 months ago.  As every thing else had failed, I took
 to the water-cure under the care of Dr. Wilson and
 Dr. Gully.   I have  had the wet sheet, have sweated
 in the blankets, and used hip-baths  since last De-
 cember.   I have worn a compress over  the bowels,
 and one  over the skin complaint constantly.   l>y
 persevering in these, I got  to keep my  food down
 much better.  My bowels are now open regularly
 once a day.   I have gained flesh, and the color of
 my face  is quite changed.   The best of all is, that
 the skin disease is so much  better that I get as much
 as  Ave and six  hours sleep every night, and often
 without waking at  all.  Circumstances have  pre-
 vented me  from  pursuing  the  water treatment the 
OR WATER-CURE.
63
last four or five weeks, but I shall begin again in a
few days, and continue all the summer.  I fully hope
to be quite  cured by the end of the summer, and
look forward, as may be supposed, with great plea-
sure to being quite rid of my complaints, for which
I had for so many years swallowed such quantities
of physic, and paid so much money, without getting
the smallest relief.                  D. Mayer.
   "Malvern, May,31,  1843."

     Hypochondriasis, Psoriasis, and Sciatica.

   The gentleman, (an  Euglishman,)  about sixty
years of age, who was the subject of these three se-
vere afflictions, belonged formerly to the civil service
in India. I made his acquaintance at  Graefenberg
immediately on my arrival, and am indebted to him
for introductions  to  several valuable cases besides
his own.  He had labored  under these afflictions
for eight years.   Shortly after he had become the
subject of sciatica and  psoriasis, (which latter dis-
ease his French medical advisers denominated dartre
far incuse,) his mind became excessively excited by
some family occurrences, with the  particulars of
which he did not, of course, think  it necessary to
acquaint ine.  In a  short  time,  what  with the ex-
citement, the torture arising from his  sciatica, (in-
flammation of the sheath of the great sciatic nerve,
where it passes through the structure  of the hip,)
and the  intolerable  itching  produced by the skin
disease, the equilibrium of his mind became so much
disturbed that he was not considered in a fit condi-
tion  to be left by himself.  Always in a  state of high
excitement, there were times when he was  perfectly
insane.
  For eight years, the  sufferings of this poor gen-
             g 
64          FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

tleman, bodily  and mental,  were indeed awful.—
When I asked him to give me a detailed account of
his sufferings, he sat thoughtful for a moment, and
then, going to a table, he took up a  small  pocket
book, and opening it at a particular page, and plac-
ing his  forefinger between the leaves, he reseated
himself.   " Some time ago," said he, "  I was peru-
sing the book of Deuteronomy;  and in the course
of my reading, the  passages which I have  copied
into this pocket-book riveted my attention.  They
were so exactly characteristic of my sufferings, that
I almost fancied myself the particular object of the
divine wrath, and that I was  even then realizing the
fearful denunciations which those passages of scrip-
ture contained.   No language of mine can so truth-
fully or so forcibly convey to you the  horrors under
which I was laboring both in body and mind.  Read
them," continued he, " and  judge whether  I have
not great reason to be thankful that I  am now such
as you see me."  He handed  me the book, and I
read as follows: " The Lord will smite thee with the
botch of Egypt  and with the  emerods, and with the
scab, and  with  the itch, whereof thou canst not be
healed.  The Lord shall  smite thee with madness,
and blindness, and astonishment of heart. The Lord
shall smite thee  in the knees,  and in the legs, with a
sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of
thy foot to the top of thy head:  and thy life shall
hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day
and night,  and shalt have  none assurance of thy life.
In the morning  thou shall? say,' Would God it were
even ;' and at even thou  shalt say, ' Would  God it
were morning!"
  " At the time," continued  he, when I had done
reading, "that I was perusing those passages, these 
OR WATER-CURE.
65
terrible denunciations  were most of them actually
realized in my person.   I trembled as I read—for at
that moment I was covered,' from the sole of my foot
to the top of my  head,'' with an intolerable itching
botch.   I was even then ' smitten  in the knees and
in the legs with a sore botch,'' and was covered with
scabs.   Madness, and blindness of the understand-
ing, and astonishment of heart, were also mine.   I
had indeed ' no assurance of my life,'' for I was often
sorely tempted to destroy it; and  every morning 1
wished  it were night, and at night I longed for the
morning— and every effort I hade made to get '■healed'1
had been utterly in vain."
   This gentleman had then been  under the water-
cure about three months.   His sciatica had entirely
left him—the eruption was nearly gone—the itching
had wholly ceased—while the state of his mind
was perfectly  calm, cheerful, rational, and full of
thankfulness.
   So fully satisfied was he that he should get entirely
well, that he left  Graefenberg about a  week before
myself, in order to bring the whole of his family back
with him—partly that he might have the comfort of
their society for the rest of the time that it would be
necessary for him  to  remain under  the cure, and
partly  in order to submit his daughter, who had  ill
health, to the same remedy  which had proved so
signal  a blessing to himself.—Dr. Ed. Johnson.

  Indigestion,  Rheumatism, and Spitting of Blood.

   A gentleman, aged 40, tall and  slight, appearing
free from complaint, gave me the following account.
When a boy  at school  in Germany,  he was com-
pelled, with the rest of the boys, to take a purgative
every Saturday morning ; and thinks that from this 
CO           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

unfortunate and absurd practice  he acquired  the
subsequent necessity,  and that an increased  one,
of resorting to medicine.   He was subject  to great
depression of spirits, inaptitude to exertion, rheu-
matic pains, shortness of breath on ascending a hill,
and occasional spitting of blood of a  scarlet  hue.
He had tried various medicines, and long persisted
with  a  slight mercurial  alterative; but, he says,
without improvement.  He was dependent  on lave-
ments for any action of the bowels.   He went to an
establishment near his home, where he was  sweated
in the blanket every day, had the plunging-bath,
and other  means;  but he did not feel equal to the
perseverance in such treatment, and went to Graef-
enberg, where he had been nine months when I first
saw him, remaining, however, more from choice
than necessity.  His treatment had been lein-tuch
in the first of the morning, avoiding the perspiring,
followed by the tepid and plunging baths in succes-
sion ;   an  occasional  abreibung;   two sitz-baths
every day, at first tepid, afterwards cold ;  body ban-
dage.*  He drank from 10 to 12  glasses of water.
After  two  months, he used  a  douche daily.  His
recovery was perfect, and  he  was an excellent  spe-
cimen of the good effects  of  the water cure.   In a
few Aveeks after using it, his digestion became quite
regular.—Sir Charles Scudamore.

                Catarrh,  or  Cold.

  Mrs.----, an  English lady now at Graefenberg,
on her husband's account, was subject,  in England,
to very severe attacks of catarrh, which usually lasted
her a  month before  she could get entirely rid of it.

 _ * In future this is to be understood, if not mentioned; the excep.
tion to its use being very rare 
OR WATER-CURE.
67
Soon after her arrival at Graefenberg she had a very
severe attack.   She was treated by the wet sheet and
tepid bath alternately for two days, which entirely re-
moved every trace of the catarrh.—Dr. Ed. Johnson.

                      Gout.

  An Austrian officer, aged 47, tall and robust, had
acquired gout in the ankle and side of the foot at
37,  and since in various parts,  never escaping a
winter till the last, and having fits of from 6 to 9
weeks in duration.   He had  been at  Graefenberg
11 months,  on his first arrival, the limbs were very
infirm, the ankles swollen, and the feet and knees
severely affected with chronic pains, giving him a
dread of attempting walking exercise.  He had pre-
viously been  treated with various  medicines, and
with calomel very freely.  He began with  the use
of from 2 to 4 abreibungs daily; then two lein-tuchs,
followed by the  shallow bath;  afterwards  by  the
plunging  bath;  next, the  sweating in the blanket
each other day, until crisis formed extensively  on
the  legs, when it was discontinued; and he had also
a strong vesicular rash on the body, with a line of
demarcation exact with the bandage.
   He experienced immediate and very complete re-
lief to the pains of the knees and  ankles when the
boils appeared.  Afterwards,  they formed also on
the  knees, arms, and shoulders.  When the crisis
subsided, he douched twice a day for eight minutes,
instead of using the plunging-bath, as he thought it
suited  him better,  and proved more favorable in
producing good crisis; for the chronic pains had
returned occasionally, but were invariably relieved
by the formation of boils.   When I saw him he was
almost perfectly restored to health.  He related that 
68           FACTS  IN  HYDROPATHY,

he had derived great strength to his ankles from the
daily use  of a cold  foot-bath,  deeper than  usual;
that when he did use the blankets,  he found the af-
ternoon more favorable than the morning for the
producing of perspiration ; and  this, he thought,
especially as he had a quick digestion.  For those
who might have a weak and slow digestion, he con-
sidered it, from observations he had made, an unfa-
vorable time.  This gentleman was so well recovered
that he was about to leave Graefenberg.—Sir C.
Scudamore.

                     Ague.

  A general officer in the British army, well known
at the  horse-guards, still staying at Boemischdorf,
and whose permission I have to give his'name to any
private applicant, was attacked with ague.  After
enduring two or three fits, in the  hope that it would
leave him, he sent for Priessnitz.   When Priessnitz
arrived he was in the third or sweating stage.  He
was immediately placed in a bath at 60 degrees of
Reaumur, or 68 of Fahrenheit.   Here he was kept
for twenty minutes, being well rubbed  all the time
by two men.   After  this he walked about  the a-
partment for half an  hour, and  then went to bed.
The ague left him, and  never  returned.—Dr. Ed.
Johnson.

          Ague and Fever of an Infant.

   This infant having lost its mother at its birth,  a
wet nurse was procured, such as  was considered by
the physicians to be a healthy one.  The child was
removed to a plantation, where ague and fever was
common.   After remaining a  while, the nurse was
taken  with the ague, and subsequently the child. 
OR WATER CURE.
69
 Both had the disease severely.  At the commence-
 ment the nurse (a young woman) was  healthy and
 strong.   Her diet and general regimen were, how-
 ever, as bad as could well be;—consisting much of
 bacon, fine bread, butter, gravies, very strong tea and
 coffee, ivincs, fyc, which things, also, the child was
 taught to take.  The usual anodyne and purgative
 medicines were taken by the nurse, and given to the
 child.   At first,  the little one was the picture of
 health and cheerfulness.  At seven  months, in an
 almost dying state, it was necessary to take it from
 the nurse.   Its eyes were glassy—its head languidly
 dropping upon the shoulder, and  its naturally clear
 and white skin  had changed to a uniform yellow,
 almost  like that  of a mulatto. Its lips were com-
t pressed, and nearly the  same color as the face.   It
 was of course  much emaciated—its cheeks hanging
 down, and its whole expression one of continual
 suffering.  For weeks it had not been seen to smile.
 It was now put under the water-cure treatment, and
 at the same time weaned. The chill and fever took
 place every other day.   At first, on " the well day,"
 wet sheet sweating was produced, accompanied by
 various bathings.  Never before had the child been
 given a  drop  of water. Now it  took  it greedily,
 and soon rejected  its accustomed drinks.  On the
 " sick day," it being the second of the cure, very act-
 ive treatment prevented  the chill and fever, and it was
 never allowed to return.— Water-Cure for Ladies.

          Nervous Debility and Sleeplessness.

    A lady, aged 27, had typhus fever,  from which
 she dates her loss of health.   Subsequently, she had
 a fall from a horse, causing concussion of the brain;
 and, on another occasion, a severe contusion of the 
70           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
head, with a wound by the falling of a beam.  For
a long while, she  experienced intense  sufferings,
from which she never recovered;  and she came to
Graefenberg with the following symptoms: frequent
severe pains of the head, with a strong sensation of
burning heat of the scalp; hearing and sight af-
fected ; although  in a  highly nervous  state, and
seldom sleeping more than an hour in the night; all
the functions irregular; the feet almost constantly
affected with icy coldness:  with frequent pains and
oppression in the hypogastric region.   She had al-
ways received more benefit from cold water appli-
cations than any other means, and especially from
using the mer de glace, (a stream  derived  from the
melting of ice and snow from the mountains,) in
Switzerland, as a bath.  Very active medical treat-
ment  had  been  used at different  periods : leeches
and blisters to the spine  again  and again;  and
courses of medicine of various kinds.
  On her  arrival she was put on the following treat-
ment.  In the morning  early, lein-tuch, tepid hath
(Reaumur 14°,) and plunging bath in  immediate
succession.  Abreibung and sitz-bath in the middle
of the  day ; a regular head-bath  once in  the day;
and whenever painful  and  heated, to apply cold
water freely by the hand,  and leave wet compress
on  any heated  part.  The foot-bath once or twice
a-day ; rubbing the legs also with the water, for they
were  affected with weakness  and swelling.  An
eruption of irritable pimples  appeared,  which  was
treated with wet bandages covered by dry.  Priess-
nitz was  glad to see this  early crisis.   The body
bandage was used    She drank a  medium quantity
of water,  and was much in the air: but she could
not take great exercise.  At a particular period, the 
OR WATER-CURE.
71
nervous  system was  greatly disturbed;  and there
was some hysteria, with much affection of the head.
In these  circumstances,  Priessnitz directed four
abreibungs in the morning, and four in the afternoon,
with intervals of half an hour, during which she went
into bed, to gain composure and warmth.  She did
not complain of this troublesome treatment, and ac-
knowledged the very considerable relief which it
afforded her.    On  my quitting, I  compared  her
state with  what it  was on her arrival,  with great
satisfaction.  Her health was  in every respect ma-
terially improved ; and the head  so relieved that
she could sleep comfortably.  There  was every
promise  of the  case proceeding  to  a favorable
issue.—Sir Charles  Scudamore.

   Stomach, Iriver, and Skin Disease, with Tic*

  After living from six to seven years in hospitals
and anatomical rooms, and not attending very par-
ticularly to eating and drinking, I  established the
first stage of a stomach complaint.  This was con-
firmed by  about  the  same  period spent in an ex-
tensive private  practice in London, with the same
want of attention to diet, &c.   When 1 left London,
my stomach would scarcely digest anything.   I had
tic  doloureux, and  a skin disease on both legs,
which, by way of consolation, in the last consultation
I had in London, a physician told me I  might ex-
pect to see spread all over the body, for there was a
slight appearance of it already in  the skin under
the whiskers.   I spent about four years on the con-
tinent, passing the winters in Italy, and  the sum-
mers  in  Germany—every year becoming  worse.

       * The case of one of the authors, Dr. Wilson.
           H 
72
FACTS  IN  HYDROPATHY,
During the winter I wore two pairs of flannel draw-
ers—ditto waistcoats—and a great-coat—-and  was
always on the look-out for drafts and cold.   For
eighteen months before I went to Graefenberg, I had
on an average rejected my dinner four times a week;
but without  sickness, and merely  from its iveight,
and the malaise it caused.  I tried the most approved
systems of medicinal treatment—dieting, leeching,
small blisters, lotions, and ointments of every de-
scription to the skin disease.   I visited all the capi-
tal cities of Europe, and consulted the leading men
in them, but  without any benefit.
  I was altogether fifteen months under treatment
by the water-cure, before the  skin disease was com-
pletely removed—nine of these months very actively,
at Graefenberg.   When I left off the water-cure. I
was robust, instead of a skeleton—my tic and skin
disease were  gone, and I  had the appetite  and di-
gestion of a ploughman.  Whilst in a crisis, the town
of Friwaldau was on fire.  I  was out all night, wet,
&c; this brought on a violent fever.  I treated my-
self with wet sheets, &,c, and in a few days I was
well.   I had  afterwards  intense jaundice from the
passage of gall stones, and I  again felt the benign
influence of the water-cure.  I have felt it since in
being able to undergo labor that I was never before
capable of, and I shall feel it to  my last day as one
of the  greatest blessings  that  modern times has
given to ailing man.—Dr. James Wilson.

   Indigestion, Distress and Depression of Spirits.

  A  clergyman and schoolmaster, aged 35, had too
intensely  exercised his  mind  and  feelings,  and
brought on so distressing a state of nervousness, that,
in preaching, he became  painfully  confused  in a 
OR WATER-CURE.
73
quarter of an hour.  He had severe indigestion, with
opposite states of the bowels,  but most commonly
inert; head-ache with confusion, noises of the ears,
and dimness of sight; heat of the scalp, and extreme
coldness of the feet; depression of spirits, with such
distress that he was incapable of any mental exertion,
being an ardent student.  He was much affected by
every change of weather.  His treatment consisted
of lein-tuch  and tepid  bath, with  plunging bath,
sitz-bath, head-bath  three times a  day,  foot-bath
twice a day,  the  soles of the feet being diligently
rubbed ; the body bandage.  He drank water freely;
and he had abreibung whenever the  head was more
than usually uncomfortable. After about a fortnight,
the use of the douche was added to the treatment.
  He described,  in glowing terms,  the happy im-
provement which he received after  ten days' treat-
ment, and especially in his digestion and the state of
his head;  but when he  had  employed  the douche
for a week, he was apprehensive that it did not suit
his nerves,  for his head became  painful and con-
fused after using it.
  In all these cases of  great morbid sensibility of
the nerves of the head, it appears to me that the ap-
plication of the volume douche, if ever used, should
be much delayed ;  and  that the jet shower bath,
applied  with only moderate force, continued from
one to to three minutes, is a more appropriate remedy.
  It is very obvious that, in the management of all
delicate and difficult cases, a good medical judgment
is  required  to adapt the treatment to the many
changing  circumstances which must occur.—Sir
Charles  Scudamore. 
74
FACTS  IN  HYDROPATHY,
           Supposed Consumption, &c.

  The Reverend M----, about thirty-six years of
age, supposed himself consumptive, and it was with
the greatest difficulty I could convince him that he
had not a decided chest complaint, as he had tried all
kinds of remedies in vain.  His first  consultation
with me was more particularly to know what warm
climate I would recommend to him for the winter,
as he found himself unable to continue his duties.
  I found  him in the following state.   He  had a
short hacking cough ;  he was sensitive to a degree
of changes to temperature, which induced him to
clothe  as thickly as possible with flannel.  Head-
ache and  indigestion were constant  symptoms;
stomach and bowels  always out of order,  and he
was highly nervous.  He could scarcely be induced
by  his  friends and myself to try the water-cure, en-
tertaining an  excessive fear of the contact of cold
water.   I put, him through a gentle course of treat-
ment,  and  he  progressed rapidly.
   After a few weeks he returned home, and pursued
such part of  th*e  treatment  as was practicable  and
compatible with his arduous duties.  These duties
he now performs with ease and cheerfulness.  My
friend, Mr. W. Whitmore, informed me a few days
ago, that this patient is gaining strength every day,
that he looks forward to the dreaded winter with
pleasure,  and that he is the  wonder of the neigh-
borhood.*
   Cases of this kind are  frequently met with on the
continent,  where the subjects of them go in search
of health.  At Rome I saw many such, and amongst

  * This gentleman has ever since, now above eight months, been
able to perform two full church services, and is in excellent health. 
OR WATER-CURE.
75
them a number of clergymen going on from bad to
worse, the appetite decreasing, strength lapsing, the
tone of  the  skin becoming less and less.  These
cases, often commencing in mental  work and irri-
tation, lead on to derangement  of the stomach and
bowels,  are accompanied with  stomach cough and
extreme readiness to take cold, and not unfrequently
terminate in substantial disease of  the lungs:—a
conslusion which is never prevented by the system
of drug remedying they too often go through, which,
on  the  contrary, leads  to hotter rooms, warmer
clothing,  more stimulating  drinks, and additional
chilliness and debility.   It  is  really quite melan-
choly to see many of them in Italy—far from their
friends and their occupation—shivering at the bare
thought of the bracing and healthy winter of their
native isle, and feeling actually  more  cold than their
countrymen  on the banks of  the Thames.—Drs.
Wilson  and Gully.

             Sciatica, with Iiumbago-

  Monsieur Varnod was afflicted with sciatica for
three years, so severely that it was with great  diffi-
culty he could walk even with the aid of a stick.—
Every ordinary means of cure had been resorted to
without effect.   He was  at last prevailed  upon to
visit a water establishment at Innspruck. With  great
pain and difficulty he was got down to the side of the
cold bath ; and here it required a great exertion of
courage in a lame man, and one who could not on
any sudden emergency move his limbs  without ex-
cruciating pain—I quite  agree with him, that  it re-
quired great courage in one so situated to allow him-
self to be tumbled heels  over head into the water.
With fear and trembling, however, he submitted, and
         h 
76
FACTS  IN  HYDROPATHY,
to his utter astonishment found that while in the wa-
ter he could move his limb without the slighest pain
or inconvenience.   The pain had entirely vanished,
and from that moment to this it has never returned,
nor does he exhibit the slightest indication of lame-
ness or weakness in either of bis legs.  He is now
at Graefenberg for another disease—a disease of the
skin.—Dr. Ed. Johnson.

            Indigestion and Sore Throat.
       (By  the Patient, aged between 40  and 50.)
   " I arrived at Graefenberg 15th of July, 1S42; my
complaint, as described by my physician, being 'bad
digestion and sore throat.'
   "I have always been subject to irritation of the
throat, more  or  less, from a boy;  within the last
eight years, it has troubled me  more, and given
either real or fancied cause of uneasiness.
   " For  years, previous to 1835, I was subject to
boils, which gave  me much pain and annoyance.
Up to this period,  my throat  gave me little or no
trouble ; was generally, though relaxed, free from
phlegm.   The end of 1S35, I began  an aperient
pill;  I took one, generally, daily till 1842, up to the
time of  my coming here.   Soon  after I began to
take this pill, the boils ceased, and my throat gradu-
ally grew worse; though 1 felt  more comfortable in
my digestion, my throat got worse—more and more
troublesome.
   "For  nearly twenty years I had constantly taken
wine and spirits freely.  When I came here I was
much more corpulent than I am now; and my whole
system seemed deranged.  I was nervous, and like
a barometer.   I could  not venture, after exercise, 
V
                OR WATER-CURE.              77

into a church, or  into any large cold building, for
fear of taking cold, which I almost invariably did,
and this always affected my throat; sometimes laid
me up for a week in my bed-room.  I attribute this
sensitiveness  to having taken,  seven years ago, a
quantity of mercury,  which has  come out here,
making  my  mouth sore, and affecting my breath
strongly  occasionally.   This,  I believe, has  now
ceased.   I am less sensible now to changes of tem-
perature.  For  years I  have been unable to take
walking exercise in a week, equal to that which I
can now take in a day.   Previously to coming here
I always rode everywhere.  I had pains in the stom-
ach  and in the feet, with redness in the hands and
knuckles, and in the legs:  in all these there is now
no pain, having had crisis in them.  The arms are
still painful, but I have had no boils or crisis in them
vet.   My digestion is better, my throat is better, and
progressively improving.  I have no pain.
   " Treatment, commenced July 16,1842: Tbefirst
five weeks, lein-tuch, at 5 in the morning, one hqur;
then, abgeschreckte (tepid) bath, 13° Reaumur, 3
minutes;  an umschlag round the body;  then walk
an hour;  then  breakfast; at 11,  abreibung; then
wait a quarter of an hour;  then sitz-b,a,th a'quarter
of an hour; then a walk, then  dine.. The same at
4 p. M.; got better daily.
   " For six weeks, all the operations, as above, were
continued ; and the 'douche at 9 a. m. for 2 minutes,
which was gradually increased to 7 minutes, I took
regularly for six months, and during^ the winter.
   " The 9th week, in  adflitfbn  tocher sitz-bath, I
took the cold bath every morning;  tltpn, lein-tuch
one hour, tepid bath one minute^ cold bath  two
plunges, then  tepid  again  one  minute.   I  have 
78            FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

lately omitted the douche  and cold bath, in conse-
quence of having crises. When I was first enveloped
in the  wet sheet, a  strong sour smell, like  mellow
apples, proceeded from me,  and filled  the  room;
and was of so subtle a quality as to be with difficulty
washed out of the blankets.   I had  never experi-
enced  this odour before.  Priessnitz told me that it
must all come out, for I could never get  better till it
was  entirely removed.  This smell  has not been
perceptible the last three days.
  " I have daily, by order, taken 10 or 12 glasses
of water, 5 before breakfast,  the rest distributed at
intervals.  Before breakfast, much mucus has been
ejected from  the stomach, very  sour  and  bitter,
sometimes of a green color,  sometimes  yellow.  I
have still eructations of water before breakfast, but
not sour; and now and then a little froth and phlegm.
Upon the whole, I am quite satisfied, and consider
my coming  here providential ; for,  in England, I
could find no certain remedy for one thing that did
not cause inconvenience and disorder of some other
kind.
  "When I  showed Priessnitz my throat, he said,
' This  is  caused by your stomach, which must be
' set right before your throat will be better ; besides,
' your nervous system is all wrong;  but I  have hopes
' I can make a different man of you ; you must get
thinner, and then your digestion and throat will both
get better.' "
  He had pursued active treatment for ten months;
a duration that may appear surprising.   The throat
has been his  greatest trouble.  The mucous mem-
brane had long been diseased  ; and atone time the
uvula had become so elongated, that a portion  of it 
OR WATER-CURE.
79
was excised.  He might probably have desisted from
such a regular proceeding as he was still pursuing,
some time past; but his determination was to stay
at Graefenberg, under treatment, as long as a vestige
of complaint remained, so truly did he enjoy and es-
timate the great improvement which he had received.
The odour of which he speaks was connected, I have
no doubt, with  the gouty diathesis.  He had  ex-
perienced occasional gout.   He told me that, on his
first arrival,  he had  scarcely the feeling of energy to
cross the  road.  I  saw abundant proof of his ac-
quired activity; and he looked strong and well.—Sir
Charles  Scudamore.

                Urinary Fistula.

  A gentleman, aged 18, slight and rather delicate,
received  a severe contusion in the perinceum and
neighboring parts by a fall from a horse  ;  to which
was attributed the formation of a fistula,  and one of
a complicated nature, attended with much ulcera-
tion  and  very severe pain and inconvenience. The
surgeons  wished to operate,  but his father deter-
mined^ on taking him to Graefenberg.   Priessnitz
directed  an  abreibung twice a day, and umschlags
to the  affected parts.   In the progressive treatment
were used lein-tuchs, plunging bath, and douche;
and, at the  end of  a month, he obtained a perfect
cure.  The healing was complete.
  This case cannot fail to interest the surgical reader.
The symptoms  had been of an urgent  character;
the bladder  and rectum  being affected  with very
painful irritation;  and, at  the commencement of
the water-cure, the ulcerated parts appeared in a very
unhealthy condition.—Sir C. Scudamore. 
80           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

           Dyspepsia and Rheumatism.

  Herr Baumann,  a  huilder,  from Saxe Wiemar,
45 years of age, suffering under rheumatism, dys-
pepsia, nervous debility, and with a constitution, to
all appearance, quite broken.   The first crisis made
its appearance in the form of the usual eruption, and
he felt himself relieved.   Some tims after this, how-
ever,  he had another crisis, consisting of what are
called furunculi, or boils.  He now began to  mend
rapidly.   His dyspeptic  symptoms left him,  his
rheumatic pains ceased, his nervous debility gradu-
ally vanished, and his health  is  now  firm, strong
and good.
  Mr. J. B. S-----, a gentleman of Manchester,
came to Graefenberg in June  last.  I had  the his-
tory of the case from his own mouth. His case was
one of confirmed and obstinate dyspepsia of four
years' standing.  Being a man of property, he took
the advice  of the  most emineat  physicians, who,
having failed in relieving him, finally recommended
him to travel in a warmer climate.   In obedience to
advice he went to Rome.  Here he inproved a little
for a short  time, and then became again as  ill as he
was when he set out.
  While travelling on the continent he accidentally
made the acquaintance of a Captain Fuminelli, of
Venice, to whom he related his case, and the object
of his travel—a search after health.  The captain,
now the strongest  man in Venice, and who had
himself been  raised from a sickly condition to one
of high health, by the sole use of cold water, at once
strongly reommended him to repair to Graefenberg,
and  he came accordingly.  When he  arrived, his
symptoms were these—first, great general physical
debility,  so that he could not  walk even  a  small 
OR WATER-CURE.
81
distance without great fatigue and exhaustion.  He
was the subject of constant heartburn—his tongue
exceedingly foul—his appetite capracious—and his
stools invariably presented the appearance of little,
hard, stony balls.  He was perpetually annoyed by
sighing and gc^nng,  which he could not resist even
when  engaged  in  conversation—proofs of great
vital debility.  In addition to all this he had a con-
stant and severe pain in his left side.
  This was his condition for four  years.  These
were the symptoms which  had obstinately resisted
the  most judicious  medical treatment under the
ablest medical advice in England.   The first sen-
sible effects of the treatment were manifested in the
changed  appearance of the  alvine  evacuations.—
These became large, hard, dry, and solid, and their
expulsion  exceedingly  painful. For this he  was
ordered a  wet bandage around the body, covering
the whole abdomen and stomach.  In two days his
motions assumed a perfectly natural and healthy ap-
pearance.   He now made  rapid  progress.  His
tongue became cleaner, the pain in the side greatly
relieved, the heartburn left him, his appetite became
steady and good, his strength greatly increased, and
felt so well that he made up his mind to discontinue
the treatment  and go home.   He was not, however,
yet quite well, for as soon as he left off the treatment
his health  flagged, and he describes  his feelings as
resembling those of one who suddenly looses  some
long-continued cause of excitement.  He felt low,
depressed, and was obliged to resume his treatment.
After having undergone the treatment for some weeks
longer, however,  he entirely  recovered  both his
health and strength, and  could spend a whole day in
climbing the mountains, without suffering more fa- 
 82           FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,

 tigue than would necessarily be felt by a strong and
 healthy man.  He has now been in perfect health
 for four months, during the whole of which time he
 has entirely discontinued the treatment, with the
 exception of an ordinary cold bath every morning,
 He only remains  at Graefenberg on his wife's ac-
 count, who has also been undergoing the treatment,
 and whose  case he  has likewise  permitted me to
 publish.
   Mr. J. B. S.------'s crisis occurred about the
 eighth week after he commenced the treatment, in
 the form of a thick rash, which entirely covered his
 legs, thighs, and arms.   Immediately after  the ap-
 pearance of this eruption, the  pain in the side began
 to decrease, and with it the eruption also disappear-
 ed.  He declares to me that he cannot rememberthe
 time when he felt himself in such  good health  and
 strength as he is at this moment.—Dr. Ed. Johnson.

     Inflammation of the Stomach and Bowels.

   A fine, lively  boy, aged three years, in general
 well, yet subject to inflammation of the stomach and
 bowels.*
   He had an attack of inflammation of the stomach,
 accompanied by sickness, with strong fever and de-
 termination to the head.  In the evening, the child was
 placed in a  bath at 70° Fah., in which he remained
 20 minutes ; cold water was added as the  tempera-
 ture rose.  During this time, cold water was  poured
 from a tumbler on his head, repeated atintervals of
 a minute ;  and,  as  usual, his whole body was care-

  * In those dangerous attacks of enteritis, attended with obstruc-
b°n of the bowels and excruciating pain, under which the stomach
absolutely resists the introduction of all medicine, I should in future
have  recourse to certain water cure processes and treatment, in
preference to the ordinary method of practice. 
OR WATER-CURE.
83
fully rubbed.   He  was then taken out and placed
on the sofa, and covered with a sheet and blanket,
with the back of his head in cold water for ten min-
utes.  By this time, reaction had taken place, when
wet compresses were applied to the head and back
of the neck ; and the body, from under the arms to
the hips, was wrapped in a similar way.   He slept
quietly till three in  the morning, when the previous
symptoms having partially returned, the first treat-
ment was repeated ; after which the child was again
placed in bed,  where he slept till morning, and was
then quite well, and went out as usual.
  One month after this attack, he was taken ill in a
similar way, but with symptoms much more severe:
the fever running high, accompanied with  delirium.
The treatment was commenced by placing him suc-
cessively in nine wet sheets, from which the water
was but  slightly wrung out.  In  each of these he
remained about five minutes ;  towards the last, the
heat being diminished, he was allowed to remain ten
minutes.  The feet were cold ;  and, as long as they
remained so, the wet sheet was only  applied down
to the knees ;  meantime, the feet and legs were rub-
bed strongly with the hands.
  While the extreme heat continued, the wet sheet
was covered by a thick, dry one, instead of a blanket,
as is  usual.  After the application of the last wet
sheet, he was placed in a bath of 70°, where he re-
mained  nearly an  hour; the same process of rub-
bing and  pouring  water over the head being prac-
tised.  The first day, the same process was repeated
four times;  the duration of the bath  being  not  so
long when the fever was not so high.  During the
night, the wet sheet was changed almost every hour.
On the morning of the  second day, the child refused
           I  " 
84           FACTS IN  HYDROPATHY,

to go into the bath, calling out himself, at intervals,
for additional wet  sheets.  Orders were given that
his  inclination should be  complied with.  In the
course of the morning, the child himself desired that
he might be put into the bath, where he remained
till the heat under the arms and on the back of the
neck  was the same as the rest  of the body; this
equality  of temperature  being the general guide for
the duration of a bath.  It is worthy of remark, that
the more the fever was reduced, the more quiet the
little patient became,  till at last he remained in the
bath perfectly tranquil.  The same treatment, slight-
ly varied, was continued four days, when the child
was well, and was sent out to play with the other  j
children.  In eight  days after this, a pustule  ap-
peared on the foot, containing matter, which dis-
charged freely.
  Observation.—This case  might probably have
passed into continued infantile fever, had it not been
in this manner promptly and successfully treated.
When fever runs very high, as shown by the burning
skin,  delirium, and  other  symptoms, it is a good
modification  of the use  of the lein-tuch to cover it
with a dry sheet, instead of the blanket and packing
up in the usual manner.—Sir Charles Scudamore.

              Asthma and Hernia.

  A  female  servant, aged  35, had suffered from
difficulty of  breathing  during the  last five or six
years, in consequence of an acute attack of bron-
chitis, which she underwent in India ; was unable
to ascend a hill or to  make  any extraordinary con-
tinued exertion  without much distress.   She  has
also,  during  the last  few years, whilst residing in
India, suffered from severe affections of the  bowels. 
OR WATER-CURE.
85
One of these, the last, occurred in August, 1842, and
was very severe, and attended with  symptoms  of
much inflammation, for which she was leeched and
blistered.   She  recovered but slowly from this  at-
tack, and  it was shortly followed by psoas abscess,
which  pointed below  Poupart's  ligament, (in the
groin,) and was opened.  Towards the end of Sep-
tember, she was obliged  to travel with her master
and mistress on the way to Bombay, but was con-
veyed in a palanquin.  During her stay in Bombay
in November, whilst still very weak, she was ex-
posed, in  a tent, to wet feet during an entire day, in
the discharge of her duties, and caught cold, which
brought on, as she states, inflammation of the bowels;
and being also at this  time much occupied in the
care of children, one an infant, and in tbe packing
and lifting of trunks, her hernia (femoral) occurred
at this time, on the same side  on which the abscess
had been  shortly before.  She continued in delicate
health till  her  arrival  in Malta, where she sought
medical advice for the first time since the occurrence
of the hernia in the end of February.  She left her
service  early in March,  being unable to carry the
children,  and went to Graefenberg to place herself
under the treatment of Priessnitz.  She  was very
asthmatic at this time.
   He commenced her treatment  the first week in
April, ordering her a lein-tuch every morning,  to be
succeeded by an abreibung, and this followed by a
sitz-bath; the abreibung and sitz-bath to be repeated
at 12 o'clock, and the lein-tuch, abreibung and sitz-
bath, at 4 p. m. every day;  to wear a wet bandage,
night and day, round her loins,  and to wear a truss
upon the  situation of the hernia, which was not to
be removed night or day. 
86
FACTS IN HYDROPATHY,
  After having been a  month under the fore men-
tioned treatment, she complained of very severe pain
in the  region of the bowels; upon being informed
of which, Priessnitz directed that she should have an
abreibung every ten minutes until she should obtain
relief, and to walk up and down the room wrapped
in a dry blanket between  each.  Every abreibung
relieved her ; and when she had taken six, she be-
came quite comfortable.
  In the course of the treatment, the catamenia oc-
curring, apprehension was entertained of the prob-
able injury from continuing the treatment;  in con-
sequence of which, the advice of Priessnitz was
sought, and he directed  that there should not be
allowed any interruption.   The effect was complete
relief from the distressing pains habitually attending
the performance of this function, the quantity of the
discharge was much increased, but did not continue
longer than  the usual time, and no weakness was
experienced.  Upon  the  return of the periodical
function, the same relief from pain was experienced,
the quantity was not excessive, the interval was
nearer to  the  natural period than  usual,  and the
discharge did  not continue.  She now enjoys good
general health and strength (May  24th,) and no
longer suffers from asthma.  Her hernia also she
considers decidedly better; the truss is still worn;
but she has not noticed, as formerly, any tendency to
the descent of the bowels.—Sir Charles Scudamore.

          Rules for Diet and Digestion.

  The following rules are drawn from Dr. Beau-
mont's well  known Observations and Experiments,
perseveringly  made upon a healthy young  man,
whose stomach was exposed by a wound which heal- 
OR WATER-CURE.
87
ed, leaving an  external opening.   The rules are
valuable for all, whether sick or well.
   1. " Bulk is nearly as necessary to the articles of
diet as the nutrient principle.  They  should be so
managed that one will be in proportion to the other.
Too highly nutritive diet is probably as fatal to life and
health as that which is insufficient in nourishment."
   2. The more plain and simple the preparation of
food, and the less of seasonings of any  kind, the
better for health.  " Stimulating condiments," (salt,
pepper, vinegar, mustard, &c.,)  " instead of being
used with impunity, are actually prejudicial to the
healthy stomach.   " Though they  may assist the
action of a debilitated stomach for a time, their con-
tinued use never fails to produce an indirect debility
of that  organ.   They affect it as alcohol or other
stimulants do—the present relief afforded is at the
expense of future suffering."
   3. Thorough  mastication and slow  swallowing
are of great importance.
   4.  A due quantity of food is of the utmost impor-
tance.   " There is no subject of dietetic economy,"
says Dr. B., " about which people are  so mueh in
error as that which relates to quantity." "Dyspepsia
is oftener the efcct  of overeating and overdrinking
than any cause.''''
   5. Solid food, if properly masticated, is more easy
of digestion than soups and broths.
   6. "Butter, fat meat, and all oily substances, being
always hard of digestion, tending to derangement
of the stomach, are better omitted.
   7. Alcoholic liquors of every form, the various
stimulating condiments, as mustard, pepper, spice,
&c; tea coffee, and narcotics of ever  kind, all tend
to debility, derangement, and disease of the stomach,
and, through it, of tbe whole system.      i 
88
FACTS  IN  HYDROPATHY,
  8. Simple pure water is the only fluid necessary
for drink, or for the wants of the system.  The arti-
ficial drinks are all more or less injurious.  " Tea
and coffee," says Dr. B., " the common beverages
of all classes of people, have a tendency to debilitate
the digestive organs.  Let any  one who is in the
habit of driaking either of these articles in a weak
decoction, take two or three cups, made very strong,
and he will soon be aware of their injurious tenden-
cy ; and this is only an addition to the strength of the
narcotic which he is in the constant habit of using."
   9. Violent exercise very soon after a full meal is
injurious, but  gentle exercise promotes digestion.—
Sleep soon after a meal is better avoided.
   10.  Strong mental exercise, and emotions of the
mind, as grief, anger, fear, &c, particularly with a
full stomach, tend to  impair digestion.

            Remarks on  Consumption.

   The foundation of this most formidable disease
is usually  laid before birth.   It is admitted on  all
hands that it is seldom cured.   There are,  however,
exceptions to this rule.   Just as ulcers heal in any
part of the body, so they sometimes do in the lungs.
As yet, comparatively but little has been attempted
in the treatment of this disease by means  of water-
cure.   Priessnitz has had all that he could do with
more  favorable cases than those  in  consumption.
To a person in an advanced stage of this disease he
would  say something to  this effect, " You cannot
expect to be cured by any means ; but by the proper
use of water,  with suitable attention to air, exercise,
clothing and  diet, you can be much benefitted.—
Your life can be prolongued, and rendered more
 comfortable." 
OR WATER-CURE.
89
  Dr. Billing, senior physician to the London Hos-
pital, a man of experience second to few, if any, in
speaking of consumption, says, " some years ago, a
gentleman by the name of Stewart adopted a rational
mode of treatment, with which he had considerable
success ; but because he could not work miracles,
his plan was unjustly depreciated.  His  method
was entirely tonic, and especially the cautious use
of cold and  tepid  ablutions of the skin,  a modifica-
tion of cold bathing—a  remedy which  is  found so
universally  beneficial  in promoting the resolution
(cure) of strumous (scrofulous) tumors.''''
   " One thing of which I am convinced," says Dr.
B., " is, that the true principle of treating consump-
tion is to support the patient's  strength to the ut-
most."  This can best be done by water-cure.  All
will agree that the means nsed in the treatment by
water are very powerful to promote strength, if the
patient can bear such treatment.  But the treatment,
we  contend,  can be managed  with perfect safety,
even to the last hour of life ; and ivill always posi-
tively  do some  good, and  no harm,  when  rightly
used,  which is more than any  one can claim for
druo-s.  The action of drugs  is always doubtful, and
sometimes  dangerous, and  every dose, however
small, acts only by virtue of its power to produce
diseased action in the body.   Furthermore, the in-
dication of treatment is the same in all  cases of the
disease in question, and for all others  that are not
unfrequently mistaken for it; that is, to support the
strength to the greatest possible degree. It is true,
different cases always have different  symptoms, so
that the treatment must be varied accordingly; but
it is the rio-ht way to support the strength by all pos-
sible means, so that the system may be better able
to resist the disease. 
90
FACTS  IN  HYDROPATHY,
  In the early stages of this disease, much can be
done by way of preventing an increase of its symp-
toms.  All the daily and hourly'circumstances which
go to affect the health should be most scrupulously
attended to.   The strictest regularity and correct-
ness in meals, bathing, exercise in pure  air, sleep,
Sec. &c, if rigidly observed, will be found  to prove
highly salutary.   But all  this requires knowledge
possessed by few.  It is very common for persons in
this disease to be  greatly injured by the food they
take.   Even in the advanced stages of the  disease,
persons are told that  die they must, and that it mat-
ters little what kind of food they take.  It is not un-
common to find persons in the far advanced stages
of this disease indulging freely in the  use of rich
pastry,  and toast well saturated  with butter, one of
the worst dishes  that well persons even can take,
and all this is done because the patient  has a good
appetite, and because the stomach does not appear to
suffer.   The disease is concentrated  upon and
spends its violence in the lungs, so that the  stomach
cannot feel the injuries it receives; but the lungs
and whole body  suffer just as much from such im-
proprieties, as if the stomach or any other important
part was the  seat of disease.   In food, 10c must al-
ways make the weak part the standard of what  the
system can bear.
  In this disease, as  in all others, we believe it better
that the  patient take no  animal food, other than
preparations  of milk, or cream,  which is generally
better  and less feverish ;  and these, even,  in many
cases, it is believed,  are better omitted; for they  are
more feverish and exciting  than the mild  prerara-
tions of farinaceous food.
  In the more advanced stages of this  disease,  the 
OR WATER-CURE.
91
early morning sweats, which are so weakning, can
be  much mitigated, if not entirely prevented, by
judicious sponging, or wet cloth, rubbing the surface
of the body.  The hectic fever, which wears down
the  patient's strength, can also be much relieved.
By bandaging and the wet  sheets  to soothe, great
good can also be done to the last.
                 EXPLANATIONS.

  Sweating Blanket.—A mattress, or hard bed, is covered with
a number of woolen blankets, which are drawn and packed
one by one very closely about the body, so as to retain the
warmth.   Warm clothes are also piled upon  the patient if
necessary.  If the head be too hot, cooling bandages are to
be used upon it, particularly on the forehead  and temples.
When perspiration begins  to come out, drinking water is
good to assist it.  The person should then have good cool
air to breathe.  The body  must  be washed or rubbed with
wet cloths always after a sweat.  Those who are able take
the plunging  bath.  The wet sheet also sweats, if well ap-
plied and continued long enough.  This process is sometimes
earned to extremes.
  Lein-Tuch,  or Wet Sheet.—If the object  be  to reduce the
temperature, the wet sheet is changed as fast as  it becomes
warm, until the body is sufficiently cool.   If it is to soothe,
warm, or stimulate and sweat, it must be continued longer.
If the patient be already too cold, he must not be made more
so by the wet  sheet.   He should be made warm first.  The
sweatiri0- blanket is sometimes well used beforehand for this
object.
  The wet sheet to soothe, is to be applied, after being wrung
out as dry as possible, just  as the sweating blanket is; that
is enough warm blankets must be outside of the sheet to keep
in the heat, otherwise the effect might be very injurious, like
a damp bed; only when there is high fever and a raised tem-
perature  then we do not wrap around the warm blankets,
because the body is already too warm.
  The wet sheet is  made to produce directly opposite re-
sults.  " If it1S changed repeatedly as fast as the patient 
92
FACTS  IN HYDROPATHY,
becomes warm,  as in  cases  of  high fever,  almost any
amount of heat may be abstracted slowly and  gradually
from the body.  But if the patient remain half an hour, or
an hour, the most delicious sensation of warmth and a gentle
breathing perspiration are produced, while all pain and un-
easiness are removed, It produces all the soothing influences
upon the entire  system which are produced by a common
poultice on an inflamed surface.
  It will astonish,  beyond  measure, those who have never
seen the action of the wet sheet, to witness its great  power
to reduce fever, and to calm and  soothe  the body, and to
produce sleep.  Where patients have been for days and
nights deprived  of rest,  the  most soothing and refreshing
effect can be easily produced,  and sleep be obtained when
all other known means have failed.  It has been well said,
that if a person has had the misfortune to contemplate suicide,
the application of the wet  sheet will be  sure to change his
mind in half an hour.
  Bandages or Umschlags, for a great variety of purposes, are
are made to produce  precisely the same effects upon any
part of the body as the wet sheet upon the  whole body.
  The Douche.—This consists of a stream  of water of any
required size and height, and can be made to produce a most
powerful influence upon the system.   It should be used with
great  caution.  Priessnitz cures  dogs  of hydrophobia by
douching during the paroxysm, and  then  covering them to
sweat.  It  is  most excellent for the raving maniac and for
those in delirium tremens.
  Injections, or Clysters.—These, of pure water only, are very
useful in many cases.   Let those  who are obliged to take
cathartic medicine try water, and see which is best.
  Sitz, or Sitting Bath.—A small ordinary washing tub, 16 or
18 inches in diameter, is good enough for a bath of this kind.
The water is generally 2 or 3 to 5 inches deep.   During this
bath the body should not be exposed  to cold;  only the part
to be  exposed to the action of the water should be uncovered.
For headaches, giddiness, too much blood and  heat in the
head, for strengthening  the nerves, relieving flatulency, for
piles, haemorrhoids, and for strengthening the organs of di-
gestion, this kind of bath is  most excellent. Foot baths are
sometimes taken at the  same time.  This bath is continued
from a few minutes to two or three hours, as the case may be.
It should not be taken generally on a full stomach. 
OR  WATER CURE.
93
   Head Bath.—A cheap shallow wooden bowl is as good as
 any thing for this bath.  A groove may be rounded on one
i side for the neck.  The person can lie upon  a rug or quilt,
i spread upon the  floor, or nothing, as he pleases.   This butli
i is good for all kinds of pains in the head, inflammations in
 the eyes, deafness, loss of smell and  taste.  It is good also
 to prevent or drive away too much blood in the head.  For
, this it is only taken a few minutes.  The sides and back of
 the head are alternately placed in the water.  It may be taken
 a full hour for old chronic complaints.
   Half Bath.—This can be taken in any kind of vessel large
 enough for the purpose.  Much friction should be used while
 in the bath.  It can be taken  by those who are not  able to
 bear the full bath.
   Plunging Bath.—This is taken anywhere, if there is water
 enough to plunge in.  It is used more  frequently after sweat-
 ing.  In general it should be taken very quickly, so as not
 to become too much  chilled.  Many are not able at first to
 bear this bath.
   Jibreibtmg, or Ruhbing Wet Sheet.—A coarse sheet is slightly
 wrung out and thrown about the naked person, and the body
 rubbed briskly all over, 4 or 5  minutes, till there is a pleasant
 glow.  Then, with a dry coarse sheet or towels, the body is
 made dry.  This is a mild and very excellent bath.
                    Conclusion.

  This little collection of cases has not been made
with an idea of giving any thing like a complete view
of the water system.   It is believed,  however, that
such a work, in a cheap form, will be useful.  Those
who care to examine the subject more at large, are
referred to  a work entitled "Hydropathy, or the
Water-Cure."   The "Hand-Book of Hydropathy"
contains, also, a good view of the treatment. "Wa-
ter-Cure for Ladies" is a work highly spoken of. 
I  N D
E X.
PAGE.			PAGE.
Bulwer's Letter - •		Indigestion 14, 17, 19, 20	26,31
	84	[56, 61, 65	72,76
Apoplexy - - . - - 44,	47	Injections -	- 92
	68	Inflammation of Stomach	- on
	93	Do. Bowels	49,82
Breast, Swelling and inflam-		Liver Complaint - 26,	36,71
mation of	49	Lumbago	- 75
Bandages, or Umschlags	92	Lein-Tuch, or Wet-Sheet	■ 91
Conclusion	93	Mercurial Disease	43,58
Consumption, supposed, &c.	74		
Do. Remarks on	88	Nervous Debility 19, 22,	40, C9
Catarrh, or Cold	66	Nervous Indigestion -	- CI
Congestion of the Head -	44		
Constipation	56	Priessnitz's Rules for Gout 46,48	
Clysters ....	92	Plunging-Bath	- 93
Depression of Spirits -	72		
Dyspepsia	80	Rubbing Wet-Sheet -	- 93
Diet and Digestion, rules for	86	Rheumatism - - 58,	65, 80
Douche ....	92	Rules for Diet and Digestion 86	
Epilepsy	57	Sciatica -	75
		Suicidal Propensity Sitz, or Sitting<i?ath -	- 17
Fistula, Urinary	79		- 92
Fever, Scarlet	33	Stomach Complaint 26,	36,71
Do. Brain	28	Skin disease - 37, 39	41,71
Do. Nervous -	50	Sore Throat -	76
Do. Symptomatic -	54	Sycosis	- 41
Do. Bilious	58	Spitting of Blood	65
		Sweating Blanket	• 91
Gout - - 33, 46, 48, 58	67	Sleeplessness -	69
Hernia ....	84	Tic-Douloureux	36,71
Headache ....	8		
Hypochondriasis - 19, 23	63	Ulcer, with caries of bone	. 30
Hip-joint Disease	52	Umschlags	92
Head-Bath	92		
Half Bath -	93	Wet Sheet, or Lein-Tuch	- 91
 
 
      TO THE FRIENDS OF HYDROPATHY.

 We are glad to announce a work now preparing for the p

       And to be issued early in 1847,

                      ENTITLED

AMERICAN CASES OP WATER-CURE; WITH DETAILS
 OF TREATMENT; A DESCRIPTION OF THE PRINCI-
  PAL HYDROPATHIC  ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE
   UNITED STATES; NOTICES OP AMERICAN AND  '
     ENGLISH PUBLICATIONS ON THE SUBJECT,
                     &c. &c. &c.

  A selection of facts, judiciously made from the most important!
and interesting cases treated with water only, in this country, musd
be of the highest value to every physician and philanthropist.  The]
volume is intended to be of about the size of  Dr. Shew's largest'
work, and to be sold at as  low a price as possible, probably not;
over one dollar, in order to ensure a large circulation among gen-j
eral readers, as well as medical men.
  This work has our cordial approbation and co-operation, and will,
we hope, be promptly encouraged by all who wish to spread the]
virtues of Hydropathy.—[Water-Cure Journal, Nov. 15,1846.,


  THE  WATER-CURE  JOURNAL,

                   DEVOTED TO THE

    %         POPULAR  EXPLANATION

                          OF

HYDROPATHY,   OR  WATER-CURE.

                      INCLUDING
              *
BATHING, IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS, ATTENTION TO  DIET,
         DRINKS, AIR,  EXERCISE,  CLEANLINESS,
                  AND CLOTHING,

  AS AFFECTING  BODILY AND  MENTAL HEALTH,.


       ^OETsHlEw71vrL\  K^rTTT"
          F.  D.  PIERSON, M. D-, \hmLUi
Is puplished monthly at 47 Bond street, New-York, and
sale by Periodical Agents generally.

  Terms : One Copy, $1; Three Copies, to one address,]
Ten Copies, do., $5—payment in advance. 
 
 
JIM,  ; ? 1W
U<^-
Iv'Z
170



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