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PREFACE
IT is difficult to account for the fact that Hydropathy was practised at Grafenberg, and at many other establishments in Germany, and that books on that subject were published in that country, twenty years before it was known in England. Most works treat upon some familiar subject, and are supported or opposed ; but my book on the Watercure, from its great novelty, placed me in almost as isolated a position at the time, as the publication of Bruce's Travels did their author. A gentleman who had been at an establishment in Germany, and who afterwards wrote in favour of the cure, on seeing the review of my work in the Times, addressed me a letter wishing me every success, and saying "that I had put my hand into a hornet's nest: that I had that day made a hundred thousand enemies." These fears, I am happy to say, have not been realised: at least, as far as I know. The leading papers reviewed my work favourably; my lectures in England, Ireland, and Scotland, met with serious attention; and baths and wash- houses resulted from a lecture I gave in Edinburgh. I have found numbers of persons willing to give the system a trial ; but unfortunately, few could spare time to go to Grafenberg, where it is carried out with safety and success by the immortal Priessnitz. other means in my power, my exertions have been unceasing. I may therefore be permitted to repeat, my motives have been disinterested, as, thanks to Providence, I am perfectly independent in circumstances. The promotion of hydropathy has always been attended with expense to me a sacrifice which I am still willing to make for its advancement. We claim nothing for hydropathy on the score of novelty, because it is well known that in India the natives understand the use of cold water in curing fevers, wounds, bruises, etc.; in all probability it has been their panacea for all diseases since the time of Noah. A hundred years ago, Dr. Sir John Floyer, in a work he published, stated that he frequently saw people with cutaneous eruptions go to a spring in his neighbourhood, dip their shirts in it, wring them out, put them on, and walk away. He inquired, and never found any harm to result from thus wearing wet linen. The Russians, from time immemorial, have gone into snow in a state of perspiration. What we claim for Priessnitz' system is, a systematic mode of manipulating; a cautious, modified plan 'of operations, by which no risk is incurred, and more good produced than can be accomplished by any other means known to the medical profession. Hydropathy would doubtless have taken a much larger extension, had the trouble attending the treatment been less, and its practitioners more competent. It has always been matter of regret that Mr. Priessnitz has no successor, and that he has not himself published something on the subject of the Water-cure. To supply this desideratum, when last at Grafenberg, where I stayed twelve months, I proposed to Mr. Priessnitz that he should furnish me the matter, and that I should publish it; to this he consented, and gave me verbally his opinion of the treatment to be followed in the various cases as they occurred. The following pages are my humble endeavours to place before the public the results of our conversations as a familiar guide to the Water-cure for men and animals. The greatest enemies to hydropathy its most violent opponents are those who know nothing whatever about it; who have never seen it practised as it ought to be, or made reasonable inquiry into the subject. This is what every science has had to encounter. When Lord Spencer, many years ago, was in the habit of stating his belief that steam and gas might be made available to useful purposes, he was considered a madman, and would-be-wise people declared that what he said on the subject was absurd. Dr. Lardner, in his "Encyclopaedia," endeavoured to prove, and no doubt did convince his readers, that no steam-boat could cross the Atlantic. Works may be read in the "Bibliotheque" in Paris, written by medical men on the introduction of the potato into France, to shew that fevers which raged at that time in the capital arose from the use of that vegetable. Thus, it will be seen, speculative opinions are but of little value we want facts; and unless we are prepared to discredit the evidence of the many respectable professional men, and others, whose names are here given, the value of hydropathy must be admitted. The learned and talented Dr. Forbes, editor of the "British and Foreign Medical Review," says : "The practice of the Hydropathists is so open, and their disciples so numerous, that the innocence of their proceedings may be said to be established by the absence of evidence to the contrary. We cannot enter any circle of society without encountering some follower of this method, ready to narrate a series of psuchrolousian miracles, prepared to defend and zealous to applaud the Priessnitzian practice. Judgment must, therefore, be entered by default against its opponents, and Hydropathy is entitled to the verdict of harmlessness, since cause has never been shewn to the contrary." CONTENTS Preface Hydropathy, Etc., Etc. I. Vincent Priessnitz II. Hydropathy III. What does Hydropathic Treatment Effect? IV. How are the Effects Described in the Last Chapter Produced? V. Is Hydropathy a Panacea? And What Complaints are Curable by it? VI. Is Hydropathy New? Why is it not Generally Adopted? VII. The Lancet VIII. Authorities in Support of Water as a Curative Agent IX. Ablutions X. Use of Cold Water for Drinking and Injections XI. The Cold Bath XII. Is Going into the Cold Bath in a State of Perspiration Attended with Danger? XIII. The Packing Sheet, and Sweating Process XIV. Sweating Process XV. The Rubbing Sheet, or Abreibung XVI. The Douche Bath XVII. The Shower Baths XVIII. The Sitz or Sitting Bath XIX. The Eye Bath XX. Head Bath XXI. Finger and Elbow Baths XXII. Leg Bath XXIII. Foot Bath XXIV. The Tepid , or Abgeschrecte Bath XXV. Bandages, or Umschlags XXVI. Diet XXVII. Clothing, Air Baths, Wearing Stays, etc. XXVIII. Drugs XXIX. Assimilation XXX. The Crisis XXXI. Dropsy XXXII. Smoking Observations XXXIII. Questions Put to Mr. Priessnitz, and His Answers Treatment and Cases XXXIV. Gout XXXV. Rheumatism, etc. XXXVI. Tic-DoLoureux. XXXVII. Affection of the Throat and Pain at the Chest XXXVIII. Fevers XXXIX. Congestion of the Lungs XL. Inflammations XLI. Gripes, Cholic, Diarrhea, English Cholera, or Cholera Morbus XLII. Consumption XLIII. Cramps XLIV. Asthma XLV. Surgical Operations, Accidents, etc. XLVI. Small Pox, Measles, Hooping Cough, Croup, Scarlatina, Colds, Shivering, etc. XLVII. Sore Mouth, Inflamed Gums XLVIII. Tooth-ache, Preservation of the Teeth, etc. XLIX. Watery or Inlamed Eyes L. Deafness LI. Ear-ache LII. Ringworm, Itch, etc. LIII. Psoriasis LIV. Fistula LV. Hemorrhage, Irregular Menstruation, Pains in the Womb, etc. LVI. Change of Life in Females LVII. Treatment of Ladies LVIII. Giddiness, Dizziness, etc. LIX. Head-aches LX. Acute Inflammation in the Head, Chest, and Abdomen LXI. Chilblains LXII. Cold Feet LXIII. Cold Hands and Whitlow LXIV. Bunnion and Enlarged Glands of Foot and Instep LXV. Depression of Spirits, Head-ache, etc. LXVI. Deafness LXVII. Hernia and Constipation LXVIII. Liver Complaint, Congestion of Blood in the Head, Enlarged Vein in the Leg LXIX. Deformity LXX. Soinal Complaints LXXI. Constipation LXXII. Indigestion LXXIII. Stomach Complaint LXXIV. Throwing Food off the Stomach LXXV. Heartburn LXXVI. Sea Sickness LXXVII. Palpitation of the Heart LXXVIII. Want of Sleep LXXIX. Languid Circulation LXXX. Ring Worm LXXXI. Hands Frost-bitten or Suffering from a Boil LXXXII. Weak Eyes and Eruption on the Head LXXXIII. Weak Ankles LXXXIV. Treatment of Infants LXXXV. Epilepsy LXXXVI. Hypochondria and Hysteria LXXXVII. Foetid Perspiration of the Feet LXXXVIII. Stricture LXXXIX. Inflammation of the Kidneys and Urethra XC. Hydrocephalus XCI. Syphilis XCII. Chancre XCIII. Gonorrhea and Chancres XCIV. Scrofula and Vaccination XCV. Piles XCVI. Rupture XCVII. Chilblains XCVIII. Cold Feet XCIX. Eruption, Scabs, and Sores on the Arms C. Consumption CI. Insanity CII. Cholera CIII. Colds, Sore Throats, etc. CIV. Cancer, etc. Hydropathy For Animals End of Preview.
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