It is difficult to account for the fact that Hydropathy was practised at GrÄfenberg, 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 Water-cure, 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 GrÄfenberg, where it is carried out with safety and success by the immortal Priessnitz.

Though not a medical man, I seldom refused to administer aid when it was asked of me, and I have the satisfaction of knowing that no accident ever attended my operation; on the contrary, my humble endeavours, in every instance, were more or less crowned with success. I am bound, in candour, to say, that from members of the medical profession with whom I have had the honour of becoming acquainted, I have invariably met with the greatest courtesy.

The propagation of any novelty, however useful, is a work of time,—especially when, like Hydropathy, it attacks the deep-rooted prejudices of society, and is opposed to the interests of a host of individuals.

Hydropathy—unlike brandy and salt, mustard-seed, and many other chimeras with which its opponents wished to rank it—is not to be put down. During the short period of eight years, its principles have pervaded all society: we can hardly go into any society that we do not find its advocate. The upper classes drink more water and less wine; the poorer classes are beginning to bathe: for this purpose, baths and wash-houses are open or being erected in most of the metropolitan parishes—or, as it is expected they will pay their own expenses, it is to be hoped they will be provided for the poor in every parish in England.

Hydropathic establishments are now to be found in England, Ireland, and Scotland, and in America; and the practice of the Water-cure has penetrated to the Antipodes. Hardly a week elapses but some work appears on the subject. Messrs. Abdy’s “Diseases Cured by Cold Water;” Sir Eardley Wilmot’s “Tribute to the Water-cure;” Col. Dundas’ work, “To the Halt, Lame, and Lazy;” Mr. Lane’s “Life at the Watercure;” Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton’s “Confessions of a Water-drinker,” are amongst those of the non-medical productions.

The following is a list of medical men who have recorded their opinions in favour of Hydropathy:—Drs. Wilson, Gully, Johnson, Weiss, Marsden, Ellis, Baxter, Rischanek, Weeding, Feldmann, Lovell, Courtney, Heathcote, Balbirnie, Stummes, Paterson, King, Curteis, Hills, Preshaw, Gibbs, Macleod, Paisley, Smethurst, Barker, Laurie, Bushnell, Mayo, Weatherhead, Graham, Alexander, Freeman, Martin.

Notwithstanding Hydropathy has made its way in an extraordinary manner,—with the mass of evidence that has been produced in its favour, it is matter of surprise that it has not become even more general; for it is a remarkable fact, that, in this age for writing, whilst so many works, both in Germany, France, and England, have appeared in support of Hydropathy, I do not know one that has seriously attempted its refutation. It is true that, at its first introduction, some said my only object was to make money; others cavilled at the term Hydropathy, the absence of diphthong in the word GrÄfenberg, its want of novelty, the non-professional terms I made use of in my work, and similar trifles; but no one ever wrote a line to disprove the truth of the system, or demonstrate the uselessness or danger of the wet sheet, sitz-bath, or, indeed, any part of the treatment.

That it was my intention to make money by hydropathy is an allegation without a foundation; my object being completely philanthropic. Having gained my own health and saved the life of my daughter at GrÄfenberg, and having witnessed most astounding cures there, I wished to make generally known so valuable a remedy,—to do this by writing, lecturing, attending the sick, opening establishments, or any 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 GrÄfenberg, 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 “EncyclopÆdia,” endeavoured to prove, and no doubt did convince his readers, that no steam-boat could cross the Atlantic. Works may be read in the “BibliothÈque” 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 psychrolousian 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.”