Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1845-09-18

| hive been highly gratifiedi in learning, from time to
time, of the progress and success of similar establish
ments in Europe, and especially of the great original at t
Graefenberg, of which your readers have doubtless
heard, as well as of Priessnitz, its i~llustrious founder
However much we may feel it desirable to pattern
after the original, in this country, establishments of this
kind must partake more or less of the civil, social, in
~tellectual, moral and religious character and genius OF
our nation and government. There will be less OF ar
istocracy and more equality and freedom of thought
and action in our stablishments-which will be likely
to spring more rapidly into existence than those across
the Atlantic.
So far as | understand the views and intentions of
Mr.. David Campbell, who opened this establishment
last May, he has aimed more at the selection of the
best location, and to prepare the way for the future and
permanent well being of this establishment, than on any
immediate results. One of the first and most impor-
tant questions to settle, in the location of such an es-
Establishment, is, can water be obtained in sufficient
q~u1ntties AMI ola suitable temperature and sottness?-
The purity of the water is of great moment, especially
when it is to be used on an extensive scale both inter-
nally and externally.
1t is now pretty generally admitted by medical men,
that impure water tends, more Or less, to produce GER
tain forms of disease, and consequently can be but
poorly calculated to rcm0ue disease. Since | have been
here on a visit ola few weeks, a learned professor from
one of our western colleges has also been here for a
short course of treatment. He seems well acquainted
with the geological character of our country, Geology
and chemistry being in his professional department
and says there could be little inducement to look be-
yond the Hudson for the location of a water cure cs-
tablislment,as the limestone formation prevails through
out the western part of our country. Consequently,
a sufficient quantity of soft water could rarely, if ever,
be found in that region for such a purpose. East of
the Hudson, the rock formation is vastly different. The
mountains from whence the water is mostly obtained
for this establishment is three fourths of a mile distant,
and Is composed of the slate and mica slate and talco
! slate formations, with more or less of flint and quartz.
Consequently the water, on being Analysed, was found
to be perfectly pure and free from lime Or other impu-
$ rites. This water Mr.. Campbell has, at great expense,
2 brought to his house by means of an a%queduct, to sup
{ ply the various baths. A very cold spring has been
discovered about $50 rods distant from the establish
l ment, where there is an abundance of water of the very
best quality. This spring has been improved for dou-
> che, shower, and plunge baths, and has this decided adj
vantage over enc nearer by, as the patient, in walking
, to and from these baths, will get up a healthy action in
the system, which is very necessary in order to derive
l from it its desired effect.
5 The temperature of this spring is 46 deg. Fab. al
most as cold as i%ce-water. There is also another ex
s cellent douche, where the water falls from a mountain
5 stream about Is feet and could be made to fall almos
e any height. This douche is in a beautiful, wild, anC
e romantic glen, about thirty rods from the house.
Il Besides these cold springs already mentioned, Mr.
u Campbell has his apparatus so constructed that he car
" furnish his baths, whenever it is desirable, with the tep
id water, for which this place has so long been celebrat
d ed. This, in certain cases, is preferable to cold water
and is found to be of the temperature Of Y deg. at al
ii times, summer and winter. The scenery here is plea
SAINT and delightful; such as is well calculated to rende
this establishment an agreeable and pleasant home 70
8 the invalid. and nothing seems wanting on tho part o
c Mr.. and Mrs. Campbell to make the patients ~contentet
and happy. Their table is furnished with an album
d dance of the best of vegetables and fruits. A goodl
y number of inyalids have already enjoyed the health-re
u storing influence of the water treatment here, and have
II returned to their homes rejoicing in the blessing o
health and enjoyment. When the superior facilities o
this establishment are sufficiently known-such as thu
y abundance, purity and temperature Of the water--it
y central location-being but one hours ride from thu
Boston and Albany, the Hudson and lIousatonic raj
Il roads, the superiority of the diet over that of other wa
tor-cure establishments, together with the beauty o
G the scenery around-thare is some reason, at least, tt
It predict, that this VOlnU establishment will pvpnt1a11I
d become to America, what Priessnitzs establishment at
Graefenborg, is to Germany. Preparations are making
u for rendering the water treatment here comfortable ant
profitable to the patients during the coming winter
) access will be had to the large bathing house furnish
y ed with the water naturally tepid, for such cases where
c colder water is not required.
+ Yours for humanity,
HENRY II. BROWN.
J