Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-11-20
Confessions Of a Mater-Patient.

proceeds.
And now, Mr. Editor may be pardoned trust,
II illustrate by my own case, the system I com
mend to others.
! have been workman in my day began 10
write, and 10 toll, and 10 win some kind of name
which had the ambition to improve, while yet lii.
lie more than boy. With strong love for study
in books-with yet greater desire to accomplish
myself in the knowledge Of men, for sixteen years
can conceive no life TO have been more filed by oc-
cupation than mine. What time was not given 10
the action was given to study what time not Civ
en- to study, 10 action--labor in bothl 10 con-
siitution naturally far from strong allowed no
pause respite The wear and tear went on with
out intermission--the whirl Of the wheel never
ceased. Sometimes, indeed, thoroughly overpow-
cred and exhausted, sought for escape. The ply
sicians said Travel and travelled. Go into the
country and went But in such attempts at re-
pose, all my ailments gathered round me-made
themselves far more palpable aud felt had no
source but to fly from myself-to fly into the other
world of books, or thought, reverie-to live in
some state Of being less painful than my own. As
long as was always at work II seemed that had
no leisure TO be ILL., Quiet was always my hell
AT length the frame thus long neglected-patch-
ed up for while by drugs aud doctors--put or aud
trifled with as an intrusive dun--like dun who is
in his rghts-bronght in its misunderstanding aud
terrible, accumulated through long years. Worn
out and wasted, the constitution seemed wholly in-
adequate to meet the demand The exhaustion OF
toll and study had been completed by great anxiety
and grief | had watched with alternate hope aud
fear the lingering aud 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, SEEM
ed scarcely 10 live myself
At this time, about the January Of 1874, | was
thoroughly shattered. The least attempt at exer-
else exhausted me. The nerves gave way at the
most ordinary excitement--a chronic irritation Of
that vast surface we call the mucous membrane
which had defed for years all medical SKILL render
cd me continually liable 10 acute attacks, which
from their repetition and the increased feebleness Of
my frame, might at any time be fatal. Though
free from any organic disease Of the heart, its
ton was morbidly restless and painful. My sleep
was without refreshment. At morning rose more
weary than laid down to rest.
Without fatiguing you and your readers further
with the L0nga eOhors Of my complaints pass on 10
record my struggle to resist them. have always
had great belief in the power of Will. What a
man determines to do--that in ninety-nIne cases
out Of the hundred hold that he succeeds in do
ing. | determined to have some insight into a
knowledge had never attained since manhood
the knowledge of health
resolutey put away books and study, sought
the airs which the physicians esteemed most health
the children Of Esculspus wisely insist. In
short. 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 my strength would allow, OF exercise,
as found afterwards instituted at hydropathic es,
tablishments. | dwell on this 10 iorestall in some
manner the common remark of persons no, well
acquainted with the medical agencies OF water
that it is to the regular life which water-paiients
lead, and not TO the element itself that they owe
their recovery Nevertheless found that these
changes however salutary in theory, produced lit
tie IL any practical ameoration in my health. All
nyalids know, perhaps, how difficult, under ordi-
nary circumstances, is the alteration Of habits from
bad to good. The early rising, the walk before
breakfast, so delicious in the feelings Of freshness
and vigour which they bestow upon the strong Oft
en- become punishments to the vaetudinarian.
Headache, languor, sense of WEAKNESS over the
eyes, sinking Of the whole system towards noon,
which seemed impeTousy TO demand the danger
Gus aid Of stimulants all that obtained by
the morning breeze and the languId stroll by the sea
shore The suspension from study only afflicted
me with intoleroble epnHi, and added to the pro-
found detection Of the spirits. The brain, long
accustomed 10 morbid activity, was but withdrawn
from its usual occupations to invent horrors aud
chimeras. Over the pillow, yainly sought two
hours before midnight, lowered no golden Sleep
The absence of excitement, however unhealthy
only aggravated the symptoms ofill-health.
II was at this time that met by chance, in the
library at ST. Leonard's, with Captain Claridge's
work on the Water Cure as praclised by Preis-
nitz, at Graaienberg. Making allowance for cer-
tain exaggerations therein, which appeared evident
to my common sense, enough still remained not
only to captiyaie the imagination and flatier the
hopes Of an invalid but 10 appeal with favour to his
sober Judgment. Till then, perfectly ignorant OF
the subject and the system except by some such
vague stories and good jesis as had reached my
ears in Germany, resolved at least to read what
more could be said in favour Of the drision udor,
and examine dspasslonately into its merits as
medicament. was then under the advice OF one
of the first physicians Of our age. had consulted
half the faculty. had every reason to be grateful
for the attention, and to be confident in the skill,
of those whose prescriptions had, from time TO time
lattered my hopes and enriched the chemist. But
the truth must he spoken--iar from being better,
was sinking fast. Little remained TO me to try in
the great volume OF the herbal. Seek what would
next, even il a quackery, it certainly might expe-
dite my grave, but il could scarcely render life
at least the external lile-more unjoyous. Accor-
dinghy ! examined, with such grave thought as a
sick man brings to bear upon his case all the
grounds upon which to justify to myself-an excur-
sion to the SHOWS of Silesia. But own that in
proportion as | found my faith in the system
strengthen, shrunk from the terrors of this long
Journey TO the rugged region in which the proba-
BILE lodging would be laborer's cottage, . and in
which the Babel Of hundred languages ESQ agree
Let me not dspaage the fountain head of the water.
cure, the parent institution ofthe great Presntz believe
many the earlier hardships complained Of at Graanbeg
have been removed amended and such remain
doubt well compensated by the vast experiences and ex
aodinsry tact ola man who will rank hereafter amongst
the most lustrious dscoyereTs who have benefited
| the human