Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1846-04-16
S CIEN TIF nc.
Water CurG~hOw il is applied
Correspondence Of the Lynn Pioneer.
STANsTEADBURY House,
Herelordsbiro, Eng, Jan. IA, l846. s

STANsTEADBURY House, }
Herelordsbire, Eng. Jan. Id, 1916.
write you again concerning the Stanstead-
bury House Water-Cure Establishment to give
you some idea of what this water-cure is, and
how it is applied 1t not, as | have said be-
fore, and what many suppose it to be, the mere
drinking of vast quantities of water, and sous
ing the body every now and thcn--on the con-
trary, as applied here by Dir. Johnson, (who is a
graduate from Graefenberg, and one of the best
medical men in Engand) it is one of the most
beautiful and complete systems you can con-
ceye of Hydropathy, under such administration
is no guess work, but profound science.
When patient presents himself for treatment
the first thing is to examine carefully into the
present state Of his health, and the causes which
led to it,-and there are as many different modes
of treatment as there are subjects for it. For
instance, if he be too pethoric, so as to need
reducing, what is so eiIectua to this end as the
sweating blanket and vapor bath in conjunction
with exercise and simple diet The most full
blooded corporation which John Bull ever got
up by the Joint aid of roast beef, plumb-pudding
and beer, may be reduced in this way to every
proper man" and his equity legs, which, before
had been worse than useless, will accomplish
ten miles day with case, On the other hand,
if the patients system has wasted away before
the progress of disease, aggravated by improper
treatment, how can you devise more efectual
plan for inygorating and strengthening the sys-
TEN than is afforded by this same blessed cold
water? In such case the dripping sheet, the
different kind of cold baths, the plunge especial
". the douches, &c. with full diet and moderate
exercise, do the needfu thing at once, and he
who but now was poor nervous invalid who
could but Just drag his slow length along, is
vigorous and robust man, walking off as briskIy
as young child running from dose Of physic.
If patient be afflicted with acute disease, re-
curing active treatment, the allopathists bleed,
purge and blister him, and in thus aboring to
remove the disorder, at best, succeed only in
changing its location; but The hydropothist has
only to use the wet sheet in some of its innu-
merable forms, and presto, the pulse is lowered
to any desirable point, and the pain removed at
once Is patient remarkably eXcitable, so that
the least noise affects him panfully-nstead of
administering opium, valerian, or any Of the
host of narcotics and anti-spasmodics, which
soothe but to destroy, tone dose making way for
another still larger, and 50 on, till death closes
the melancholy drama,) you again have sure
remedy in cold water; for nothing has been dis
covered from the days of HiPpocrates down to
the present time, containing hundredth part of
the sedatiye powers of simple cold water. Comes
there patient with palsied limbs which for
months have refused allegiance to their owner
by means of baths, wet bandages, dashes at
life with free pump" cold water injections,
&c his limbs soon return to their former habits
of activity and obedience. and like him of old,
he is enabled to take up his bed and walk.
Again, if the applicant be afflicted with that
worst of chronic ills to which flesh is heir to-
constipation of the bowes-instead of poison
ing him with calomel, and jaleps, and aloetics,
and colocynths, and sennas, only make him a
subject of the hydropathic trinity, cold water,
exercise and plain diet, and the unhappy invalid
shall soon find his whole system instinct with
health and enjoyment. In short there are but
few diseases in the whole catalogue, but will
find great, and generally immediate relief from
cold water, if it be skillfully applied. Some Of
the collateral parts of the hydropathic system,
are early rising, early retiring, and plain food
In all well regulated establishments these things
are insisted upon-and have sometimes tho't
are more effectual than the water itself Strong
tea and COTE, and all Notwithstanding and
chewing tobacco drinking intoxicating liquors,
and all such habits, are strictly prohibited.
And this is no dream of fancy, but sober dem
onstrated truth. You know have long had a
sort of pcnchant for the water cure, and had
great faith in its capabilities Yet soberly de-
clare to you that my observation and experience
here 90 immeasurably beyond any thing | had
conceived Of ] have been for the last eight
days undergoing the different kinds Of treatment,
being anxious to know in my own person the
exact modus opermadi. In this time have had
seven wet sheets Coolest kindly twenty-one wash
downs, any number of sitz-baths, (sittingin four
inches of cold water twenty minutes each tme)
one dripping sheet, "a sheet dipped into cold
water and thrown on to the shoulders, the pa
tent being rubbed thereafter for FIVE minutes
with coarse dry towels) one 'apor bath, one
plunge bath, consisting Of dive into a clstern
of cold water which is constantly fresh from the
spring. one sweating blanket, and one douche !
Perhaps you would like to know how stand all
this I'll tell you. When came here could
not walk with any comfort on account of the
rheumatism Yesterday walked five miles, and
could have walked five more with ease.
T - - not ho inferred from this that there !,