The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-10-04
Herald Foreign Correspondence.


thor Of a-Funny Scene.
1t is certainly true saying that every Jack has his
Gill; and that the extremes always finally meet, mat
ter how apart might their starting place.
although Is rather doubtful whether the genius Of the
genial Tom Moore" while revealing with the story Of
the Fire worshpeers Of the East had the least pre-
sentiment that to be reserved for later bards to
sing the gores Of the "watsr worshppsrs of the West"
True Is that water is worshipped in sesia
once upon time fire in Persia; and although it n quite
probable that the cooling properties Of the liquid ee
ment less calculated to produce mania than the r
rtaon Of the flames it is nevertheless soemnly true
that either cold water of the seven devils that
cold water has not succeeded in casting out
portion Of the patients in Graenberg partially crazy
As 1t Is hardly probable that many your readers in
the United States familiar with the aodus operandi
Of the celebrated may be amiss to give
general outline Of the treatment that here termed
taking the cure"
We will first devote few lines to its great originator
oras he Is here termed the already erect
ed to his memory, "the immortal Priesnitzn He was
born humble peasant and the condition of this op
pressed class In Sess scarcely be conveyed to an
American ear by any other than that Of serf In
lived those his class usually do, until about his
twentieth year At this period, serious accident han
pened to him in the poughaeld by which he had seve-
raj limbs broken, and otherwise much injured The
physicians who called In declared him past assist
times wounds on himself and animals by the sim
pie application of bandages saturated with cold water
and he now determined to have them applied large
scale, as death was his doom, and he could
fear Having succeeded in replacing his ribs by power
full efforts of nhslston into the lungs he continued the
bandages with the most gratifying results and few
weeks found him perfectly restored This miracle was
nosed about the nsghborhood many of the
succeeded in all he undertook This success led him to
further investigations and extensive experiments
| of system, the groundwork Of which seemed to be
given to him by instinct To leap from the past the
which he formerly abored now the site of the village
Of Grafenberg exclusively inhabited by his patients
subjected to his will as their earthly prince patients
number ct the present moment, about eight hundred
and the lists Of the oure-guests kept since the COM
mencement of his career swss into many thousands-
that of any hotel in Europe In the midst Of all this
Priesnitz remains himself 1.-The Silesian PEASANT His
manners are so rough at times they may be almost
called uncouth, and his appearance must disappoint
every one who, for the first time compares his person
with his fame Priesnitz does not particle Of med
cine and his only application internal external Is
Geld water On applying for advice he listens without
patient the inspector whs supplies room and gives
orders as to tubs blankets sheets &C. All things being
in order for the first bath he is sent for and the BATH
or rubbing with awet Sheet Is given in his presence
During this operation he tches the patient attentive
y and gives his orders to the bath servant to the
mannerin which he to apply the He feels
pulse and seems to judge from the appearance of the
| eye and temperature OF the skin.
tien rises at or O'Clock and the bed clothes
ken from the bed; large thick wooden blanket is then
perfectly saturated with cold water-ths patient lies
down the sheet and 1t wrapped closely around him
the body, the whole appearance is very like that of
mummy; the blanket Is now wrapped around him rs
beds, blankets and other heat inven.
TONS until the poor patient is nearly buried alive, the
head alone being lett Free Lying in this condition
about half an hour causes great degree Of heat
and the feet of the patient being then
Is led to an ice cold bath, aud the blanket and sheet
being taken off, he punges in for longer shorter Pc
rod according to orders This being he rubbed
dry and sheet is thrown his shoulders with which
ne fans himself as with wings for several minutes
this Is called taking the arbath The thing in the
order Of the to start of for long walk over the
mountains back Of Graienberg; these are beautifully
laid out with paths extending in many instances for
several miles through woods Of fine ornamented
with bowers retreats and the most delightful fountains
tastefuly constructed and provided with seats The
springs are on an fourth OF mile apart and
at each one the patient usually drinks large glass Of
water anu most certainly no purer delicious
water Is found in nature than that which from thu
springs Of Grafenberg. The morning walk being ended
AL repair with excessive appettes eating saloon
where the breakfast table remains spread for two hours
to give all indulgence to sraggers encouragement
TO long walks The breakfast consists of STALE unpala
table rye bread good butter and good milk and it is re-
markable to observe what quantities of food
are eaten which, at the homes OF Of the patients
would be rejected unit to be eaten little repose
after breakfast is generally followed by "Douche bath
The douches are all situated in handsome valley about
half mile from the village, and arranged in one
story houses they consist Of extremely strong Jets
water falling from the height of 10 feet the di.
| ameter OF the falling stream varies from to two
inches. which, with the force by the fall
strikes with wonderful force The body that all pa
tisnts cannot bear it, and few begin the douche until
| they have taken the cure for some weeks The
douche Is frequently applied to the breast the arm or
body Is douched for minutes according to the
pability OF bearing the operation walk after the
douchs brings the hour of dinner which ia S
the same unnviting and would suppose undigssti-
BILE rye bread one dish Of miserable mseraby
cooked no potatoes or vegetables, and with good
water to wash it down The most surprising circum
stance Of the whole the avdty with which the trash
rvaA fha tah1u 81
persons who all sick, who at least imagine them.
selves sohs cure certainly produces the bound
less appettes, whether FOR veal for IL Is difficult
judge in ali About Ave clock in the afternoon
Operations begin again; very frequently rubbing,
which consists of wet sheet Dsing thrown over
| the patient in q standing position and while en-.
veoped in the sheet the bath.servant rubs all parts
Of the body to the best Of his abilities for several
quenty apped-a large tub containing several gallons
Of colo spring water brought into the patients
in this he sits for fifteen minutes 80 that all the lower
parts Of his body which have covered by the
become so perfectly benumbed to lose feeling; the
natural heat of the body then by
Ing and most OF the patients in Graenberg seem to be
running foot races against tins During this exercise
large quantities Of water are taken-twenty thirty
tumsiers day are not unfrequent-and an enormous
appetite for supper Is created which consists of the
same material as the breakfast This may
pretty fair sample OF day ut Graenberg although
| ent diseases
So far as clothing concerned 1t NAV be considered
pretty near app zach to mother nature flannel shirts
and drawers taken of stocks crayats
ana mats share the same fate and most the gentle
| men In Grafenberg appear in shirts with the bosom
lying OPEN pair Of linen pants and linen coat with
an umbrellato take the place of hat against the sun
or rain.
SO far as the ladies concerned It must be acknow
iedged by impartial observers that there great deal
OF indecent exposure, and that many of Danish
the blush OF modesty during their stay in raenberg
rriesnits makes nearly all the ladies take off their
stockings, and the grass and the mountainous paths
which they climb obliges them to short dresses
the consequence is that low shoes merely form dark
border TO bare legs and feet In bad weather IL is net
for the fair to appear in Wellington boots
reaching to their knees and many comica is the
result. Among other things many Of the ladies are
ordered TO walk barefoot In the early In the
ing, while covered with dewsnd 1t is realy charming
sight to the Dsnas tripping the dewdrops Of
the morning. as lightly as fairies and almost as mach In
dtshabie. IL must be acknowledged however, that all
this teaches the extreme sity Of general ideas
In relation to the preservation OF health have
many of the patients here sioly and debita-
ted, that common practice would connne them
months in a sick chamber, carefully protected iron
every exposure however slight Pfiesnz washes them
In Mater takss of all warm clothing thnnxa than