New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-09-20
BrnttIeboro', yt.-The Water Cure-scenery'
incidents, &c.
Correspondence Of The Tribune.
D.. $500 ..e,ta,,

valley Of the Connecticut river some 80 miles
above Springfield Mass. The Connecticut River
Railroad will be built rs far as this place next
year. 1t is now completed to Greenfield Mas.
20 miles below. The celebrated Water Establish.
ment Of DR. Wesselheft IS situated nearly in the
heart Of the town. Close in the rear OF the main
buildings rises a steep hill from which flows sew
eral springs Of sweet and pure water and from these
the bathing rooms supplied The douche baths the
cunning sitz baths, the wave bath, the eye and
baths, and several other kinds Of baths, are in the
woods hafainile distant whittier the patients who /
take them are obliged TO walk They supplied " it'll
the purest and sweetest spring water, which is very
abundant, in this slate region
The Water Treatment il grow ng more popular every
year and during the past Summer Or. Wesselhwi has
hod from 100 to 1870 patients the greater number Of
whom have submitted themselves 10 his seyerest dis
eiplne At the present time there seventy, among
whom are several d distinguished officers of the army
Major w McChntOck OF Portland. very valuable ON.
Ger the Florida campaign entirely lost the use OF his
limos while camping out In that nhOsptable climate
he here in the summer Of lsij and has remained
ever since He Gull continues the water treatment and
cen now walk little with some assistance. We have
also here present the lady Of Commodore stewart
from New.Orleans Mrs NJ G. Mayhem of Baltimore,
Capt Jones Of the L : Rhes aud family. Lieut. +. q.
Beckwith Sd Artillery. and Mai Prince from Passport
Maine, fine looking officer who was wounded al the
bloody battle of Moline del Rey near the City of
Mexico
The Water Treatment, AZ conducted here is pretty
stOut German awakens you al half past 3
o'clock in the morning and STRIPS and packs you down
closely In linen sheet and half a-d0zen thick wool
leu blankets. a feather bed Is thrown over all and
tucked down snugly. He then leaves you for couple
Of hours while you take morning nap in the sheet
At hafpsst he takes of the bed and carries you In
your blankets 10 the bathing room. The moment the
sheet and blankets thrown of are plunged hetd
foremost all reeking with per-pirauon. into cold
plunge bath OF the temperature of ai' In aiew seconds
You are ont again and the German commences chstug
YOUR body with his hsnds In minute two more you
are plunged second time and then chaied again Win
dry sheet thrown your body on must then dress
yourself mcdistely and brick walk OF three
u, i've miles This fine reaction and on your
return from the walk you have an uncommon appetite
Tor breakfast Those who cannot bear plunge are put
\ in q halt bath with the same accompanments Thee
ceremonies constitute the morning duties Daring the
day those who prescribed the doucbe the running
stz or any Of the baths In the woods must walk ont
there and take them The largest douche gives out
stresm the OF a mans and falls from % 10 90
feet will take this stream for ten minutes az
time Most Of the patients packed and bathed in
the afternoon simsr TO the exercises OF the morning
Those with local diseases Of the limbs or body keep
the affected part constantly handaRed with wet crash
cloths Others take slz foot and head baths IN their
rooms. ss the doctor may prescribe
Tie general prescription is 60 drink from II 10 ID
tamhlers ct water per day, without regard 70 thirs
and ~ walk far and brsky is possible without
absolute fatigue Some of the patients who have sccos
toned themselves 10 this exercise, walk easily from D.
TO 10 miles day some of our gsyest young lady pa
tenis are scarcely behind this distance With their
large fat hats their saucy looking sack coats. and
walking stick like q bludgeon, they viii out walk,
against time the mo-, inveterae pedestrians OF the 9th
or sex generally performing from to n miles each
day
We have some delightful walks IN the neigh
t0rhood OF Brait.ebDro. Each patient, on his ar
rival, pays sort Of initiation lee of one dollar and
this money forms fund 20 lay out and improve walk
snd springs The walk TO the baths IN the wood winds
about for than mile among romantic scenery,
giving one an occasional glimpse OF the town below
This Il called the " Gardiner Walk from the name az
the gentleman who fret surveyed and took an sctivc
part In constructing q The Connecticut River runs
parallel with and near by, the main street OF the town
On the Hampshire bank opp0s e, rises IN lofty hight
and steep ascent Chesterfield Mountain which is also
fsvore resort Of the more ventUreSomc OF tie pa
dents who make almost daily excursions TO its sum
init This mountain has grand and imposing appear
suce from the In thick weather the top is near
IN always cqpped hy clouds. Yesterday, one OF our
company, Mr.. Edward Wurts. of Louisville, ny. killed
large rattleuake about halfway up the mountain. and
hrcught the reptile home la triumph on split stick
10 measured some four 1--WE feet In length with nine
rat,cs. To-day large party has gone to ascend the
mountain on a rat,esnakc hunt, and may therefore
expect fine lot OF the reptiles.
Before daylight this morning, while most of the
patients lay quietly packed down m their sheets
and blankets. fire occurred in one Of the ladies
rooms. The bed curtains and some dresses were burn
ed and the flames were then eNtngushcd The alarm
caused some fierce screaming among the ladies, aud
quite sensation throughout the establishment Tween
~ or thirty ghostlke looking personages both male
and female, might have been seen lodging shout the
halls cnveloped In sheets snd blankets. and snxiousy
inquirins whether the danger
had forgotten 70 mention that the diet OF the
patients Is an important part ct the water treat
nent The plainest food only Is SLOWED Coffee tea.
pepper spices and s hot dishes are expressly forbid
den. For breakfast We have excellent bread butter
milk, and boiled rice or mash with cup of (noi
hot chocolate for those who desire H. For supper the
same except the rice and chocolate For dinner there
ia furnished some excellent plain soups and puddiags
and we are allowed few vegetables such ~ potatoes
csulihower squash Sc with beef and roast
lamb. On Sundays roasted Rnd boiled chickens are
substituted for the meats The baths, psckines and
long walks tend o. make this small variety OF food
relish smssingiy. Although have been under the
treatment" but short time cannot remember when
have before had such sn excellen, appetite.
Bat there is one drawback 20 this establishment
with All its natural advantages. The water II Is
true 10 the purest which comes from the eeT,h-the
scenery romantic in the highest degreethe mountain
air fresh and brscng-snd some Of the walks really de
hghtfulyet the house accom- modstions very iudt
wrent With all his skill IN the water practice, Dr.
Wcssehst will never become eminent as hotel
keeper On his srva here, the patient must nrst &C
Custom himself 20 the place or he will give Up In de-
spsr particularly he has enjoyed moderate degree
OF pestness comfort and attendance az home This de
feet may sso be called part Of the discipline n you
please, but 70 my mind II will eventually be fatal one
for the house for IS the water treatment becomes
more known. rival establishments with equal natural
advantages and better hotel accommodations ne.
cesssrily attract al the patients The prices charged
are by no means unreasonable. VIZ; ei0 week Tor /
board snd medical advice with variety Of smaller
charges. such - cents week for use Of feather
bed Is cents week for packing bsnkets-so much for
a sheet or for towel, &C the English plan Those
who desire avoid these latter minute chsrses must
literally come here according 10 scripture, Take up
thy bed and walk Those patients who remain long
time and 90 thoroughly into the treatment are gener-
ally cured greatly relieved II Is supposed 10 be
beneficial In every complaint except consumption and
some other ncursble diseases but requires much en-
ersy, perseverance, and industry 90 throughhence
very few persons except those with desperate or deep
,esfed complaints remain here long. The others get |
discouraged or refuse TO live up 10 the discipline
The weather here at present is clear and cold |