New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-03-23
Respectfully, c. n. BEECHER.
THE COLD WATER CURE.


The following are the general principles which
it is believed e1percncs has established in regard
to the use Of cold water as a remedial agent
First, That for the preservation OF health the use
of cold water ia general abutions is imperative
and M a general rule is safe for all though there
are exceptions even to this rule But the cure ot
disease demands peculiar and scientific use Of
water. study, skill and experience the same is
needfal in the use OF drug medicines, so that med
cal men who have not read and experimental 10
this branch Of medical treatment are not qualified
to judge Of its merits, or to adopt any OF its methods
in their practice. ill they have at least read the
standard works ON this subject. Aud not unlre
quently il happens that the ordinary mode OF EN-
ploying water as v remedial agent Is contrary 10
the rules Of experience obtained in Hydropathc
treatment aud seriously hurtiul The use OF the
shotrer bath. now common, needs a. be regulat
cd by rules which are not generally understood, and
Tor this reason it is frequently cause OF mischief,
especially for nervous persons aud to the young.
Second, The success of the Hydropathic treat
ment demands a physician who ~ not only scen
tito and experienced, so as to be able to detect
the true nature of the disease but one who is care
full and attentive 10 observing the effects OF his pre-
scriptions. The writer believes that IN large es
tabishnents unless regulated with express roier.
ence TO this point. the patients are very likely to
suiicr from neglect, so that II they are not injured,
their recovery greatly retarded, or entirely pre-
vented
7hird, Another scarcely less important requi-
stion is snteitteeat nursing. Ii physician is ever
50 well qualified 10 prescribe all his skill may iah
IL the nursisg department "a delegated entirely
a. ignorant and needless persons. The writer has
known such frequent aad such serious suffering and
wrong from neglect in this particular, that no Ian
guage can be too strong IN warning the SICK to IN
Quirc and observe in regard 90 this matter before
commencing a course OF Hydopaihic treatment -
The carrying out Of the physicians prescriptions
should always be auperintended by the ply sician
himself or by some intelligent welleducated per
son, who has a knowledge either by reading or
observation Of the various indications that occur Ia
tho treatment and winch ought to be made known
to the physician as seeR as tAcy occur IL Is be.
heved that the failure OF rery many Ia obtain rellei
from disease has been owing TO neglect IN this de
psrtment An Intelligent superintendent of the
nursing department is needed In every large estab
hshment not only TO observe and report the results
Of the nursing, but TO secure fathtoness IN those
who perform the details Of the drudgcry. II should
also DO the duty ot this person to secure faithful
obedience % all the lases Of he0ltA, in regard 10
ventilation. clothing, diet, exercise and sleep In
asmuch es part OF the success of the water cure
depends on obedience to these rules care and faith
hilness in this respect is q great value.
Fsariks IL Is believed that the purity OF the wa.
ter has far more influence than has beer supposed
both ia the rspidiiy AMI the cerfataty OF cure es'
pecially In those diseases in which unheathiu hH,
mors aud abnormal secretons are to be discharged
from the system. The writer has seen results IN
an establishment where the water was peculiarly
pare. which altogether exceeded anything she ever
observed or heard Of in institutions which could not
command this important item.
fSftAs II IL important that the public should an
derstand that there ftc0 SckoolS IN the Hydro,
pethic world QUE Of them following what u called
the Asgcsc treatment, Ct which PRIEsNrz u the
exempsr; the other adopts more moderate
method. and the German author, FRAME. Is prob
ably The islrest exponent OF this School The WI
tee 70 ieily satisfied, both tom her owa observa-
ton and from the testimony of others that in tksS
coAafry the more moderate sys,em is not only the
safest but the most efcacsoas. TIE heroic treat.
ment originated among the hardy. phlegmatic Ger
man race, and both the system and the German
physicians who administer IT, are no, Appropriate
60 the more delicate, nervous and highly excitsbie
temperament OF our coantrymsn, and especially OF
our oounsyspmea