Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1850-06-18
For the Democrat.
Water Cure

Water Cure.
That the community may know something
Of wha, is taking place in England and o,he
European countries in relation to TIA, new
and to some persons terrifying "Prdriios o
Plwr." called Water Cure, We publish III,
following extract, taken from a recent worI
entitled "lIydropathy for the People" b,
William IIorscll, Of London, aud rcpublishe,
in this country by r. Y Trail, " D.. o
New York ltisa work of facts and rlos,
investigation II rcfeus To 4 subject whirt
mus, arrrs, tie attention OF every intelligent
reader The subject is justly awakening d
deep interest among the mos, eminent medical
men. Dr. Forbes, Editor ofthe London Ian,
cet--l medical work of world wide rcnown-
IN a profound review OF this whole subject ol
water cure, makes the following remarks
in answer tn the questions whether water fur.
nishcs means and implements by which a
skillful physician can 'ubiue disease "Thcs-
questions We think may be- allowed To have
been answered in the Affirmative, II we may
depend on the results Of our own limited eH-
pericncc. aud upon those who have subjected
themselves 10 that treatment
DR.. Warren Of Boston, whose reputation
has extended over this country and Europe as
q great Surgeon and Physician, attended a
convention recently, Of which he was PrcSi-
dent, where he remarked As follows dur
ing the last halfccn,ury there has been fall
ing or of confidence among the Profession
generally in the use ofthc lancet and calomel
90 all diseases. Wslri is q good remedial
agJn, judlc,ously applied These men are
veterans in the Profession, and there opinions
have been given ln view Of the rca, success
OF this simple though ciicacious mode OF prac-
ticc, In spite of long cherished opinions to Ihe
contrary. The number Of regular Physicians
who have adopted this mode ol practice TO a
greater OF lr,s extent, la the United States
encouraged by such men az fobcs, Waucn
and others, indicates a high degree Of conf
dsncr m this new, though really old and nat
unl system.
The extract referred io is the following nm
der the head Of Drugs"
THAT shrcwd observer 1t human nature,
John Wesley, published a work, in isi7, 90
which. after dcprccaling the mysteries with
which the science of medicine is surrounded
and the manner Ia which drugs were impose
upon the community, he proceeds IN a manner
which shows iha, be thought water might yol
proftsbly supyrccde ihe use Of drugs aliogeth
cr." H. avs, The common method o
compromising aud decompoundIng medicines
can never be- rcroncilcd To common sense
Experience shows that one thing Nill cur,
most diseases, al leas, as we'll as twenty pu
together. Then why add the other nineteen
Only To swell the apothecary's bill nay pos
sibly, on purpose to proloug the dIstemPer
that the doctor and ho may divide the spoil.
Captain Chridge, having inquired by wha
dclusons mankind were first induced to take
drugs, says, :" In the middle ages, the Use o
water a. 4 drink, and a cure for diseases, tel
into total disusc, when, in the time Of III,
/ Crusade, the Anblan doctors introduced h,
use of oriental drugs, to which they attributed
miraculous virtues. but were these the die
ta,cs of reason and nature Have manklnC
become healthier since their introduction =
Quite the reverse, Are those nations, wh'
have done the most homage to this science
the strongest and soundcst They are, be
yond contradiction, physically, II not morally
the most miserable OF all How Is twlth IN
diyidualsi Their lives are wonc than death
. Nay, even the masters of physlc suller very
severely from It's effects themselves" llt
further SAYS, This is the most dreadful NAL
ady Of mankind the Polson-plaguc, dug out
by themselves, from the black abysses Of th'
earth thus has frequently the last shilling
been offered at It's altar. For this, the great
es, enemy that could have bcsot mankind, a
many millions have been spent as would pa!
of the national debt. To the study OF thes.
dangerous errors, have millions Of men ap
piled the whole of their lives and abiltles.-
Backed by science, they contended agains
nature but how does she punish those VIII,
wish to master herr
This last quotation gives US clue to ,h'
evil. The effects have been mistaken for th,
causes, and this error in judgement has led Il
errors in practice. For instance, as Consian
Justly observes, Z" 1t is now generally admit
ted, that many Of the seemingly violent phe
nomena Of inAammatiOns are not, strictly
speaking, morbid movements, but consist, II
part at least, simply Of energetic endeayors o.
nature TO rid herself Of an injurious agent ol
influence" The drugging system is at wal
with, in opposition to, nature-actually OBJ
structing her operation. Hence, II natur,
seeks 10 relieve herself by vomiting, she is
insulted by dose Of brandy; and in many
cases, by these and other means, by violently
increasing the vital force, !, is ultimately de-
s,royed. Whereas, the object should be, not
to oppose bu, TO assist nature, by placing the
diseased organism generally on such a footing