Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-01-12
For the Whig.
No.. III.
On Cold. Bathing; or. THE w.,.,.c.,,.

Gn Cold Bathing; or, The water.Cun.-
AdVeng to the character of the very pueril, m.,,s If
which the articles referred to in the farmer ,rnho, ,
composed, really seems difficult to attribute the aubor
snip oil such articles TO the grave and digned Editors or
nose Journas-ournals, which may be presumed are
uesed 10 represent or shadow FORTH the true
anu dignity of the medical profession in this renowned old
Commonwealth.
Ihe most natural conclusion therefore, would seem to
De- that such articles contributions to these Journals
by some youthful scrbblcrs who wished 10 tr be
AT nbaliry and bilngsgate- that scb cdors arc rs
ponse only Tor suffering such articles to appear in their
journals -rr ~
But let the articles speak for themselves
The article in the Stethoscope begins tbus Nv. ara
compelled to notice this little and miserable euson from
somebody We know not who, &c" It then goes on to
say li the reader sees tn. thing he will r.gr.,
that We dignity it by notice. particularly lust after m.
praises we besow DIR. Williams pathology; meanng
an article in tue journal, Immediately preceding this ar
eie out We ieel 1t due to do The newspapers will
doubtless, publish universal of This grea
book in their influential columns and the million nav be
InnIentionay led to believe, that the great and scientific
u Williams Is an advocate for the lmpid and
system OF quackery, advocated in this little tract The
author would have it believed, that Dr. Williams one Of
the most regular OF the regulars in science great man.
lie then volunteers TO ehlPhten the world by pbiaplhr
picaly telling them, that DIR. Williams and others recsIn
nehded water externally internally and etcrnay orbids
Tea, coffee spirits and tobacco especially fond of We,
streets, cold drinks and plunges.
What extreme inconsistencies and absurdities are cop
tanned IN these remaksS This thing this miserable Nu1
containing such limpid and transparent system oil
quackery, that IL wonld seem that any fool with half an
eye, and at half glance might doteot ts error So con
tempble that the reader, il he it, will regret
that The editor or writer should descend from his
ton, to dignity 1t with notice, is nevertheless to have
universal commentators aSshed upon it, in the inanen
ial columns OF the newspapers and the million are to be
Fundamentally led into error unless warned agains Inv
this high dgnitary and luminary. BY the way-what
compliment TO the enlightened press of the country AS
well as to the progress aud intelligence of the age!
Was there in fact ever consummate folly exhibit
ed by any writer, than thisy And what Is still worse
the statement fails in any preiension the ea asst sem
bance OF candor and TRUTH but is in direct opposition to
both, owing, il is to 10 presumed to the naiyertence o
the writer or to his not having given the contents of
the pamphlet more particular examination For this
that whoever will take the trouble to look into the pam
phet cannot Tail on opening it, the first blush to uer
ceiye that the compiler is very careful and distinct in
giving thc quotations from Dr. Williams as well as from
others; but especially from DIR. Williams whose quota.
tons given word for word and each maze of b book
distinctly referred to- from which the auotaios ,re a.
KEN More than this at the end of such quotations the
compiler makes the qualified remark "rhe foregoing
remarks OF d. Williams, chiefly ia perfect accordance
with some OF the leading principles of the water cure
System aud the writer, who processes be an humble
advocate OF that system, is pleased With such
high authority III It's favor TO he frlenf sL;cL II ooen
see page 20 OF the tract. Aud in another place in the
tract tsee page 2S he says The attention of the read
er Is particularly invited the remarks of Dr. Williams
meaning the remarks qnoed) in which he adverts to
the water cure OF PesSnz which will found itaicised
fney are regarded as strong evidence in favor OF the wa
ter cure. Indeed his remarks ueneraly no EXTRACTED
have decided bearing in its favor as far as N,y n,
lie then adds: at IL to be regretted however that he
DR. Williams did not 90 farther by giving TO the nnic
h1 scientific and enlightened views the employment of
cola water ~ ieVera" Now the compiler would ask IL
this looks like an Intention To deceive or make false i'm
pressos on the minds Of the community by his quota
tons from DE- Williams? And az to the community
being deceived by finding the name of DIR Williams nm
Tue cover oil the pamphlet that is ridiculous an idea
To have been mentioned The compiler of the pamphlet
moreover ieos warranted Ia the assertion, and that with
cut u's least Tear Of contradiction tina, he has adj
vamced III tie pamphlet single idea derived from Dr.
Whnm' or any other writer To any leading pncple
OF Tie water cure, without giving the yritera own words
lie luced T "
The writer will now dismiss The Stethosconc although
there are various other passages in the article which has
Just Teen the sujsct Of remark equally obnor ous to
pertinent rebuke.
The article in "Tbe Virginia Medical and Surgical Jonr
naI Is pretty much Of the same character, Kidney of
that in the StetescOpe.
The great matter Of umbrape in hath arcea soo,,s n
De tue imagined desecraed which has been made of
the name Of the ilnstrous DR.. Williams 10 putting it on
.e cover OF little water cure pamphlet; which small and
nsghhcAnt az " - represented TO he seems nevertheless
70 nave had the effect Of filing the minds Of the editors of
the journals or writer's Of the articles in question with
perfect hJdrophobean horror
This article commen es thus 1--WE .bonId mn, co,Je
scend 70 no'lce tbs wretohed little pamphlet had not the
author attempted TO propagate hs views under The ausp
ces o. aI iInsons physician and conveyed the impress.
sion to the public that of the most pbosophcs of
modern medical writer's the advocate Of imprsism and
! absurdity." ~
This statement is equally and az una,IGedy unltuc az
70 The designed use OF DR. Williams name in the title of the
pamphlet or Otherwise, that in tho steboacope and
Tor Ihe same reasons which therefore need not be re
peated
rms article also "The work IL too weak and harm.
less TO mako many converts aud we should not have
thought necessary to put the profession on their gu ard
against IT, bad not the Of Dr. Williams appeared on
tbe cover and caused fear that the authors brass
covered by the physicians gold might pass current -"
ut e profession on their guard for fear they should
oy hnding Dr. Williams name on The cover Of the pam
phe be deceived into the belief that all lis inward CON
o's mao me sanction Of his ustrous name and auiho
NY marx this, poor blind, half wted creatures indeed
mus the profession beio need such warning AGAINST the
sh9llow device supposed
We would say TO the writer Of ,bis article be slas
hs Ieara Tor there l really for them We know
o our certain kno.ledge that the medical profession
not 80 ignorant aud stupd he would make them be-
80 rom w. they are Ia the main we'll educated and
nBnV intelligent class Of the community entirely too
much co. and too sbrewd and discriminating 10 be in
po,ed upon by any such petty trick ~ supposed
me writer proceeds 10 say: "The author probably
meant 70 convey false impression by adopting the a.
We Page he employs and will doubtless alter IT, when
WINGED Of lis effect" >
yes II u trne that the writer OF the pamphlet did not
hehi 70 convey any false impression by adopting the
e "hch he did and II the writer Of the article In ques
on WI, convince him that the profession are In fact 20
poolhdy ignorant as TO be deceived and imposed upon
" II, 70 ,he way he suppo'es he vii forthwith "alter VI"
S" "n Tue 70 so convinced, the title will have remain