The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1859-03-23
An Earth Bath.

All EtTlu DGln.
The author of the "Life of Shelly" re.
Gently published, tells the following curious
story:
''N1y uncle an old clergyman, had lived
many years in damp parsonage in the
new Forest and he was sorely afflicted
with rheumatism. He was advised to con-
suit DR.. Graham, who was then all the fash
ion. He did so, and was persuaded by him
to take an earth bath he actually took one,
and he thought it did him good and was
likely 10 be of great service. My uncle Oh
ten regretted that he had not resolution
enough 10 persevere but it was exceeding
ly unpleasant. The patient was led into
the doctors garden there he took off his
clothes behind screen, stripped himself
stark naked He was then placed in a hole
in the ground, Just large enough TO contain
him; in what posture donot recollect, but
| think standing. Earth-fnely sifted veg.
etable moud-was gently filled in quite up
10 the collar bone, the head and reck being
free, remaining out of the ground the arms
were buried, being placed close TO the side.
The patient being fairly in the bath, the
screen was removed, and he commonly saw
other persons around him in like situation
with himself; and he passed the lime-for
it was necessary 10 remain three or four
hours in the earth.
Glow cold he must have been r' lady
remarked
"On the contrary, the sensation of heat
was most oppressive there was an upleas-
ant feeling of suffocation, and the prespira-
tion was profuse. When the time prescrib-
ed had expired, the screen was placed,
around him, the bather was taken out of his
grave, and well rubbed, and he was allow
ed 10 put on his clothes and depart. 1t was
so disagreeable, that my uncle could never
summon courage 10 undergo the operation
second time but several of his friends
had taken an earth bath frequently, and lhey
thought that the process was of great use to
! them.
81 have seen persons in the earth bath
myself" | well remember gong with my
uncle the first time he consulted Dr. Graham.
A man-servant, in splendid livery, recev-
ed us, and conducted us into the garden,
and we saw there what seemed to be bed
J OF califlowers. 1t was the age of wigs
OF powdered wigs-and there were several
old gentlemen buried up TO the neck in the
ground. with the head only 10 be seen above
the earth, and a we'll whitened wig upon it
The footman led my uncle up TO one OF
the most considerable of the wigs, and
introduced him TO his physician: "This,
| sir, is Doctor Graham" For the doctor took
bath every morning himself, to encourage
his patients, and shone forth on the surface
of mother earth as the biggest of the big
wigs. He could not feel my unce's pulse,
Tor his arms were inferred as we'll as his body;
but he looked at his tongue and asked him
many questions, in exact accordance with
The practice OF the college, and finally he
prescribed an earth bath, which shortly af-
forwards my uncle took.
"'How dreadful = all the ladies exclaimed
with one voice lit must be just like being
buried alive Where there any women
there 2W
"Not when was present, certainly and
| rather think that females did not take these
baths and yet recollect that the advertise.
ments strongly recommended them 10 Ia
dies as an unfailing remedy for seriity, in
asmuch as the earth would surely mpart 10
them some portions of its frnitfulness-the
earth being the fertile mother of all things"