The weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1858-1860, 1859-03-15
Al Karth IIlfh

An Earth Ddfh. ka
e: es;Ass 4 z. .L,s q shelly" recently palsSs
Ny uncle, an old clergyman, had lived
MaH yeae in damp pAFaDnaGe il the nav
Forest; and he was s6rely afflicted with
rheumatism. He was advised to consult
Doctor Graham, who was then all the fash.
Eion Aelid % and was persuaded by him
Ft0 takeAaN earth bath; he accordingly took
one, and he thought it did him good and was
likely to be of great service Ny uncle
often regretted that he had not resolution
enoqgh y perseyefeis but IL was exceedingly
unpleasant. The patient was led into dec
tors garden; there he took off his clothes
behind a screen, stripped himself stark ma.
ked. de was then placed IN hole in lAe
ground, Just large enough to contain him: in
what position do not recollect, but think
standing. Earth, finely sifted vegetable
mould-was gently filed in, quite up TO the
collar bone, the head and neck being free
remaining out If the ground the arms were
buried, being placed close to hie sides The
patient being fairly in the bath, the screen
was removed, and he commonly saw other
persons around him in like position with
himself; and he passed che time, as well as
he could in conversing with them-for it was
necessary to remain three or four hours in
the earth. III
"How cold be must have been IRA lady
remarked.
ION the contrary, the sensation of heat
was most oppressive; there was an unpleas-
ant feeling of sufocation and the prespira-
ton was profuse When the time prescribed
had expired, the screen was placed around
him, the bather was taken out of his grave,
and well rubbed, and was allowed to put on
his clothes and depart 1t was SO disagree
able, that my uncle could never summon
courage to undergo the operation second
time; but several of his friends had taken
an earth bath frequently, and they
thought that the process was Of great use to
them.
II have seen persons in the earth bath my
self well remember going with my uncle
the first time he consulted DR.. Graham. A
manseryant in a splendid livery, received US,
and conducted US into the garden. and we
saw there what seemed bed Of culiaowers.
II 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 to be seen above the EARTH and well
whitened wig upon it The footman led my
uncle up to one Of the most considerable of
the wigs, and introduced him to his physic.
ian: "This sir is Doctor Graham For
the doctor took bath every morning him
self 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 uncle's pulse, for his arms were inferred
as well as his body but he looked at his
tongue, and asked him very many questions,
in exact accordance with the practice Of the
college, and finally he prescribed an earth
bath, which shortly afterwards my uncle
Took
''How dreadful all the ladies exclaimed
with one voice ut is just like being buried
alive Were there any women there!'
mot when was present, certainly; and
rather think that females did not take
these baths; and yet | recollect that the
advertisements strongly recommended them
to ladies as anunfailing remedy for sterility,
inasmuct as the earth would surely impart
to them some portions ofits fruitfulness--the
earth being the fertile mother of all things"