Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1859-03-31
Earth-Bath.

| Ny uncle, an Old clergyman, had lived
many years in damp parsonage in the New
! Forest. acd he was sorely afflicted with
rheumatism. He was aislsed to consult
| Doctor Graham, who was then a ! the fash
| ion. H. did 50, and was persuaded by him
| to take an earth-bath, and he actually took
one, ani he thought it did him good. and
was Likely 10 be OF great service. My uncle
often regretted that he had not resolution
enough TO persevere; but it was exceedingly
| un pleasant. The patient was led into the
DOCTORS garden; there he took off his clothes
behind screen, stripping himself stark
naked. He was then placed in hole in
the ground, jus, large enough to contain
him; in what posture Go not recollect, but
think standing. Earth-iinely sifted vege-
| table mould-~as gently filled in quite up
to the collar bone, the head and neck being
Tree, snd remaining out of the ground; the
arms were lu:ied, being placed close to his
side. T. patient being fairly in the bath.
| the screen was removed. and be commonly
saw other persons GROUND hm in like STUD
| lion with himself; and be passed the time,
as we as he could, in conyersing with them
for it was necessary to remain three or
four hou.s il, the earth.
How cold he must have been" a lady
| remarked.
On the contrary, the sensation Of heat
was mos, oppressive; there was an unPleas-
aat feeling Of sui!ocation, and the persPira-
Ii n Was pio.use. When the time pre-
scrbed hid expired, the screen was placed
around him, the balher was taken ont OF his
! grave, and well rubbeJ, and he was allowed
10 put on his clothes aud depart. 1t was so
DIS ,sreeable, that my uncle could neve.
summon courage 70 undergo the operation
second time, but several of his friends had
| taken On esrjh bath frequently, and they
thought that the process was o. great use to
| them.
| have seen persons in the earth bath my
self. well remember going with my nncle
the fist time he consulted DR.. Graham.
msa servant, in splendid livery, received
us, and conducted US in:o the sarcrn, and
We saw there what seemed to be a bed of
| caul flowers. 1t was the age OF wigs-of
( sovdered w;rS-and there were several old
/ gentlemen buried up to the neck in the
| gr und, with the head only 10 be seen above
the earth. and Il well whltened wig upon it.
Tue luo,man led my uncle up to one Of the
most considerable of the wigs, and intro
duced him to his physician: This, sir, 10
| Dact,r q ahan" For the doctor took a
! bath every morning himself, to encourages
his pat tents, and shons forth on the surface
cf mother earth as the biggest oil 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 accord
an,e with the college, and finally he pre-
I scr.bed an earth bath, which shortly aitcr.
wards my uncle took.
"IIow GreaIful!" all the ladies' exclaimed,
with one voice; ait must be just like being
buried i've, Were,here any womsn thers'"
No, when I was present, cert inly; and l
= ,her think that females did not take these
bA.hs; and yet recoiIect that the advertise.
merts strongly recommended them to ladies
as du uufsiing remedy for s'eriliIy, inas-
much as the earth would surely inpart to
them some portion ot its iruitfulness. the
e r,h being the fertile m 5thsr Of sll Ihipgs--
) LIFE Of Sisdss.