New-York tribune., 1869-05-20
THE GREAT MEDICAL DISCOVERY ON THE
BATTLE FIELD OF GETTYSBURG.

virtues OF the waters OF this celebrated Spring. aud know
ing how prone human nature Is to overestmate the value
Of its individual possessions determined to visit per-
sonally this Vchy of America in order to ascertain the
truth respecting 1t.
There Is no more certain way to explode humbug
than to visit the place OF It's birth to converse with those
who have known it from the cradle and seen 1t In Its
daily walk and growth. People immersed in tho every
day aarsIof life not apt to be humbugged by any
thing which is daily under their eyes particularly they
have no interest in the attendant speculation.
Throwing aside therefore, all that was offered to me
by parties interested In the Spring. addressed yse 10
the task OF ascertainng tho
OPINIONS oP ITS FBIGHBoRs.
Those who have observed the effects of the water at all
times aud seasons and upon ell the various classes OF In
vallds and persons In health who have used 1t.
For several days have prosecuted my inquiries in this
vicinity and have been not little surprised to learn
that universal is the popular belief here In s ecacy
that the water found In nearly every house for leagues
around the Spring. and II 1t s not generally used as
substitute for the doctor 1t is invariably used as last
resort when tho physician his prescription has failed to
bring the hoped for relief.
According to the popular beef nere II 1t has not cured
everything 1t has, tleast come so near It, thatl s more
difficult to say what it has not cured than what 1t has
Unless reject the testimony on which we are accus
toned to the most important judicial and scien-
tiho truths wo must believe this water has literally
in Southern Pennsylvania during the last few years We
need not go very far from the Spring for the subjects OF
these modern miracles have and cOnversed with
some Of them. IN person. There quite number OF
persons in this community who by the OF the water
have recovered the of limb Of limbs long par
ayzed by disease accident and past recovery by any
other known therapeutic agency. There are also many
who have recovered by the means the use OF or
gans or functions Of tho system long suspended from
similar causes and involving in their suspension the mis-
cry or despair OF the afflicted Many other cures-one Oh
the stomach another Of the liver another OF the Do"e
a fourth OF the Kidneys and others OF the heart OF pln
or nervous system-have been told TO me- very cVin
mon effect OF this water is that OF tho improvement OF
the sight which may have been impaired by diseases OF
tho eyes, or OF the body affecting the sight one OF to
visitors 10 tho Spring informed inc OF the cure OF
female invalid with this water, in neighboring
county, who blind, deaf, ana demeh'ed'
from neuralgia In the head Another visitor 10 the
Spring few days since informed me OF resuseitaton
through the agency Of this water, OF an invalid, which
partakes largely OF the miraculous 1t was that OF par
aytc who had not risen from his bed for years, or exc
cuted any voluntary movement except feeby with the
arms and neck whose body and lower extremtes were
virtually deadal the functions being performed an.
consciously the sufferer. This living corpse took up
his bed and walked after the Of half dozen bottles
Of this water and at last accounts. doing well and
in fair way Of complete recovery But must stop this
narration OF marves lest oyertask both the patience
aud credulity OF your readers.
1t Is proper remark in this connection, that all the
cures effected by this water have been by internal
alone and that too In many Instances long after s re-
mo val from its Spring; while all those reported at an.
olcnt or modern Springs effected by external as
well internal application OF their waters, and invara
bly, by their use at their sources.
whether the OF the Gettysburg Spring more
potent when used at their than away from IT,
an interesting question: and Is likely TO receive solution
during the approaching wateringplace season
Many persons predict reGnaction here Of the miracles
OF cure alleged 10 have been wrought at somo Of the
springs Of remote antiquity by sacred aud pro'ano his
torans, but shall Tho numerous applications 20
the Company from all parts Of the country for accom-
modAtlons at tho Spring. have induced them to erect
large hotel near it The building viii accommodate be-
three and four hundred persons and will bo ready
for the reception guests weeks when the bat
tie field Of Gettysburg like that OF Saratoga will become
Of places OF invalid and fashionable resort
HISTORY
Before going into an examination OF existing medical
testimony regard 10 the virtues OF the Kaalynne
Water full and authentic account Of the spnug.
which Is TO effect such transformation OF these bstOnc
and monumental grounds than has yet found its way into
the public prints becomes pertinent aud think cannot
fail TO prove interesting.
OF the experience OF nvaids with this Spring in the
remote past we are only informed by vague traditions;
We have such yarions aud conflicting accounts
given by living witnesses Of everything which has be-
come the subject Of intense public interest aud discus
sion One version OF tho history OF this spring is thus
given by The Se,o.Tork Commercial Adreriiseri
at has long been known TO the residents In tho vicinity
and believed 20 possess the wonderful properties asccr
talned by recent medical and scientific eIperuents
"Indian traditions ascrbe TO this Spring the power oi
taste aud appearance OF common pure spung-WalCr
these accounts rejected fabulous The effects
tenn we're regarded as evidence OF is undness do
esc purposes and thus this strange Spring was almost
when the thunders OF the great battle attracted
tho attention Of the nation TO Gettysburg aud It's en-
It was not however by the sghtseers and relic hunt
ers who throngcd 20 Gettysburg after the conflict and
swarmed over the surrounding felds and hills that tho
real character OF this Spring discovered but by some
OF the wounded In the preliminary battles fought around
ity dragged themselves 10 this Spring 10 supply the rst
needs VI the wounded aud their testimony 20 itA In
vgorating and fo sustaining powers caused It 70 DO
used by the citizens medicine, and finally 10 be
alyzed by an eminent chemist"
Another version ascribes the discovery Of Its medical
virtues 10 squad Of Rebel soldiers who had encamped
around the Spring during the battle and mstakng It for
what 1t appears 10 be- only water used II for
drinking and culinary purposes Some OF these, tho
story runs, experiencing It's occasional eccentric hera
peutc effects now so familiar 90 American inyalds Inn
aned that had been poisoned by the residents and
great panic prevailed until they informed Of t' real
character These left behind them their testimony
20 the nyigoratng and restorative effects OF the pre-
yiousy supposed imprisoned spring How much Of
truth OF fable there may bo in these accounts Of tho
experience OF the sick and wounded soldiers with this
spring during tho battle fought around IT, Il Is impos
sble TO ascertain But they appear havo been chiefly
instrumental In securing those scientific and practicable
experiments which make Its authentic medical record
BY appealing 10 the marvellous and the poeca clements
inherent In the human mind and only modified by
education or circumstances thoy evoked popular
thusasm In behalf OF tho alleged discovery which has
seldom been witnessed in any country Crowds resorted
to this spring from every direction, merely 10
It, and TO speculate upon tho strange phenomena which
It's waters presented others 10 drink and live or 20 drink
and recover their lost health The local newspaper press