The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-08-17
a UNIQUE WATER CURE.
Where Germans Flock for Recupera-
tIsn, but Hardly known to Other
PEOPLES.

Correspondence OF Boston Transcript
TURKHEIM BAVARIA, July 25.-0f all the
''cures" for which Germany Is famous, the
celebrated water cure at this place Is per-
haps the most remarkable. Though there
are multitudes Of Germans and Austrians
here trying this cure, as well as representa-
tlves from nearly all parts Of the world, very
little seems to be known OF 1t IN America.
believe we are the only real United States
Americans here this season. There were
two young women from Chile, who had the
distinction Of being noticed In the local
newspaper on account OF their tmmOdest ap-
pearance-golng about the In bloomers bare
footed as ."'elther Americans or daughters
OF Albion"
With these people, an American always
means citizen Of the Great Republic,
whether you come from Manitoba or Pats-
gonia. Still It does seem strange TO Boston
eyes to see ladies going about through the
streets OF the villege barefoot. At first tt
seemed as II they must be inmates OF luna
tic asylum or people who had thrown over
the restraints Of conventional life and were
enjoying In sort OF second childhood, the
luxury OF going barefoot But one soon be-
comes accustomed 10 the sights here and
thinks no more Of seeing barefeet then bare
hands. TO walk without shoes or stockings
nervous troubles, as we'll as for many other
Ills which flesh Is heir 10. The priest who Is
In charge Of the bathers urges hls followers
to walk barefoot In the wet grass early In
tne morning. Wading In the water Is
another Important feature Of the cure. There
Is little brook running through the princi-
pal street OF the villege, where men are often
seen wadlng. but there is more secluded
place Tor women. They wade from i've to
ten minutes at time two or three times
day. Patients are strictly enjoined not to
wipe the feet on coming out Of the water,
but to walk always barefoot rapidly till DRY.
After q bath, too, they must not stop 10 dry
the body, but must put on the clothing Inn
mediatelY and walk briskly until dry and
warm. This Is one OF the chief Character
lstics OF the eure-thn idea being to cause an
even circulation all over the body. There
are many ways in which the baths are given.
water up TO the waist, ana having ID spIashed
over your back from three TO eight seconds.
but generally the water Is applied through
hose 70 different parts OF the body. This Is
certainly heroic treatment. but II ANYTHING
would stalt the circulation, this must, though
the shock to delicat- person must be- great
III patient rs weak, they begin, perhaps,
by directing stream OF water on the kness
only for about minute, OF II may be moved
on the back, the shoulder or the thighs.
No medicine Is given, but there are some
times external applications l have heard
OF case In which young man was cured Of
asthma BY the use Of nettles. beating the
chest with them unit covered with blisters:
This was done every day for four times and
then season Of rest, but the cold douches
were constantly applied also. The father
prescribes the diet and mode Of life; allows
very little meat, no stimulants, and recon-
mends vegetable fruit, coarse black bread.
milk. and even b0nuy clabber. for food
There Is also permitted a drink resembling
coffee made OF grain, and tea made Of dried
strawberry leaves.
They tell us tales Of almost miraculous
cures which have been performed by this
treatment-of those who have come here on
crutches, apparently helpless cripples, and
who have gone away in few weeks COM
pletely healed and OF persons who have re-
SessDsa .neF FatSsr AFTER many years Of
not profess to be able to heal all diseases.
He takes no cases OF cancer, or Of c0nsump-
tion In an advanced state, and considers a
person having heart disease as not fit sub
ject for his treatment. The headquarters OF
the cure are at Worish0fen, about five miles
of, but there are bathing establishments on
the same plan In all the villages miles
around; In fact they are found all over
Southern Germany and Austri though II is
only few years that they have extended be-
yond this locality.
The old priest who Is the inventor Of this
cure Is now over seventy years OF age, fne,
well-preserved maB, though showing In his
kind face the effect of the strain upon MIN
In attending TO the souls Of his flock in the
parish OF W0rishofen, besides carrying In
his mind the burden Of hundreds OF poor
sick people who come to him daily 10 be
healed, as they came to the Master eighteen
hundred years ago, and with apparently as
much faith In his power to heal. He Is blunt
and unpublished, but has one OF the kindest
hearts In the world. His people love hlm
dearly, as indeed they should, and often
crowd around him and kiss his hands when
ne appears on tns street HIS lie Is one
| poor need pay nothing, and the kind hearted
priest often gives them money when they are
needy. OF those who are able 10 pay, one
mark (ab0ut twenty-five cents) week, Is all
large sums, which he devotss to charitable
| objects, and the advancement Of the "cure."
/ He has recently provided a large building for
| priests, which cost, am told, 100000 marks,
out OF his own purse. He has written
| book descriptive OF the cure, which mas
brought him large sum. DIkes' counts,
i even prinees come to this humble priest tO
| be- healed, and submit TO his orders, even 70
| going barefoot like the peasants, One o. tae
/ mis- private car, with train OF servants, and
/ after few weeks OF treatment, went away
| cured OF a nervous trouble which all the doc
| tors Of Europe had tried In vain 70 conquer.
| He left the old priest richer by about 10000
marks, am told. When the good father
was young man he was not strong. and be-
gan to use his wits TO find how to better mis-
condition. He found that when he plunged
into the river and came out again directly.
and dressed himself without drying the BODY
it mad wonderful invigorattng Eject upon
the his system. Tnen he felt IL his duty 10 iet
discovery be known TO the suffering world,
and so, little by little, he worked out the
cure. Most OF the physicians about here are
opposed TO the treatment, but there are All.
ways anumber OF properly graduated doctors
mere studying the cure, and they generally
examine new patients, then turn them over
20 the Iather Tor prescriptions. They also
attend the clinics and take notes.