The supposition that the Bath weakens and debilitates opposed In Abnormal conditions of the Heart, or predisposition thereto, the influence of the Bath most salutary-Opinions of scien- tific and practical authorities thereon-The action of the Bath in affections of the Head, Throat, Chest, and Lungs, or in pre- The objections of a Queen's College Professor of Medicine- Their ridiculous futility-A reason for the cold and passive indifference" of Dublin practitioners to the Bath-Two cases Hydropathy in Disease-Illustrative cases: Dr. James Wilson, Dr. Griffith, Dr. Bennett, &c., &c.-Medical men the most appreciative Hydropathic patients—The Bath in Croup con- trasted with Drug-practice-The Bath in all Infantile Disease, The Bath falsely represented as a panacea-Its true merits- Insanity-First introduction of the Bath in a Lunatic Asylum- Its highly salutary effects-Experience of Superintendents of Tubercular diseases, their variety and malignancy-Conflicting Physic remedies all abortive-The testimony of Sir John Forbes-Sources of Tubercular disease-The curative proper- ties of the Bath and Hydropathy-A change of climate delu- Legislative provision for the voluntary establishment of Baths, etc.-The Acts permissive and inoperative-Sanitary Legisla- tion ought to be compulsory-Duty of the Government......... 408 The Sanitary and Sanative influences of the Bath on Horses, Cows, and the Lower Animals generally-Report of the Com- INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. SECTION I.-The case stated-Health, bodily and mental, its importance-ignorance of "Educated classes" concerning the science of life a main cause of Medical Empiricism. THE object of this work is to place before the public, in a comprehensive and popular form, the evidence furnished by Science and Experience respecting the employment of Air and Waterunder certain conditions-in the preservation of Health, as well as in the Hydropathic treatment of Disease. No new principle is announced; no novel theory propounded; support is claimed for no speculative system-on the contrary, the only desire is to bring in simple detail before the public what has been known, though imperfectly practised, for thousands of years, in every quarter of the globe, but which in our own day, despite various discouragements, has happily received scientific and practical development. Air and water are natural elements indispensable to the existence of animal life. It is not surprising, therefore, that, when modified, in a greater or less degree, by another natural element, temperature, they should become the most general and powerful, the most salutary and unfailing agents yet discovered for the sustentation of normal life, and the correction or alleviation of those numerous derangements to which it is exposed. Normal life is Health; and what subject, rightly considered, is fraught with more vital import to thoughtful minds than the consideration of the most effectual means by which Health can B be preserved ? "The first wealth is Health"-it is the richest inheritance with which man can be endowed, for success in life, to say nothing of the rational enjoyments of existence, is mainly dependent on its possession. As Cowley says, it is "The salt of Life, which does to all a relish give; The body's virtue, and the soul's good fortune." Surely, then, whatever tends to sustain or confer so great a blessing as Health, ought to possess a primary value in the estimation of every intelligent being. The mens sana in corpore sano of Juvenal, has been not inaptly termed "the golden rule of education;" but a sound mind, as a general rule, is only coexistent with a sound bodily condition. Physical health is physiologically necessary to perfect mental health, and this incontestible truth ought never to be lost sight of, for, as Dr. Millingen observes, "the sound operation of the mind is frequently disturbed by the slightest physical influence."* Two schools of medicine, famous in their day, were distinguished by opposite views on this subject. Stahl, the founder of one, contended that bodily disease principally proceeds from affections of the mind, while Hoffman, the founder of the other, maintained that the primary cause of all disease is referrible to the body. A more enlightened Physiology, however, now admits that there is much truth in both theories, and has established the existence of a reciprocity of action between the mental and the physical, which is an inflexible law of our economy-the effects of which are not speculative but demonstrative, though how the mysterious relationship exists and acts is inscrutable and inexplicable. It is sufficient for all practical purposes to know that such a relationship does exist, and that Health is governed by certain laws which are, in the main, well-defined and easily understood. This being the case, it follows that there is a moral obligation on every one, who has intelligence and opportunity, to become * Millingen. The Passions, or Mind and Matter, p. 150. acquainted with these laws and live in obedience to them. "Knowledge is power," and he who comprehends how "fearfully and wonderfully" he is made-how admirably his organism is designed to fulfil its purposes, but how necessarily a breach of the laws which govern it must be followed by disease in one form or other, is surely better fitted to appreciate aright the inestimable blessing of Health, and guard against Disease, than any one can be who is content to remain purblind and ignorant on the subject? "Know thyself" is an ancient and wise maxim, which comprehends a philosophy that lies at the root of human happiness and well-being. Next in importance to a knowledge of the means by which Health can best be preserved, is an acquaintance with those simple and natural agencies by the judicious application of which deviations from the healthy standard can be corrected, and the balance of disordered functions re-adjusted and restored. This knowledge, however, few persons care to acquire-the mass even of the "educated classes" being content to remain ignorant of those general physiological laws which are the foundation of all that is rational in Medicine-of all that has solid pretensions to rank as Hygienic, Prophylactic, and Therapeutic—that is, of all which can be truly deemed preservative of Health, or possessed of remedial properties in relation to the numerous derangements to which our artificial habits of life render us more or less liable. It is within the scope of every one's observation that, on such subjects, deplorable ignorance and apparent indifference prevail. How few are to be found who have rational ideas respecting their own organism—who understand even the language of Physiology, or could satisfactorily answer the questions-What is Health? What is Disease? It is, in truth, unduly complimentary to speak of an "educated laity" in relation to this subject, because, in reality, ignorance and not knowledge is the prevailing rule. Pope says― "The proper study of mankind is man." Yet, what passes current in society for an "accomplished edu |