With disinterested zeal you have devoted much time and money to extend the benefits of the Bath among the poor. More especially you have been earnest in your exertions to have the Bath made available for the treatment of the helpless sick in our Hospitals, Asylums, and Workhouses. Your endeavours, in this respect, entitle you to the gratitude of the humane; and though, from the apathy of those in authority, your exertions have only been as yet partially successful, it is to be hoped a more enlightened and Christian policy will soon prevail.

In writing on the subject of the Bath, I have felt it was but a simple act of justice to truthfully record the greatness of the obligations the cause of humanity is under to you; and I only express the feelings of all who rightly appreciate the value of your labours in hoping you may long continue to enjoy the elevated position you have so worthily won.

With sincere respect,

I am yours, faithfully,

DURHAM DUNLOP.

SPAFIELD, Holywood, August, 1868.

CONTENTS.

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............

SECTION II-Opposition of the Medical Profession to New Truths

-The Priest Physicians of the Pagans and Christians-Hip-

pocrates--Division of Medicine into Surgery, Physic, and

Pharmacy, a great source of corruption and evil-Medical

Knowledge-Its constituent parts, Anatomy, Physiology,

Pathology, Hygiene, and Therapeutics-Distinction between

Medicine as a Science, and the mere Art of Physic-Opinions

of Medical authorities thereon.....

SECTION III.-Popular belief respecting Medical qualifications-

Facts concerning present condition of the Medical profession

-The Medical Act of 1858-The General Council: its defec-

tive administration-Deplorable condition of Medical Educa-

tion-The Licensing bodies-Their numerous licenses and titles

rejected by Army and Navy as no test of qualification-Opi-

nions of Medical authorities on shameful state of the profes-

sion, and destructive character of Medical practice........

SECTION IV.-Medical Schools and Colleges-Special Hospitals

-General incapacity of teachers-Reaction on the Profession

-Opinions of Medical authorities on the subject.........

SECTION V.—Value of Medical Opinion considered-Experience

alone an unsafe criterion to judge by-Great knowledge con-

sistent with gross ignorance-Scientific experience testifies

against Drug Medication-Admissions of High Medical Autho-

rities, Sir John Forbes, Sir Thomas Watson, etc., concerning the

Inutility of Drugging-The Helpless Condition of the Drug

School.....

SECTION VI. The general character of Medical Practice-High

authorities quoted-Successive variations-Conscientiousness

no palliation for the evils caused by Drug Practitioners-Per-

versity of medical men in rejecting natural Therapeutic Agents

-Their revival and successful progress notwithstanding medi-

cal opposition-Honest inquirers become zealous advocates-

Conclusion.

1

7

16

28

35

54

CHAPTER II.

The term "Hydropathy"-Its accepted meaning-Hydropathy

a Science-Its agents irreconcilable with those of the Physic

School-Mineral Poisons unknown in ancient Medicine—Their

introduction by Paracelsus-Hydropathy as practised by the

Ancients-Hippocrates, his use of Hydropathic agents-His

successors, the Greek and Roman Physicians-Use of cold

water in disease in Africa, Asia, and Europe-First works on

Hydropathy in the sixteenth century-Progress during the

seventeenth century-Practice general over Europe early in

eighteenth century-Its great curative success-Decline of its

practice-Again revived at the close of eighteenth century—

Dr. Currie and other Hydropathists—Opposition of Medical

Practitioners-Again falls into disuse-Revival by Priessnitz-

Rapid extension over Europe-Its success and permanent esta-

blishment-Authorities confirmative of its principles and prac-

tice

73

CHAPTER III.

Origin of Warm Bathing-Thermal Springs used by the Priest-

Physicians-Converted into Baths by various nations-Origin

of the Hot-Air Bath-Its existence in Greece, etc.-The Early

Roman Baths—The Hot-Air Bath adopted from the Greeks—

The magnificent Baths of the Roman Emperors-Knowledge

of the Bath carried to Britain-Decline and Destruction of the

Bath in Rome and Western Europe-Is preserved in Asia,

Africa, &c.-Description of the Baths of the Russians, Fins,

Egyptians, Intertropical Africans, Chinese, Japanese, North

American Indians, &c., and of the Irish-The Universality of

the Hot-Air Bath conclusive as to its utility to Mankind...... 115

CHAPTER IV.

The Bath in Britain after the departure of the Romans-Its sub-

sequent destruction-The Baths of Europe during the Middle

Ages Early advocates of the revival of the Roman Bath-

Apathy of Medical Men-The story of its ultimate revival and

successful establishment-Opposition of Drug practitioners

-The Bath the perfection of Hydropathic practice............ 156

CHAPTER V.

The Physiology of Life-Its Departments, the Mechanical, Intel-

lectual, and Nutritive-Primary Importance of Healthy Nu-

trition...

178

CHAPTER VI.

Nutrition-The Blood: its circulation the main source of Nutrition

-Its impurity a source of Disease-The Excretory Organs:

action of Bath thereon......

184

CHAPTER VII.

The Skin-Its structure and uses-Its functions essential to

Life........

CHAPTER VIII.

194

The Skin considered in relation to Animal Heat-its suscepti-

bility of being made a Curative Agent in Disease...

CHAPTER IX.

The action of the Bath as Preservative of Health, and Preven-

tative of Disease-It subdues evils arising from artificial

habits of civilised life, and corrects, eradicates, or checks in-

herited predispositions to disease......

CHAPTER X.

.........

201

207

The Bath as a Curative Agent-The value of Temperature-

Popular errors concerning Heat and Cold-Ignorance of

Medical Men respecting the Therapeutical properties of Tem-

perature-The Bath as a Therapeutic-It should not be

employed in conjunction with Drug remedies-Its general

applicability to alleviate all forms of bodily derangements... 218

CHAPTER XI.

Ignorance of Disease by the Drug School-Proofs afforded by

the London Physicians-This ignorance the basis of Drug

Practice Disease as a remedial effort of Nature is sub-

ject to fixed and discoverable laws-Opinions thereon-

Mal-Nutrition the source of all Established Disease-Evils

arising from Medical Nosology-All Diseases naturally divisible

into Organic and Functional, and has its primary source in

imperfect or perverted nutrition.......

..........

225

CHAPTER XII.

The natural test of what can prove remedial in disease-

Remedies must harmonise with Nature-Effects of Food and

Drugs contrasted-Nature's operations in Disease-The true

66

office of the enlightened Physicial-Deceptive teaching of

Drug Schools-Alleged change of Type in Disease-The theory

that Disease forms part of the plan of Creation-Effects of

Drugs in producing new forms of bodily derangements, dis-

tinguished as Drug Diseases"-A list of some of them-—

Medical authorities respecting them-Suggestions by Sir John

Forbes for the reform of Practical Therapeutics-The evi-

dence concerning the use of Drugs in Disease summed up—

Conclusions.........

240

CHAPTER XIII.

The difference between Hydropathy and Physic-The same

sources of knowledge open to both-The difference in

the use made of them-Physic practice not based on the

truths disclosed by Physiology and Pathology-Those truths

perverted to sustain old theories-Errors in Practice the result

of Errors in Education-Responsibility of Medical teachers-

Erroneous Pathology-Symptoms mistaken for diseases-Mul-

tiplication of diseases by names-Hydropathic and Physic

practice contrasted in Fever...

CHAPTER XIV.

Opposition to new truths a characteristic of the medical profes-

sion-Illustrations supplied by the cases of Harvey, Sydenham,

Paré, Jenner, Hunter, Sir Charles Bell, and the history of

anæsthetic agents-The opposition to the Bath of the same

character.......

CHAPTER XV.

The animus of the senior members of the profession in opposing

the Bath-The objections advanced by Sir Dominic Corrigan—

His opinions valueless-They are based on theory and igno-

rance of what the Bath is, and opposed to Physiology and

experience-Eminent authorities who have studied the Bath

contradict his statements-Action of the Bath misrepre-

sented Desire to suppress the truth, and keep the profession

and the public in ignorance,

CHAPTER XVI.

263

278

296

The fear of catching cold from the Bath illusory--Cold bathing,

its danger as commonly practised-The Bath fortifies the

system against cold-Opinions of medical authorities............ 315