natural and acknowledged power-and its glory is that, like truth, it can enter into no dishonest compromise with error, and thus its very existence must always be a standing protest against the baneful errors of Pharmacy, while by its successful progress alone can society be emancipated from the cruel slavery and suffering necessarily co-existent with drug practice.

The public generally should understand that the utility of The Bath, or of Hydropathic practice, is not so much a question of science as of common sense. True, it appeals to science by its harmonious concordance with the unerring laws of Nature, and the congruity of its action with the vital functions of our nutritive organism, but it appeals not less confidently to the evidence of rational experience to the irresistible logic of sensation, of well-ascertained facts. When Dr. Johnson was asked how he could reply to a sophistical metaphysical argument to prove the non-existence of matter, he lifted his big foot, and, stamping on the ground, sturdily exclaimed—“ Sir, that's my reply." It was the demonstration of sensation, rationally applied, in opposition to metaphysical sophistry; and so with The Bath, Doctors may conjure up a thousand evils as likely to arise from its use; but the experience of benefits invariably received is certain to outweigh them all. When fairly, fully, and consistently tested by this philosophic standard, The Bath never can be found wanting, because, in all cases, susceptible of relief by human means, its invariable action, when properly administered, must prove beneficial, for Nature cannot err.

Let it not, however, be supposed, for a moment, that any intention exists to fall into the inconsistent and absurd superstition cherished by the Drug School, and represent The Bath, or Hydropathy, as a catholicon or panacea. Very far from it. There is not in Nature any sovereign remedy for all diseases, save the avoidance of their causes; but this, at least, is certain, that, as far as scientific inquiry has extended, and as far as the unerring evidence of enlightened and verified experience warrants a decided conviction and justifies its candid expression,

The Bath can be most advantageously employed in all diseases; and that, in cases where its curative properties are rendered powerless by the malignancy of organic or other derangements, it is still capable of exercising a most salutary and soothing influence as a demulcent, in abating the virulence of morbid action, and alleviating, as nothing else can do, the misery of human suffering. To this rational extent and no further the use of The Bath is advocated. Could the Drug School follow as far, then, indeed, physic practice would not be what those most familiar with its practice admit it is—a pretentious and pernicious sham!

From what has been now said, the case may be considered as fairly stated between the antagonistic and irreconcilable systems of Drug Medication in the treatment of disease, and of Hydropathy, of which The Bath is, at once, the perfection and glory.

The evidence given respecting the state of the Medical Profession will serve to clear away many delusions, and lead to a more correct estimate than usually prevails concerning the capacity of its members to deliver dispassionate, unbiased opinions in condemnation of whatever is opposed to the practice they are identified with. By candidly considering these points, the intelligent reader will be better enabled to exercise his own free and independent judgment on the contents of this work, and the merits of the system it is designed most earnestly to recommend.

Every man is surely far more deeply interested in whatever tends to the preservation of his own healthy well-being, bodily and mental, than any Ductor possibly can be? Doctors, after all, are just like other men. They have the same infirmities as their neighbours, are influenced by the same motives, and moved by the same impulses, while they are necessarily tainted with the proverbial instincts of professional or class interests, besides being so largely and powerfully swayed by the prejudices of education. It cannot, therefore, be reasonably expected that men, as a body, who make their living by Drugs,

should be very anxious to destroy, or see destroyed, public faith in their fabulous efficacy. Their hostility, therefore, to the reception of Natural Agents, the beauty and simplicity of which their interests and prejudices will not permit them to comprehend, might be excusable enough, were anything less serious than health and life concerned.

There are, however, in the Profession, minds superior to its prejudices and sordid interests, and their opinions are deserving of respectful consideration. The judgment in all such cases is finally with the public, and most assuredly it is the duty of an intelligent public to read, reflect, and judge for themselves.

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 MedicineTheir 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 establishment Authorities confirmative of its principles and practice.

THE term Hydropathy, which is a corruption from HydroTherapeutics, is now generally employed to signify the systematic application of water in various ways to the treatment of disease. The term, however, is neither scientifically correct nor appropriately expressive; but, as it is now naturalised in our language, it is important to understand clearly what meaning it is intended to convey. It must not, then, be considered in so limited, imperfect, and deceptive a sense as being merely synonomous with the phrase "water-cure;" because, as now scientifically developed, Hydropathy has a far more comprehensive signification It is a System-a Science, that has had its rude

and imperfect beginnings like Surgery, Astronomy, Chemistry, and other great systematised departments of knowledge, which now so largely contribute to the elevation and happiness of mankind. A writer in Chambers's Encyclopædia with truth observes:

"From a variety of circumstances the system of Hydropathic Medicine has been greatly misunderstood and misjudged by the general public. For one thing, the name water-cure or Hydropathy, adopted by Priessnitz, has been very prejudicial, as leading to the false inference that one element alone constitutes the bone and marrow of the system, playing the part of a panacea for every form of human ailment. Such a notion has never been maintained by the practitioners of scientific Hydropathy, and it is matter of regret that some more comprehensive and catholic title, as that of "Hygienic Medicine,' has not long since been adopted."-Art. Hydropathy.

Hydropathy, in its comprehensive sense as a science, is at once Hygienic and Therapeutic. It embraces not the use of water alone, but the employment of all natural agencies whatsoever that tend to the preservation of health, and the relief of mental or bodily derangements. It thus covers the whole ground pretentiously claimed to be within the peculiar and exclusive domain of "Practical Medicine" as regulated, professed, and practised by Physic-Doctors. The means it employs are called natural, because they are in harmony with the inflexible laws that govern the human economy, and, therefore, are in contradistinction to the means Drug-practitioners use, which consist in the unnatural and deleterious contrivances of Pharmacy-just as whatever nourishes vitality is called food; and whatever has a reverse action, and necessarily tends to impair or destroy vitality, is properly called poisonous. As the writer already quoted observes :

"The Hydropathic Physician avoids using all means with whose effects he is not thoroughly conversant, or which may, at least, interfere with Nature's own operations. Hence, as a rule, he eschews the use of drugs, and betakes himself to those more simple natural agents which, in their totality, receive the name of Hygienic.

"The conditions of health, as unfolded by physiology, may be briefly stated to consist of five necessary requirements—air, exercise, water, diet, and nervous repose. These are undeniably essential to the preservation