Review of hydropathy, or the water-cure / by John Forbes.

  • Forbes, John, Sir, 1787-1861.
Date:
1848
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Review of hydropathy, or the water-cure / by John Forbes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    in opposition to it cannot be true, unless a previously cherished truth was a fallacy. Self-interest, prejudice, pride, ignorance and obstinacy blind men from seeing or at least adopting newly discovered truths. It ought not to be so. Truth, plain and palpable, should be acknowledged by all men—but it can scarcely be heard except by those from whom it can serve no interest to conceal it. It may conflict with interest; it may meet with opposition from pride ; it may and always does stamp error on long cherished notions; it may overturn a whole system of education and show its fallacies. Professional men, especially those who have at- tained the character of leaders, are the last to listen to any reform. Physicians grown gray with years and practice seldom question a cus- tom that has fallen in with their prejudices of the times. It is character- istic of the medical profession, if we may judge from past history and present observation, to persecute the discoverers of any new ihing, cer- tainly if it appears to produce important changes. They, mostly, obsti- nately persevere in following the system they have learned and condemn any innovation that may be attempted to be introduced. Goethe, the celebrated German poet, says that when, from time to time, a man arises who is fortunate enough to discover one of the great secrets of nature, ten others immediately start up who industriously and strenuously endeavor to conceal it again from view. No sooner had the Water Cure made some little noise in the neighbor- hood where it started than the doctors combined to put it down by per- secution and prosecution. They denounced it as quackery, and com- plained to the authorities at Vienna, alledging that medicated sponges were nsed, and to this was owing the wonderful cures performed by the German peasant. The government finally sent a commission of inquiry to Graefenberg and found that the only agents used were water, air, exercise and diet. It became satisfied that he should be sustained, and extended to him its protection. He is now the Prince of Physicians, courted by his govern- ment and considered throughout the civilized world as one of the great- est benefactors of his race and age. Is there in Christendom, says Calvert, a physician who can cool the skin and open the pores at will in a burning fever? Not all the schools and systems of all countries, through long ages of experiment and use, have discovered the nature of fevers and the art of treating them. In spite of his diaphoretics, his lancet, his antiphlogistics and tonics, death strides past the doctor and seizes upon the young and robust as boldly and surely now as a thousand years ago. Let the world, then, re- joice. Glad tidings have come from Graefenberg. Some of the scour- ges of mankind are stayed. Inflammations and fevers, including the scarlet, small pox and measles, are perfectly manageable by Priessnitz and his pupils. What is the glory of Harvey and Jenner to that of the German peasant? The faculty say there is nothing new in Priessnitz' pretended discov- eries. Is there nothing new in putting a patient daily, for months, thro'