Practical hydropathy : including plans of baths and remarks on diet, clothing, and habits of life / by John Smedley.

  • Smedley, John.
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical hydropathy : including plans of baths and remarks on diet, clothing, and habits of life / by John Smedley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    season has risen high in the heavens at five o'clock, and the chorus of the birds has commenced still earlier,—where there is a very extensive and beautifully-varied landscape of mountain, valley, and ■wood,—there is every inducement to throw oft' drowsy feelings, and rise to work for the glory of God, and the benefit of mankind. Yet- sometimes, even in this charming spot, melancholy thoughts will cross the mind, especially when I reflect that many of the former inhabitants of this ancient and beautiful Hall may not have been wise, in the day of their pilgrimage, in securing the salvation of their immortal souls, by being born again of water and the Spirit, ■without which none who have heard the Gospel tidings, the Scrip- tures say, shall enter the kingdom of heaven. Should there have been such, I sometimes think, when viewing the grand panorama of mountains around, how dreadful must be their remorse and self- reproach now they have discovered that they might have had, by a life of faith and obedience, the blessings of this life and the fruition of that which is eternal; for all the treasures of earth, and all its beauties and its pleasures, are but shadows of happiness in comparison with the great realities to be enjoyed in the regions of the blest. May such thoughts of such possibilities quicken the living to a lively sense of the realities of the same . Here also is the site of a Druidical temple, the remains of which, standing on the summit of the hill overlooking Darley Dale, were, by barbarous hands, removed but a few years since. It was, indeed, a commanding spot for such a purpose. The mind i3 led back to the time (probably more than t\yo thousand years ago) when the inhabitants of the surrounding district, far and near, might be seen on the first day of November ascending the steep mountain side from the surrounding district, bringing their offerings to the priests, and carrying back the sacred fire, to relight their family hearths, which had all been extinguished by the priests' command the evening before; and no doubt also often to witness human sacrifices. This worship was put an end to by the Eomans, who came into this country B.C. 55; and who, on this hill, in after-times, made large fires, when the south wind blew, not for sacrifices, but to smelt the lead ore so abundantly found in this locality. Very frequently my patients have requested me *o print my per- sonal experience of Hydropathy, and the reasons which induced me to have a Hydropathic Establishment. 1 promised to do that when I brought my new pamphlet out, and. at the risk of incurring ciiticism, I now perform my promise. It may seem to some persons presumptuous in me, having had no regular medical education, to write on the curative principles of any treatment; but very gratifying success of our efforts, however, for the benefit of our fellow-creatures, has emboldened me to go on with my work. We may truly say, we have seen so many hundreds restored or relieved, without any serious errors, that we cannot
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