Hydropathy, or, The water-cure : its principles, processes, and modes of treatment : compiled in part from the most eminent authors, ancient and modern, on the subject, together with an account of the latest methods adopted by Priessnitz, illustrated with numerous cases of cure / by Joel Shew.

  • Joel Shew
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hydropathy, or, The water-cure : its principles, processes, and modes of treatment : compiled in part from the most eminent authors, ancient and modern, on the subject, together with an account of the latest methods adopted by Priessnitz, illustrated with numerous cases of cure / by Joel Shew. 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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    Should an old woman, or any one, discover a drug of which it should be said, on good authority, that it was capable, in one dose, of producing the most powerful sweating; and in another, of reducing the tempera- ture of the body most efficiently, and of retarding the velocity of the circulation to any required extent, and which consequently could be made to fulfil] every intermediate indication, the student-like physician would most certainly set to work and test fairly and fully the power of the old woman's drug. Yet who is there at all willing to do it ? The great physiologist and physician, Magendie, makes the strong assertions, that the science of medicine is almost the only one charac- terized by uncertainly and chance'''—that the existing system of medi- cal study confers trifling good on society—that there is scarcely a sound idea on physiology abroad—that the plan hitherto pursued in the study of medicine, has been too narrow ever to lead to those happy results that dignify an age by improving the condition of humanity— and that the prevalent mode of treating disease, harmonizes admi- rably with, and is quite as senseless as, the method of reasoning in pathology. The practitioner mixes, combines, and jumbles together vegetable, mineral, and animal substances; administers them right or wrong, without for a moment considering the cause of the disease, and without a single clear idea on the why and wherefore of his conduct. Another says, all things considered, it were better for mankind if not a particle of medicine existed on the face of the earth ; and the learned Hoffman of the seventeenth centuiy said, avoid medicine and physicians, if you value your health ! However strong and sweeping these assertions may at first appear, if we carefully examine, we shall find that there is vastly too much of truth in them. The study of the mere relation between symptoms and remedies, without sufficient reference to the removing of the causes of disease, has been too much the case in medicine. Hippo- crates used but little medicine, and his remedies were few and simple. His principal business was to discover and remove the causes of disease. Medicine has likewise been followed too much as a mere business— a means of livelihood, or a source of emolument. And then again, if we may hazard the opinion, it is too true that the existing system of medicine is often found going in direct opposition to its fundamental principles. This it is claimed cannot in truth be said of hydropathy. The practice in the water-cure is consistent, rational, and explainable. Let us not be misunderstood in this matter. Far be it from us to depreciate, in any way, the value of the profession. It is error, and not men, or any class of men, that we have to contend with. The noble profession of our choice we esteem—a profession, than which there is none of more importance to society and the race. But we could sooner doubt our very existence, than that the healing art cornea