single employment of the cold bath, after sweating, as enormous, while its use is often persevered in for months.

Dr Claessen tells us that the perspiration under these circumstances often assumes a very peculiar odour, which is regarded by the water-doctors as an infallible sign of the elimination of the morbific virus. A very apocryphal tale is related by Mr Lee, on the authority of one of these gentlemen, of a lady « who had taken sulphur baths seven years previously, but who had not used sulphur since that period. After she had been pursuing the cold-water cure for some time, her room smelt of sulphur, a bracelet she wore became tarnished, and her linen was stained of a yellowish colour.» Much, however, as a stinking perspiration is to be desired, a patient is to consider himself doubly fortunate if his skin should become covered with eruptions, and especially if boils in great numbers should break out on his person.

Hydropathy," says Dr Claessen, attaches peculiar value to the purulent contents of these boils, which are supposed to be made up of the diseased matter.

"

. . . This unusual commotion of the different fluids does not take place without a deep impression being made on the organism. Congestion of various organs occurs, severe pain is experienced in different parts, more especially in such as are diseased, the activity of one or more organs of the senses is stimulated to a morbid and even to a painful degree, with all of which occurrences hydriatrics are familiar under the name of excitement, (aufregung). In the further course of the treatment, and during the methodical increase of its activity, a regular fever is induced, which, according to the statements of the water-doctors, is usually followed by the cure of the disease, and to which they have given the name of crisis. It is, they assert, only in exceptional cases that the first appearance of the fever does not prove critical; but even in those instances its more energetic return, and the consequent cure of the disease, may be confidently anticipated. It is not unusual for the crisis to be ushered in by stormy and even dangerous symptoms; for the relief of which, hydropathy, in accordance with its exclusive tendencies, employs no other

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remedy than water. After the fortunate termination of the crisis, the patient is looked upon as cured, but it is considered. desirable that the determination of the fluids towards the surface should be gradually diminished, which is done by the employment of the so-called after-cure.» (pp. 38-9.)

The internal employment of cold water is, as has been already mentioned, merely subsidiary to its external use, and the copious draughts of that fluid, which the patients are directed to take, are said to favour the out-break of perspiration, as well as greatly to increase the urinary secretion. Six quarts of water are regarded as a quantity which any one may boldly venture to drink every day, and at the table d'hôte water is the only beverage allowed. Not only are wine and all highlyseasoned meats absolutely interdicted, but one of the dogmas of hydropathy is that all food ought to be taken cold rather than hot.

For this injunction, one of the water-doctors, appealing, we presume, to the experience of former days and humbler occupations, assigns the following reason:

The intestines of pigs which have been fed upon hot mashes are found to be extremely readily torn, and so rotten as to be unfit for making sausages....

It is therefore evident that hot food is improper; since it tends to relax and soften the intestines; and that persons should partake of no food but such as is cold, or at least lukewarm.» (p. 79.)

Such is a specimen of the practical reasoning of one of the apostles of the water-cure. In illustration of their theories we have space only for the following explanation of the action of cold water:

"

The curative power of water consists in its decomposing, purifying action. The healing effects of water result from the animosity to all organic life, with which it attempts to destroy it, by reducing it to its original atoms.» (p. 10.)

Enough, we trust has already been said to convince our readers that the materials for a correct appreciation of the curative effects of cold water are not to be sought at the hands of hydropathists, whose system we can regard only

as a new chapter in the long history of imposture and credulity. To Priessnitz, however, must be allowed the credit of considerable mechanical ingenuity, and of readiness in devising different methods of employing his remedy, from which some useful hints might probably be gleaned, and adopted in our hospitals. The modification of the Russian bath which he has hit upon appears to have some advantages, and is undoubtedly a most energetic remedy, though we do not feel altogether that faith in its freedom from danger which is expressed by Dr. Claessen. If the advocates of the water-cure should ever publish cases of which they detail the symptoms minutely and carefully, and not content themselves, as at present they do, with the assertion that they have cured so many cases of pneumonia, so many of fever, &c., we may at some future time return to the subject of hydropathy. Should they not do this, the grain of truth will nevertheless be speedily sifted from the bushel of falsehood, while hydropathy will soon be superseded by some new system of, if possible, greater pretension and greater absurdity.

BRITISH AND FOREIGN MEDICAL REVIEW.

GHOST GOSSIPS AT BLAKESLEY HOUSE.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "STEPHEN DUGARD. »

Well," said Simon Barnardiston, looking boldly round the room, but wishing he could see to the further end of it, I do like good ghost stories, because I don't believe them. »

And I, rejoined Hugh Buckner, like them; for nobody shall persuade me that there are no such things as ghosts. »

With respect to there actually being such things as ghosts, "

"

remarked Ebenezer Carliel, gravely, I don't know exactly

what to say.

I was one of those who used to ridicule the idea of haunted houses; but I lived to change my opinion. » In what way? asked Hugh Buckner.

"A terrible way too terrible to tell. »

If Mr Carliel really did not want to tell how he became a convert to the belief that houses may be haunted, he adopted the worst possible method for seeking his end; for his mysterious words and disturbed manner excited the most lively curiosity in his auditors, one and all of whom beset him with entreaties to go on. These he resisted as long as

VOL. I.

8

he could; but a taunt from Simon Barnardiston, insinuating that he had nothing to tell, made him resolve to relate his adventure with the SCREAMING WOMAN; and so eager was the little circle to have it, that nobody thought this time of asking about the hour, the only preparation for the story being a little closer drawing together of chairs, a glance or two at the door by Mary Falconer, her brother, and Hugh Buckner, and an adroit turning over of the log on the fire, edgeways, by Mrs Dagleish, so as to make it blaze up bonnily.

The field which my uncle bought,» said Mr Carliel, commencing his story with evident reluctance, and in a tone of voice which betrayed strong emotion," was about seven miles from, the county-town of shire. In this town, or rather in the out-skirts of it, was a private mad-house, kept by the celebrated Dr-, who was reputed emisently skilful in the treatment of insanity, but withal had the reputation of using great severity, not to say cruelty, and was moreover accused of receiving patients whom friends or relations might wish to put out of the way; and who, it was said, once committed to his care, never troubled them afterwards. The house was a large, gloomy-looking place, surrounded by a high wall, and all the windows grated with iron bars, like a prison. The noises issuing from this place, especially during the night, were so frightful and appalling that few liked to pass persons it after dark, and those who were compelled to do so, hurried along, as if they expected to see at their heels some of the poor wretches who were howling, cursing, and blaspheming within.

་་

Among the stories current in the neighbourhood was one relating to a female lunatic, whon, they called Martha. It was said that about twenty years before, a stranger, who stated himself to be her husband, arrived with her in a carriage one night. He informed Dr-, apparently with the greatest affliction, that she was labouring under frenzy of so violent and outrageous a character, that nothing but the severe discipline which was understood to be part of his treatment, could have any effect upon her. He advanced a large sum