should die. They were then asked whether the operation would ensure my life; the answer was, Probably it would, but if any delay ensued death was inevitable." My kind and wise parent forbade the operation; and after my remaining six weeks in bed free from the application of the embrocation, I gradually recovered, to the astonishment of the doctors, but with increased lameness, to remedy which I was supplied with crutches. The consequence of this vile treatment was, my leg contracted, became stiff and fixed, forming a right angle with the thigh. This was my unfortunate position at seven years of age.

About this period there lived a middle-aged man in Preston, Lancashire, who had been a wounded soldier, disabled for service in consequence, and who afterwards had cured himself by his own peculiar treatment, which he was also pursuing in other cases, and with which he assured us he could greatly relieve me of the deformity of my leg. It was determined that I should submit to it, and I well remember his first application, for, having suffered so severely while under the doctor's hands, I became exceedingly jealous of any interference with my leg. The good man spoke to me kindly and encouragingly, and placed me on a low stool and examined my knee. After this, he steeped flannel in a decoction of herbs, and when wrung out placed it as hot as I could bear it round the limb, changing the flannel as often as it cooled. This treatment lasted upwards of two hours, and was continued pretty regularly for some weeks, when I was permitted to go and return alone. This, as the sequel will show, was imprudent, for I doubt not the restoration of the use of my limb was materially protracted in consequence.

In addition to the hot fomentations, my new doctor now attached a small weight of about two pounds to my foot by means of a strap, and made me stand on my sound leg, (holding up by a rope fixed to the ceiling,) swinging the affected leg with the weight to and fro, as well as I was able. This at first caused me considerable pain, but a rapid improvement soon became manifest by the kind and correct treatment. It was, however, too much for a child, tortured as I had been, to

bear up with; and fancying I was being cruelly treated, I began to absent myself, attending only occasionally. The weight attached to the foot was gradually increased, and, as the cure progressed, my doctor resorted to another most excellent measure in furtherance of the object in view, by adding to the prescribed remedies a long oral hollow tin, which he procured after his own design, and which he placed under the joint: to this tin was fixed a broad strong band with leathern straps and buckles; the band he buckled tight over the knee, which produced still greater pain, and which was a further inducement to follow out my truant tricks; nevertheless, the cure progressed rapidly, as I was made to wear the tin day and night. After nine months of this truly excellent, correct, and scientific treatment, I walked with the fore-part of my foct on the ground, the heel nearly touching also.

At this time we took up our residence in London, which prevented a better cure being completed, as I am satisfied it would have been. Since that time I have been affected with a slight shortening of the limb, arising from contraction of the knee-joint, with nearly complete anchylosis; but this accidental malformation has never inconvenienced me, having been capable without fatigue of walking twenty miles daily, besides performing arduous duties.

I now arrive at my present ailment, which suddenly arose five years since, whilst attending my late poor mother for ten days and nights after the cutting off her breast for supposed cancer, which, however, as I foretold, turned out to be nothing but a harmless tumour, and which would have dispersed had it been left alone, as the excellent and worthy surgeon who operated afterwards admitted, (Professor Liston.) It is needless to say that two of the first medical men of the day saw her, and quite concurred as to the propriety of operating, although at the advanced age of 72. She died in consequence of the operation, on the tenth day, though danger at the time was laughed at.

I may apologise here for a slight deviation from the recital of the published case in my work. I do so with the firm conviction that it will be properly appreciated, since it leads more

fully to establish and authenticate facts; however, the alteration consists of merely a few words, which may be called addenda, but then they are weighty ones. I would beg leave to observe, then, that I now introduce the late Professor Liston's name for the first time, having refrained from doing so before, whilst living, out of pure motives of delicacy; but I may urge in consideration of what I am writing for, facts, that I combated all in my power with the gentlemen referred to against their opinion as to the malignancy of the diseased breast, or the operation itself, but of course to no avail, although I stated firmly I believed there existed no malignant disease whatever, and that the operation would be her death; for the proof of which I could give many living tests, if required.

Perhaps I got out of health from anxiety, pending the result of the operation, and might have taken cold as well, for I was suddenly deprived of the use of my unfortunate leg, and could not take a single step without great difficulty and pain. I was in consequence obliged to keep the house for three months, using either sticks or crutches if I desired to move about. I sought the advice of the heads of the faculty, and pursued their prescriptions with rigid exactness, to little or no purpose. I then resolved to try change of air, believing the constitution to be at fault, and accordingly visited Ramsgate, in the month of October, walking with the assistance of two sticks. In a fortnight's time I improved so much that I could take tolerable exercise with one stick; not, however, without considerable pain. The weather now setting in cold and wet I returned home, and continued medical treatment with little or no benefit. In the following May, I again went to Ramsgate, and met with the same beneficial results; but my practice not permitting a long absence, a speedy return to town became necessary. I then began to suffer in the joint, occasionally very much so, looked pallid, and expectorated blood on rising in the morning. This circumstance, in connexion with others, startled me, and, apprehensive of the worst consequences, I determined on relinquishing my practice and residing permanently at Ramsgate. Since that time I have enjoyed much better health, but have always suffered more or less in my knee.

My present lameness appears to arise from chronic rheumatism of the joint, (arthrodynia.) I had tried every consistent means to remove it, but without effect. At this period I fortunately read Captain Claridge's book on the water cure, which caused me to think favourably of it.

The late Sir Astley Cooper very candidly states, in his lectures, that some diseases of the knee-joint are very difficult to cure; that persons had often come to him and found no relief whatever from his treatment, after having had the advice of the heads of the profession without benefit. Sir Astley also mentions in his lectures that he sponged his body over with cold water, night and morning, with the most marked benefit; that, though he went from the heated anatomical theatre, or lecture-room, and remained about the hospital-yard in silk stockings and shoes, and lightly clad, he never took cold, which he attributed to the cold ablutions. These considerations, together with the remarks of many continental medical men, as evidenced by Captain Claridge, induced me to visit Græfenberg, and submit myself to the water cure.

After having fully stated my case to Priessnitz, and answered his questions as to my general state of health, I was at five o'clock the next morning awoke by the bath servant, and wrapped up in a wet sheet. I had a slight shiver for about three minutes, when I began to recover my warmth; soon after which I felt so perfectly comfortable and composed that I fell asleep. About six o'clock I was again awoke by the bath attendant, who was accompanied by Priessnitz, who, on my emerging from the sheet, examined me very attentively from head to foot, feeling my skin, and desiring me to take a few steps; the baddiener then threw a dripping sheet over my head, and rubbed me over it briskly for five minutes. Priessnitz again examined my skin, then placed a wet bandage, covered with a dry one, round my knee, and directed the above processes to be repeated three times daily, which was the case during my stay at Græfenberg, viz., at five in the morning, eleven in the forenoon, and five in the afternoon, besides the whole of the diseased leg being enveloped in a wet and dry bandage on retiring for the night.

Priessnitz expressed himself confident of being able to effect a radical cure; but from the long standing of the malady, at the same time stated that two or three years might probably elapse before it could be accomplished. This announcement by no means dispirited me, and I continued the treatment with rigid exactness during my residence at Græfenberg, until I was compelled to quit in consequence of the severity of the weather,―snow-storms, and the slippery state of the roads and walks preventing my taking exercise out of doors for days together. I much regretted this circumstance, for I felt confident of a favourable result, could I have remained the required time. I had suffered incessantly for five years previously; after a short time of the treatment all pain had abated, and a few days before my departure from Græfenberg, a crisis broke out beneath the knee-cap of the diseased joint,an open ulcer, free from pain, which commenced discharging, afforded considerable strength to the limb; and I was then able to walk about the house for four hours, without fatigue and without the assistance of my walking-stick, which had not happened for five years previously. The approach for the time of my departure prevented my continuing the treatment, in consequence of which the wound healed in about a week, when my former weakness of the joint returned, but without pain.

Since my return home I have devoted all my spare time to the completion of this treatise, in order to contribute to the benefit of my fellow-creatures, so that I have been unable to continue the treatment, but shall now forthwith recur to it in my own establishment.

It may not be out of place here to mention the case of Mr. Oswald, Prussian Consul at Hamburgh, who informed me he had been crippled for years in one of his legs from rheumatism; that he had sought the best continental advice-the Berlin doctors among the number-and at length was radically cured at Græfenberg after a stay there of two years and a-half. On the day I had the pleasure of seeing the gentleman at his own home in Hamburgh, nine months had elapsed since his return from Græfenberg.

THOMAS SMETHURST, M.D.