ERYSIPELAS CURED BY HYDROPATHY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE WATER CURE JOURNAL. MY DEAR SIR,-When I was at Ben Rhydding, many of the patients suggested to me that my late rapid recovery from a violent attack of Erysipelas, and cure by cold water at your hydropathic establishment, was a case that ought to be made known to the public, by means of your Water Cure Journal; and being myself impressed with the efficacy of the remedy, and feeling desirous that others who might have similar complaints should, if your Journal was read by them, have what information I could give them respecting the mode of a safe and speedy cure, by the simple, yet not less efficacious, means of cold water, and that without the least injury to the constitution, but rather improving it. Should you concur in this opinion, I have now much pleasure in complying with their requests; and you have my approbation to insert this letter, but not to attach my name to it. However, if any per son write to you, and desire my address, you have my consent to give it them.

I would state, that previous to my late illness, my health was good; indeed, through a life of sixty years I have usually enjoyed this most valuable blessing, with the exception of some five or six weeks, about eighteen months ago. I then had the same complaint in my face, and was under an eminent physician, and treated in the old way, by bleeding with leeches at my nose, and with other appliances, and at the same time drugged until my teeth were loose, and my strength so reduced that I could not stand without assistance. This time the complaint was much more extensive than before, my face being swollen so that one eye was nearly closed. The disease commenced in my right leg, and in a few days extended into my left one, and also to my thighs, arms, and hands. In a week from my first attack, the right leg had swollen to be nearly as thick as my thigh, and with my face so much inflamed that I could with difficulty look on the light. I called in no medical assistance. I had read some works on the water treatment, and in some minor cases, such as a soar throat, adopted it; besides, a friend of mine having recently been about five weeks at your establishment, and being so much benefited, that a strong impression was made on my mind in favour of the cold water system; and, after a consultation with a friend or two, I fully made up my mind to go to your hydropathic establishment at Ben Rhydding.

When this determination was formed, I felt much dispirited with the thoughts of the distance to travel, nearly one hundred miles by railway, and sixteen by coach; but there was no time to be lost; the disease travelled whether I did or not, so at once I set off, and arrived with you on the 4th of April last, at seven o'clock in the evening. You kindly and promptly visited me in my apartment, and recommended me to take the envelope (wet sheet) forthwith. I must say that this appeared to me somewhat like sharp practice, for I had had no refreshment on my journey, except a little bread and water; and to lie down, cold as I was, (the complaint excepted,) and be wrapped in a cold wet sheet, appeared a little formidable at first; but I now feel exceedingly thankful that your mind was directed to this remedy, as I found it very soothing to the skin, and I now think the very best remedy for such complaints.

After the first day or so, you ordered me to take the envelope three times a day, and for two hours each time, immediately after the envelope taking the shallow bath at seventy degrees. On my arrival with you, and for ten or twelve days, I was in a most pitiable condition. My sleep at night had left me, or nearly so; many times day-light nearly returned before I went to sleep. You ordered my legs to be enveloped in coarse wet cold napkins when I was in bed, and these to be renewed once or twice before morning; by night and day I was obliged to have the compress on them for about three weeks.

In about a week after I came under your care, I considered the progress of the disease to be arrested, and afterwards it gradually died away. The right leg was reduced by the simple means of a compress, or wet clothes wrapped round them; these I was obliged to have to my hands and arms also. When I first came to you I could walk but little, and that only with pain and difficulty, and with slippers on. I soon was able to put on my shoes and mend my pace; but what was the most astonishing to myself and others was, that I was able to put my boots on, and I walked well before the end of the month. The whole of the time my appetite was good; I had plenty of good, plain food, which fully kept up my weight, and I lost very little in strength; and at the end of twenty-nine days I returned home to my family and business, the complaint being quite subdued, and mostly removed. It is now nine days since I left you, and every vestige of the disease is nearly gone. I yet continue to take the envelope and shallow bath daily, as advised by you, but feel assured these may safely be discontinued ere long.

In conclusion, allow me, my dear sir, to express my gratitude to you for your prompt, kind, and judicious attention to me while I was with you. With God's blessing on the means employed by you, I now feel myself even more active, lively, and strong than I have been for some time back.

Should you determine to publish this account in your valuable Journal, I hope it may be the means of doing much good to others who may have a similar disease.

I am, my dear Sir,

Most respectfully your obedient servant,

Preston, May, 16th, 1848.

J. F.

THE WATER CURE APPLICABLE TO INSANITY.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE WATER CURE JOURNAL. SIR,-During my residence at Dunoon, whilst practising hydropathy in the usual forms, I have found it successful in the treatment of Insanity.

In the month of January last, a gentleman was placed under my care, as an out-patient, who had been long a resident in the Glasgow Lunatic Asylum, in a state of mental aberration. He was brought to me directly from the asylum. At that period he was violent, or when not so, was morose and silent; the power of fixing attention was almost entirely lost, and he was totally incapable of self-control.

The case was marked by no hallucination or perversion of the moral sense, but the patient was in a state that was tending fast to imbecility. I found the brain much oppressed; the blood vessels of the eyes were injected; the alimentary canal was also in a disordered condition. The excellent discipline of the Glasgow Lunatic Asylum (one of the best in Europe), had not produced the slightest effect upon this patient, and his friends classed him amongst the incurables.

Under the influence of long-continued sitz-baths, and occasional wet-sheet packings (every alternate day), the gastric irritation gradually subsided, the brain was relieved, and the physical health became re-established. The mental symptoms, however, yielded more slowly. The first sign of improvement was the increasing interest he manifested in his own state; he began to

* I have found the douche of immense advantage in insane cases where there is much depression.

reply to questions in full and at length, whereas he previously confined himself to monosyllables.

He then, at my suggestion, acquired a knowledge of draughts, playing every evening. I then procured for him the loan of some novels, as Peter Simple, &c. In these he took great interest, and began to make pertinent remarks on their respective merits. The power of attention, a month since, was so far increased and established, that he began voluntarily to peruse Thierry's History of the Norman Conquest, and expressed delight at its arrangement and perspicuity. Some little time ago, in conversation with a domestic, he stated, "Do not mention it, but I have been deranged, and am being cured by cold water."

This case has been carefully watched from the commencement, not only by myself but by an eminent Scotch medical professor under hydropathic treatment at Dunoon, and we both concur in the opinion that the patient is convalescent, capable of self-control, and fit for all the social duties of life.

We cannot take insane patients in our institutions, but I have several cases under treatment in the village of Dunoon, should they prove successful, I shall be happy to furnish you with their history.

I remain, yours, &c. ROWLAND EAST, Surgeon, &c.

Dunoon, near Greenock, April 13, 1848.

THE IRISH FEVER.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

SIR,-A fact connected with the history of the fever which prevailed in Ireland last year has not been publicly commented on, though it is of the very highest importance to medical science, and to physical science in general, especially as serving to add new light to our information on the relations between the external atmosphere and the human body.

Of all those who caught the fever, that were in comfortable circumstances, and could command medical attendance and other advantages, the majority fell victims to the fever.

Of all those who, while suffering under it, were compelled to lie on straw against old walls, and earthen roads, and field fences, without any other covering than the rags which they carried on their persons, and no other comfort than a drink of cold water, for which they were often compelled to crawl themselves to the nearest well or stream, the majority recovered.

That a solitary individual should recover from fever under such circumstances, would be a very remarkable circumstance.

That a considerable number should recover, would create astonishment.

But that a majority should recover, is a fact which discovers the operation of some physical causes, which it is of the highest importance to investigate.

I give you the fact on the authority of parties whose information. extended over several parishes. A lady tells me that between her own residence and her place of worship, five persons, known to her as mendicants or poor farm-servants, lay ill of fever by the roadside, on straw, and that every one of them recovered.

It is a general remark, that of those who were thus compelled to lie in the open air none perished of the fever, except those whose whose constitutions were previously so debilitated by hunger that they could only support a brief struggle.

I have the honour to be, Sir,
Yours respectfully,

March 12, 1848.

N.

FEVER AND SMALL-POX.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

SIR,-In confirmation of the remarks on several cases of Fever in Ireland, communicated by letter in the Times of the 15th inst., I beg to state that during the construction of the London and Birmingham Railway through Northamptonshire, fever and smallpox broke out in the over-crowded villages, and many of the diseased men (strangers) were thrust out by the parties with whom they had taken up a temporary residence, and the only accomodation or shelter they had was clean straw in the end of a ruined barn, or under an open cow-shed. Many of these men I saw with small-pox thick out upon them, all of whom recovered; in fact, without one exception, all the out-door patients recovered; but death was most active with those cases sheltered in the houses and "taken care of." This is of my own knowledge, and I agree with your correspondent "N.," that there are physical causes in operation which it is of "the highest importance to investigate."

Manchester, March 15, 1848.

I am, Sir, yours respectfung,

R.