Hydropathy for the people : with plain observations on drugs, diet, water, air, and exercise / by William Horsell ; with notes and observations by R.T. Trall.

  • Horsell, William, 1808-1863.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hydropathy for the people : with plain observations on drugs, diet, water, air, and exercise / by William Horsell ; with notes and observations by R.T. Trall. 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.)

    10/254
    drunkenness from the land,* viz., Teetotalism. I confess I did this with some reluctance, fearing it would injure my health ; such were my foolish notions of strong drink. I have since proved that teetotalism is the first application of science to diet on a large and popular scale, and now sincerely believe that all unnatural beverages might be at once banished from the earth, not only without any loss (except that of disease, crime, and misery), but with the greatest possible benefit to mankind. For months previously to my adopting the teetotal prin- ciple, I had thought I should be necessitated to decline the ministry altogether, in consequence of a settled pain in my left breast; but after three months' abstinence it began sensibly to decline, and in six months it finally left me. My general health improved, and I was enabled to endure much more fatigue, and to do my work with much more pleasure. But still my dyspeptic complaint did not leave me. I was troubled with constipation and headache, especially when I studied more than usual, so that I was under the necessity of taking aperient medicine, never less than once a month, and often once or twice a week. Soon after the publication of Mr. Claridge's excellent work on Hydropathy, it fell into my hands; I gave it a careful reading, and then a second ; I studied its reasonings and facts, and was so fully convinced of the force of most of his observa- tions, that I soon began, by degrees, to adopt so much of his plan as circumstances would admit of, and as I thought my case demanded. Commencing the third stage in temperance, I left off tea, coffee, etc., and all hot liquids; also pepper, vinegar, mustard, and all hot spices; took nothing more than * Lord Althorp told tho House of Commons, that drinking intoxicating iquors was the immediate cause of drunkenness. Would you first re- move the cause or the effect, if you were aiming at the overthrow of any evil ? Philosophy—the philosophy of common sense, says the cause. Then abstain. Abandon it, and secure yourself against its bewitching influence.