The Water Cure in Chronic Disease - An Exposition of the Causes, Progress, and Terminations of Various Chronic Diseases of the Digestive Organs, Lungs, Nerves, and of Skin; And of Their Treatment by Water, and Other Hygienic Means #251851

Every writer supposes that his work is to supply some want. My object in publishing this treatise, is to afford a truthful and rational exposition of the value of the water treatment in certain chronic diseases. I apprehend that it is wanted, because the works on the subject of the water cure which have hitherto appeared in this country contain, so far as my experience informs me, much over statement as to its operation, and are moreover written rather to catch the hopeful invalid, than to enlighten him as to the nature of his disease, or the mode in which the water plan is to relieve it. From this remark I except the work of Dr. E. Johnson, entitled, Hydropathy, wherein the manner in which the water cure Operates on the chemistry of the living body is very ably traced. The other works have not the slightest claim to be called scientific. In the First Part of this work, the origin, progress, extension, and terminations of Chronic Disease in general, are delineated and explained, and one general deduction from the facts made, — namely, that no disease becomes chronic, unless the central organs of nutrition are affected.