Our opinion that water, even without Priessnitz's valuable modes of applying it, is the best remedy--is supported by Dr. Abernethy, who, in his book entitled "Surgical Observations", mentions a case of a lady (page 200), who had gone up to town for the removal of a diseased breast, who was cured without amputation, the only local application being linen moistened with water. Dr. Abernethy applied water poultices also for glandular swellings, which had the effect of removing the swelling without suppuration--_see pages_ 189 and 192. I know a French lady who cured herself of a hard swelling on the breast: she took a rubbing-sheet every morning, a sitz-bath at mid-day, drank ten tumblers of water daily, and wore a wet bandage, with a dry one over it, on the breast always, until the hardness was removed. _A case of White Swelling._--A letter from Dr. Gibbs to the Editor of the Water-cure Journal. "My dear Sir, "_March, 17th, 1848_. "I have heard even friends of the Water-cure express doubts of its efficacy in the treatment of white swelling. For the benefit of such unbelievers I transcribe the case at foot, from a letter which I received from the mother of the youthful patient. "The enemies of the system frequently assert that it cures only imaginary diseases; how many would rejoice if it could be proved that white swelling properly came under this category! "From the details of this case, it appears that, by the advice of Priessnitz, an operation was performed by the late very eminent surgeon, Dieffenbach; and this affords occasion to observe, that Dieffenbach several times remarked, that patients sent to him from Water-cure establishments were in a healthier condition for the knife than others, and more speedily recovered from the effects of an operation.