"My dear Mr. Priessnitz,--Though this is the first time I have had the honour of writing to you, I look upon you as an old and much esteemed friend. This feeling has encouraged me to address you as such, and to solicit a favour. You have proved yourself the benefactor of the human family, and have much promoted the sacred cause of total abstinence. As a trifling mark of the high estimation in which I hold you, I presume to present the enclosed temperance medal. Condescend to accept it, and to wear it, and you will confer a deep obligation on, With profound respect, dear Mr. Priessnitz, Your devoted friend, THEOBALD MATTHEW." II.--HYDROPATHY. The term "hydropathy," has been cavilled at; its etymological sense meaning "water-disease," whilst its conventional sense means "water-cure." If disposed to dispute about terms, we might say that "physiology," in its etymological sense, means merely a discourse about nature; whilst, in a conventional sense, we understand it to treat of the science of animal life. For want of a better word, that of "hydropathy" was adopted, to express the manner of curing disease, by cold and tepid general and local baths, wet sheets (sometimes called linen baths), dripping-sheets, douche and friction, air, exercise, and drinking water. To this may be added, simplicity in our habits, and temperance in our manner of living. In fact, by the term "hydropathy," were intended all those appliances by which nature may be put in the best possible way of assisting herself, since no allopathist, homæopathist[Transcriber's note: should be homœopathist], or hydropathist, will pretend that anything he can administer has of itself any healing virtue. It is a common observation, that riding, climbing, and exercise, give us strength; the horses, hedges, mountains and ground, do not, however, impart strength, but they afford the opportunity, the necessary resistance to develop or increase that strength which is in us. The weak man, do what you will, can only develop the strength which is in him, and the strong man the same. Let, therefore, the reader judge which is best calculated to cause that development--hydropathy or drugs. III.--WHAT DOES HYDROPATHIC TREATMENT EFFECT? It promotes the vital energies, quickens the action of the absorbents, strengthens the nerves, allays irritation, promotes healthy action of the vital organs. The extreme vessels deposit healthy particles, which the absorbents remove. Dr. Gibbs, in his "Letters from Gräfenberg," states that water, applied hydropathically, acts in the following ways:-- 1st. By the more rapid liberation of caloric. 2nd. By accelerating the change of tissues. 3rd. By constringing the capillaries. 4th. By increasing nervous power. 5th. By restoring tone to the skin. 6th. By derivation. 7th. By forwarding the elimination of morbific matter; or, in other words, as a sedative, alterative, tonic, stimulant, derivative, and counter-irritant.