"The practice of the Hydropathists is so open, and their disciples so numerous, that the innocence of their proceedings may be said to be established by the absence of evidence to the contrary. We cannot enter any circle of society without encountering some follower of this method, ready to narrate a series of _psuchrolousian_ [Transcriber's note: should be psychrolousian - 'psychro-' of or pertaining to cold] miracles, prepared to defend and zealous to applaud the Priessnitzian practice. Judgment must, therefore, be entered by default against its opponents, and Hydropathy is entitled to the verdict of harmlessness, since cause has never been shewn to the contrary." ERRATA. In consequence of the unavoidable absence from London of the Author, while these sheets were passing through the press, the following errors have occurred:-- _Page_ vii. _line_ 16, in preface, _for_ Spencer _read_ Stanhope. " 29, " 40, _for_ Wilson _read_ Watson. " 104, " 32, _omit_ "and the following process was adopted" " 108, " 21, _omit_ not. " 123, " 6, _omit_ before. " 127, " 26, _omit_ until warm. " 132, " 19, _for_ Scontetton, _read_ Scoutetton. " 154, " 20, _for_ minutes _read_ weeks. " 175, " 36, _for_ from Dartres, _read_ afflicted with dartres. " 208, " 25, _for_ and afterwards had wet bandages, dry ones were applied, _read_ wet bandages were applied to the inflamed part; when inflammation was subdued, the heating bandages were used. HYDROPATHY, ETC. ETC. I.--VINCENT PRIESSNITZ. "Discover what will destroy life, and you are a great man--what will prolong it and you are an impostor! Discover some invention in machinery that will make the rich more rich, and the poor more poor, and they will build you a statue! Discover some mystery in art, that will equalise disparities, and they will pull down their houses to stone you."--_Bulwer._ Priessnitz was born at Gräfenberg, October, 4th 1800. His father became blind in his nineteenth year, and remained so until his death, which took place in 1838, a period of thirty-two years, during fourteen of which his son was his guide. His mother was killed by a bull in 1821. Priessnitz's family have been in possession of the estate he now owns, consisting of about 180 acres of land, for upwards of 200 years, so that a mistake arose in calling him a peasant, instead of a farmer's son, or yeoman of Silesia. Two centuries ago (1645), when the country was invaded by the Swedes, a soldier, attempting to carry off a female of the family, was pursued and slain by one of Priessnitz's ancestors on the spot now called the Priessnitz-Quelle (or spring). A tablet placed over the spring, commemorates this event. Priessnitz was born, in what is now called the "stone house," (opposite the large establishment) which he inherited with the land.