Emetic.—In the great majority of cases, no other emetic is needed, and no better can be found.
Eliminative.—Water is a most perfect eliminative. It dissolves the excrementitious and other foreign elements of the blood, and thus materially aids in their elimination. Hence, it is a very useful diaphoretic, increasing the action of the skin, and is equally valuable as a diuretic, having the same effect upon the kidneys.
Alterative.—For a long period, mercury has been considered as the champion alterative of the materia medica. It must yield the place to water, however; for the most it can do is to destroy the elements of the blood, while water not only accelerates waste, but increases construction in the same proportion, according to the experiments of Prof. Liebig.
Derivative.—One of the most important properties of water applications is their powerful derivative effect. No other application, internal or external, can equal them in efficiency and certainty of action.
There are very few agents which possess so many remedial properties as water. There are none which effect so much with so little expense to the vital powers of the patient. Many drugs will produce results similar to those obtained by the use of water, and thus accomplish good, no doubt; but at the same time, they often work so much mischief in the system that the evil done is frequently much greater than the good accomplished. The aim of the faithful physician should be to accomplish for his patient the greatest amount of good at the least expense of vitality; and it is an indisputable fact that in a large number of cases water is just the agent with which this desirable end can be obtained.
Testimony of Eminent Physicians.—The testimonies of Currie, Jackson, and numerous other physicians of the last century have already been quoted in favor of water. There are numerous practitioners of the present day who are equally favorable to this remedial agent. Perhaps we cannot do better than to quote from the Health Reformer the following paragraphs of an abstract report of a paper read before the New York Academy of medicine, by Prof. Austin Flint, M. D., president of the society, the title of the paper being, “The Researches of Currie, and Recent Views Concerning the Use of Cold Water”:—
“Currie employed scientific methods in observing the phenomena of disease. He was one of the first to employ the thermometer in studying disease, and his observations can be received as reliable.
“The use of water externally as a means of reducing the temperature of the body in disease has recently been coming quite prominently into notice. According to Liebermeister, a noted German medical author, Currie was the first to systematize the use of water. His work was published in 1797. Liebermeister, in his recent article on typhoid fever, accords to cold water the first place in importance as an article for reducing the temperature. The use of water for this purpose is at present attracting much attention; and it is safe to predict that it will soon occupy an important place as a remedial agent.
“Much harm has been done by the ‘rude empiricism’ of Priessnitz, and the various water cures in the country; though much good has also been accomplished by the latter institutions, and they have in a measure prepared the public mind for the general introduction of water as a remedial agent.
“After the publication of the views of Currie in 1797, his method of practice, which was chiefly hydropathic, became quite general, but it was soon nearly forgotten. Trousseau recommended water treatment in scarlatina, and the use of the remedy has continued to be recommended in the text-books; but as a measure of treatment in practice, it has become nearly obsolete. It is, however, obvious that unless we accept the absurd proposition that diseases have changed since Currie’s time, the remedy which he recommended so highly must be just as efficient now as then.