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.
He began dabbling in the Water-cure, when only twelve or thirteen years old. Having sprained his wrist, he pumped upon it and applied a wet bandage, which produced an Ausschlag, or eruption; he not knowing whether it would be beneficial or otherwise. The question was, however, soon decided; for the sprain was cured. Finding the same plan, in other sprains, cuts, and bruises invariably succeed, he recommended its adoption to his neighbours.
He next applied the wet bandage to swollen joints and local pains, and was gradually led to its application in gout and rheumatism. Observing that the wet bandage remained cold from want of heat in the part affected, he covered it with a dry one to prevent evaporation, and confine the heat. The appearance of eruption in many cases before amelioration or cure, led him to suppose that there was generally some peccant or foreign matter required to be drawn out, or eliminated. Thus drawn on to think and reason on the subject, his powers of invention were kept in constant activity to find new expedients for producing the desired effects in the fresh cases presented to him; until the present complete and efficacious system, or science was gradually developed and matured.
In treating a cut hand in one person he found it heal kindly; in another, it became angry and inflamed: whence he concluded that the blood of the one was healthy, and of the other impure. Reflecting on the effect of bandages and baths, in extracting and attracting heat, and exciting eruptions when applied, he resorted to the elbow bath, and bandages up the arm, to relieve the hand. Other modes of treatment were progressively discovered and added.
When sixteen years of age, after loading a waggon with hay, Priessnitz was standing at the horse’s head, whilst his companions were cogging the wheel; before this was effected the horse struggled, overcame him and rushed down the hill, which was very steep. Unwilling that the animal should destroy itself, Priessnitz would not relinquish his hold, his foot caught in a bush and he fell between the horse’s feet, was dragged, trampled upon and severely bruised. He was taken up senseless, with two of his front teeth gone, and three ribs on the left side broken, he was carried home, and a doctor sent for: who, after causing great pain by probing and punching the side, applied his remedies, at the same time prognosticating that his patient would never perfectly recover. Priessnitz having no respect for treatment or opinion, declined the doctor’s further attendance.
He then began to manage himself. By frequently holding his breath, and pressing his abdomen on the side of a table, for a painful length of time, he forced back the ribs into their proper position. Wet bandages were constantly applied and changed, and water drunk in abundance. By perseverance in these means he rapidly mended, and in twelvemonths his health was completely restored.