1849-1851] The Water-Cure 123 



cure a trial to see if it would do anything for my father. 

 Many entries in her diaries show how suffering his state had 

 now become. A pleasant house was taken at Great Malvern 

 where we all went. It shows what a quiet life we led that 

 I can remember the intense excitement of even hearing of 

 the proposed journey, and could now show the exact place 

 in the road where I was told of it. 



Charles Darwin to the Rev. J. S. Henslow. 



THE LODGE, MALVERN, May 6th, 1849. 



Your kind note has been forwarded to me here. You 

 will be surprised to hear that we all children, servants, and 

 all have been here for nearly two months. All last autumn 

 and winter my health grew worse and worse: incessant 

 sickness, tremulous hands, and swimming head. I thought 

 that I was going the way of all flesh. Having heard of 

 much success in some cases from the cold-water cure, I 

 determined to give up all attempts to do anything and 

 come here and put myself under Dr Gully. It has answered 

 to a considerable extent: my sickness much checked and 

 considerable strength gained. Dr G., moreover (and I hear 

 he rarely speaks confidently), tells me he has little doubt 

 but that he can cure me in the course of time time, how- 

 ever, it will take. I have experienced enough to feel sure 

 that the cold-water cure is a great and powerful agent and 

 upsetter of all constitutional habits. Talking of habits, the 

 cruel wretch has made me leave off snuff that chief solace 

 of life. . . . We shall stay here till at least June 1st, 

 perhaps till July 1st; and I shall have to go on with the 

 aqueous treatment at home for several more months. One 

 most singular effect of the treatment is that it induces in 

 most people, and eminently in my case, the most complete 

 stagnation of mind. I have ceased to think even of bar- 

 nacles ! 



The water-cure did his health great good for a time. 

 Fanny Allen says on the 20th August that he looked so differ- 

 ent from what he did before, that " one may call him cured." 



