30 On the Neglect of the Bath Waters. 



These are of two kinds, domestic and foreign. The domestic 

 are certain speculative views in medical doctrine, which have 

 prevailed in this city during the above-mentioned period. I 

 need not add that the practice has corresponded with the 

 theory. They originated with a gentleman of commanding 

 talent and persuasive manner, who, for many years, enjoyed 

 the highest reputation, having scarcely any competitor, and 

 being singularly felicitous in the ready adoption of his opinions 

 by the subordinate members of the profession ; who, from his 

 general and extensive practice, and freely communicative dis- 

 position, could not fail to become acquainted with them. These 

 views, it is well known, were altogether unfavourable to the use 

 of the Bath waters, for if diseases originate " either in absolute 

 or relative excess of momentum, impetus, or determination of 

 blood, in some portion of the arterial system of the part af- 

 fected *, (and I do not know that there were any exceptions to 

 this doctrine,) it was not very likely that the Bath waters, 

 which have tonic and stimulant properties, though of a mild 

 kind, should have at any time been considered an appropriate 

 remedy. So generally have the medical practitioners of this 

 place been thus influenced in their practice, that a great pro- 

 portion of persons sent hither to drink the waters, have not 

 been allowed to taste it. Some, however, in opposition to their 

 opinions, have preferred the advice which sent them here, and 

 taken the forbidden drink, with a success that has falsified the 

 fears of those gentlemen, and excited the ridicule of the 

 patients by whom they have been thus exposed. But a few 

 instances of this kind were not sufficient to correct the general 

 practice, which has proved highly injurious, not only to the 

 reputation of the waters, but likewise to themselves ; for those 

 distant practitioners, whose patients, instead of drinking the 

 waters, were subjected to plans of treatment which they never 

 contemplated, have been so disgusted, as to lose all confidence 

 in a remedy undeservedly subject to such frequent prohibition, 

 and have therefore discontinued their recommendation of it. 



* See Elements of Pathology and Thei-apeutks, by Caleb Hillier Parry* 

 M.D. F.R.S., vol. i. p. 358. 



