WATER CURE AT DRESDEN 239 



physician, the Herr Naturheilkundigenrath, a follower of the 

 celebrated Priessnitz of Grafenberg, who as a penalty for prac- 

 tising without a diploma was obliged to spend a couple of 

 months each year in prison. Owing, however, to his probity of 

 character and real success as a practitioner, he was allowed to 

 take his punishment in instalments, and at times of his own 

 choosing. It was a conviction in the establishment that his 

 exile from it was coincident with Frau M.'s outbursts of temper ; 

 when these attacks threatened to last longer than usual it was 

 observed that the doctor would coolly collect his books and 

 other effects, and with placid countenance turn his back upon 

 the scene of turmoil. The patients sometimes wished they might 

 do the same, for when the kind-hearted, but quick-tempered 

 and garrulous Hausfrau once allowed her tongue full swing, 

 it was enough to drive the most devoted bather and follower 

 of the "new diet" back to the unclean world of savory dishes. 

 Under her dispensation the "dry days" especially were the 

 hardest to bear, for eating (it was impossible to drink it) a thick 

 pea soup, with salt for its only condiment, and stale bread for 

 its only accompaniment, without water, beer, or other fluid to 

 quench the raging thirst, reduced even the stalwart Prussian 

 officers undergoing treatment to a nerveless band of resentful 

 invalids. For moral support during these desiccated days, 

 the patient had to depend upon the theory that the diet which 

 produced the discomfort caused the viscous mucous coating of 

 the inner parts of the body to be absorbed and thus to purify 

 the system. These same Prussian officers whose haughtiness 

 waned only on Tauchen Tagen held themselves aloof from 

 their dyspeptic countrymen as well as from the Americans; but, 

 unable to keep their ears closed to Mr. Shaler's entertaining 

 talk at table, they learned that he was acquainted with the art 

 of war and inferred that he was or had been a soldier. When 

 the inference had ripened into a conviction, one day after din- 

 ner the chief of the party, bowing profoundly, asked if he was 

 right in supposing that Herr Shaler had worn a sword. The 



