WATER CURE REJECTED. 71 



I declare, then, that I, Harry Otter, am by nature a 

 person of considerable aquatic propensities, having been 

 born under the sign of Aquarius, or Pisces, — ■ it matters 

 not which. My delight in water, however, has its 

 limits, and extends only to external applications: the 

 placid amusement of wading in a Salmon river is very 

 much to my taste — quite captivating. Showers, and 

 even storms, if not of too long a continuance, are 

 exceedingly refreshing to my person ; but I must in 

 candour admit that the decisive action of a water-spout 

 may not possibly be so gratifying — ne quid nimis. 

 Macintosh's invention I consider as wholly uncalled 

 for, accounting it, as I do, an unpardonable intrusion 

 to place a solution of Indian-rubber between the human 

 body and a refreshing element. It is like taking a 

 shower-bath under shelter of an umbrella. 



Thus far I can extend; but desire me to drink 

 water by itself, and I am your very humble servant. 

 Had I been at a symposium of brandy and the 

 said vapid element with that worthy Magnus Troil, he 

 should not have drunk all the brandy himself, and put 

 me off with the water, as he is recorded to have done 

 to his very simple friend. I beg to say that I am not 

 one of those two thousand patients who have been 

 relieved by a ivater cure, administered by James Wilson, 

 Esq., physician to his Serene Highness the Prince of 

 Nassau, as advertised. Internally, in its pure state, I 

 totally discard it. But I like the society of fish ; and 

 as they cannot with any convenience to themselves 

 visit me on dry land, it becomes me in point of courtesy 

 to pay my respects to them in their own element. 



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