| Water is one of the most common elements around us. It possesses both symbolic and utilitarian value. Today, as in the past, water is a precious liquid. We cannot survive as biological organisms without water, nor can we thrive as social beings without water in our lives.;Water has long been known and prized for its healing powers. The term that defines water as a healing mechanism is "hydropathy," which dates back to 1843. Hydropathy is the use of water, both externally and internally, to heal the body. Although others had written about the benefits of using water to heal the body, it was Vincent Priessnitz (1799--1851) who claimed to have demonstrated water's healing powers by curing himself. Following his lead, people in Europe and the United States used hydropathy not only as a treatment for medical conditions but also as a means of entertainment and leisure.;"Taking the waters" at elaborate water-cure establishments was often a chance for people to "see and be seen." In other words, these establishments became important venues for people to enhance or confirm their social status. Water-cure establishments became a popular vacation choice and proved to be very profitable. As water came to be appreciated as a necessary element, it also became "domesticated." Bathing went from being a public activity to a private affair. When hydropathy "went private" products were increasingly manufactured for individual use. These products commercialized hydropathy and brought this valuable commodity into the private sphere.;This study's focus is on hydropathy and its medical, social, and commercial roles in western European and American societies between 1850 and 1950. These dates correlate with the rise and decline of hydropathy's popularity as a medical treatment. This study will follow the expansion of hydropathy and investigate reasons for its relative decline as a healing mechanism. Society's changing attitudes about hydropathy in England, France, Germany, and the United States will be examined. The study will conclude by asking whether, in our time, hydropathy has not once again flowed into the mainstream of public consciousness. |
