The Value of Natural Treatment
THE following extract from the life of Catherine Booth speaks for itself of the value of the rational application of the remedies that God has provided in nature:— “I was told that one of our most devoted cadets was raging mad. He had flown at Ballington, of whom he is most fond, and it took eight men to master him. They had a clever doctor, and he stated that it was a case of hopeless insanity, and ordered him to be taken to an asylum, as their lives were in danger. I came in just as they were negotiating this, and said that he should not go. I felt sure that it was a case of inflammation of the membrane of the brain. I sent the commissioner of lunacy off when he came, and dismissed the doctor, taking charge myself. They had him tied with ropes, hand and foot, and four men to watch him. I instructed them to take the ropes off one hand at a time, substituting strips of wet linen, leaving the ends for them to hold, let them undress him, got a sheet ready, and we had him in a pack and asleep in three quarters of an hour. He had not slept for three nights and days. I have had him packed morning and night, and a hot mustard blanket applied up to the loins at noon, ever since, and he will be well in eight or nine days. We have given him nothing but milk and fruit. I sent for Dr. Metcalf yesterday, to confirm our people in the course I had taken; and he says that I am quite right, that it is inflammation and congestion, and that I could not have done better, only that I should not have taken all the anxiety of it upon myself, but have sent for him, which I should have done except that I feared he would not let us persevere. Dr. Metcalf says that hundreds of people who are in our asylums might have been saved in the first instance by these measures, and I am sure of it. I have told you all this to confirm your faith in hydrotherapy.”