Spas and Gods- Hydropathy in Victoriana Part 2

Last week, I introduced Hydropathy, the therapeutic application of water aiming to heal patients. Hydropathy became a national health craze in the 1840’s, and doctors, entrepreneurs, and enthusiast rushed to open practices offering the Water Cure.

Hydropathic Clinics

Spas and clinics sprouted all over Britain and the European Continent, usually in villages with natural springs and wells locally rumored to have healing waters. Hydropathic hotels with Turkish baths and diet regimens offered rest and purification to their clients. Most were founded by professional doctors, but more than a few well meaning amateurs dirtied the water, by opening their own water cure clinics.

Although many patients benefited from hydropathy, a few patients died during their treatments, often of heart attacks. While preexisting conditions probably were the cause, the more extreme and strenuous regimens were undoubtedly the triggering circumstances.

In 1842, Dr James Manby Gully and Dr. James Wilson founded one of the most successful hydropathy clinics at the town of Malvern in Worcestershire. The purity of Malvern’s spring water was already well known, having been bottled and sold since the 1600s. The upper class came from all over England for the Water Cure.

For five pounds a week, Gully and Wilson’s patients woke in their private villas at five to be wrapped in wet sheets for an hour. Then after having buckets of cold water poured on them, the patients went on a five mile walk with stops at Malvern wells to drink water. Returning for a breakfast of biscuits and more water, the rest of the day was spent on each patient’s hydropathic regimen, ending with a fish and mutton dinner.

Patron Spirits

Ancient Britons believed their most precious springs had patron spirits and gods. Some Hydropathic practices were built around these same springs. Here is an example of a patron god that might take notice of activity near their holy sites:

The aptly named town of Bath in Somerset has a thermal spring where the ancient Celts worshiped the goddess Sulis. When the Romans came they built spas over the thermal springs and joined in the worship of “Sulis Minerva”. Sulis was associated with healing, law, and the sun.

Her worshipers also petitioned her for revenge and justice. They dropped small metal tablets in her spring, asking her to punish specific or suspected wrongdoers (thieves, adulterers, etc) by taking away their sleep, health, certain parts of their anatomy, and even their lives. Most of the messages were encoded, by writing backwards or by scrambling words around.

Adventure ideas

Hydropathic Hotels attract a very good class of cliental, which attracts a very ambitious class of thief. It’s hard to keep an eye on your valuables while you’re soaking in a tub.

High powered businessmen rest at a clinic built near the site of ancient rituals. They return from their stay relaxed and ready to face their stressful lives, although in every case someone they knew died during their time at the clinic. Usually some who made their lives more stressful.

James Manby Gully was interested in Transpecies Evolution. A doctor in charge of a water clinic might try to speed up the process. Some of his patience may start feeling more comfortable in the water than out of it.

Next week, I’ll wrap up this series of posts with a look at how Hydropathy can be adapted mechanically for Victoriana. I’ll also present more ways to spread fantasy and magic into the Water Cure.