The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1882. THE MAORI PROPHETESS' COLD WATER CURE.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 968, 6 December 1882, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1882. THE MAORI PROPHETESS' COLD WATER CURE.

In a recent issue of the Auckland Star an account was published of an old Maori woman living at Ahinara, who was reputed to have performed a number of remarkable cures of diseases, merely by the external use of cold water and who accordingly enjoyed the reputation of being a prophetess. Old women’s medical cures, once held in high esteem, have of late years dropped out of favor, ns unsuited for an enlightened and scientific age. Yet sometimes old women’s observations, if carefully made, may he as useful, and in the end, prove as scientific as (hose of any one else. For years (heir dictum in the country parts of England of the health giving effect of being out in the open air immediately after thunderstorms was ridiculed as absurd, until within the last half century Schdnbein’s discovery of ozone and its formation through the action of the electric fluid on the oxygen of the air, proved that at evciy thunderstorm a certain quantity of the most powerful disinfecting agent known in nature did actually come into piny, and

that the ancient ladies were, after all, in the right. So with regard to the Maori prophetess’ cold water core—she is probably in the right, particularly with regard to the Maoris. For our own part we prefer the water as a general rule to be not cold, but wanvq sweetened with sugar, fortified with a little whiskey and taken internally. Still, the cold water used externally is beyond all question a very valuable medicine, by opening the pores of the skin, causing the blood to circulate, and every organ of the living frame to receive increased vitality. And it must be borne in mind that modern scientific enquiries into the effect of medicines- has gone very far towards abolishing the old pill and dose system, and, after building up the bodily strength,-by conforming to the strictest natural laws, to trust in the main to the vis medicatrlx natural to perform the larger part of the 1 cure. It is difficult, indeed,, to assign a limit to the curative effect of keeping the blood in good order. In the case referred to by the Auckland Star, one of chronic asthma, it is quite possible-that water alone might really have removed the complaint by renovating the blood. And even at the present day, and in the most civilized nations, the importance of personal cleanliness is lamentably neglected. It it said that in Servia the Queen is the only woman in the whole country whomever washes every part of her body. In the neighbouring country of Bulgaria (ho rule is, SO travellers say, for men and women only to wash every part of their bodies once in the course of their lives, and Of we recollect rightly) just before their first confirmation ; so that they arc literally confirmed in their dirty habits for ever afterwards. In England, Holland, and Switzerland, there is perhaps more personal cleanliness than anywhere else in Europe, . England probably standing first in this respect. Yet even here there is no superabundance of cleanliness. The clever but nasty, though aristocratic, Lady Mary Worlley Montague, on one r.ccasion when told that her hands were dirty replied a Ah ! you should see my feet.” Even at the present day it is doubtful if one half of our countrymen and countrywomen strictly adhere. throughout the year to the habit of bathing-every part of the body daily with, water of the, temperature of the air outside their houses.' If they were to do so, they would often find that cures quite as marvellous ns those of the Maori prophetess would relieve, their complaints, restore their health, and in the case of the lady portion of the community, accomplish what would bo considered quite as important, namely, improve their complexions. Ninon do L’Enclos, the beautiful Frenchwoman, who was mistress of three kings in succession—grandfather, father, and son—and who was still thought, a lovely woman when she was fifty years of age, disclosed the secret of her attractions to one of her friends as being lhat she was constantly in the habit of using cold water-to every part of her body. And in’order that the life, and healthgiving power of cold water may be made available in the highest degree, the art of swimming ought to be-far'more cultivated than it is at present. The exercise of swimming has several strong recommendations. It is one which better than anything else helps,to the complete purification of the skin ; it is one which more equably calls into piny the muscles of the body than any exercise or amusement known ; and from the peculiar ease of the swimming motion, oven when ■strong exertion is being used, the mind is specially exhilarated, and acts beneficially on the body, , And its utility is of no mean importance. The larger number of wrecks of, vessels occur not out in the open ocean, but within sight of land, where often a few strokes from even a moderately- strong swimmer would reach the shore, and make the difference between life and death. We believe swimming ought to be taught at our State schools, and that Uncart ;onght not to be.confined to the male sex. Women and girls can easily learn iit, and among the Maoris and in the South Sea Islands generally, they practice; it as often and as well as men and boys.