MY FIRST SICKNESS ABROAD.
When I was about half-way through my nineteenth year, a desire to see
the world became so strong that I made up my mind to a little
travelling. Accordingly, having provided myself with an employment which
would, without a great deal of hindrance, enable me to earn my passing
expenses, I set out on my journey.
It was in the month of March, and near its close. The weather was mild,
and the snow was fast disappearing--but not as yet the mud. In walking
all day, my boots became soaked and my feet wet. The era of India
rubbers had not then arrived. In truth, I went with my feet wet in the
afternoon two or three days.
On the evening of the third day I came to the house of the friends with
whom I was desirous of stopping not only for the Sabbath's sake, which
was now at hand, but to rest and recruit. The next morning I was quite
sick, and my friends were alarmed. It was proposed to send for a
physician; but against this I uttered my protest, and the plan was
accordingly abandoned.
The next purpose of my kind friends was to bring on a perspiration. They
were accustomed in these cases to aim at sweating. This is indeed a
violence to nature; but they knew no better. The mistress of the house
was one of those self-assured women who cannot brook any interference or
submit willingly to any modification of their favorite plans. Otherwise
I should even then have preferred a gentle perspiration, longer
continued. Yet on the whole, for the sake of peace, I submitted to my
fate, and went through the fiery furnace which was prepared for me. More
than even this I might say. I was cooler, much cooler, when I got
through the fire than when I was in the midst of it!
In three days I was, in a good measure, restored. I was, it is true,
left very weak, but was free from fever. My strength rapidly returned;
and on the fifth day I was able to set out for home, where in due time I
safely arrived.
During this excursion I learned one good lesson, if no more. This was,
the danger of going day after day with wet feet. A vigorous person may
go with wet or damp feet a little while, in the early part of the day,
when in full strength, with comparative safety; but towards evening,
when the vital forces are at ebb tide, or at least are ebbing, it is
unsafe. The feeble especially should guard themselves in this direction;
nor should those who may perchance at some future time be feeble,
despise the suggestion.
One important resolution was also made. This was never to use violent
efforts to induce perspiration. Such a course of treatment I saw
clearly, as I thought, must be contrary to the intentions of nature; and
time and further observation and experiment have confirmed me in this
opinion. There may of course be exceptions to the truth of such a
general inference; but I am sure they cannot be very numerous. What
though the forcing plan seems to have succeeded quite happily in my own
case? So it has in thousands of others. So might a treatment still more
irrational. Mankind are tough, and will frequently live on for a
considerable time in spite of treatment which is manifestly wrong, and
even without any treatment at all.