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Treated Like Garden Shrubs - The Water Cure
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Treated Like Garden Shrubs - The Water Cure
This is the way we are treated, as if we were garden shrubs - The Water Cure.
1870
Mary Evans Picture Library makes available wonderful images created for people to enjoy over the centuries
Media ID 23272240
© Mary Evans Picture Library
Cure Discomfort Health Hydrotherapy Newman Shrubs Spray Treated Treatment Uncomfortable
Treated Like Garden Shrubs - The Water Cure
EDITORS COMMENTS
is an evocative and intriguing title for this 1870s photograph, which captures the discomfort and unease of undergoing hydrotherapy treatment during the Victorian era. The image, published by Mary Evans Picture Library from Mary Evans Prints Online, depicts several men, dressed in bathrobes and towels, being sprayed with jets of water from various angles in an outdoor setting. Their expressions range from grim determination to outright agony, as they endure the cold, wet spray. The title of the photograph alludes to the notion that these men, seeking relief from their ailments, were being treated like garden shrubs, subjected to water as a means of growth and rejuvenation. Hydrotherapy, a popular alternative medical practice during the 19th century, involved the use of water for therapeutic purposes, including baths, wraps, and sprays. The belief was that water could help alleviate various health issues, from arthritis and rheumatism to nervous disorders and skin conditions. Despite the potential benefits, the process was often uncomfortable and even painful. The men in the photograph appear to be bracing themselves against the force of the water, their bodies tensed and their faces contorted in discomfort. The image serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices people made in the pursuit of health and wellbeing during this period, and the enduring human spirit that drove them to persevere through the discomfort. The photograph, with its haunting title and powerful imagery, invites us to reflect on the history of medical treatments and the lengths people have gone to in the name of health and healing. It also highlights the importance of empathy and understanding, as we consider the experiences of those who came before us and the challenges they faced in their quest for better health.
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