Garrison seeks Water Cure health treatment from David Ruggles

Writing to December 8, 1847:  “I have received a letter from David Ruggles, at Northampton, in which he says — ‘From what I can learn of your symptoms, you need to restore an equilibrium of circulation, and brace the nervous and muscular systems.  Why can’t you spend five or six weeks at a Water Cure, and accomplish it by a very moderate course of treatment? ”     — then a few months later, August 10, 1848, again writing to Quincy:   “Well, here I am, giving myself to the work of physical regeneration, by being packed, showered, drenched, plunged, douched,  &c with the utmost  zeal and fidelity, but very little time either for reading or writing ….” (Source: readinggarrisonsleters)