d
and less troublesome. Why, then, should I not persevere?

I carried the practice somewhat further still. I found from experiment,
that I could open my eyes in the water. At first, it is true, the
operation was a little painful, and I raised, slightly, its temperature.
Gradually, however, I became so much accustomed to it that the sensation
was not only less painful, but even somewhat agreeable. In a few weeks I
could bear to open my eyes in the water, and keep them open as long as I
was able to hold my breath, even at a very low temperature.

Perseverance in this practice not only enabled me to proceed with my
studies, contrary to the expectation of my friends, and in spite, too,
of my own apprehensions, but gave me in addition the unspeakable
pleasure of finding my eyes gaining every year in point of strength, as
well as clearness of sight. My glasses were laid aside, and I have never
used any for that specific purpose since that time. Of course I do not
mean by this to say that my eyes remain as convex as they were at
twenty-five or thirty years of age, for that would not be true. They
have most certainly flattened a little since I came to be fifty years of
age, for I am compelled to wear glasses when I would read or write. I
mean, simply, that they have never suffered any more from inflammation
or debility, since I formed the habit of bathing them, even up to the
present hour.

The more I observe on this subject, the more I am persuaded--apart from
my own experience--that pure water, at the lowest temperature which can
be used without giving pain, is the best known eye medicine in the
world, not merely for one, two, or ten in a hundred persons, but for
all. I recommend it, therefore, at every opportunity, not only to my
patients but to others. It may doubtless be abused, like every other
good gift; but in wise and careful hands it will often accomplish almost
every thing but downright miracles. We may begin with water a little
tepid, and lower the temperature as gradually as we please, till we come
to use it ice cold.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE VIPER STORY.

I was, early in life, greatly perplexed in mind by the oft-recurring
question, why it was that in the hands of common sense men, every known
system of medicine--even one which was diametrically opposed to the
prevailing custom or belief, like that of Hahnemann, seemed to be
successful. Not only the botanic practitioner with his herbs, and the
homoeopath