PRIESSNITZ, VINCENT, the founder of hydropathy (q.v.), was born at Grafeidierg (q.v.), in Austrian Silesia, Oct. 5, 1799. He was the son of a peasant-proprietor, and received at the school of Freiwaldau an education suitable to his station, and afterward farmed his paternal estate. It appears that a neighbor, who had been in the way of healing trifling wounds on himself and others by means of cold Water, treated Priessnitz successfully in this way for a serious injury from the kick of a horse; and Priessnitz, having thus had his attention directed to the virtues of cold water, and being indisputa bly possessed of great sharpness of intellect and aptitude for the practice of the healing art, began to give advice to his neighbors how to cure all ailments with cold water, and soon attained considerable reputation among them. Although several times brought before the authorities for unlicensed practicing, the simplicity of the means he used made it impossible to interfere with him. As the number of applicants for advice went on increasing, he gradually came, by experimental modifications of the way of applying his remedy, to form a kind of system of treatment for the various cases that presented themselves. At last, about 1826, strangers began to repair to Grafenberg, and stay there
for some time for treatment; in 1829 there were as many as 49 water-patients, and m 1837 the number had risen to 586. Priessnitz continued till 1833 to carry on his farm ing; but after that, his practice, and the care of the establishments which he had to pro vide for the reception and treatment of his patients, fully occupied him. He died Nov. 28, 1851, leaving his establishment to his son-in-law. Very different judgments have been pronounced on the character of Priessnitz and his system of treatment, mostly according to the prejudices of the critics. He himself has left nothing in writing on his method of cure.—\Vunde, Die Graf. Wasserheilanstalt and die Priessnitzsche Ca•e-Mode (6th ed., Lcip. 1845).