The Debates over Hydrotherapy and Its Efficacy in the Antebellum Period
In the first half of 19th century there was a cult of Hydrotherapy in the U.S.Self-taught practitioners as well as some regular doctors who were keen to promote the benefits of hydrotherapy as a cure for a variety of everyday ailments.The American Medical Association and most other physicians questioned the efficacy of hydrotherapy and opposed its misuse.As a result,proponents and opponents of hydrotherapy had hotly debated the efficacy of the therapy.With the deepening of the arguments,they had a more profound understanding of hydrotherapy,and made corresponding adjustments.In response to criticism,proponents of hydrotherapy had created medical journals and schools to expand the impact of hydrotherapy and combined personal hygiene with ethics,while opponents recognized the advantages of hydrotherapy and incorporated reasonable parts of it,which enriched the formal means of medical treatment.In short,their efforts to improve health and community ethics contributed to the development of Antebellum public health.
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