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was during this visit that I learned the sad news of Margaret's shipwreck and death.
Dr. Howe, with all his energy of body and of mind, was somewhat of a valetudinarian.
The traces of a severe malarial fever, contracted by him in the Greek campaign of his youth, went with him through life.
He was subject to frightful headaches, and these and other ailments caused him to take great interest in theories of hygiene, and among these in the then new system of hydro-pathy, as formulated by Priessnitz.
At the time now spoken of he arranged to pass a period at Boppard on the Rhine, where a water-cure had recently been established.
He became an outside patient of this institution, and seemed to enjoy thoroughly the routine of bathing, douching, packing, etc. Beyond the limits of the water-cure the little town presented few features of interest.
Wandering about its purlieus one day, I came upon a sort of open cave or recess in the rocks in which I found two rude cradles, each occupied by a silent and stolid baby.
Presently two rough-looking women, who had been carrying stones from the riverside, came in from their work.
The little ones now broke out into dismal wailing.
‘Why do they cry so?’
I asked.
‘They ought to be glad to see you.’
‘Oh, madam, they cry because they know how soon we must leave them again.’
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