those of the nature cure, proved unavailing, or at best gave only slight relief.
The greatest distress compelled me to pursue my studies farther and farther, in search of truth and help, and in this way I discovered the only sure path to health and happiness, and the only effective remedies. By passing through this severe school of suffering I am perhaps the better fitted to preach the truth to my fellowmen and to point out to them the true cure and help. Since I, too, have passed through all the mistaken paths along which mankind is journeying to-day, I am perhaps the better fitted to raise a cry of warning and lead my fellowmen away from them.
I intend to show in the following pages in what way alone we may escape all illness and suffering, and thoroughly cure all pain and disease. But we shall then see that in this way we can also free ourselves of all sinful impulses, of vice and despair, find rest and peace of mind, and return to true religion and to God.
I do not intend to write a book of precepts on health and happiness according to some artistically conceived plan, but I shall communicate my views simply and precisely in the same order in which, after much wandering, I came upon the path that led me to nature, and consequently to health.
In my sufferings I naturally consulted, first, the old-school physicians. I called on celebrated doctors and university professors, but they could not help me.
In the direst distress and despair I finally lost the high opinion of science which I had acquired through education and schooling. What did I care for science; in my despair I wanted help and nothing but help.
I now heard of the good results of the nature cure method, and turned to it. I began to go barefoot, to apply Kneipp douches, Kuhne baths, packs, steam baths, massage, vegetarian diet, etc. This for the first time gave me real relief and improved my condition. But I wished to go still further along this line, to achieve still greater success, to reach indeed the highest aim.
