1859 Wells House Hydropathy, Origin of Sp
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1859 Wells House Hydropathy, Origin of Sp
Wells House Hydropathic Establishment, Ilkley, West Yorkshire, UK. Silver print late 19th Century. Darwin came here on the 4th of October to undergo " the water cure" ready for the time that " On the Origin of Species" was published. He was under the supervision of the resident physician, Dr. Edmund Smith, a man who according to Darwin " cared very much for the fee and very little for the patient". Darwin was joined by Emma and his family on the 17th. Their daughter Henrietta recalled it as " a time of frozen misery". The family left again on the 24th November, the day " On the Origin of Species" was first published. Darwin however, stayed on, only leaving for London on the 7th December. Darwins own health always deteriorated in times of stress, but in this case the good news that all the first run copies had sold out to booksellers on the first day must have been a comfort
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 6318885
© This image is Paul D. Stewart 2009. Do not reproduce without permission of the photographer at Stewartpauld@aol.com
Charles Darwin Illness Origin Of Species Publication Sickness Stress Hydropathy
EDITORS COMMENTS
This vintage silver print captures the historic Wells House Hydropathy in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, UK, dating back to 1859. The establishment gained significance as it became a temporary sanctuary for Charles Darwin during a critical period of his life. Seeking respite from stress and illness, Darwin arrived on October 4th to undergo the renowned "water cure" before the publication of his groundbreaking work, "On the Origin of Species". Under the watchful eye of resident physician Dr. Edmund Smith, Darwin embarked on this therapeutic journey. However, according to Darwin himself, Dr. Smith's priorities seemed more focused on financial gain than patient care. Later joined by his wife Emma and their family on October 17th, their time at Wells House was marred by what their daughter Henrietta described as "a time of frozen misery". Despite this challenging environment, they persevered until November 24th when they departed - coincidentally marking the day of "On the Origin of Species" first release. While his family returned home shortly after publication day, Darwin remained at Wells House until December 7th before finally heading back to London. Known for experiencing deteriorating health under stress, he must have found solace in learning that all initial copies had sold out within hours. This image serves as a testament to both scientific history and personal struggle – an illustration capturing moments intertwined with illness and discovery during one man's pursuit of knowledge: Charles Darwin's transformative stay at Wells House Hydropathy.
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