Truly we have much to be thankful for in these days, and amongst not the least of our blessings must be included the cheapness of the press cable rates between England and America. Thanks to the latter, we are now constantly being supplied with new scientific knowledge on the subject of human disease and its treatment. The cures offered us are so numerous that probably the only reason why suffering still remains the lot of mankind is that the adoption of some of them is either expensive or difficult. No such objections, however, attach to the latest cure for knowledge of which the British public is indebted to the energy of a correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. The cure is simplicity itself, and in the neighbourhood of London, at any rate, could be carried out without any expense whatever. All the patient has to do is to take off his clothes and stand naked in the rain, and afterwards get rubbed down briskly; the cure is then complete. Not only many chronic diseases yield to the treatment, but obstinate colds as well, while for nervous disorders or rheumatism it is quite infallible. The cure originated and is now being actively pursued in Texas. Since it has been so successful in that region it is still more likely to prove beneficent in England, where the climatic conditions lend themselves so much better to its application. It is a notable discovery, and one which certainly ought to put a final nail into the coffin of the Aliens Bill; for, seeing that there are many parts of Europe in which rain is rare for months at a time, it would be simply immoral to close the ports of England to those who are unable to obtain the treatment in their own country, but who, on landing here, might be cured forthwith. (BMJ >1905;ii: 202)
. 2005 Jul 2;331(7507):39.