Editing Development of Darwin's theory (section)

===Water Cure===
His illness had long baffled doctors. Reluctantly and sceptically he took friend's advice and the whole family and household set out on 8 March 1849 for [[Malvern, Worcestershire|Malvern]] so that he could try Dr [[James Manby Gully|James Gully]]'s ''Water Cure Establishment'' for a two-month [[Hydrotherapy|cold water treatment]]. They rented "The Lodge" in a quiet location nearby, and he embarked on a course including drinking spa water and being scrubbed in cold water, walks for exercise, a strict diet and [[mesmerism]] and [[homoeopathic]] medicines.

The family enjoyed the spring weather and liked Dr Gully, and it developed into a delightful holiday in the festive atmosphere around the [[Spa town|spa]]. His stomach trouble was diagnosed as nervous in origin, and he was soon free of sickness and walking seven&nbsp;miles (11&nbsp;km) a day. Despite his suspicions of quackery, the cure worked, and after staying 16 weeks they returned home, arriving on 30 June with Darwin eager to resume work on his barnacles.

He continued a slightly relaxed version of the treatment, having a hut built with a cold water douche and getting up at seven a.m. to get heated up with a spirit lamp then take a cold plunge bath and get scrubbed by his butler. In September his duties as Vice-President of the British Association and interest in a paper on barnacles led him to attend their meeting at [[Birmingham]], but he found it unpleasant and the excitement brought back the sickness. Even after a quick visit to Dr Gully and rest at home, he took weeks to recover.