Bavarian priest and hydrotherapist, b. at Stephansreid, Bavaria,
17 May, 1821; d. at Wörishofen, 17 June, 1897. The child of poor
parents, he became a weaver like his father, but, during his
time as a journeyman, constantly cherished the hope of becoming
a priest and spent all his spare time in study. With the aid of
a friendly priest he was enabled to enter the gymnasium. Five
years of severe study and privation brought with it a breakdown
in health and young Kneipp developed consumption. His attention
was called to the value of hydrotherapy and he began some
experiments on himself. While at Dillingen during the winter of
1849, he used to bathe for a few minutes two or three times a
week in the Danube, and then hurry home to his room. He says: "I
never derived any harm from these cold exercises but also, as I
deemed, small benefit." His health was somewhat improved the
next year, and he entered the Georgianum, a seminary for
theological students at Munich, when he was nearly thirty. Here
he continued his hyd