Richard Barter

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

Barter, Richard, M.D., a distinguished hydropathic physician, was born at Cooldaniel, County of Cork, in 1802. He entered on the duties of his profession as a dispensary physician at Inniscarra, where he was elected Honorary Secretary of the County of Cork Agricultural Society, and contributed materially to improve the husbandry of the south of Ireland.

About the year 1842, Cork was visited by Captain Claridge, an advocate of hydropathy. Dr. Barter had been for some time inclining towards the new system, he now advocated it, and despite the opposition of his professional brethren, devoted his talents and energy to its practice.

He opened the now celebrated water-cure establishment at Blarney. It was mainly through his exertions that Turkish baths were introduced into the United Kingdom. He died at Blarney, 3rd October 1870.

Sources

25. Barter, Dr., Recollections of the late. Dublin, 1875. (Pamphlet.)

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