The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Kneipp, Sebestian

KNEIPP, knīp, Sebestian, German clergyman: b. Stefansried, Bavaria, 17 May 1821; d. Worishofen, Swabia, 17 June 1897. He studied theology at Dillingen and Munich, became a Roman Catholic priest in 1852 and pastor at Worishofen in 1881. He became known for the “Kneipp cure,” which he advocated for years. This method was based on water, fresh air, sunshine and a scheme of regular activity, and included walking barefoot in dew-moistened grass and on snow. Kneipp wrote ‘Meine Wasserkur’ (1887; Eng. trans. 1891); ‘Mein Testament’ (1894); ‘Vorträge in Wörishofen’ (1894-98); and other works. His collected works were published at Kempten (1898-99). Consult Verus, ‘Vater Kneipp, sein Leben und Wirken’ (Kempten 1897).