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 &ldquo;Kneipp cure,&rdquo; 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 &lsquo;Meine Wasserkur&rsquo; (1887; Eng. trans. 1891); &lsquo;Mein Testament&rsquo; (1894); &lsquo;Vorträge in Wörishofen&rsquo; (1894-98); and other works. His collected works were published at Kempten (1898-99). Consult Verus, &lsquo;Vater Kneipp, sein Leben und Wirken&rsquo; (Kempten 1897).