,turkish and ,other ,baths ,a ,guide to ,good ,health and ,longevity ,by ,gordon ,stables ,illustrations by ,messrs ,allen ,published by ,dean and ,son1 ,london4 ,turkish and ,other ,baths1 by ,gordon ,stables4 ,,turkish ,,and ,,other ,,baths1 ,,by ,,gordon ,,stables4 ,,preface4 ,no apology surely is needed for a work like this1 and its preface need be but brief4 ,small is the book1 in size little more than a pamphlet2 yet mayhap it contains hints that will not be thrown away on any reader1 and may be invaluable to many who wish to secure health1 long life and happiness4 ,the ,author4 ,christmas ,morning1 #ahhb4 ,,chapter ,,one4 ,,the ,,skin--,,its ,,uses ,,and ,,great ,,importance ,,in ,,the ,,animal ,,economy4 ,apart from any consideration of the bath as a remedial measure1 in cases of disease1 its importance as an agent for preserving the health1 and granting to those who use it judiciously a reasonable hope of long life1 cannot easily be over-estimated4 ,but in order to understand properly the beneficial action of baths on the system1 we must have some little knowledge of the physiology of the skin4 ,without such knowledge1 all arguments that we could adduce in favour of the constant use of the bath in some shape or form1 would be of the post hoc propter hoc kind1 and therefore of little value4 ,what1 then1 we may ask1 are the uses of the skin1 for what ends has ,nature designed it1 and what is its modus operandi8 ,briefly stated1 the uses of the skin are as follows3--,firstly1 it covers and protects from violence the surface of the whole body1 and the various tender and sensitive parts that lie immediately beneath it2 secondly1 it is the organ of touch2 thirdly1 it is the great regulator of the heat of the body2 fourthly1 it performs the duties of a great emunctory1 and by means of its millions of sudoriferous1 or sweat glands1 each with its efferent duct2 it carries off and out of the body a vast quantity of effete matter1 which1 if retained in the blood1 would poison it1 and therefore unfit it for the healthful performance of its functions2 fifthly1 the skin acts as an absorbent2 and1 sixthly1 it is to some extent an organ of respiration4 ,the use of the skin as a protective covering to the body is apparent to every one1 and we cannot help admiring its great and perfect adaptability for the purpose4 ,on the soles of the feet1 and palms of the hands1 it is thicker than in other places1 being thereon subjected to more wear and tear2 on the trunk of the body1 and on the arms it is soft and smooth1 and it is everywhere wonderfully elastic and pliable4 ,moreover1 it is lined throughout with a base work of fat1 which gives extra support and security to the muscles1 and1 wherever in the body protection from the results of pressure is needed1 we find that this fat is deposited in actual cushions1 as under the heels1 under the balls of the toes1 on the hips1 etc4 ,and here we may remark that1 whenever the elasticity of the skin is impaired1 as it is in the bodies of those who do not accustom themselves to the bath and perfect ablution1 loathsome diseases are apt to be the result1 which not only interfere with the actions of the skin itself1 but lower the vitality of the whole system4 ,the use of the skin as an organ of touch is equally apparent4 ,being supplied with a most intricate network of blood vessels and nerves1 the skin is all over a most sensitive organ1 and thus serves to warn us in time of the approach of anything likely to be detrimental to our health4 ,if we sit in a draught1 the skin of the body chills almost at once2 it begins to creep1 as it were1 warning us that it is time to move1 time to seek shelter1 or protect ourselves by an extra garment4 ,some portions of the skin are far more sensitive than others2 that of the eyelids1 for instance1 which is agitated by the slightest breath of air1 or by a touch communicated to it by the least pressure on the eyelashes4 ,by means of1 or through1 the medium of its vast number of sweat glands1 the skin regulates the amount of heat in our bodies4 ,this is a function which is much more important than most people might at first imagine4 ,the temperature of the body in health is about #ii degrees ,fahrenheit1 if it rises much above this--even a few degrees1 indeed--or if it falls much below it1 severe illness is indicated1 danger is apparent1 danger even to life itself4 ,an equable temperature of the body it is therefore evident is alone compatible with perfect health1 but if it were not for the perspiratory system1 when any extra strain is put upon the body1 as by hard work1 or hard exercise1 heat would accumulate in the system1 and the temperature of the body would be raised1 to our discomfort1 detriment1 and danger4 ,but the pores of the skin are our safety valves2 from exertion the blood is determined to the surface1 the sweat glands are thus excited to increased action1 and perspiration is thrown off in abundance1 which1 passing off in steam1 carries with it--in obedience to a law too well known to need explanation--all the extra caloric4 ,in hot weather1 a great deal of heat is thus expended through the skin2 in cold weather the kidneys are more active1 and they excrete the water which otherwise would have passed through the pores1 and by storing it for a time in a reservoir designed for the purpose1 conserve the heat of the system1 and prevent lowering of the animal temperature4 ,by means of these same sweat glands with their ducts or pores1 an immense amount of effete matter is carried off from the body in the course of twenty-four hours1 which1 as already stated1 if retained in the system1 would tend to lower vitality by poisoning the blood4 ,if the reader recollects that the lungs also perform a renovating function on the blood1 and thus on the body1 that oxygen is inhaled1 and that air loaded with carbonic acid1 water1 etc1 exhaled1 he will readily understand how much assistance the respiratory organs receive from a healthy acting skin4 ,nor can the intelligent reader be unaware that the nutrient portion of the food we eat1 after undergoing the process of digestion performed in the mouth--where it is masticated and mingled with the solvent saliva-- in the stomach1 where it is reduced by muscular action1 and the gastric juices to the pulp called chyme--in the upper portions of the intestines--where it receives the secretions of liver and pancreas and becomes chyle1 is collected by a series of absorbent vessels which unite at last to form the thoracic duct1 or grand chyle canal1 which empties itself of its valuable contents directly into one of the largest veins in the body1 and is thus mingled with the general circulation4 ,he knows1 too1 that the pure life-giving arterial blood1 which1 rushing onwards from that mighty force-pump1 the heart1 is distributed to every atom of the system1 returns at last laden with the used up particles of the tissues2 that1 in fact1 a constant change is going on in the system1 a constant deposit of new matter1 a constant discharge of old4 ,and that the dark venous blood1 containing the effete matter1 rushes through the lungs1 therein to be spread out1 and chemically united to the oxygen of the air that we breathe1 before it is again pumped out towards the tissues to supply them with heat and life4 ,but it must not be forgotten1 that not the lungs only1 but the kidneys1 the liver1 and the spleen have each and all of them their duties to perform towards the blood2 and last1 but not least1 that the skin1 when in a state of health1 assists them in no small degree in performing their several functions4 ,but there are other glands which receive assistance from the skin in the performance of their duties4 ,we refer to those distributed here and there in the frame-work of the body1 notably in the axilla1 the groin1 and under the skin of the neck1 and whose functions are to purify1 in some way or other1 the matter collected by a series of vessels called the lymphatics1 before it is again applied to the purposes of nutrition4 ,the amount of fluid1 says a well-known physiologist1 exhaled from the skin and lungs in twenty-four hours1 averages about three or four pounds4 ,and there is good reason to think that this excretion is of the greatest importance in carrying off certain substances that would prove injurious if allowed to remain in the blood4 ,that which is called the ,hydrophatic system1 proceeds upon the plan of increasing the cutaneous exhalation to a very large amount2 and there seems much evidence that certain deleterious matters1 the presence of which in the blood gives rise to gout1 rheumatism1 etc1 are drawn off from it more speedily and certainly in this way than in any other4 ,if space permitted1 the utility of the skin as one of the greatest emunctories of the system might be much enlarged upon2 we trust1 however1 we have said quite enough to establish its importance in the animal economy4 ,,chapter ,,two4 ,,how ,,to ,,maintain ,,the ,,skin ,,in ,,health4 ,if the skin then1 is an emunctory of so much consequence1 as we have endeavoured to shew it to be1 it stands to reason1 that even the impartial performance of its functions1 is incompatible with healthful existence4 ,one might go farther and boldly aver1 that a person who is a stranger to the bath1 is as much to be pitied as a being with only one lung2 both may exist1 neither live4 ,on the other hand1 it cannot be denied that there are thousands of men and women in these islands1 who seem to enjoy a large share of robust health1 and who possess what assurance companies would call1 good lives1 but who never indulge in the luxury of either a bath or a bedroom tub4 ,but it will generally be found1 that these people belong to the out-door working classes1 who take abundant exercise in the open air1 people whose pores are kept patent by the toil they undergo1 and who1 moreover1 possess capacious lungs1 substantial livers and healthy kidneys4 ,nevertheless1 did these same persons make a practice of constantly using some form of bath1 they would throw far less strain upon their internal organs1 their blood would be purer1 and their minds consequently lighter1 and they would stand far less chance of catching cold1 and succumbing to inflammation of some vital part4 ,a person whose skin is not in easy working order1 and who depends upon exertion and exercise alone1 for keeping it up to the mark1 must1 if thrown on a bed of sickness1 have a harder struggle for life than one whose skin is1 in every sense of the word1 a healthy one4 ,everything seems to point to the conclusion that the health of the skin is a matter of paramount importance to the individual1 we cannot therefore be wrong if we devote this chapter to the consideration of the best means within our reach1 of maintaining it in a sound and vigorous condition4 ,so intimate is the connection between the skin and internal organs of the body1 and so constantly and incessantly do they act and re-act on each other1 that the state of the former may generally be taken as a key to the condition of the whole system4 ,if the skin be dry1 harsh1 hot or in any way possessed of an uncomfortable feeling1 the general health is1 for the time being1 out of order1 or if it be cold or rough and chilly1 the health must be below par1 even although that state of being should be but momentary4 ,a feeling of warmth1 comfort and geniality1 pervades the skin of the man who is well2 deprived of this feeling he is deprived of health1 he is ill1 acutely subacutely1 or chronically ill4 ,,diet3--,the influence of diet on the skin is very great4 ,this is a fact which should be borne in mind by all1 but especially by those who are subject to any kind of skin complaint1 or to gout or rheumatism4 ,the latter disease1 from which so many people suffer periodically1 is1 with a good show of reason1 believed to be caused by a superabundance of acid in the blood4 ,this acid is easily got rid of at most times1 by means of the sensible and insensible perspiration2 but if1 through some error in diet1 an irritable condition of the mucous membrane of the alimentary canal is produced1 and a larger proportion of acid than usual is the result2 and if at or about the same time something--a cold1 or chill1 for instance--interferes with the free action of the skin1 it stands to reason that an attack of the old enemy1 gout1 or rheumatic gout will supervene1 and the character of the attack will greatly depend on the condition of the patient's system at the time4 ,if he be full blooded and robust it may be acute or sub-acute4 ,thus it often happens that at the very time when a man of rheumatic diathesis is in finest form1 he is suddenly laid prostrate by the return of his foe4 ,if1 on the other hand1 he be not of a full habit1 the disease will be less violent in its nature1 and this probably accounts for the fact1 that men of spare habit are1 as a rule1 capable of weathering more rheumatic storms than men who have been cast in a larger mould4 ,no medical man now-a-days thinks of prescribing for a patient without at the same time giving him advice as to what he should eat1 drink1 or avoid4 ,some hundred years ago1 physicians were1 we may presume1 not so skilled as we are now-a-days1 but neither were they so apt to lose themselves in that labyrinth we may call causae morborum1 and they never lost sight of the state of the stomach and bowels4 ,indeed1 the exhibition of aperients was often a kind of sheet anchor with them1 with which they held on with determination when everything else failed them1 and we can scarcely doubt that they were often right in doing so4 ,nor is the belief so common with the illiterate1 that if a man can eat and drink moderately well1 there cannot be much the matter with him1 so very erroneous after all4 ,diet is of paramount importance with all of us1 for the simplest reason possible4 ,our blood is generated from the food we eat1 and as the blood is1 so will the system be1 which it has to nourish4 ,no matter how clever a mania1 or how rich1 or how eminent1 if he is guilty of errors in diet1 he is but a golden calf with feet of clay4 ,but he who lives judiciously in the matter of diet1 possesses a truly marvellous advantage over his fellows who do not4 ,a man in health should begin the day early4 ,he ought to have his morning tub by half-past seven at the latest4 ,he ought to dress leisurely1 and have1 if possible1 a five or ten minutes' walk in the open air1 before he sits down to breakfast4 ,well-made tea is probably the best beverage for breakfast1 and if between meals a man requires some refreshment1 a cup of coffee or tea will be found more sustaining and less dangerous than either beer or wine4 ,the breakfast maybe a moderately hearty one1 and the dinner should be an early one1 and nothing ought to be partaken of which is known to disagree4 ,supper should be early and light1 but not necessarily sloppy4 ,solid food is more likely to be quietly digested than slops4 ,a biscuit and glass of milk1 or beer1 may be partaken about half an hour before retiring1 if it is found that sounder sleep is acquired by such indulgence4 ,the errors in diet which should be avoided are3--,first1 eating too fast2 second1 taking stimulants of any kind to provoke an appetite2 third1 the use of rich sauces and peppers2 fourth1 eating too much2 and fifth1 partaking of too many varieties at one meal4 ,a man should eat with regularity and moderation1 and frequently change his diet4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,,drink4--,pure water is the best1 but water that will not wash is unfit for drinking or making food1 withal4 ,cocoa1 coffee1 tea1 and milk in moderation1 and in summer whey and buttermilk are healthful drinks4 ,iced waters1 cooling cups1 and too many effervescing mixtures are to be avoided4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,regularity in the times of going to bed and getting up should be studied4 ,,pure ,,air4--,one cannot have too much of this4 ,the air in rooms ought to be kept pure and sweet1 and that of the bedroom moderately warm4 ,bedrooms ought to be large1 and not overfilled with furniture1 especially things likely to collect dust4 ,curtains about beds do more harm than good4 ,,dress ,,and ,,clothing4--,no more should be worn than is necessary to keep the surface of the body agreeably comfortable4 ,it should not be tight1 and mackintoshes and goloshes are injurious to health4 ,bed clothes should be light and warm4 ,people1 as a rule1 heap their beds with far too much clothing1 and sleep is thus often banished4 ,,sleep4--,secure it by natural means2 never1 unless under medical advice1 by taking draughts1 or night-caps4 ,regularity in living1 exercise1 and the bath1 are the best narcotics1 but a pipe of mild tobacco last thing may often do good4 ,,exercise4--,exercise1 to be beneficial1 should be pleasant1 the mind should be free and happy4 ,exercise does little or no good unless enjoyed1 hence work is not exercise4 ,it should never be carried to the verge of fatigue1 and if the under-clothing has been damped by perspiration1 it ought to be changed before sitting or lying down4 ,as to under-clothing1 no one over thirty1 who values his health and life1 should neglect to wear it in some form1 wool is warmer than cotton1 silk better than either4 ,the best form of exercise is that which maintains the largest number of muscles in play1 and does not over-sweat the body1 nor over-heat the head4 ,it ought to be varied1 too1 but whether it be walking1 riding1 driving1 rowing1 playing games1 or those most exhilarating exercises bicycling and tricycling1 it ought to be taken regularly1 day after day1 and we may add1 all the year round4 ,while taking exercise1 the clothing ought to be as loose as possible1 in order to permit of the full play of the muscles1 and avoid dangerous contractions of the internal vital organs4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,note #a4 ,see1 ,tea1 the ,drink of ,pleasure and of ,health1 by same author1 published by ,messrs4 ,field and ,tuer1 ,leadenhall ,street4 ,,chapter ,,three4 ,,the ,,luxury ,,of ,,the ,,turkish ,,bath--,,its ,,uses ,,and ,,physiological ,,action--,,the ,,ailments ,,it ,,tends ,,to ,,cure4 ,next to the pleasure of enjoying an ,anglo-,turkish bath oneself1 in propria persona1 is that of hearing some one dilate on its merits4 ,and few who have ever tried it1 will be found unwilling to expatiate freely on the topic of ,turkish bathing2 of its great and manifold advantages over all other systems of bathing1 of the delights they experienced while in the bath1 and of the feelings of lightness and comfort1 calmness of mind and positive happiness induced thereby4 ,this prince of baths would1 we verily believe1 change the dullest clodhopper to a wit for a time1 and convert the prosiest old antiquarian into a poet4 ,if it has such a transforming power on the brains of the by-no-means brilliant1 is it any wonder that men of bright intellect like ,sir ,erasmus ,wilson and ,david ,urquhart1 should write or talk so prettily about this1 their favourite mode of bathing4 ,as a rule there is not much room for poetry in the medical profession1 albeit ,dr ,jenner1 carried away by a pardonable enthusiasm1 described the vaccination pustule of the ninth day1 with its crimson areola as the pearl upon the rose4 ,yet we cannot read the glowing and graphic description given by the great dermatologist1 concerning his visit to the bath at ,riverside1 without wishing that he had marshalled his thoughts1 for once in a way1 in the splendid hexameters of a ,longfellow4 ,a bath like that of ,mr ,urquhart's1 from which one emerged with the body shining like alabaster1 fragrant as the cistus1 sleek as satin and soft as velvet1 is surely worthy of the high honours of blank verse4 ,and this thermal paradise is sketched by ,sir ,erasmus in language as brilliant and beautiful1 as any that ever the other professor ,wilson puts into the month of the bard of ,ettrick1 in his inimitable ,noctes ,ambrosianae4 ,we must be forgiven1 if we pick a plum or two from the description1 and hand them round to our readers1 there are plenty more on the tree which they may cull for themselves ,note #a4 ,at the door of the ,frigidarium or cool room1 the would-be bather loosens the latchets of his shoes1 and leaves them behind the lintel2 the portal opens and he enters4 ,this apartment though not large is sunny and bright4 ,it is a morning in early summer1 and1 through the glass doors1 can be seen a balcony festooned with roses2 beyond the parapet of the balcony are terraces of which the rose is still the favoured flower1 while further on can be seen the rippling surface of a noisy stream1 then meadows with grazing herds and flocks1 and beyond these the wooded hill arching like an eyebrow around the bright spot in which as the apple of the eye1 sparkles the bath4 ,by his side is a dureta over against him a reclining chair1 around the sides of the apartment are cushioned divans2 books1 and chibouques1 and many a ,turkish ornament are around1 and the floor is spread with carpets of ,persia1 and the clean fresh mattings of ,india4 ,opposite the glass doors is an immense sheet of plate glass2 through it are seen marble steps1 and in the aqueous depths to which these steps descend1 is the reflection of the morning sun4 ,here he may court the rays of ,phoebus1 smiling through festoons of roses to visit the deepest pool of his bath4 ,here he can swim while the sun glistens in the crystal drops that linger on his skin1 or makes mimic rainbows in the spray that he dashes before him in his plunging revel4 ,the author passes on through a door by the side of the immense barrier of glass4 ,this door closes behind him1 then onwards through a second door to be greeted by a delightful atmosphere1 and experience tells him that no place of terrestrial existence save the bath can yield that warm1 soft and balmy aether4 ,two steps down and then a platform4 ,two steps more1 the heat increases1 and he has reached the tropical line of the bath4 ,but the hottest room was enveloped in scarlet hangings1 a fiery tent1 where the temperature stood at from #bdj to #bej degrees4 ,on a divan at a later stage of the hath1 under a less degree of heat1 he spends many minutes of genuine enjoyment4 ,just overhead is a plug to withdraw in order to admit a breath of fresh air if desired1 and this delicious gush of ambrosial air comes to him1 perfumed with the sweet breath of flowers over which it has been contrived that it shall pass4 ,then comes a deeper descent of four steps1 with a still warm but lower temperature1 where on the clear marble edge of the ,lavatorina he seats himself1 while his host plies the soft pad of gazul over his head and back and sides4 ,then basin after basin of warm water1 rinses the gazul and the loosened epidermis from the surface1 and he rises from the bath to recommence his observations1 visiting in turn all the soft1 the warm1 the perfumed1 the hot1 the cool and the cold nooks he can find1 and thus the time flies by and the breakfast hour draws near2 but before he can quit the bath1 it is necessary that the pores of the body1 which all this time have been filtering the waste fluids of the body through their numberless apertures1 should be made to close1 and with this intent he descends into the marble pool or piscina1 whose waters in summer are cooled with ice1 and crouches under the tap1 and lets the cold current encircle him1 then a pail of hot water rushes on him like an avalanche1 followed immediately by one of cold1 and this is many times repeated4 ,upward now1 to the ,frigidarium1 with a mantle round his shoulders after being rubbed down with soft ,turkish towels1 therein1 reclined on a softly cushioned sofa1 to enjoy half-an-hour's suggestive and instructive conversation1 before going to breakfast with an appetite like--like a man4 ,sir ,erasmus does not tell us how much he enjoyed that breakfast1 but we can easily fancy that part of the performance4 ,we can easily believe1 that his manly onslaught upon the viands set before him1 would have been highly appreciated by ,christopher ,north himself1 with ,tickler and the ,shepherd settling down to serious eating4 ,but it is not merely as a luxury that1 in this little work of ours1 we venture to recommend the ,anglo-,turkish bath to our readers although taken simply for the sake of enjoyment1 a man never fails to cherish the memory of his first bath1 as does a maiden that of her first ball4 ,but our recommendation has a far wider scope than this4 ,we look upon the bath as the best means mankind has3-- ,,one4--,for maintaining the body in a state of perfect health4 ,,two4--,for averting the many ailments incidental to life and-- ,,three4--,for the cure of not a few diseases4 ,few there are in our own country1 or probably in any other1 who enjoy really good and robust health1 constantly4 ,apart from inherited illnesses1 the wear and tear of life1 end the worry that naturally attends the struggle for existence is very hard upon most of us1 and if it were not for weekly periods of rest1 the average span of our existence would be a much shorter one than it really is4 ,and1 alas6 as a rule1 our periods of rest seem far too short1 our one day's toil seems hardly well over1 until another one begins1 and thus our existences are fretted away4 ,to many amongst us life seems one long drawn-out weariness2 from year's end to year's end the back must ache1 and the temples throb1 till the very heart grows tired of its own sad beat1 and yearns for rest4 ,but to live like this1 or in any way akin to it1 is not to be in a state of health4 ,if a man be really healthy1 he is reasonably happy1 if he does not feel reasonably happy1 he is not in a condition of health4 ,in health there is a complete freedom from ache or pain1 from bruise or blemish1 from heat or cold2 every joint is supple1 every muscle capable of contraction and extension4 ,and the mind should feel as light and buoyant as the body1 a healthy man should feel a pleasure in merely living1 he should be capable of taking an interest in everything that goes on around him1 in all he sees1 in all he hears1 in all he reads1 and in all that concerns the well-being of his fellow creatures1 and honest toil itself should be an enjoyment to him1 and not a worry1 not a penance4 ,it is the custom in ,england1 and a terribly wrong and fatal one it is1 to fly to stimulants for the relief of temporary-exhaustion2 that is1 at the very time when our bodies are tired1 and nature courts a brief rest1 we dig in the spur1 we wield the whip1 and keep her at it invariably to her detriment4 ,the very fact that the amount of stimulant taken requires to be increased after a time proves how deleterious is this plan1 the modest glass of sherry1 or mildest ale1 needs after a time to be replaced by fiery brandy or heart-corroding gin4 ,this last is putting an extra thong on the whip1 and it is no wonder if1 after a time1 some important internal organ gives way1 and one more is added to the list of incurable invalids4 ,how much better would it be if tea and coffee took the place of dangerous stimulants1 and the balance of health was sought to be retained by the daily use of the morning tub1 and a bi-weekly indulgence in an ,anglo-,turkish ,bath4 ,it is not too much to hope for1 and it certainly is not too much to pray for1 that public baths upheld in a great measure by ,government1 may yet be one of the institutions of our beloved land4 ,what a blessing these would be to hard working men1 and to the tired and weary among all classes4 ,i venture to predict1 that if people were to make a habit of using the ,turkish ,bath1 say on the ,saturday afternoons only1 gin palaces and dram saloons that now reek with filth and disease would lose many a customer4 ,persons would find out that there was no real way consonant with the acknowledged rules of health and hygiene of banishing fatigue1 of dispelling aches and pains1 of calming the nervous system1 and preparing the mind for the perfect enjoyment of that day of blessed rest called ,sunday4 ,as a prophylactic against innumerable diseases1 we have recommended the use of the ,anglo-,turkish ,bath4 ,it is almost unnecessary to enlarge upon this head1 but a word or two may not be thrown away4 ,two1 then1 of the great causae norborum1 or disease inducers in this country are cold and indigestion4 ,now1 so long as the skin is a healthy one1 and in good working order1 it is next to impossible for any one to catch cold through it1 if he only takes care to clothe it not heavily but judiciously in warm woollens or light soft silks4 ,it stands to reason that an organ1 an instrument or machine--call it what we may--which is perfect in workings1 is not so easily thrown out of gear or out of order as one not so perfect4 ,we could fill a volume with cases of people who are constantly in the habit of using ,baths1 who can stand exposure to both cold and wet with but little inconvenience2 and we also know a vast number of votaries of the ,bath who do at times catch cold like other people1 being probably constitutionally susceptible to its influence-- but who get clear of their colds in quite a remarkably short time4 ,the reason undoubtedly is that they have the power to throw them off1 as the common saying is4 ,well1 now1 as to indigestion4 ,as the reader knows1 the whole internal surface of the body is lined with a mucous membrane1 which is analagous to the skin or external covering1 and as the one is so will the other be2 mucous indigestion1 therefore1 it may be clearly perceived is averted by the use of the ,bath4 ,but indigestion may proceed from loss of nerve power1 or from a badly acting liver or spleen1 or from weakness of the heart1 etc4 ,and the ,bath strengthens and tones the nervous system far more than any tonic we wot of1 moreover its constant use makes the work which the liver and spleen have to perform1 mere play1 so to speak2 and if the ,bath invigorates muscle--and we know it does--it must act as a roborant or tonic to the heart itself1 which is composed for the most part of muscular tissues4 ,many people produce a species of irritable indigestion1 by the use of stimulants1 for this the ,anglo-,turkish bath is an almost certain cure1 as it relieves internal congestions1 steadies the nerves and produces refreshing sleep4 ,many poisons are generated in the system1 to which if free vent be not given by means of the pores of a healthily acting skin1 mischief is sure sooner or later to arise1 such mischief for instance as gout and rheumatism1 to which reference has already been made4 ,but the condition of the kidneys is seldom or never studied by anyone and yet if they do not act sufficiently well to expel urea from the blood1 a more or less injurious effect is caused upon the brain and nerve centres4 ,this the periodical use of the ,anglo-,turkish bath1 would tend to remove4 ,we all know the demoralising effect that the first glass of spirits is said to have upon a man inclined to the abuse of intoxicants2 it so affects his brain that he no longer knows1 or he disregards right form wrong as far as his health is concerned4 ,but a similar demoralisation of brain tissue1 may be produced by poisons positively generated in the system2 at least this is our opinion4 ,those1 for example1 who have been given to alcohol1 often keep steady as they phrase it for a month or months1 then suddenly or gradually1 as the case may be1 break out again4 ,this is doubtless caused by the play of some accumulated system-propagated poison on the brain and nerves4 ,this poison may be urea1 or it may be some acid1 it matters not1 it is in the blood and it ought to be eliminated and we earnestly advise those1 who would be abstainers but who find it difficult to long remain so1 to fly at once for relief to the hot-air bath1 whenever the tempter1 as platform orators call it1 seems to urge them to take once more to stimulants4 ,we think it highly probable1 that many inherited diseases such as consumption1 scrofula1 etc1 may be kept at bay by the constant use of the bath under consideration1 if only for the simple reason that the blood poisoning is thus constantly being driven off1 before it has power to accumulate in quantities large enough to do mischief2 not to mention the fact that the bath causes healthful activity of all the secretions4 ,the diseases which the ,turkish bath may be the means of curing or alleviating1 are really too numerous to mention4 ,among them may be enumerated gout1 rheumatic gout1 rheumatism1 acute and chronic1 colds and coughs1 indigestion in some of its worst forms1 bowel affections1 piles1 chronic liver and spleen ailments1 kidney complaints1 incipient delirium tremens1 melancholy and depression of spirits1 nervousness1 irritability of temper1 sleeplessness1 ennui1 the diseases of sedentary and also of fashionable life1 adiposity1 etc4 ,that condition of body and mind generally caused by indiscretion of some kind1 and usually known by the expression out of sorts1 or out of condition1 when weariness and depression are predominant1 when sleep is unrest1 and every duty of life is performed with a feeling of extreme irksomeness1 and when the nerves seem given as a punishment1 is almost invariably cured by a course of ,turkish ,bathing taken in conjunction with some nervine tonic1 and an occasional well-chosen aperient4 ,diseases and debilities of the reproductive organs1 are by the same means equally benefited1 but in these cases galvanism in some form is often required to effect a complete cure4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,note #a4 ,see--,the ,eastern ,bath1 published by ,messrs4 ,j4 and ,a4 ,churchill1 ,new ,burlington ,street4 ,,chapter ,,four4 ,,the ,,turkish ,,bath3 ,,in ,,theory ,,and ,,practice--,,the ,,portable ,,turkish ,,bath4 ,let us now endeavour to explain the theory of the ,turkish ,bath1 and the why and wherefore of the different operations the bather subjects himself to therein4 ,if he be a person who has bathed many times and oft1 he steps across the threshold of the great natural ,sanatorium with a light heart and a step as springy as though he were entering a ball-room1 for well he knows that all his care and trouble whether mental or bodily1 will melt away in the glorious atmosphere of the calidarium or hot room1 and that when he comes out again he will feel so new a man1 that a giant refreshed would have no chance with him4 ,he parts with his ticket or half-crown with pleasure1 feeling in his inmost heart that he has the best of the bargain4 ,and so he enters his little sanctum and begins to undress4 ,he would fain hurry off his garments3 he longs to be free but he remembers that everything ought to be done leisurely for his good4 ,but now the last article of apparel is laid carefully aside and he smiles to himself--a happy smile--as he dons the cummerbund1 or cotton pyjamas1 and issues forth to enter the calidarium4 ,he will not have long remained here until beads of perspiration appear on chest and brow1 and arms1 gradually extending downwards until limbs and even feet are covered with a warm moisture4 ,a mouthful or two of cold water will cause the drops of perspiration to accumulate and increase in size1 until uniting1 they trickle in burns--as the ,scotch call it1 from the body4 ,he has very likely assumed a reclining position on a wooden cane-bottomed settee4 ,here he may read if so minded1 he will hardly care to talk1 if he does he ought not to4 ,a strange dreamy kind of happiness steals over him1 not wild exciting thoughts like those of the opium-eater4 ,no1 his is now indeed the dolce far niente2 he has eaten the lotus leaf1 all worldly cares1 if he has any1 are for the time being forgotten1 he even wonders that he permitted anything sublunary to worry him4 ,and so the time passes all too quickly away4 ,perhaps the attendant now warns him it is time to retire1 or to enter even a hotter room in which he will stay a shorter time1 then thence to the lavatory4 ,how pleasant the trickling of the warm shower bath1 how delightful the soap shampoo1 that removes every bit from top to toe of the unhealthy1 or at least superfluous scarf skin4 ,every particle of impurity may be said to have exuded from the blood1 which is now pure as the constitution of the bather can permit it to be1 and every particle of impurity has been washed by shampooing from the outer surface4 ,the warm shower completes the cleansing4 ,but now the gaping pores must be made to contract1 their fibres are relaxed they must be closed4 ,but however cold the water douche may be1 by which this operation is performed1 to the bather it seems most pleasant and delicious4 ,wrapped in a sheet from head to heel he once more passes through the calidarium1 on his way to the cooling room4 ,he may linger here for a few moments if so minded but not for long1 only just to restore a gentle warmth to the surface of the body4 ,in the cool room he will remain reclining and enwrapped in his sheet for about a quarter of an hour and probably the attendant will come and knead every muscle of the body getting back the lagging blood1 if indeed it does lag1 heart-wards and rendering the whole body as supple and pliant and elastic as life4 ,then to dress most slowly4 ,and while dressing1 to leisurely imbibe a cup of warm1 not hot1 tea or coffee4 ,when he emerges at last from the ,sanatorium and goes bounding along the street1 he--well he does not feel inclined to change places with anyone he meets1 not even if the ,lord ,mayor's carriage rolls past him4 ,we have thus stated briefly1 the various operations a bather goes through in the ordinary ,turkish bath of our towns and cities4 ,leisurely undressing1 especially necessary if there has previously been a brisk walk1 7thus the heart has time to tone down ere subjected to the excitement of the calidarium7 the repose in the hot room with frequent small draughts of cold water to encourage the flow of the perspiration1 the gradual softening of the scarf skin and thorough opening of every pore1 the warm shower and shampoo by which every obnoxious particle is removed from the outer surface as it has already been from the inner1 the cold douche to contract the pores1 and thus prevent subsequent danger from cold4 ,the gradual cooling down1 the leisurely resumption of ordinary wearing apparel lest perspiration should again be induced1 and last1 but not least1 the calm and comforting cup of coffee or tea4 ,and after all what is this ,turkish bathing8 ,is it something so very new8 ,nay1 new in its processes probably1 but it is but carrying out an old1 old law1 old as the days of ,moses himself1 the law of perfect cleanliness and perfect cleansing4 ,we have visited a large number of the hydropathic establishments and ,turkish bathing sanatoria1 and there is much to be praised in all we have seen and little to be blamed4 ,some are of course1 far more luxuriantly fitted up than others1 and these are the baths we prefer to visit4 ,could we1 however1 have such a splendid thermal temple as that of ,riverside attached to our own home1 we would certainly never wander away from it to worship at another shrine4 ,we ourselves may be over fastidious1 but we think the following are among some of the drawbacks to the general run of ,turkish bathing places4 ,they are usually in out of the way places1 so that one is not always able to find the time to get there when he wants to4 ,the weekly expenditure incurred by taking a course of baths would certainly be a consideration with many2 and on the other hand1 there is a lack of privacy which renders such establishments distasteful as a rule4 ,but the benefits that accrue from a course of ,turkish baths1 depend in a great measure upon the regularity with which they are taken4 ,and it is this regularity which is often so difficult to keep up4 ,the ,sanatorium is at a distance4 ,something intervenes to prevent the intended visit1-- business--a call from home in another direction--bad weather1 or any one of fifty other things4 ,and so a visit comes to be omitted1 or may be two1 there is accordingly a hole in the hygienic ballad1 a step or two wanting in the ladder that would have led upwards to health4 ,it is some two or three years now since we first came to realise the fact1 that one might enjoy the luxury and reap the benefits of a ,turkish bath1 without going a step beyond the confines of the bedroom and dressing-room4 ,we had received by the railway carrier a box4 ,a box6 ,whatever could it be1 we wondered4 ,it was not the season for sending anything particular from the country4 ,christmas was a long way ahead1 and grouse shooting not begun4 ,we undid the outer covering and exposed it to view4 ,it was shaped liked a spirit-case1 but it could not be that4 ,that box may contain1 we mused1 as we gazed on it1 untold luxury in the shape of tea1 or a new patent photographic apparatus1 or a magic lantern1 or an ,english concertina1 or--yes--or--or--or a land torpedo sent by a ,fenian1 that will explode when we lift the lid1 blow the roof off the house1 and send us sailing away skywards1 accompanied by the furniture and things4 ,we clapped a cautious ear to the lid and listened4 ,there was no suspicious ticking audible within1 so we summoned up courage and--opened the box1 and lo6 and behold1 ,allen's portable ,turkish bath4 ,since then we have visited public baths but seldom4 ,we are content1 for the portable bath as we use it1 serves every useful purpose4 ,as the ,messrs4 ,allen have lent the blocks to embellish this chapter1 it will be nothing more than courteous to let them describe it in their own way4 ,referring to 7,plate ,one7 they say3-- ,this illustrates our ,apparatus as used under the chair1 for giving a hot-air bath only1 or hot-air and vapour combined1 also for either a ,medicated or ,mercurial bath4 ,at the back of the top rail of chair is fixed a socket1 with a set screw1 a square rod slides up and down this socket1 and a folding ring fits into the top of the rod4 ,by this arrangement the hoop for keeping the cloak extended1 can be raised or lowered to be either level with the shoulders leaving the head exposed1 or1 if preferred1 raised sufficient to cover the head4 ,the person about to take the bath puts the apparatus ready for use under the chair1 and placing the cloak lightly over the hoop1 sits down1 slips the two ends of the hoop together1 draws the cloak round1 tying it down the front with the strings provided1 and adjusting it round the neck1 may take the bath comfortably from fifteen to forty minutes1 according to inclination4 ,but it is possible that the bather may prefer to recline while enjoying this calming and luxuriant bath4 ,this is easily done1 and if the reader will glance at ,plate ,two1 he will see the modus operandi4 ,nothing could be more simple1 nothing more effective4 ,we are not1 however1 the first to have discovered the merits of ,messrs4 ,allen's luxurious invention4 ,it is in general use now all over the country1 and medical men are constantly in the habit of recommending the bath to their patients4 ,so also is the professional press1 and among these such well-known ,journals as ,the ,london ,medical ,record2 ,the ,medical ,times and ,gazette2 ,the ,medical ,examiner2 ,the ,medical ,press and ,circular2 ,the ,lancet2 and ,the ,british ,medical ,journal are loud in their praises of the apparatus4 ,it will be especially observed by the intelligent reader that ,allen's bath may be used entirely as a dry hot air bath1 or as a mixed hot air and vapour bath4 ,well1 this in our opinion is a capital idea1 because one can use it as either4 ,we1 ourselves1 perspire freely1 and therefore use only the hot air1 but as ,sir ,erasmus says3 ,the great purpose to be arrived at1 so far as temperature is concerned1 is to obtain one which shall be agreeable to the sensations4 ,the following is what ,messrs4 ,allen and ,sons write me themselves concerning their bath3-- ,our idea is1 that the hot air and vapour bath combined is the truest approach to the ,eastern ,turkish bath1 in which1 after the bather has been in the heated room some little time1 and begins to feel somewhat oppressed1 they 7the attendants7 come round1 sprinkle the heated floor with water2 this produces a vapour1 and it is almost immediately after this that the body begins to perspire freely1 the vapour also relieves the breathing very much with some4 ,there are those who will not perspire in the hot-air bath at all1 but do with the hot-air and vapour bath1 which1 mingling with the hot-air1 produces a moist heat1 softens the skin1 and produces perspiration much more quickly4 ,there is one advantage which the portable bath possesses over the regular sanatorium ,turkish3--the head is not covered1 it is not in the heated atmosphere1 and therefore purer air can be breathed1 although both face and scalp perspire as freely as any other part of the body4 ,the head1 however1 may be covered if this is thought more pleasant4 ,dr ,l4,e4 ,turner1 it would seem believes in having the head exposed during the bath4 ,by the use of your bath1 he says the patients can breathe pure air uncontaminated by the foetid humours pouring forth from the seven millions of pores in your neighbour's skin as he sits by your side in the ordinary ,turkish or ,russian bath4 ,besides there is no risk from over expansion of the pulmonary tissues of the lungs2 as when people are compelled to breathe a heated atmosphere2 nor risk from rupture of the delicate blood vessels of the brain4 ,there are many other advantages which tend to make me1 and not only myself but all other professional men who have tried them1 strong advocates for their use1 in place of all other kinds of ,turkish1 ,russian1 or herbal baths4 ,,chapter ,,five4 ,,the ,,turkish ,,bath--,,continued4 ,,the ,,traveller',s ,,bath4 ,in chapter third we enumerated briefly a few of the ailments likely to be either entirely removed1 or1 at all events1 alleviated1 by the use of the ,turkish ,bath4 ,we think that ,sir ,erasmus ,wilson mentions that terribly distressing ailment eczema among those which yield to the emollient and cleansing effects of the bath4 ,kidney ailments1 and even dropsy itself1 have succumbed to its power4 ,i have just1 writes a medical man1 retired from the post of medical officer of ,h4,m4 ,convict ,prison at ,portland1 and my late ,assistant ,surgeon has kindly informed me how admirably it acts in kidney affections1 and ,i am anxious to have one as soon as possible4 ,the following are the words of ,sir ,erasmus ,wilson himself3-- ,the bath is a preventative of disease1 by hardening the individual against the effects of variations and vicissitudes of temperature1 by giving him power to resist miasmatic and zymotic affections1 and by strengthening his system against scrofula1 consumption1 gout1 rheumatism2 diseases of the digestive organs1 cutaneous system1 muscular system1 including the heart2 nervous system including the brain2 and reproductive system4 ,the bath1 he continues1 has the property of hardening and fortifying the skin1 so as to render it almost insusceptible to the influence of the cold4 ,a ,doctor of ,divinity told me1 that during the winter time he was scarcely ever free from cold1 often so severe as to lay him up for several weeks1 and that he also suffered from attacks of neuralgia2 but that since he had adopted the use of the bath twice a week1 all disposition to colds and neuralgia had ceased2 and for the first time in sixteen years1 he had passed the winter without a cold4 ,dr ,wood writes as follows3-- ,dr ,wood had a severe trial case to use ,messrs4 ,allen and ,son's4 ,it was a case of heart disease and kidney affections where it was dangerous to give the patient a bath1 or anything that would excite the circulation1 and yet essential to have copious sweating4 ,the patient was delirious4 ,he has got well4 ,a great sanitary authority1 ,dr ,richardson1 said the other evening at a public meeting1 that if it were possible to attain perfect cleanliness of person and surroundings1 disease would become an obsolete term4 ,these are not the exact words1 but they convey the sense4 ,but independent of the use the bath may be put to1 for the purpose of curing or alleviating disease1 for thoroughly cleansing the body and sweetening the system1 or simply as a luxury1 there are at least two other uses to which it can be put4 ,it is a means of banishing fatigue1 and also of producing refreshing sleep4 ,and this fact may be turned to good account on many occasions4 ,a person may have been out all day on the hill1 or hunting1 or he may have been on the river or lake rowing1 or by its banks fishing4 ,he returns tired and weary1 and very probably1 wet4 ,a wash and change of clothes1 followed by a stimulant1 are the usual remedies for such fatigues4 ,how much better is it both for the comfort and health if he can spare a short half-hour1 and enjoy the advantageous comforts of the ,turkish ,bath4 ,why1 he feels double the individual afterwards1 and if he is not all throughout the evening after as bright as a new florin1 he must be a dullard at the very best1 that is all4 ,well1 but a person may be a mere guest at some country ,squire's1 how about his ,turkish ,bath then8 ,this is a difficulty that is easily overcome4 ,we have the ,tourist's or ,traveller's bath1 handy1 convenient1 useful and cheap4 ,this little contrivance will be of great benefit in dispelling the fatigue usually felt after a long journey in train or steamboat4 ,while out boating or touring in any way it will be found invaluable4 ,indeed it is so small and compact that a tricyclist might easily take it in his bag4 ,plate ,three represents the apparatus set up ready for use for a hot-air or vapour bath1 to be placed under a chair1 the body to be well enveloped in blankets4 ,the apparatus may also be used for boiling water for making tea and coffee1 as well as for frying bacon1 chop1 steak1 or cooking omelets1 etc4 ,the ,turkish bath is a calmative to the nervous and the vascular systems1 and therefore of great utility in cases of sleeplessness4 ,we advise those who are troubled with this disagreeable complaint to give it a fair trial4 ,for female complaints1 of nearly all kinds1 unless especially forbidden by the family physician1 this bath may be also used with marked benefit4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ,we earnestly hope that this little guide of ours will fall into the hands of many sufferers1 whose ailments are likely to be relieved1 or banished entirely1 by the regular use of this prince of baths2 we cannot therefore do better1 we believe1 than finish this short chapter with some useful advice to those who may intend to give it a fair trial4 ,but first1 let us endeavour to dispel a phantom that stands at the threshold of every ,turkish bathing establishment1 and tries to prevent those who have never bathed before from entering4 ,we allude to the phantom fear4 ,this bogle stood at the doorway when we ourselves went to have our first ,turkish bath4 ,oh6 he cried1 don't come in1 don't come in1 you'll catch your death of cold from the douche1 don't come in1 don't come in1 ,i beseech you1 ,i'm sure you have heart disease4 ,bother6 was our curt reply4 ,well1 cried the bogle1 extending his ghostly arms over his head1 do go and see a doctor first4 ,but we pushed the bogle boldly aside4 ,that bogle looked very small indeed as we strode out again1 about an hour afterwards4 ,now1 dear reader1 the phantom will treat you precisely as it treats everyone else4 ,are you to fear it8 ,that is a question which must be answered in no bantering mood4 ,we honestly believe that ninety-five people at least out of every hundred1 can enter an ordinary ,turkish bathing establishment and go through all the processes with perfect safety4 ,well1 we will suppose that we are conversing in the consulting-room with some one who means to try the ,turkish bath4 ,he will ask such questions as3-- #a4 ,when should ,i begin to take the bath8 #b4 ,how long should ,i stay in the heat8 #c4 ,how often should ,i take it8 #d4 ,what is the best time of the day to have the bath8 #e4 ,can you give me some general instructions to guide me in using it4 ,to question ,number #a we should reply3 ,begin to-morrow4 ,question ,number #b3 ,until you are in a glorious perspiration1 and all aches and pains1 and all sense of weariness forgotten4 ,from a quarter of an hour to twenty minutes will be enough at first4 ,question ,number #c3 ,how often should you take it8 ,once or twice a week1 or even three times1 or whenever required to banish ennui1 fatigue1 aches or pains1 or incipient cold1 or biliousness1 or lassitude1 etc1 etc4 ,to question #d1 the reply is3 ,the bath must not be taken on a full stomach1 about three hours after a meal is the best time4 ,but those who dine about six or seven in the evening should take the bath before dinner4 ,people who are engaged all day1 may with advantage use it either before retiring for the night1 or after getting up in the morning1 following it by the usual cold sponge4 ,if the cold bath is forbidden1 then the best time is going to bed4 ,now comes your last question1 7but let me here say parenthetically that we may be consulted about everything connected with the bath1 and baths of all kinds1 or about any ailment1 chronic or otherwise1 that bathing in some forms is likely to cure or alleviate47 ,what you want then1 in order to enjoy the luxury of a bath in your own room1 is first1 one of the portable baths2 secondly a shallow bath like the one here depicted2 7,plate ,four47 ,thirdly a good big sponge2 fourthly1 a small hand shower bath1 cost ,i believe is #e shillings from ,messrs4 ,allen and ,sons1 7,plate ,five72 fifthly1 a flesh brush2 sixthly a piece of good soap 7,pears' transparent tablet is by far and away the best1 and really least expensive in the long run1--it is so well made1 and lasts so long72 and seventhly1 a few good rough towels4 ,all being ready1 you light your lamp and fix up the apparatus according to instructions given with every portable bath4 ,the shallow bath is to be half filled with nice hot water1 all ready4 ,after you have perspired enough1 turn out and turn into the shallow bath4 ,here you are to lather and sponge1 and use the flesh brush well4 ,next use the hand shower1 or the sponge if you prefer it1 filled with cold water1 do not be afraid of this1 it is life and luxury combined4 ,then to dry1 and dress leisurely1 to loll on the sofa for a while1 and quietly sip your tea or coffee1 while the fresh breeze from an open window is playing around you4 ,this is indeed enjoyment4 ,people who use the bath for the purpose of gaining health and strength1 should live temperately1 both as regards eating and drinking1 take abundant suitable exercise in the open air1 and make use of some tonic1 with now and then a gentle aperient4 ,both the tonic and aperient must be carefully chosen to suit individual idiosyncrasies and cases1 but we have seen very much good indeed accrue from this conjunction of tonics1 with mild and suitable aperients while taking a course of ,turkish baths4 ,,chapter ,,six4 ,,on ,,the ,,uses ,,of ,,the ,,various ,,medicated ,,baths4 ,it will be as well for the generality of our readers1 if we confine ourselves in this chapter to a brief consideration of those medicated baths only1 which have been proved to be efficacious in the amelioration and cure of illnesses1 whether chronic or acute4 ,we must preface our remarks1 however1 by stating that no course of baths is likely to be of the slightest avail to a sufferer1 unless he first and foremost makes up his mind to adhere to certain rules of living1 and endeavours to conform to the laws of health4 ,exercise must be taken in the open air1 he must also be most careful to study his diet and his clothing1 and to secure sound sleep by every natural means in his power1 narcotics however being avoided as poisons 7see pages #ba1 #bb1 and #bc74 ,tonics1 taken with judgment1 assist a patient to recover strength1 but they must be administered or prescribed by a medical man1 who is acquainted with the symptoms and nature of the case4 ,it is really surprising the amount of good that can be done by a well-regulated course of ,turkish or other baths1 combined with some carefully adapted plan of constitutional treatment and regulation in living4 ,if this were only more generally known1 thousands would soon be enjoying all the blessings of health1 who are now languishing on beds of sickness1 or confined to warm and stifling rooms1 instead of breathing the free fresh air of heaven4 ,it would seem that ,professor ,lionel ,beale is somewhat of the same opinion as ourselves1 and he even goes somewhat further1 for he deprecates foreign travel1 or at least considers wandering abroad in search of health1 is1 in many cases1 a needless expense4 ,if1 writes this learned authority1 patients could be induced to retire to a pleasant part of the country where they would take moderate exercise1 and be free from mental anxiety1 meet with agreeable society1 live regularly1 take small doses of alkalies1 and bathe themselves for an hour or two a day in warm water1 in which some carbonate of soda has been dissolved1 they would receive as much benefit as by travelling hundreds of miles away2 and at much less trouble and expense4 ,there is a great deal in these words free from mental anxiety4 ,it is to obtain this very needful aid to the cure of chronic complaints1 especially those brought about by over-work or fast living1 that we ourselves are in the habit of recommending to our patients a short sea voyage1 such as that to ,america or ,madeira and back4 ,but very great benefit results in numerous cases from a short residence at some of the innumerable hydropathic establishments1 which1 like small terrestrial paradises1 are scattered here and there in our beautiful island home4 ,those actually sick may go there1 as well as the languishing invalid or the over-worked man of business1 or worn-out pleasure hunter4 ,to those resorting to these sanatoria1 we can confidently recommend a handy and useful invention1 recently brought out by ,messrs4 ,allen and ,son 7,plate ,six74 ,it is a portable electric bell1 the cords can be passed under or over the doors1 from one room to another1 and by this means the nurse or attendant can be called immediately and quietly at any hour of the day or night4 ,we do not mean here to say much about the mercurial bath1 because it must only be used under medical advice1 but while reminding the reader that there is provision made for this kind of bath in the portable ,turkish bath 7page #dd7 there is 7see ,plate ,seven7 a nice handy little apparatus which can be used for this purpose used for this purpose or any other kind of fumigatory bath which the physician considers it right to recommend4 ,some of the most efficacious medicated bath in common use are3-- #a4 ,,the ,,borax ,,bath4--,this is soothing and calmative in many irritable forms of skin disease4 ,it is made in the proportion of four ounces of borax and three of glycerine1 to thirty gallons of hot water4 #b4 ,,the ,,ammonia ,,bath1 used as a skin stimulant and derivative4 ,the following is ,mr ,grantham's formula3--,two ounces of strong hartshorn in two gallons of water1 used in a hip bath4 ,an excellent hip bath1 very useful for people to whom stooping is objectionable is that made by the ,messrs4 ,allen 7,plate ,eight74 ,one glance at the figure will show its many advantages1 and we strongly recommend it4 ,people who suffer from cutaneous eruptions ought to take skilled advice before using a course of baths1 but the following sentences excerpted from ,e4 ,wilson's ,diseases of the ,skin may be read with profit by all4 ,aqueous remedies1 says the dermatologist1 present themselves in the form of simple water in its various states of cold1 tepid1 warm1 hot and steam2 water impregnated with saline matter as in the sea-bath1 and saline solutions2 in lotions1 fomentations and poultices4 ,water may be sedative1 emollient1 or stimulant1 according to the manner in which it is employed4 ,as a tepid bath or fomentation it is sedative1 and its sedative action is increased by the addition of various substances1 such as oatmeal1 starch1 gelatine1 and soda in small quantities4 ,it is emollient when used as a water dressing or in the condition of steam1 and it is stimulant when cold or hot4 ,when hot it is the best means known of relieving pruritus 7itching71 and in its cold state it refreshes and gives vigour to the skin2 hence1 the morning bath1 the sea-bath1 and daily ablutions with soap4 ,on this principle it is that we advise daily cold ablutions with soap of the face in cases of acne 7pimples71 and to other parts of the body1 particularly the axilla and perinaeum in chronic eczema or chronic pruritus4 ,aqueous lotions of liquor plumbi 7sugar of lead7 are refrigerant and sedative1 while lotions of carbolic acid1 sulphurate of potash1 acetate of ammonia1 and bicarbonate of ammonia are anti-pruritic4 ,warm fomentations are sedative and anodyne1 and their properties are increased by the addition of poppy heads4 ,poultices are emollient and sedative1 but their protracted use1 as of all aqueous applications1 macerates and weakens the skin1 and tends to perpetuate the disease or cause boils4 ,as a rule1 all aqueous applications except simple bathing1 must be employed with great caution in skin diseases4 ,saponaceous ablutions generally aggravate eczematous affections2 but certain forms and stages of that disease are benefitted by their use4 ,as a means of using the hip bath1 whether medicated or otherwise1 and for female complaints and irregularities1 there is nothing to equal the bidet herewith figured 7,plate ,nine74 #c4 ,,fomentations are simply local baths and are used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation1 as in the poppy head or laudanum fomentation to painful swellings1 or the turpentine fomentation to redden the chest in severe colds4 ,the water must be very hot1 and two pieces of flannel must be used1 wrung from the water1 time about4 ,these may be sprinkled with laudanum or turpentine as the case may demand4 #d4 ,,the ,,mustard ,,foot-,,bath is useful in cases of incipient colds1 headaches1 or languor and listlessness with restless nights4 ,a bucketful of hot water with a handful of mustard in it is all that is wanted2 in this the legs are to be bathed for twenty minutes before going to bed4 #e4 ,,the ,,oak ,,bath is made by adding a pound of bruised oak bark to a quart of cold water and boiling for half an hour2 the half of this maybe put in the morning tub as a tonic bath4 #f4 ,,the ,,pine ,,balsam ,,bath is good in cases of rheumatism and great nervousness4 ,the balsam is a distillation front the leaves of pines1 and is simply added to the bath4 #g4 ,,the ,,alkaline ,,bath may be used twice or three times a week by gouty or rheumatic subjects4 ,two ounces of the bicarbonate of soda are added to three gallons of warm water1 and the bath is ready4 #h4 ,,the ,,peat ,,water ,bath is a ,german invention1 and seems to be of great value to sufferers from gout and rheumatism1 swelling of the joints1 congestion of the liver1 etc4 ,why the peat of this country should not be as efficacious as that from ,german bogs we fail to understand4 #i4 ,,the ,,electric ,,bath is a good deal used at seaside places1 and often with advantage1 especially in cases where the tone of the system has been much lowered4 #aj4 ,,the ,,vinegar ,,sponge ,,bath consists of one part of vinegar to three of cold water1 the body or hands and arms1 feet and legs1 are then sponged with it4 #aa4 ,,the ,,iron ,,bath is sometimes used as a tonic1 and is of considerable efficacy1 especially to delicate females and children4 ,it is composed of half an ounce of sulphate of iron1 in four gallons of cold or tepid water4 #ab4 ,,sulphur ,,baths1 ,,creasote ,,baths1 and ,,nitro-,,hydrochloric ,,baths are all good in their way1 but must only be used under medical advice4 ,,chapter ,,seven4 ,,the ,,ordinary ,,home ,,baths--,,seaside ,,bathing4 ,the morning tub is a bath that people in ordinary health should take every morning4 ,it is not only invigorating but it so tones the skin and nerves as to render catching cold all but impossible4 ,a far better tonic for those who can bear it1 is the shower bath4 ,a cheaper sort of ,shower ,bath is that represented underneath4 7,plate ,,nine47 ,from a recent ,magazine ,article of ours1 we cull the following hints which may be found of use4 ,in speaking of ,house ,baths we say3-- #a4--,then you must consult your own feelings as to whether or not you ought to continue the bath through the livelong winter4 ,we should say1 ,try to do so4 #b4--,let the first spongeful of cold water be applied to the head and shoulders and adown the spine4 #c4--;,if you feel too much exhausted in the morning for a cold bath1 from having been up late1 raise the temperature of the cold bath several degrees4 #d4--;,be guided by your own feelings as to the temperature of hot and cold water4 ,from #cb to #fj degrees would be right for the cold bath1 and about #ij degrees for the water in the basin4 #e--;,a cold bath may be taken with advantage when the body is heated1 from whatever cause1 so long as there is no exhaustion or fatigue2 but never go into the water if there be the slightest feeling of chilliness1 nor after a full meal4 ,plate ,twelve represents a useful kind of bed bath which has been a source of comfort to many an invalid4 7,all these baths are manufactured by ,messrs4 ,allen and ,son47 ,in bathing at home1 after lathering the whole body with warm water and soap1 a cold sponge bath containing a handful or two of either ,tidman's or ,brill's ,sea ,salt will be found very invigorating4 ,we have before us a splendidly got up work entitled ,luxurious ,bathing1 published by ,messrs4 ,field and ,tuer1 ,leadenhall ,street1 ,e4,c4 ,the book is beyond praise1 its well-executed etchings entitle it to a place on the drawing-room table1 and its advice to those who value health1 is simply invaluable4 ,those who suffer from weakness1 or who dread the winter's cold1 would do well to combine a course of bathing1 with one of tonics and cod liver oil4 ,de ,jongh's light brown is the only oil we ever use4 ,those who wish to regain health in a month1 by the sad sea waves1 cannot err by taking the following rules as a guide4 ,they are from a ,magazine article of ours3-- ,simple ,rules for ,seaside ,enjoyment4 #a4--;,before leaving home1 study your trains1 pack trunks the day before1 don't forget anything1 and avoid hurry and excitement4 #b4--,look for rooms quietly1 in a clean1 quiet street or suburb1 and see that the rooms are clean and airy4 #c4--,rise early every morning1 soap down and tub from head to heel1 eat a biscuit1 and go for a walk4 #d4--,regular hours1 regular exercise1 regular meals1 and regular medicine 7if you need it74 #f4--;,enjoy yourself all you can1 but 'ware excitement and fatigue4 #f4--,strong men may bathe before breakfast1 but the best average time is about three hours after breakfast4 #g4--,walk at a moderate pace to the bathing ground1 so as to be neither too hot nor too cold1 and undress as speedily as possible4 #h4--;,it is better to plunge at once into deep water2 don't unless you can swim1 however1 but after bending down and laving the face and both arms1 drop right underneath the first wavelet4 #i4--;,if you can swim1 swim and nothing else2 if you cannot1 you can at least tumble about and keep moving1 and also rub your limbs with the hands4 #aj4--;,come out before you have actually ceased to enjoy yourself4 #aa4--;,it is better to have your own towel1 one at least1 and let it be moderately rough4 #ab4--,rub your face1 shoulders1 limbs1 and body1 using moderate friction1 and finish drying with a smoother towel4 #ac4--,when quite dry1 dress1 and it ought not to be at all necessary to dress quickly4 #aa4--;,if faintness or sickness comes on1 which must be looked upon as quite an accident1 lie down for a few minutes4 #ae4--;,after dressing1 a brisk walk should be taken2 and now a lunch biscuit will do you service4 #af4--,remember that the glow after the bath is the grand event to be looked for4 #ag4--;,if instead of this glow a decided chill takes place1 and is not removed by a brisk walk1 a small drop of brandy taken along with a biscuit becomes a necessity1 or for ladies a glass of some cordial4 #ah4--;,if you are an invalid1 try to forget it2 if a ,hercules or a ,webb1 forget that4 #ai4--;,don't forget flannel under-clothing if at all delicate4 ,there are various other kinds of baths which we have not mentioned1 but trust we have said enough to prove that the baths in some form--and more especially the ,turkish--should be taken constantly by all who value good health and hope for longevity4