diff options
Diffstat (limited to '75757-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 75757-h/75757-h.htm | 2809 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 75757-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 995808 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 75757-h/images/i_01.png | bin | 0 -> 279470 bytes |
3 files changed, 2809 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/75757-h/75757-h.htm b/75757-h/75757-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7553e65 --- /dev/null +++ b/75757-h/75757-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2809 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title> + Baths and Bathing | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .51em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .49em; +} +p.left {text-align: left;} + +.c {text-align: center;} +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: 33.5%; + margin-right: 33.5%; + clear: both; +} + + +hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +ul.index { list-style-type: none; } + +/* Poetry */ +/* uncomment the next line for centered poetry */ +/* .poetry-container {display: flex; justify-content: center;} */ +.poetry-container {text-align: center;} +.poetry {text-align: left; margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} +.poetry .stanza {margin: 1em auto;} +.poetry .verse {text-indent: -3em; padding-left: 3em;} + +.poetry .indent0 {text-indent: -3em;} +.poetry .indent1 {text-indent: -2.5em;} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + + +.tdr {text-align: right;} + + +td.topleft { + vertical-align: top; + padding: 0.25em; +} + +td.leftborder { + padding: 0.25em; + border-left: solid 1px; +} + +.btbright {border-top: 2px solid; + border-bottom: 2px solid; + text-align: right; +} + +.allsmcap {font-variant: small-caps; text-transform: lowercase;} + + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +img.w100 {width: 50%;} + + +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; + height: 30%; +} + +.column { + float: left; + width: 50%; +} + +/* Clear floats after the columns */ +.row:after { + content: ""; + display: table; + clear: both; +} + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} +.illowp65 {width: 65%;} +.x-ebookmaker .illowp65 {width: 100%;} + + </style> +</head> +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75757 ***</div> + + + + + +<h1><i>Health Primers.</i></h1> + +<figure class="figcenter illowp65" id="i_01" style="max-width: 41.4375em;"> + <img class="w100" src="images/i_01.png" alt=""> +</figure> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="Health_Primers">Health Primers.</h2> +</div> + +<p class="c"> + EDITORS. +</p> + + +<div class="row"> + <div class="column"> + <ul class="index"> + <li><p class="left">J. LANGDON DOWN, <span class="allsmcap">M.D., F.R.C.P.</span></p> </li> + <li><p class="left">J. MORTIMER-GRANVILLE, <span class="allsmcap">M.D.</span></p></li> + </ul> + </div> + <div class="column"> + <ul class="index"> + <li> <p class="left">HENRY POWER, <span class="allsmcap">M.B., F.R.C.S.</span></p></li> + <li> <p class="left">JOHN TWEEDY, <span class="allsmcap">F.R.C.S.</span></p></li> + </ul> + </div> +</div> + +<h2>BATHS AND BATHING.</h2> + +<p class="c">CONTRIBUTORS TO THE SERIES:</p> + +<div class="row"> + <div class="column"> + <ul class="index"> + <li><p class="left"><i>G. W. BALFOUR, M.D., St. And., F.R.C.P. Edin.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>J. CRICHTON-BROWNE, M.D. Edin., F.R.S. Edin.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>SIDNEY COUPLAND, M.D. Lond., M.R.C.P.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>JOHN CURNOW, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>J. LANGDON DOWN, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>TILBURY FOX, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>J. MORTIMER-GRANVILLE, M.D. St. And., F.G.S., F.S.S.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>W. S. GREENFIELD, M.D. Lond., M.R.C.P.</i></p></li> + </ul> + </div> + <div class="column"> + <ul class="index"> + <li><p class="left"><i>C. W. HEATON, F.C.S., F.I.C.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>HARRY LEACH, M.R.C.P.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>G. V. POORE, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>HENRY POWER, M.B. Lond., F.R.C.S.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>W. L. PURVES, M.D. Edin., M.R.C.S.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>J. NETTEN RADCLIFFE, Ex-Pres. Epidl. Soc., &c.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>C. H. RALFE, M.A., M.D., Cantab., F.R.C.P.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>S. RINGER, M.D. Lond., F.R.C.P.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>JOHN TWEEDY, F.R.C.S.</i></p></li> + <li><p class="left"><i>JOHN WILLIAMS, M.D. Lond., M.R.C.P.</i></p></li> + </ul> + </div> +</div> + +<p class="c"> +LONDON:<br> +HARDWICKE AND BOGUE, 192, PICCADILLY.<br> +1879.<br> +</p> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + + +<div class="chapter"> +<p class="c"> +LONDON:<br> +PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET<br> +AND CHARING CROSS.<br> +</p> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2> +</div> + +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> + +<table> + <tr> + <td></td> + <td class="tdr">PAGE</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><small>THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF BATHS</small></a><br></td> + <td class="tdr">5</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_II"><small> THE VARIETIES OF BATHS</small></a><br></td> + <td class="tdr">20</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_III"><small>BATHING LOCALITIES</small></a><br></td> + <td class="tdr">45</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><small>THE USES OF BATHS</small></a><br></td> + <td class="tdr">68</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><small> A VISIT TO A BATH</small></a><br></td> + <td class="tdr">83</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="BATHS_AND_BATHING">BATHS AND BATHING.</h2> +</div> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.<br> +<small>THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF BATHS.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>Since the influence of baths is exerted primarily upon +the skin, and through the medium of the skin, upon the +deeper-lying tissues and organs of the body, it is an absolute +necessity for the reader at the outset to be made +aware of the structure of the skin and its functions, as well +as the relations which it bears to deeper-lying organs.</p> + +<p>If the skin, say of the thumb, be looked at with a lens +of moderate power, its surface is seen to be arranged in +ridges and furrows, like a ploughed field; and at frequent +intervals along the ridges are little depressions, which are +known as the pores of the skin. These pores are the +openings of the sweat ducts, and it is through these pores +that the perspiration exudes. They are exceedingly +numerous, and it has been calculated that there are +as many as 2,800 to every square inch of surface, or +about seven millions of them altogether. The ridges +are seen to be divided into a series of minute hillocks, +or <i>papillæ</i>, which are arranged in lines. These papillæ +are the organs of touch, and are probably as numerous +as the pores. They contain in their interior either loops +of blood-vessels or nerve-endings.</p> + +<p>These nerve-endings in the papillæ are of three kinds, +which are readily distinguishable, and are known as tactile +corpuscles, pacinian bodies, or end bulbs, according to +the form which they take. Between the superficial and +deep layers of the skin, the so-called cuticle and cutis, +is a layer which partakes somewhat of the character of +both. This is called the rete mucosum, and it is here +that the pigment, found in the skin of the negro and in +certain parts of the skin of white races also, is located.</p> + +<p>Beneath the skin, in the subcutaneous tissue, are +situated the sweat-glands, which are microscopical bundles +of tubing, having one end running through the skin to +terminate in the pores. These tubes are, or rather would +be, if straightened out, about a quarter of an inch long; +and it is estimated that the length of them in the entire +body is about 28 miles! They pass through the upper +layer of the skin or cuticle spirally, so that, although it +is an easy matter for fluid to pass <i>out</i>, the passage in the +opposite direction is by no means so easy. Each sweat-gland +is plentifully supplied with blood-vessels, and is +surrounded by a thin muscular coat, which is presumably +able to exert, by its contraction, a certain amount of +pressure, and so drive the secretions of the gland onward +towards the pore, or external aperture.</p> + +<p>The hair follicles, like the sweat-glands, are situated in +the subcutaneous tissue. They are hollow receptacles, +from the bottom of which the hairs grow. Alongside of +each of these hair follicles is a pair of glands, called the +sebaceous glands, which provide that small quantity of +natural grease with which our hair is supplied. These +glands resemble little bunches of grapes. The hair follicles +are also furnished with a couple of small muscles, which, +by their contraction, can cause a sensible erection of the +hair. In certain parts of the skin there are glands which +furnish a special odorous secretion. These are most +plentiful in the arm-pits and between the toes. In the +skin itself, and immediately beneath it, is a network of +“lymphatic” vessels, whose function, it would seem, is +mainly to drain the tissue of waste products. These +vessels run towards the “lymphatic glands,” which, when +enlarged, are often recognisable at the side of the neck, +and which are very generally distributed throughout +the body. In certain parts of the skin are special cells +containing pigment.</p> + +<p>Thus we see that the skin, which to the casual observer +is an almost structureless membrane, is in reality a most +complex and elaborate organ, richly supplied with blood-vessels, +lymphatic vessels, and nerves, having its millions +of papillæ and pores, and its miles of sweat-ducts. The +hair follicles, with their sebaceous glands and muscles, +are also to be reckoned by the million, and its odoriferous +glands and special pigment-bearing cells probably by +the thousand.</p> + +<p>What are the various uses of this elaborate organ? +In the first place, it serves as a protection to the softer +parts beneath. Secondly, it serves to regulate the temperature +of the body, by preventing, on the one hand, +the too rapid radiation of the natural heat, and, on the +other, by providing a very large surface for the evaporation +of the constantly exuding perspiration, it prevents +the overheating of the body. Thirdly, it is constantly +removing from the body certain effete materials. These +are the scales of the cuticle (which we remove whenever +we wash and rub the surface), the perspiration, and the +sebaceous, or greasy secretion. The amount of sweat +varies immensely; it may be almost nil, or as much as a +pint in an hour. The secretion of sweat is influenced +by the temperature of the air, by exercise, by the +drinking of fluids (especially warm fluids), and notably by +the emotions. There can be no doubt that the secretion +of a certain amount of sweat is necessary for perfect +health; and it is the common experience of all that the +checking of perspiration is very liable to be followed by +dangerous internal congestion.</p> + +<p>It has been demonstrated on some of the lower +animals that, if the skin be shaved and varnished, death +speedily ensues. This has been spoken of as a sort of +cutaneous suffocation, death taking place owing to the +charging of the blood with matter which should have +been removed by the skin. It has been asserted, however, +that death is due to cold in these cases; and it has +certainly been demonstrated that animals so treated live +much longer provided they be kept warm by a layer of +cotton wool. Sometimes the skin is superficially destroyed +by accidental burning or scalding, and it is well recognised +that a burn or scald is dangerous to life in proportion to +its superficial extent, rather than to its depth or severity.</p> + +<p>The blood-vessels of the skin vary much in size under +different circumstances, and the different degrees of pallor +or redness of the skin are due to the condition of these +superficial blood-vessels. The phenomenon of blushing +is well known; and this should serve to remind us that +the emotions can not only influence the amount of perspiration, +but the size of the cutaneous blood-vessels. +The intimate relations existing between the skin and the +great nerve-centres should never be lost sight of.</p> + +<p>The cutaneous blood-vessels enlarge in certain fevers, +as scarlet-fever and measles; they can be made to enlarge +also by the application of warmth, or irritants, such +as mustard, or the stroke of a whip. Contraction of the +blood-vessels is most marked in conditions of fear, or as +the result of the prolonged application of cold.</p> + +<p>Not only have the nerve-centres a great influence on +the skin, but the skin is capable of exerting a great influence +on the nerve-centres. This is not to be wondered +at, when we bear in mind the myriads of nerve-bearing +papillæ with which the skin is beset. When the soles of +the feet are tickled, the legs are involuntarily moved; +and when the arm-pits and sides of the chest are tickled, +loud laughter is the result. These two phenomena are +examples of what is known as <i>reflex action</i>, i.e., the +tickling produces an effect upon the nerve-endings in +the skin, and this effect travelling to the nerve-centres +(the spinal cord or brain) is <i>reflected</i> to the muscles, and +produces movement of the leg or laughter. When the +body is suddenly immersed in cold water, a not uncommon +result is a shivering and a chattering of the +teeth; and when cold water is sprinkled on the forehead +or chest, deep inspiration and a catching of the breath +is produced. These are examples of “reflex movements,” +due to impressions made upon the nerves of the +skin; and since many of the results of bathing are undoubtedly +due to this kind of reflex action, it is very +important to bear it constantly in mind. The connection +between the nervous centres (the brain and spinal marrow) +and the skin is shown also in the occurrence of what is +known as goose skin, or <i>cutis anserina</i>, which is caused +not only by the application of cold to the surface of the +body, but even more readily by the mental states which +make the “Hair of our flesh stand up.” The rationale +of this phenomenon is the contraction and shortening +of the little muscles which we have seen to be in intimate +relationship with the hair follicles. There can be no doubt +also that the pigment cells, which are scattered thinly +throughout our skins, are subject to the control of the +nervous centres, and it is well known that the tint of +the complexion will sometimes vary with emotional +states, as it certainly does with physical states. These +considerations are sufficient to show that the skin plays +a most important part in the animal economy, as a +protective, a secreting, a vascular, and a nervous organ.</p> + +<p>An all-important point to be determined with regard +to the skin is its power of <i>absorption</i>—that is, its power, +if any, of allowing substances to pass through it, and so +reach the interior of the body. It is well ascertained +that, if the surface of the skin be broken, absorption +takes place with great rapidity, and that even when the +skin is not broken, it is comparatively easy to get absorption +of certain matters, such as mercurial ointment +or extract of belladonna, provided they be applied with +a certain amount of friction. We saw that the ducts of +the sweat-glands perforated the skin spirally, and the +friction has the effect of opening the mouths of these +little ducts, so that the greasy or sticky preparation gets +lodged within them and absorbed.</p> + +<p>It has been proved with tolerable certainty that gases, +such as carbonic acid and oxygen, are capable of penetrating +and permeating the skin in small quantities, but +it is extremely doubtful if water is ever absorbed through +the skin. It has been attempted to settle the question +by weighing the body before and after a prolonged immersion +in the water, but such experiments are so beset +with fallacies that they are almost worthless. The fact +that shipwrecked sailors are in the habit of successfully +lessening their thirst by immersion of the body in water, +or by wetting their clothes, is well known, but this effect +may be due to the arrest of the cutaneous evaporation, +or by an effect upon the nerves.</p> + +<p>At all events it seems safest, in the present state of our +knowledge, to assume that water is not absorbed through +the skin; or if it be, that it is absorbed in such extremely +small quantities that the effect of baths can in no sense +be due to the absorption of the water in which the body +is immersed. As to the absorption of the various salts +contained in sea-water or mineral waters, there is no evidence +whatever that these are ever absorbed even in the +most minute quantities. If the salt dissolved in sea-water +were absorbed through the skin, it is tolerably certain +that sea-bathing, far from being the luxury which it is, +would be regarded as a highly dangerous and most +unpleasant practice.</p> + +<p>Baths of all kinds serve, or may be made to serve, as +vehicles for temperature, and by their aid we are enabled +to surround the body with a temperature which is different +to its own. Before we can fully understand the effect +of hot and cold baths on the economy, it is necessary to +enter into some discussion of the nature and source of +the natural heat, of the body. The natural heat of the +human body is between 98° and 99° of Fahrenheit’s +scale; and this temperature, roughly speaking, is uniformly +maintained by the healthy body under all the varying +circumstances to which it may be subjected. In the +arctic regions, and in the tropics the temperature of the +body rests at 98·6°; or, if variations occur, they are so +slight in amount as to be hardly noticeable. In a cold +atmosphere, therefore, the body has the power of maintaining +its heat; and in a warm atmosphere it is equally +able to maintain its coolness. This is a remarkable fact, +and is due to the power possessed by the human body +of adjusting the production and loss of heat. Heat +is produced in the body by the combustion of food +and tissues, exactly as heat is produced in a fireplace +by the combustion of coal. The amount and rapidity of +this combustion necessarily varies with the amount and +nature of the food consumed and the activity of exercise +and other vital processes. The most active tissue in the +body is the blood; through its agency most of the combustion +processes are carried on, and by its rapid circulation +to all parts of the body the most distant points of +the human frame are kept at the same temperature. The +temperature of the blood is due to the amount of combustion +taking place in the tissues, and the amount of +combustion taking place in the tissues is due to the +amount and energy of their blood supply, which last +depends upon the force of the heart’s action and the +size of the blood-vessels which have the power of contracting +and dilating, and which are subordinated to the +regulating influence of the nerve-centres. If that part +of the nerve-centres (the upper part of the spinal cord) +which controls the size of the vessels be injured or +destroyed, the combustion processes going on in the +body seem to get beyond control and the temperature +may be dangerously increased or decreased, the exact +reason of one or the other phenomenon not being known. +The limits of body temperature which are compatible +with life are not very wide; for if the temperature rise to +109° or sink to 76° death will inevitably result, and a rise +or fall of 7° from the natural temperature is decidedly +dangerous. Seeing how narrow are the limits of temperature +within which life is possible, we cannot but be +amazed at the marvellous arrangements for maintaining +the normal level of animal heat. The body is cooled by +the evaporation going on from the lungs; by the more +important evaporation going on from the skin (every one +who has covered a portion of the skin with spirit and has +encouraged its evaporation by blowing upon it knows +practically the cooling effect of evaporation), and by the +radiation of heat from the surface of the body, and the +conduction of heat from the body by things in contact +with it.</p> + +<p>The <i>immediate</i> effect of a cold bath is to chill the <i>surface</i> +of the body, the temperature of which, as tested by +a thermometer, may fall several degrees. At the same +time there is produced a pallor of the surface and goose-skin. +While the surface is cooled, however, the blood +itself undergoes an increase of temperature, due to an +increase of the combustion processes going on in the +body, of which we get additional evidence in the increase +of the rate of the pulse and respiration, and an augmented +discharge of carbonic acid from the lungs. There is a +sudden sense of chilliness, and this impression, made +upon the nerves of the skin, produces, by its action on the +brain and spinal cord, some slight mental excitement and +shivering of the limbs. After the bath has been continued +some little time the temperature of the blood falls (sometimes +as much as three or four degrees), the pulse and +respiration get slow, the shivering gives place to lassitude, +and the mental excitement to listlessness. On removal +from the bath the phenomenon of “reaction” sets in. +The vessels of the skin enlarge, the chilliness gives place +to warmth, and the feeling of uneasiness is succeeded by +a sense of comfort. This reaction follows most quickly +when the bath is of short duration, and when its effects +are suddenly induced. The shorter the bath the less is +the ultimate depression of the temperature of the blood. +The shorter the bath the greater is its power of <i>stimulating</i> +function; the longer it is continued the greater is +the effect of <i>cooling</i>.</p> + +<p>The effect of a <i>warm</i> bath is to raise slightly the temperature +of the surface and the temperature of the blood. +The pulse and respiration are both quickened, and the +escape of carbonic acid from the lungs is also increased. +The blood-vessels of the skin get dilated, and the surface +is reddened in proportion to the heat of the water. Warm +baths of a moderate temperature can be borne for a +longer time than cold baths; but if the temperature be +too high, and the bath too long-continued, faintness is +liable to occur. On removal from the hot bath the skin +is in a very delicate and susceptible state, and the vessels +are liable to “re-act” in the direction of extreme contraction, +in which case dangerous internal congestion may +occur. If, however, the skin be protected, and the patient +be placed in a warm room, or in bed, a violent perspiration +will ensue. In the cold bath the muscles are liable +to become stiff; but in the warm bath a stiff and fatigued +muscle will resume its suppleness. After a hard day’s +hunting a warm bath is a well-known and agreeable luxury.</p> + +<p>The phenomenon which is popularly known as “reaction,” +and which occurs after both hot and cold baths, +is a most remarkable one, and seems to show that our +bodies resent any interference with their function. Thus +experiments have shown that if the temperature of a +healthy man be raised or depressed by any artificial +means, such as hot or cold baths, the subsequent reaction +in the direction of the depression or exaltation of the +temperature is such that the mean temperature of health +is accurately maintained. A German observer, Jurgensen, +found by a series of accurate observations on a patient +who submitted to a series of baths of a temperature of +50° Fahr., each bath lasting twenty-five minutes, that notwithstanding +the rapid abstraction of heat, which gave +rise to shivering, lasting for several hours, the diminution +of bodily temperature which occurred during the bath +was followed, after an interval of four or five hours, by an +elevation which precisely compensated it, so that the +mean normal temperature was maintained in spite of the +interference of the physiologist.</p> + +<p>It will have been observed that the ultimate result of +both hot and cold bathing, if conducted in moderation, +is about the same, viz., an increased circulation of blood +through the skin. In both cases also, the combustion +going on within the body is increased, as evidenced by +the escape of an increased quantity of carbonic acid from +the lungs. In the case of the cold bath, this increased +combustion is due to the stimulating effect of the cold +water, while in the hot bath it is due to the artificial heat +facilitating the natural combustion processes of the body. +The effects of the hot and cold bath upon the combustion +processes going on in the body may, not inaptly, be +compared to the effect produced upon a furnace by the +hot and cold blast, both of which encourage combustion +and increase the heat given off by the furnace; but the +hot blast so facilitates combustion that the same work is +done by its aid, with an expenditure of 2-1/2 tons of coal, +that is done by the cold blast with an expenditure of +8 tons of coal. If we want a fire to burn well, we have +several courses open to us; the first is to poke it, which +may be regarded as simple stimulation; the second is to +supply it with a cold blast, in which case we supply large +quantities of oxygen, but at the same time counteract +the heating effect by the coldness of the blast. By +employing a hot blast, the combustion is facilitated +without any counteracting chilling. By each of these +methods we hasten the ultimate extinguishing of the +fire, unless fresh fuel be added. The employment of the +hot blast entails the most economical use of the fuel.</p> + +<p>It has been said, with regard to the use of baths, that +<i>cold stimulates, but heat facilitates function</i>. “Between +the two therapeutic opposites,” says Braun, “a similar +relation exists, as between winter and summer life, and +between sea and mountain air. The physician who has, +to a certain extent, acquired an insight into the diseased +side of mankind, divides the chronically sick into two +groups, the one consisting of individuals whose organism +has sufficient capital to afford the strong reaction +required, the other consisting of persons needing nice +management, and whose own power cannot be exposed +to any great demand. For the one there is the system +of exercise, cold treatment, cold baths, sea baths, and sea +air; for the second, indulgence, warm treatment, warm +climate, warm baths, mountain air.”</p> + +<p>Seeing that both hot and cold baths increase the +natural combustion of the body, it will be evident that +persons undergoing a course of treatment by either +method should be exceedingly careful that during the +progress of their course of treatment the best fuel only is +placed on the human furnace. They should eat the +simplest and most nutritious food, and breathe nothing +but the purest air.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.<br> +<small>THE VARIETIES OF BATHS.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>The <i>tepid</i> bath has a temperature of from 85° to 92° Fahr., +the <i>warm</i> bath a temperature between 92° and 98° Fahr., +and the <i>hot</i> bath a temperature of from 98° to 112° Fahr.</p> + +<p>The <i>cool</i> bath has a temperature from 60° to 75° Fahr., +and the <i>cold</i> bath is of a temperature below 60° Fahr., +downwards to the freezing point of water.</p> + +<p>Hot or cold water may be used locally. We are +familiar with the hip-bath and foot-bath, and occasionally +we meet with baths of a special shape, made for the reception +of the arms or hands, in cases where their local +treatment has been deemed necessary.</p> + +<p>Various plans have been devised for increasing the +stimulating effect of water. One method of attaining +this object is by keeping the water constantly in motion, +as is done in the so-called <i>wave bath</i>, common in some +parts of the Continent. Another way is by so increasing +the size of the bath that the patient is able to move freely +in it. In a big bath, not only is the good effect of exercise +able to be added to that of bathing, but the concussion +of the water on the surface of the body, and +the constant change of the stratum of water in contact +with the body vastly increases the power of the bath in +influencing the temperature and stimulating the skin.</p> + +<p>The best of all baths is the <i>swimming bath</i>, for in it +the bather can indulge in a free exercise of his limbs, such +as is hardly attainable under any other circumstances. +Swimming is a very valuable exercise, because it employs +the arms equally with the legs, and leads to a healthy +development of the muscles of the chest. Nearly all +good swimmers are big chested.</p> + +<p>The <i>douche</i> is a name given to a stream of water, either +hot or cold, which is made to fall heavily or with force +upon a part. It acts partly by the force of mechanical +impact, and partly by its temperature. It is a very +exhausting method of treatment, and must on no account +be used too long. A column of water 12 feet high, +allowed to fall upon the head, is so painful that Esquirol, +who submitted to it, described it as resembling the continued +breaking of a column of ice on the head, followed +by a feeling of stupefaction, which lasted an hour afterwards. +The douche was formerly much used in lunatic +asylums, and was regarded as a specific against delusions, +the unhappy creature possessed by delusive ideas being +held beneath the douche until he recanted; and such was +the agony thus caused, that the mere threat of the douche +was often sufficient to control the wildest of maniacs. +Those who have undergone the process of “shampooing +the head,” as practised by the hair-dressers of our time, +will remember the effect of a stream of cold water allowed +to flow upon the head for too long a time.</p> + +<p>The most powerfully stimulating action is obtained +by the use of the <i>Scottish Douche</i>, which consists in +the alternate use of streams of cold and hot water. +By the hot stream the “reaction” after the cold stream +is greatly encouraged. In most of the swimming baths +to be found on the Continent, a pump is provided, in +order that a patient may himself apply the douche to +any joint requiring it, and at the same time encourage +his reactive glow, by the exercise of pumping.</p> + +<p>In most great bathing establishments two douches at +least are provided, one called the <i>descending douche</i>, which +may be applied to the head, shoulders, trunk, or limbs; and +the other called the <i>ascending douche</i>, which is designed +for throwing a stream of water into the bowel, a method +of treatment which is advocated for conditions which it +is unnecessary to discuss in this place.</p> + +<p><i>Hot and cold affusion</i> are merely mild forms of the +douche.</p> + +<p>The <i>shower bath</i> differs from the douche only in the +division of the stream of water by causing it to flow +through a suitable colander. This method of treatment +is severe and exhausting, and must be used with caution, +especially with weakly people.</p> + +<p>The <i>needle bath</i> is merely a general shower bath. The +bather stands within a coil of pipes which are finely +perforated, and the water impinges in finely divided +streams simultaneously upon every part of the body. +It is a powerful general stimulant.</p> + +<p>The <i>rain bath</i> consists in the letting fall of large drops +of water from a great height upon the part which it is +wished to affect.</p> + +<p><i>Packing with the wet sheet</i> is a mode of applying water +to the body which is the very reverse of some of the +methods which we have been considering, since the +stimulating action of the water is reduced to a minimum, +and we get the refrigerating action only. It makes very +little difference whether the sheet used be moistened +with hot or cold water, since the temperature of the skin +and the sheet very rapidly approximate in any case, +and the more rapid evaporation of the hot water speedily +induces a degree of cold quite equal to that of the cold +sheet. The patient should be stripped naked and should +lie upon a single blanket, the bed being protected by a +mackintosh sheet placed between the blanket and the +mattress. He is then enveloped in the wet sheet. If +a maximum amount of refrigeration is desired he is left +uncovered so that evaporation may be encouraged. If, +on the other hand, we wish to encourage the action of +the skin, several blankets are placed over the sheet.</p> + +<p>Having discussed the various methods of using water +as such for the purposes of bathing, we may next turn +our attention to the <i>vapour bath</i>, which is a favourite +method of making use of warmth and moisture. Here +and there throughout the world there are to be found +natural vapour baths; but, as generally employed, the +vapour bath is a very simple contrivance indeed, merely +consisting of an apparatus for conducting the steam of a +kettle into a confined space in which the patient sits. +The head of the patient may be either placed in the bath +or not, and the effects of the bath may be expected to +differ according as the steam is inhaled into the lungs or +not. The domestic vapour bath may consist of a flannel +steam-proof cloak, which is worn by the patient, while beneath +the chair on which he sits is placed a small portable +kettle heated by spirits of wine for the formation of the +steam. If the bather is unable to sit up, the steam may, +with very great ease, be conducted beneath the blankets +of a bed. The vapour bath can be borne much hotter +than the water bath, the temperature varying between +120° Fahr. and 150° Fahr. The loading of the atmosphere +with vapour, checks, or rather prevents, the natural +evaporation of the perspiration, so that while the body is +very strongly heated by the steam, the natural methods +of cooling the body are arrested. From this it will be +gathered that the power of the vapour bath to raise the +body heat is very considerable, and indeed the temperature +of the blood has been known to rise as much as +5° Fahr. during a bath. This power of raising the temperature +of the body causes a very profuse perspiration, +so that the vapour bath is recognised as one of the +quickest and most effectual means of producing a copious +action of the skin. The vapour bath can be locally +applied in a very manageable way, and there is no +difficulty in contriving an apparatus, by means of which +the legs alone, or one arm, or one leg, may be subjected +to the action of the vapour. If a quick reaction is desired +a cold douche may be added to the steam, and the so-called +<i>Russian vapour bath</i> consists of a vapour bath of +high temperature followed by a cold douche.</p> + +<p><i>Air baths</i> are baths from which we never escape except +when we are taking a water bath, our bodies naturally +being always surrounded by a layer of the atmosphere. +<i>Cold-air baths</i> are not much employed, although they +have been recommended; and we have heard of persons +who have sought to stimulate their skins and circulation +by running naked in the open air. The <i>hot-air bath</i> has +always, at least since the days of ancient Rome, been a +favourite luxury and means of treating disease; these +baths, which are also called Russian or Turkish baths, +consist really in a succession of processes, which, in the +best establishments, are as follows: The bather is received +at a barrier, where he is relieved of his boots and provided +with check napkins in which to swathe himself +while bathing. Passing the barrier he arrives at the tepidarium, +a room of Eastern design, which attracts him by +its coolness, quietness, and cleanliness. A marble basin, +filled with water, into which a jet of water from a fountain +falls with a soothing splash, occupies the centre, while all +round are divans for reclining and conveniences for +dressing and undressing. Through a Moorish arch at +the end a glimpse is caught of the sudatorium, separated +by a plate-glass partition from the tepidarium. Stripping +himself naked and donning his checks, the bather +passes into the sudatorium, an apartment with a domed +roof, and having a marble floor and red-brick walls. The +temperature of this room is about 120° or 150°, and here +the bather sits, reading or otherwise amusing himself +until perspiration is fully advanced. If perspiration is +not free it may be encouraged by a draught of cool +water, which will be tendered him by an attendant. +If perspiration is slow in its advance, the heat of the +room causes discomfort. Some burning of the skin, +quickness of the heart’s action, and occasionally a throbbing +tensive headache. A drink of water generally has +the effect of causing the whole surface to bead with +moisture, and then a sense of comfort succeeds to discomfort. +Perspiration being fairly started it may be still +further encouraged by removing into a still hotter apartment +(of which there are three) varying in temperature +from about 150° Fahr. to 210° Fahr. In these hot rooms +(where it is necessary to wear thick list slippers to prevent +the feet being scorched by the hot marble) the perspiration, +in some persons, streams off the body, and when +sufficient perspiratory action has been allowed, the bather +returns to the body of the sudatorium, and, reclining +on a marble slab, he is shampooed by an attendant. +Next the whole surface is thoroughly washed with hot +soap and water and the skin rubbed with a horse-hair +glove; lastly, the process is finished by the application +of cold water, which is done in one of two ways, either +by the application of the cold douche, or by diving +beneath the glass screen which separates the sudatorium +from the tepidarium into the marble basin which fills +the centre of the latter apartment. This done the bather +is rubbed dry, and then indulges for half an hour in the +<i>dolce far niente</i>, while he reclines on a divan, reads the +paper, sips a cup of coffee and smokes a cigarette. +As to the value of the Turkish bath we will speak +hereafter, and we will content ourselves in this place +by warning the bather not to “overdo” it. He +should be guided by his sensations, and should not +be tempted to go into this room or that room, or +submit to this or that process merely because a friend +does so with benefit, or without harm. He must remember +that constitutions differ, and if the bath is +followed by headache, or a feeling of faintness or lassitude +or a want of appetite, he should take this as a +warning that the treatment has been too heroic. The +strongest Turkish bath is that in which the bather +spends his time in the hottest room and finishes with +the douche (a process which few can stand); the milder +bath is that in which the highest temperature submitted +to is about 140°, and the dive into the basin is +taken in lieu of the douche. Those who take a Turkish +bath for the first time should limit themselves to its +milder form.</p> + +<p><i>Mineral Baths</i> are baths composed of water in which +a considerable quantity of mineral matter has been dissolved, +either by natural or artificial processes. It must +be remembered that ordinary water is very far from pure, +and that even rain-water, the purest of all natural waters, +contains a considerable number of saline ingredients +dissolved in it. Spring-water or river-water is very +largely impregnated with matter which it has dissolved. +The water of London contains from 18 to 20 grains of +chalk in solution in each gallon, besides other ingredients. +The chief of all “mineral waters” is sea-water, and it +is necessary that we should examine its composition somewhat +closely. The specific gravity of sea-water is 1027, +and the quantity of salt dissolved in it ranges from 3·5 +to 4 per cent., being least in the Black Sea and the +Baltic, and most in the Mediterranean. The following +is the composition of the water of the English Channel:—</p> + +<table> + <tr> + <td>Water</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdr">963·8</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Chloride of sodium (common salt)</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdr">28·0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Chloride of potassium</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdr">0·8</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Chloride of magnesium</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdr">4·0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salt)</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdr">2·0</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Sulphate of lime</td> + <td></td> + <td class="tdr">1·4</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Bromide of magnesia</td> + <td rowspan="5"> } Traces.</td> + <td rowspan="5"></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Carbonate of lime</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Iodines</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Ammonia</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td>Oxide of iron</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td></td> + <td></td> + <td class="btbright">1,000·0</td> + </tr> + +</table> + + + + + +<p>Sea-bathing is a very popular form of the natural bath, +and it is preferable to bathing in river-water or spring-water, +because the sea is seldom so cold as are the latter. +A sea-bath has also another great advantage over all other +forms of bath, and that is that it is taken in the purest +air possible; and in considering the effects of sea-bathing +it is impossible to separate the effects of sea-air from that +of the sea-water. The sea-bather is also constantly inhaling +the spray of the sea-water, and thus obtains whatever +benefit is to be got in this way. If he can swim he +enjoys all the benefit of exercise. The motion of the +water and the buffeting he gets from the waves act as a +powerful excitant to the skin, and lastly, the salt in the +water adds considerably to the stimulating action. Reaction +more readily occurs after a sea-bath than after a +river-bath, and thus the liability to “catch cold” is less, +although the popular belief that it is impossible to take +cold from a wetting with salt water is far from being true. +Besides the water of the sea, there are many other +<i>natural salt waters</i> which have a great reputation both +for bathing and drinking. These salt waters, which may +be got of all strengths, from a strong natural brine to +a water in which the salt is scarcely recognisable, all owe +their stimulating power, as does sea-water, to the chloride +of sodium (common salt) and other chlorides which they +contain. Salt-water baths, or sool baths as they have +been called, act as powerful stimulants to the skin, and +have a very great reputation in Germany and other +places, where the only seaboard is the ungenial northern +coast.</p> + +<p>There are many <i>natural mineral waters</i> which contain +ingredients other than common salt, and all of these are +much used for bathing. We shall give some details of +these when we come to speak of bathing resorts, and at +present we shall content ourselves by giving merely a +rough classification of them.</p> + +<p>1. Many waters issue from the ground at a temperature +sufficiently hot, or even too hot (e.g. the geysers in +Iceland) for bathing. Some of these natural hot waters +contain very small quantities indeed of mineral matters, +and these are known as <i>indifferent thermal springs.</i></p> + +<p>2. Mineral waters containing common salt have been +already alluded to. They are known as <i>salt springs.</i></p> + +<p>3. The so-called <i>alkaline springs</i> contain as their chief +ingredient carbonate of soda. These waters are more +used for drinking than for bathing. The alkali which +they contain helps undoubtedly to soften the skin +of the bather, and acts probably also as a stimulant to +the surface.</p> + +<p>4. The waters containing bitter <i>purgative salts</i>, such +as Epsom salt or Glauber’s salt, owe their reputation +almost entirely to their power when taken internally. +When used for bathing it is probable that these natural +solutions of purgative salts are more stimulating to the +skin than ordinary water.</p> + +<p>5. The natural <i>chalybeate waters</i>, or waters containing +iron, are but little used for bathing, and it is exceedingly +unlikely that the iron contained in the water has any +effect upon the bather.</p> + +<p>Although we have classified the waters, and have used +that classification which is generally adopted, it must be +remembered that the ingredients of waters are always +multiple, and we usually find that they contain alkaline +salts, purging salts, iron salts, and brine salts mixed +together, so that it is difficult sometimes to determine +which is the predominating ingredient, and therefore to +which class a mineral water properly belongs. All +water contains gas of some kind dissolved in it, and it is +well known that a glass of ordinary spring water may be +seen to contain bubbles of gas which adhere to the sides +of the glass, or come “winking at the brim.” The gases +which waters principally contain are atmospheric air, +nitrogen, carbonic acid, and sulphuretted hydrogen, and +great stress has been laid upon the presence in bathing +waters of the three last-named gases.</p> + +<p>The action of bubbles of gas contained in water is, in +part at least, easy to understand. These bubbles give +great mobility to the water, and thus the particles of +water in contact with the skin are incessantly changing. +Gas is soon driven out of water by the application of +heat, and it is only the cooler of the thermal springs +which remain charged with any considerable quantity of +gas after the natural pressure, to which they have been +subjected in the earth, has been removed.</p> + +<p>The bubbles of gas, contained in the various gaseous +waters, resting upon the surface of the body, produce an +agreeable sensation of mild stimulation not unlike that +which we feel when the surface of the body is gently +tickled. The gaseous baths belong necessarily to the category +of cool baths, and it is important to remember that +waters which have been boiled no longer retain any gas, +which is all expelled during the process of ebullition. +When a gaseous water issues from the earth at a temperature +too low for bathing purposes, it is very important that +the water should be heated only to the temperature required +for bathing, which is generally between 60° Fahr. +and 98° Fahr. This is effected usually by means of a coil +of hot water or steam-pipes beneath the bottom of the +bath, and, by turning a tap, the bath attendant can +produce any temperature which may be desired in a +very short time. Water which has been previously +<i>boiled</i> or <i>heated to a high temperature</i>, and has been +allowed to cool to fit it for bathing purposes, contains +very little or no gas, and cannot be regarded as constituting +a gaseous bath. Intending bathers should inquire +very carefully into the manner of heating baths at +these establishments. If the natural gaseous water be +collected in reservoirs, and be allowed to lie in these +reservoirs for any length of time before being used for +the baths, the greater part of the contained gas will +escape, and there will be a great discrepancy between the +actual condition of the water used and the published +analysis of such water.</p> + +<p>It is exceedingly unlikely that either carbonic acid or +nitrogen contained in water is absorbed by the skin. The +effect of these gaseous baths is due to their physical condition +only (at least we have no satisfactory evidence to +the contrary), and in no way to the absorption of the +contained gases. Carbonic acid is only absorbed by the +skin under the influence of great pressure, and when thus +absorbed it produces a poisonous effect.</p> + +<p>At some bathing establishments, so-called baths of pure +carbonic acid are administered, the patient being made to +sit in a reservoir of the pure gas, but, of course, with his +head out. We have also seen arrangements for directing +a jet of carbonic acid gas upon different regions of +the body, but we should be sorry to hazard any opinion +as to the <i>modus operandi</i>, or the results of such a practice.</p> + +<p>In an ordinary water-bath, strongly impregnated with +carbonic acid, there is occasionally some danger of too +much gas escaping, and being consequently inhaled in +undue quantities by the occupant of the bath.</p> + +<p><i>Sulphur baths</i>, or baths impregnated with sulphuretted +hydrogen gas, and having the well-known and offensive +odour of rotten eggs, have been used as remedies in disease +from time immemorial. It must be remembered +that the so-called “sulphur waters” are of a very complex +nature, and contain many saline ingredients, in addition +to the sulphides of lime or soda, to the decomposition of +which the presence of the characteristic gas is due. Most +of these waters have also a high temperature, so that they +must be considered as hot salt waters, with the addition +of sulphuretted hydrogen, and it becomes a difficult +matter to determine to which of their ingredients any +good effect which they may produce is due. It must be +borne in mind, also, that the amount of sulphuretted +hydrogen contained even in the strongest of these waters, +notwithstanding that it is amply sufficient to offend the +sense of smell, is in reality very small, and there is no +evidence that this gas is ever absorbed through the skin +from the bath. People who visit sulphur baths generally +drink the water, and while bathing they certainly inhale +an atmosphere more or less charged with sulphuretted +hydrogen. The general opinion at present is, that the +effect of sulphur waters, when used for baths, is the same +as that of other hot and saline springs, and that the sulphuretted +hydrogen in the water is inoperative. At some +of the sulphur baths the attendants point to a peculiar +eruption on the skin, called La Poussée, as evidence of +the peculiar effect of sulphur, but this eruption does not +differ from that which so often results after a prolonged +use of baths of any kind.</p> + +<p>There is no end to the varieties of baths which have +been used at one time and another for the relief of sickness, +and we shall content ourselves by a short allusion +to some of the best known.</p> + +<p><i>Mud baths, or moor baths</i>, are much used in some parts +of Germany. They consist of water mixed with moor +earth, or the mud deposited by some of the mineral +springs. The resulting compound is thick and stodgy, +and, like loosely-made farinaceous puddings. They cool +unequally, and retain their heat for very long periods in +the middle. Chemically they are composed of the various +matters, soluble and insoluble, animal, vegetable, and +mineral, of which mud or moor earth is formed. Much +of their virtue has been ascribed to <i>formic acid</i>, a volatile +body formed by ants, having a very pungent odour and +considerable stimulating power. These baths are generally +supposed to exert a very powerful action upon the skin.</p> + +<p><i>Pine baths</i> are in great repute in regions where pine-trees +are plentiful, as in the Black Forest, the Harz +Mountains, and elsewhere. A decoction is made of the +fragrant tops of the pine-trees, and this is added to the +baths in varying quantities. It is also largely exported +in a concentrated form from the regions in which it is +made. The smell of the pine extract is most delicious, +and the resin which it contains has an undoubted +stimulating action upon the skin.</p> + +<p>Blood, milk and whey, as well as various broths and +decoctions of meat, have been used in the belief that they +imparted strength to the bather. It is indeed a practice +in some northern countries, even in the present day, to +envelop a weak or dying patient in the skin of a freshly +killed animal, the invalid thereby being supposed to imbibe +some of the vital power of the recently slaughtered beast.</p> + +<p>On the banks of the Nile, <i>slime</i> has been used as a +bath, and in some places <i>sea-mud</i> has been used for the +same purpose. <i>Sand baths</i>, or arenation, belong to the +remedies which are hallowed by antiquity. The patient +is buried in the sand, and exposed to the full rays of the +sun, and the combined effect of the heat and the surface +irritation produces a copious perspiration. At some sea-bathing +establishments <i>baths of sea-weed</i> are given, under +the name of ozone baths, from the belief, right or wrong, +that sea-weed is impregnated with ozone. In some old +works we find baths of <i>dung</i> strongly recommended; and +even at the present day it is the practice, among some +of the half-civilised Eastern nations, to smear the body +with dung for the cure of all varieties of ailments. +Various refuse matters have been used as baths, among +which we may mention the <i>husk of the grape</i>, in countries +where the vine is largely cultivated, and the <i>refuse of the +olive</i> in oil-making countries.</p> + +<p>Medicated baths may be artificially prepared, and +many such are in common use in medicine. Among +these we may mention—</p> + +<p>1. The group of so-called <i>emollient</i> baths, which have +the following composition: To thirty gallons of water, +there may be added from two to six pounds of <i>bran</i>; or a +pound of <i>potato flour</i>; or a couple of pounds of <i>gelatine</i>; +or a pound of <i>linseed meal</i>; or four pounds of <i>marsh +mallow</i>, or other herbs.</p> + +<p>2. <i>Alkaline baths</i> are made by adding to thirty gallons +of water, from four to six ounces of carbonate of soda +or potash, and occasionally an equal quantity of borax.</p> + +<p>3. <i>Acid baths</i> contain an ounce or more of muriatic, +nitric or nitro-muriatic acid, to each thirty gallons of +water.</p> + +<p>4. Iodine or Bromine may be added to baths.</p> + +<p>The medicated vapour baths are of two kinds, <i>mercurial</i> +and <i>sulphur</i>, both being contrived by evaporating +flour of sulphur or calomel in an iron pan. The sulphur +bath thus administered emits the pungent and +suffocating vapour of sulphurous acid, the effects of +which must be exerted solely upon the body of the +patient, since the inhalation of any quantity, if not +fatal, would prove a very serious annoyance. We must +not forget to mention the old domestic remedy of a bath +of <i>mustard and water</i>, which is among the most powerful +stimulants to the skin which we possess.</p> + +<p>The <i>Galvanic Bath</i> has been much talked about of +late years, and it becomes necessary that we should discuss +its merits. It consists merely of a bath of water, +through which a galvanic current is passed. It can be +easily administered in the following way:—Place an +ordinary bath upon a sheet of mackintosh, which, being +a non-conductor of electricity, has the effect of insulating +the bath, as it is termed. Then fill the bath with +warm water to a convenient height, and to the water +add a handful of salt or a wine-glassful of vinegar in +order to increase its conducting power. Next get a +galvanic battery, one having 30 or 40 Leclanché Elements +is sufficient, and place it on a chair or on the +floor beside the bath. To each of the poles of this +battery, positive and negative, affix a suitable length +(3 or 4 yards) of insulated telegraph wire, having its +extremities freed from the gutta-percha or other insulating +material. Place a length of stout broom-handle across +the bath, resting on its two edges, and round the middle +of this twine the bright metal end of the wire in connection +with the positive pole of the battery, covering it +with a piece of flannel, or wrapping it round with a +sponge. The bather then gets into the bath, and takes +hold of the centre of the broom-handle, previously +moistened, so that his hands are out of the bath. The +end of the negative wire is then placed in the bath itself, +and as this is done the bather will feel the shock of the +electric current. The current in this case travels from +the positive pole of the battery through the wire to the +broom-handle, down the patient’s arms, through his body +to the water of the bath, and so to the negative pole. +This form of bath is a very powerful stimulant to the +skin, but beyond its action on the skin we know nothing. +It is said that by its aid it is possible to extract metallic +bodies, such as mercury or lead, which may be lurking +in the body and causing harm. Of such a power there +is no evidence whatever. We have heard it said that at +some galvanic baths visitors have been shown discolorations +on the side of the bath as evidence of deposits of +mercury, &c., but this is merely a quackish imposition, +and it is well that persons should be on their guard +against it.</p> + +<p>The <i>electro-magnetic</i> bath is given in the same way as +the galvanic bath, an electro-magnetic battery being +substituted for the galvanic battery.</p> + +<p>It will be well to close the chapter by offering a few +hints to bathers, and by laying down a few rules for +their guidance. Bathing, in all its forms, increases the +internal work of the body; it increases the action of the +heart, the rate of respiration, the rapidity of circulation, +the rate of tissue change, and, in the case of hot +baths, the rate of perspiration through the skin. This +necessarily makes a call upon the vital forces, and causes +a certain amount of exhaustion. From this it follows +that baths are best not taken at a time when the body +is much exhausted, and that exhausting exercise should +not be indulged in after a bath until a considerable +period of time has elapsed.</p> + +<p>Again, since bathing invariably affects the distribution +of the blood, causing, as the case may be, either a degree +of bloodlessness in internal organs, or, if the bath be +cold, an undue congestion of them, it is important not to +overtax those organs during the period of bathing. It is, +therefore, never advisable to bathe directly before or +directly after a meal, since in both cases a want of digestion +of the material in the stomach is likely to result.</p> + +<p>Ancient writers are most explicit in their directions for +bathers. Thus Hippocrates, the Father of Medicine, +writing some four centuries before the Christian era, says: +“The person who takes the bath should be orderly and +reserved in his manner, should do nothing for himself, +but others should pour the water upon him and rub him; +and plenty of water, of various temperatures, should be +in readiness for the <i>douche</i>, and the affusions quickly +made; and sponges should be used instead of the strigil, +and the body should be anointed when not quite dry.... +And a man should not be washed immediately after +he has taken a draught of Ptisan, or a drink; neither +should he take Ptisan as a drink immediately after the +bath.” These directions are for the use of invalids, such +as are acutely ill, and the writer seems fully to recognise +that bathing in itself is an exhausting process. This +allusion to Ptisan is interesting, as showing how some of +our commonest domestic remedies come to us from a +remote antiquity. The Greek word πτισάνη signifies +peeled (or “pearl”) barley, and the drink made from it, +the barley-water of to-day.</p> + +<p>As we have before mentioned incidentally, the proper +ventilation of the bathroom is a matter of prime importance; +for since the respiration is quickened by the act of +bathing, it is evident that a foul atmosphere in the bathroom +is very liable to produce an ill-effect upon the bather. +Many of the swimming baths in London are very defective +in this respect, and we have been forcibly struck, in more +than one of them, by the ammoniacal odour proceeding +from those sanitary offices which are a necessary adjunct +to every bathing establishment. It is a very common +custom in private houses to place the bath and the +water-closet in the same apartment. That this is an +undesirable arrangement is evident, for the water-closet +is, of all places in a house, that in which a foul atmosphere +is most likely to be encountered. Although a +bathroom should be well ventilated, it should certainly +not be draughty, for currents of cold air blowing upon +the moist skin of the bather are likely to give “cold,” +and produce internal congestions of various kinds. In +summer there is no difficulty in providing a sufficiency of +fresh air, but in winter it is not so easy. The best way, +perhaps, to provide for a constant renewal of air is to +admit air by means of vertical tubes, and to have in the +room an open fireplace, in which a brisk fire should be +burning while the bath is being administered.</p> + +<p>In order to ensure a proper reaction after a cold bath, +and to prevent chill after a hot one, it is customary to +provide the bather with a supply of hot linen. This is +a great comfort and a luxury, and may even be looked +upon as an absolute necessity for delicate persons. It is +a very general custom on the Continent for the bather, +after removing the greater part of the moisture from his +body, to don a hot calico Peignoir, or bathing-gown, +which protects from chill, and at the same time allows of +the limbs being rubbed with towels. It is not necessary +to say much about towels. They are to be got of all +qualities, from those as soft as a cambric handkerchief +to those which, in roughness, approach the qualities of a +curricomb. The bather may please himself in this +matter, and will choose a soft absorbent towel to remove +the moisture, and a hard one to rub the surface and +produce the necessary reaction. Horsehair gloves and +various rubbers made of indiarubber, &c., are in use, +and require only to be mentioned.</p> + +<p>Friction and shampooing are valuable accessories to +bathing, and serve, as it were, to take the place of exercise +in those diseases in which the patient is unable to +exercise his body thoroughly for himself. Friction is +applied to the skin merely to rub off the surface layers +of epithelium, to encourage the dilatation of the superficial +vessels, and the transudation of the sweat. Shampooing +is a deeper and more forcible kind of friction, +in which the rubber kneads the muscles and allows his +fingers to press steadily upon and between them. This +acts as a stimulant to the muscles themselves, much in +the same way, but in a far milder degree, as an electric +battery acts upon them. It must be borne in mind, +however, that friction and shampooing are both exhausting, +and must not be used to excess. While a patient +is being shampooed, he involuntarily resists the pressure +of the shampooer, and we have seen a patient reduced +to a state of considerable exhaustion, after having been +for twenty minutes in the hands of a professional rubber.</p> + +<p>It is not necessary to make any remarks on the subject +of soaps. Their name is Legion, and the bather, +guided by the light of common sense, may make his +choice. The ancients were accustomed to anoint their +bodies with a variety of smegmata, unguents and oils, +both during and after bathing.</p> + +<p>As to the temperature of the bath and its duration, +although these are both very important questions, it is +impossible to lay down any exact rules, for they must be +settled according to the condition of the bather. A +physician, in ordering a course of baths for an invalid, +should state, in writing (in the form of a prescription) +the frequency, variety, temperature, and duration, as well +as the time of day at which they are to be taken.</p> + +<p>After a hot bath it is sometimes necessary to arrange +that a weakly patient shall go to bed for a couple of +hours or more. To slake the thirst, both during and +after a bath, there is nothing better than pure water.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.<br> +<small>BATHING LOCALITIES.</small></h2> +</div> + +<p>In considering the various bathing localities it is only +natural that we should begin with London. We have +no intention of speaking in detail of the various baths +with which private enterprise has provided the inhabitants +of London, for such a course would be quite +foreign to the intentions of this little work, which is intended +merely to furnish the reader with a few general +principles which shall be of use to him in selecting a +bath. There is no kind of bath which cannot be got in +London, and between a dip in the Serpentine and the +elaborate process of the Turkish bath the bather has +a wide choice. In proportion to its size and the number +of its inhabitants, however, the bathing accommodation is +very bad. The Thames is still a foul stream, and few +care to plunge into the sewage which flows down from +Richmond and surges back again from Barking. It is +true that we have one large swimming bath floating close +to Hungerford Bridge, the water of which is filtered in an +ingenious way; but it may safely be said that, were the +water of the river cleaner, we should have fifty such baths +instead of one. We have often thought that a bathing +establishment on a really grand scale would be a success +in London, and we hope some day to see baths in our +great metropolis, which should remind one of the palatial +establishment of Caracalla. A combination of a swimming +bath, private baths, Turkish baths, &c., with a first-rate +gymnasium, reading-room, lecture hall, and refreshment +room, would surely meet with sufficient patronage +to pay, and we even believe that the introduction of +sea-water for such a purpose (an undertaking which +has been started more than once) would be sufficiently +appreciated to ensure a dividend to the promoters.</p> + +<p>England is naturally very well supplied with sea-bathing +resorts, and it is possible to get a sea-bath in our island +combined with any variety of climate, from the cold and +bracing to the mild and relaxing. Sea-air, the great value +of which is well understood as a curative agent, has +certain peculiarities. It is necessarily the purest air that +can be got, and when the breeze is off the sea the air +comes to the shore practically uncontaminated and free +from the exhalations of animals or furnaces. It is said to +be very rich in ozone, and it certainly contains fine saline +particles supplied to it by the sea-spray, and possibly +small quantities of iodine, which give to the sea-breeze +that peculiar odour which it undoubtedly possesses. Sea-air +is dense, and the barometer stands at its maximum +at the sea-level. Sea-air is warmer than the air of inland +places, and it is more equable in its temperature owing +to the comparatively slight changes in temperature which +the sea itself undergoes. The effect of sea-air is very +stimulating, and sojourners by the sea have their appetites +increased and their vital functions quickened. While +speaking of sea-air we must remind the reader that the +air of the seaside places is often far from good, owing +to the defective sanitary arrangements. There are not a +few towns on our coasts, the sewers of which are taken +out on to the beach where visitors most do congregate, +and the smell of sewage at low tide is often far from +pleasant. In selecting a sea-bathing place it is of importance +to attend, not only to the aspect and general situation +of the town, but to inform oneself whether or not +it be thoroughly drained, the sewers being carried either +inland to a proper sewage farm or far out to sea well +beyond low-water mark; whether the water supply for +drinking purposes be good and abundant, and whether +the general cleanliness of the town is properly attended to. +Climate is a very local phenomenon, and it is of as much +importance to see that the bedroom and sitting-room +which an invalid has to occupy are well ventilated and have +a good aspect, as to attend to the latitude and general +aspect of the locality chosen. It is of little use to send +a patient to the sea if he has to spend the greater part +of his time in small rooms made unbearable by gaslights +or the defective drainage of the house; and an invalid +with delicate lungs will derive but little benefit from a +sojourn in the south if his windows face the north and +he is afraid to open them.</p> + +<p>As to the time of year at which sea-baths should be +taken, that of course depends upon the locality visited. +On the east coast, in situations which are exposed to +winds from the north and east, bathing is only advisable +during the three summer months of June, July, and +August. On the west coast it is possible to begin a little +earlier, and continue a little later; and in some situations +in the south, the season may be said to extend from the +middle of April to November. In these latter places, the +temperature at midsummer is often unpleasantly high, +and the bathing season falls into abeyance for a time. +There are many considerations which influence people in +their choice of a bathing station, such as the size of a +town, or whether it be gay or quiet; its distance from +London, its accessibility, the accommodation, the expense, +&c. A more important point, perhaps, is the nature of +the bottom, whether it be sandy or shingly. The great +popularity of the bathing resorts on the north coast of +France and the Belgian coast is due to the great expanse +of fine sand of which the bottom is composed.</p> + +<p>In selecting a bathing place it is advisable, if reliable +information is not forthcoming from those who know it +well, to look at the Ordnance map of the town and +district, and learn from an inspection of it, not only the +direction in which the locality looks sea-ward, but the +nature of the immediate surroundings of it; the position +and height of cliffs and hills, and the amount of protection +against cold or heat. The nature of the soil should +also be ascertained, and the prevailing character of the +vegetation, and, if possible, the amount of rainfall and +the mean temperature of summer and winter.</p> + +<p>Many watering places possess, in a very restricted area, +many climates. Let us look at such a watering place as +Bournemouth, and we shall be able to explain what we +mean. Bournemouth is a town of some six or seven +thousand inhabitants, built on a sandy soil, surrounded +by pine woods. It faces the south; the average rainfall +is 30 inches per annum; the temperature is equable, and +frosts are comparatively rare, the mean night temperature +in the month of January being 35·6. The town is +built upon two bold cliffs, with a dip between them, and +the surface of the soil being very uneven, it is thus possible +to get almost any climate. In the dip between the cliffs +are situations exposed only to the south, and protected +from all cold winds; and others facing only to the north. +On the east cliff one may live in a pine-wood, with the +advantages of moderate elevation, a southern aspect, and +the protection of trees which have the double advantage +of being evergreen, and possessing a foliage which does +not rot and decompose in autumn. On the west cliff, +again, one may live in a house exposed to every wind +that blows, in a climate which may very justly be spoken +of as bracing.</p> + +<p>It seems unnecessary to catalogue the various sea-bathing +resorts in Great Britain. They are numberless, +and intending visitors are influenced mainly by questions +of accessibility and accommodation. Those on the east +coast are mostly bracing, those on the west are more +relaxing, while those on the southern coast are mostly +warm and available during the winter months. We must +refer our readers to the various guide-books and gazetteers +for detailed information.</p> + +<p>We have next to consider the various mineral baths +scattered about Europe, and it must be admitted that the +arrangements for bathing at the various sources of mineral +waters are much better carried out on the Continent than +in this country. In any course of treatment bathing is generally +only one element of the regimen to which an invalid +is directed to submit. Diet, climate, rest, and exercise, +and the internal administration of medicine or of mineral +water, often are called into requisition to perform their +share in the cure; and while a patient is bathing, and by +bathing is stimulating or facilitating his animal functions, +it is of the greatest importance that he should live the +healthiest life imaginable. At most of the German baths +a somewhat strict surveillance of the bathers is maintained, +and at those which have the greatest reputation, +it is almost impossible to get, in the shape of food, anything +of which the local physicians would disapprove. +It is too often the habit of the Englishman to go to a +bath without taking any advice as to his general mode of +life while bathing, or even whether he may expect +benefit or harm from the treatment he is prescribing +for himself. The foreigner, on the other hand, submits +in all things to authority, and while “undergoing a cure” +he is content to have his time of rising and going to bed, +his meals, his exercise, his baths, and other treatment, +all accurately regulated for him. It is on this account, +no doubt, that the German and French baths have so +great a reputation, for while visiting them the guests live +by rule just as athletes do in this country when they +wish to bring themselves to the highest pitch of health +attainable in view of some muscular contest. When the +Englishman is told to visit this or that continental spring, +he may well ask, as did the captain of the host, “Are not +Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all +the waters of Israel? May I not wash in them, and be +clean?” He must remember, however, that, as in +Naaman’s case, obedience to the directions of the +prophet resulted in a cure, so he must seek out a +spring where he will find a prophet; to whose dictation +he must be willing for a time in all things to submit.</p> + +<p>When people visit a mineral spring they generally do +so with the double object of drinking the water and of +bathing in it; with the drinking of mineral water we have, +in this volume, nothing to do, but merely with bathing, +and the reader will have gathered from the previous +chapters, that, when bathing only is concerned, the +exact composition of the water is not a matter of very +great importance; since all baths act in the same way, +by stimulating the skin, and the water of the bath is +probably <i>never absorbed</i>. It is important to insist upon +this point, because we find in several bath-puffs the +assertion that their effect is due to the absorption through +the skin of the material dissolved in the water of the +bath. Such an assertion is contrary to the teaching of +our leading physiologists. At all sea-bathing places the +climate is, in one respect, the amount of barometric +pressure, similar. The advantage of mineral baths over +sea-baths very greatly lies in the fact that we are not +only able to choose our water but also to choose our +climate, and to have either a mountain climate with low +barometric pressure, or a sea-level climate with a high +barometric pressure, or a climate where the barometric +pressure is intermediate between these two extremes.</p> + +<p>We must, in order to bring the effects of mountain +climates vividly before the mind of the reader, refer again +to the comparison which we have made elsewhere between +the burning of fuel in a furnace, and the combustion which +is constantly going on in our bodies. Experiments made +by Professors Tyndall and Frankland on the combustion +of candles at different altitudes, seem to give the clue to +the explanation of the effects of mountain air upon our +bodies. These gentlemen burnt candles of equal weight, +and under similar conditions at Chamouni, and also on +the top of Mont Blanc, which is 12,000 feet higher. +They found that the amount of candle consumed in equal +periods of time was the same in both situations, but that +on the top of the mountain the candle gave out considerably +<i>less light</i> than it did in the valley. The diminution +of the light was attributed with justice to the <i>completeness</i> +of the combustion, for the light emitted by a flame is +mainly due to the unconsumed particles of carbon in a +state of incandescence. Mountain air, being much more +rarified than the air of low-lying valleys, contains much +less oxygen in proportion to volume, but its lesser density +seems to enable the oxygen to assume, as it were, a +greater activity.</p> + +<p>It has also been found that bodies lose heat less +rapidly in rarified atmospheres, so that presumably there +is less need for heat-production on the mountain than on +the plain; so that in mountain climates the body is saved +a certain proportion of the combustion necessary for the +generation of heat.</p> + +<p>Mountain air is pure, and removed from miasmata and +exhalations, whether from marshes or (being usually +sparsely inhabited) men. It is usually still and seldom +foggy. The variations of temperature are very great and +very rapid, the visitor having often to undergo, within a +few hours, a tropical and an arctic climate. These rapid +variations serve probably to stimulate vital processes, and +there can be little doubt that they are important factors +in the general effect produced by mountain climates.</p> + +<p>The following notes made during a sojourn at Davos +in Switzerland may serve to bring some of the above +facts in a more concrete form before the reader. “The +height above sea-level is between 5000 and 6000 feet, +and the barometer stands at about an average of 620 +millimètres, instead of 760, which is its average height +at the sea-level, so that the weight of the atmosphere +is only 620/760, or rather more than three-fourths of what +to most of us is its normal weight. The result of this +is that under the influence of the sun’s rays evaporation +is marvellously rapid. The dew is gone in an +instant, and the vapours of the early morning seem to +vanish at the first touch of the solar heat. Thus it +follows that although the rainfall is considerable, the +dryness of the air is, during the main part of the day, +nearly absolute. The range of temperature is apt to be +very great, and the thermometer, even in the height of +summer, is frequently below freezing point in the early +morning and in the shade, while in the sunshine, towards +midday, the heat is simply scorching. For the most +part, however, the temperature is very pleasant in +summer; and even invalids, if properly provided with +wraps, may spend almost all the hours of daylight out of +doors. The obvious results on a healthy person of living +in such a climate are (1) a slight increase in the rate of +pulse and respiration; (2) a craving for and an ease in +performing muscular exercise; and (3) a marked increase +of the appetite, with a general feeling of exhilaration. +The air acts, in fact, as a powerful stimulant. Ladies, +and those who are not able to take much exercise, often +have a difficulty in sleeping, but this is never of long +continuance. Owing, it is said, to the diminished atmospheric +pressure, the cutaneous blood-vessels dilate, and +the complexion becomes (with the help of the sun) exceedingly +ruddy, a fact which is particularly noticeable +in the inhabitants, whose red cheeks strike a stranger +with astonishment.”</p> + +<p>There are of course many things to be considered +in making selection of a bath besides the height +above sea-level. Attention must be paid to the local +configuration of the district, and the sanitary condition +of the town or village in which the healing spring is +situated. It is manifestly unadvisable for an invalid who +has been sent to the Alps for the benefit of a mountain +climate to settle down in some narrow gorge, exposed +perhaps, only to one wind, into which the sun only peeps +at midday, where the climate knows no medium between +the two extremes of heat and cold, where the river +perhaps has been converted into an open sewer by the +inhabitants, and where the population is a mixture of the +Goitrous and the Cretinous. Such localities are to be +found, and it may well happen that the invalid may go +to the bath to be cured of his gout, and return with +typhoid or ague. Some few years back the writer was +travelling in the Vosges mountains, and stopped a night at +a well-known watering-place, taking up his abode in the +Bad-haus. The situation of the town was extremely picturesque; +the valley in which it lay was verdant, the hills +were well clothed with foliage, and the mineral springs +of the district were such as might well be recommended +to many patients. The inhabitants, however, had seen +fit to turn the lovely stream which meandered through +the valley into a sewer. Into it abominations of every +kind were thrown, and its pebbly bottom had become +obscured by broken crockery, old tin pots, old boots and +shoes, and other refuse. The swine were driven into it +every morning as if on purpose to defile it, and what +should have been one of the chief attractions of the +district had become a pestilential nuisance, exhaling +filthy odours, and fit only to be bridged over and hidden +absolutely from the light. It is not sufficient in making +choice of a bathing place to consider only those dry facts +which are capable of being stated in figures, but the +intending bather should seek reliable information as to +the sanitary condition of the town, as well as of the hotel +or lodging-house which he proposes to inhabit. This +information is only to be got from disinterested patients +who have made a sojourn in the locality. Guide books +are seldom to be trusted, and special treatises on the +virtues of this or that bath are to be regarded as the +works of a fervid imagination in the absence of confirmatory +evidence. The most potent cause in establishing +the popularity of this or that bathing place has been +the heat of the water, and there is perhaps no hot spring +in Europe which was not used for bathing by the Romans, +or which has not been used from times of remote +antiquity by the inhabitants of the district. It is so +convenient and so cheap to have hot water ready to +hand without the necessity of huge furnaces, enormous +chimneys, expensive boilers, and endless pipes, that it is +not surprising that such a valuable natural gift should be +appreciated.</p> + +<p>The best known hot bath in this country is the one +at <i>Bath</i>, in Somersetshire, the water of which proved so +attractive to the Romans that they founded the city of +<i>Aquæ Solis</i> here, in the 1st century of the Christian era. +It is needless for us to dwell upon the popularity of +Bath. There are four hot springs here which vary in +temperature between 120° Fahr. and 104° Fahr. The +supply of water is ample and abundant, and the accommodation +for guests such as can hardly be surpassed. +The corporation of the city have lately erected a magnificent +suite of baths, and if they will but turn their +attention to the condition of the river Avon, and rigidly +enforce the provisions of the Pollution of Rivers Act, +Bath may again become as popular as it was in the days +of Beau Nash. The elevation of Bath above the sea-level +is only about 100 feet. The constituents of the +Bath water are chiefly sulphate of lime with a little +carbonate of iron, together with some free carbonic acid +and nitrogen. It has been called an earthy water, but +perhaps it is better to regard it as a simple hot water, +the chief virtue of which is its warmth.</p> + +<p><i>Buxton</i>, in Derbyshire, is situated nearly 1000 feet +above the sea-level in an open hollow surrounded by +hills. There is good reason to believe that the water of +Buxton was known to the Romans. The temperature of +the Buxton water is 82° Fahr. The amount of saline +ingredients is but small. The water is, however, impregnated +with a large quantity both of carbonic acid and +nitrogen gas. The town is amply provided with accommodation +both for bathing and lodging.</p> + +<p>At <i>Clifton</i>, near Bristol, there are springs having a +temperature of 74° Fahr., and at <i>Mallow</i>, in Ireland, +is a spring having a temperature of about 70° Fahr., and +containing, like the water of Buxton, a large quantity of free +nitrogen gas. A great deal has been written about the +virtues of free nitrogen in water, but without, as it seems to +us, sufficient evidence.</p> + +<p>There are many hot springs in Europe which are +very largely frequented by invalids. We can, however, +do little more than tabulate the chief, indifferent, and +earthy thermal springs, giving the chief facts concerning +each.</p> + +<p>At <i>Leuk</i>, in Switzerland, situated at the foot of the +Gemmi Pass, we find a water possessing a natural temperature +of 102° Fahr. to 120° Fahr., situated 4600 feet +above the sea-level. The water is indifferent, and it is +the custom here for bathers to remain many hours consecutively +in the water. Ladies and gentlemen bathe in +the same bath, and it is no uncommon thing for the +bathers to be seen taking their luncheon or playing +dominoes upon floating tables.</p> + +<p>At <i>Pfaffers</i> and <i>Ragatz</i>, near the town of Coire, in +Switzerland, are found indifferent springs, situated between +1500 and 2000 feet above the sea-level, and having a +temperature of 100° Fahr.</p> + +<p><i>Gastein</i> is a much frequented and very fashionable +bath in the Austrian Salzkammergut, some twelve or +thirteen hours’ drive from Salzburg. The height above +sea-level is 3300 feet, and the temperature of the water +varies from 96° Fahr. to 114° Fahr.</p> + +<p><i>Bormio</i>, at the foot of the Stelvio Pass, on the southern +slope of the Alps, has an altitude of over 4000 feet, and +water of a temperature of 104° Fahr.</p> + +<p><i>Wildbad</i>, in the Black Forest, has been for many +years a favourite bath with the English. The elevation +is 1300 feet, and the temperature of the water a little +over 100° Fahr.</p> + +<p><i>Wiesbaden</i>, the capital of Nassau, possesses both hot +and cold springs. The former have a temperature of +160° Fahr., and contain a fair amount of chlorides. The +town is beautifully situated among the Taunus Hills, and +has an elevation of 300 feet above the sea-level.</p> + +<p><i>Teplitz</i>, in Bohemia, is a fashionable bathing resort. +The town is well ordered, and healthfully situated, being +600 feet above the sea-level, and supplied with natural +thermal springs, having a temperature ranging from +78° Fahr. to 120° Fahr.</p> + +<p><i>Schlangenbad</i>, among the Taunus Hills, is a quiet +bathing-place, with a natural tepid water having a temperature +ranging between 80° and 90° Fahr. The Schlangenbad +water only contains 2-1/2 grains of solids to the +pint, so that it may safely be regarded as an “indifferent” +spring. Sir Francis Head, the author of the ‘Bubbles +from the Brunnens of Nassau,’ visited Schlangenbad in +1836, and we feel constrained to make the following +extract from his work, as typically illustrating the kind of +belief which gathers round a natural spring:—</p> + +<p>“In the history of the little Duchy of Nassau, the discovery +of this spring forms a story full of innocence and +simplicity. Once upon a time there was a heifer, with +which everything in nature seemed to disagree. The +more she ate the thinner she grew; the more her mother +licked her hide, the rougher and the more staring was +her coat. Not a fly in the forest would bite her; never +was she seen to chew the cud, but, hidebound and melancholy, +her hips seemed actually to be protruding from +her skin. What was the matter with her no one knew; +what could cure her no one could divine. In short, +deserted by her master and her species, she was, as the +faculty would term it, ‘given over.’ In a few weeks, +however, she suddenly reappeared among the herd, with +ribs covered with flesh, eyes like a deer, and skin sleek +as a mole’s; breath sweetly smelling of milk, saliva hanging +in ringlets from her jaw! Every day seemed to +re-establish her health, and the phenomenon was so +striking that the herdsman, feeling induced to watch her, +discovered that regularly every evening she wormed her +way in secret into the forest, until she reached an unknown +spring of water, from which, having refreshed +herself, she quietly returned to the valley. This trifling +circumstance, scarcely known, was almost forgotten by +the peasant, when a young Nassau lady began to show +exactly the same incomprehensible symptoms as the +heifer. Mother, sisters, friends, father, all tried to cure +her, but in vain, and the physician had actually</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">‘Taken his leave with sighs and sorrow,<br></div> + <div class="verse indent1">Despairing of his fee to-morrow,’<br></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>when the herdsman, happening to hear of her case, prevailed +upon her at last to try the heifer’s secret remedy. +She did so, and in a very short time, to the utter astonishment +of her friends, she became one of the stoutest and +roundest young women in the duchy.” Sir Francis +Head goes on to describe how he was conducted along +subterranean passages to the source of the baths, and was +astonished to find serpents swimming in the water, and +still more astonished to hear his cicerone declare, “<i>C’est +ce qui donne la qualité à ces eaux!</i>” Schlangen, or +serpents, are very common in this part of the duchy of +Nassau, and hence the name Schlangenbad.</p> + +<p><i>Baden-Baden</i> is at once one of the most frequented +and most picturesque baths in Europe. The temperature +of the water varies from 115° Fahr. to 144° Fahr, and +the elevation above the sea-level is 616 feet. The waters +contain only 22 grains of solid ingredients to the pint, +the chief of which is common salt (16-1/2 grains).</p> + +<p>The celebrated hot purgative water of <i>Carlsbad</i>, +although formerly used for bathing, is now chiefly employed +for drinking.</p> + +<p>Bathing is carried on to a very large extent at <i>Vichy</i> +(in the Department of Allier, in France), although these +waters are chiefly used as internal remedies.</p> + +<p><i>Plombières</i>, among the Vosges Mountains, has an +elevation of 1310 feet. The water contains only 2 grains +of solid ingredients to the pint, but the temperature is +high, varying from 80° Fahr. to 160° Fahr.</p> + +<p>Some of the hot springs at <i>Ems</i>, such as the Fürstenbrunnen, +with a temperature of 95° Fahr., and the +Neuequelle, with a temperature of 117° Fahr., are used +for bathing.</p> + +<p>At <i>Aix-les-Bains</i>, in Savoy, 768 feet above the sea-level, +will be found two hot springs, varying in temperature +from 106° Fahr. to 116° Fahr. These waters contain +less than 4 grains of solid ingredients to the pint, but +one of them, containing an appreciable amount of sulphuretted +hydrogen, is known as the sulphur spring. Aix +was known to the Romans, and in the modern town will +be found every bathing appliance which art can contrive.</p> + +<p>At <i>Mont Doré</i> and at <i>Bourboule</i>, in the department of +Puy de Dôme, in France, at an elevation of 3400 feet +above the sea, are thermal springs having a temperature +of 104° Fahr. to 114° Fahr.</p> + +<p>Having enumerated the chief warm baths in Europe, +we will proceed to catalogue some of the best known of +the salt baths.</p> + +<p><i>Droitwich</i>, in Worcestershire, is perhaps the only place +in England where concentrated salt baths can be obtained. +The brine of Droitwich is said to contain as much as +2760 grains to the pint. The town is uninteresting.</p> + +<p>At <i>Ischl</i>, in the Salzkammergut, is a concentrated brine +containing 1900 grains to the pint. It is 2000 feet above +the sea-level, and the country is charmingly picturesque.</p> + +<p><i>Kreuznach</i>, not far from Bingen on the Rhine, has a +strong salt spring, and is much resorted to by scrofulous +patients. The mother-lye of Kreuznach is said to contain +2400 grains to the pint. These strong brines are +only used after proper dilution.</p> + +<p>The water of <i>Soden</i>, in the Taunus hills, contains 160 +grains to the pint; and at <i>Homburg</i> are found several +springs which have about 90 grains to the pint.</p> + +<p><i>Kissingen</i> is a fashionable watering place in the north +of Bavaria, with an elevation of about 800 feet above the +sea-level. Here will be found all the accessories of bath +life. The water contains about 60 grains of solid ingredients +to the pint.</p> + +<p>The <i>Wood Hall Spa</i>, near Lincoln, is a salt spring +containing as much as 160 grains to the pint.</p> + +<p><i>Rehme</i>, in Westphalia, is situated on the Cologne and +Minden railway. The water has nearly 250 grains of salt +to the pint, and is very highly charged with carbonic acid. +The natural temperature of the water is 92° Fahr. There +is every facility at Rehme for administering baths of all +kinds and of all degrees of concentration.</p> + +<p><i>Nauheim</i> is not far from Homburg, among the Taunus +hills, and possesses a water very similar to that of Rehme, +having from 170 to 291 grains to the pint, being highly +charged with carbonic acid, and having a temperature of +from 80° Fahr. to 94° Fahr. The elevation of Nauheim +above the sea-level is 450 feet. The salt baths of Rehme +and Nauheim enjoy a very wide reputation.</p> + +<p>Although sulphur waters are not so much used for +bathing as formerly was the case, this little book would +not be complete without some notice of the chief sulphur +springs.</p> + +<p><i>Harrogate</i>, in Yorkshire, has been well known for +more than three centuries, and although the sulphuretted +hydrogen, by its predominant smell, gives the chief +character to the Harrogate springs, they have an equal +claim to be called saline or chalybeate, for they are +strongly impregnated with salt and with iron, so that the +taste has been compared to a mixture of rotten eggs and +the scourings of a gun. The old sulphur spring contains +137 grains of solid contents to the pint, and is +strongly impregnated with carbonic acid and sulphuretted +hydrogen. Harrogate is now a fashionable watering +place, with every accommodation for visitors. The situation +of the town is open and airy, and the climate is +decidedly bracing.</p> + +<p><i>Gilsland</i>, in Cumberland, has a sulphur spring of some +repute.</p> + +<p>The Pyrenees is the district <i>par excellence</i> of sulphur +springs. <i>Baréges</i> is the most famous of the Pyrenean +baths, situated 4000 feet above the level of the sea. Its +water, which has a natural temperature of 86° Fahr. to +111° Fahr., contains only 1·657 grains to the pint, of +which ·360 grain is sodium sulphide. This becoming +decomposed on exposure, forms the sulphuretted hydrogen +which gives the character to the spring. These sulphur +waters contain a peculiar gelatinous organic substance +which has been called barégine, and which has been supposed +by some authorities, but on insufficient grounds, to +give the peculiar virtue to the water.</p> + +<p><i>Cauterets</i>, in the Pyrenees, 3000 feet above sea-level, +with a sulphur water having a natural temperature of +98° Fahr. to 130° Fahr.</p> + +<p><i>Bagnères de Luchon</i>, 2000 feet above sea-level, with a +natural hot sulphurous water.</p> + +<p><i>Eaux Bonnes</i> and <i>Eaux Chaudes</i>, 2000 feet above the +sea.</p> + +<p>At <i>Aix-les-Bains</i>, in Savoy, one of the springs is +strongly impregnated with sulphur.</p> + +<p><i>Aix-la-Chapelle</i>, in Rhenish Prussia, is 450 feet above +the sea. The water contains about 30 grains of solid +contents to the pint, and is strongly impregnated with +sulphuretted hydrogen.</p> + +<p>Any water may be used for bathing purposes, and it is +almost always the custom for visitors who go to a spring +for the purpose of <i>drinking</i> the water, to take some <i>baths</i> +as well, the baths often being composed of the same water +as that used for drinking. It is not generally believed +that there is any particular virtue in baths composed of +alkaline waters, such as those to be found at Vichy, nor +in purgative waters, like those at Carlsbad, nor in iron +waters like those at Tunbridge Wells, Spa or Schwalbach. +Hot bathing, however, may be expected to help the effect +which it is sought to bring about by taking the water +internally, and it has not unfrequently been the case that +the effect of drinking has been attributed to the bathing.</p> + +<p>It is worthy of remark that, at some places where +miracles are claimed to be wrought by the effect of water +(as, for example, at Malvern), the water used is remarkable +merely for its great purity and almost absolute +freedom from mineral ingredients.</p> + +<p>It is not a little remarkable that some waters, which +were formerly used almost exclusively for <i>bathing</i>, are +now used almost as exclusively for drinking. Carlsbad +affords an instance of this. The word <i>bad</i>, when used as +an affix, generally indicates that the water is or has been +used mainly for bathing. The word <i>brunn</i>, or <i>brunnen</i>, +however, usually implies that the spring has been mainly +employed for drinking purposes.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.<br> +<small>THE USES OF BATHS.</small></h2> +</div> + + +<p>We do not propose to enter at all fully into the question +of the place which baths ought to occupy as remedies for +disease; but we shall merely indicate some of the chief +conditions for which bathing might reasonably be expected +to be of service. It has been generally claimed +for baths that they cure everything; and, in fact, the +many unfounded assertions as to the remedial powers of +hot and cold water, which have been made by professed +hydropathists and others, have done much to bring these +very useful agents into disrepute.</p> + +<p>It proved very puzzling to the acute mind of the author +of the ‘Bubbles from the Brunnens,’ that the baths +and waters which he encountered in his travels seemed +capable of curing everything; and it was difficult to +understand how patients whose conditions were in no +way similar should apparently derive equal benefit from +precisely the same treatment; and perhaps we shall not +be wrong in assuming that the very healthy mode of life +which is pursued by visitors to baths has much to do +with the good results of treatment.</p> + +<p>The most common purpose for which baths are used +is the cleansing of the skin, and the importance of this, +of course, cannot be over-estimated. When we speak of +a clean skin we mean a skin with clean pores as well as +a clean surface. The indolent and luxurious man, whose +skin is spotlessly clean, but whose sense of the proprieties +is such that he never indulges in a good vulgar sweat, +has not, in reality, so healthy and clean a skin as the +navvy, whose myriad sweat-ducts are constantly being +flushed by the hardness of his work; but whose skin +surface, possibly, is soiled with the various grimy particles +with which his labour has brought him in contact. A +clean skin is an impossibility without perspiration; and +if the necessary perspiration be not brought about by the +ordinary business of life, it is advisable to encourage it +by artificial means. Hence bathing is more necessary to +the man of sedentary occupation than to one who knows +the daily luxury of physical exertion. For the purposes +of cleansing, the bath should be warm, the skin should be +well soaped, and a subsequent thorough friction with a +rough towel should be indulged in. This process has +the effect of removing the outer layer of the cuticle, of +softening the secretion lying in the mouths of the sweat-ducts, +and by the action of the heat dilating the blood-vessels +of the skin and encouraging perspiration. Its +utility and its comfort are so well known that there is no +necessity for making any formal remarks thereupon.</p> + +<p>Perhaps there is no better form of exercise than that +to be found in a good swimming bath, always provided +that an open river or the sea is not at hand. The +swimmer exercises every muscle in his body; and, if +swimming be vigorously kept up, there is nothing which +more speedily induces fatigue. For an athlete in training +a daily swim ought to be a part of his course of exercise. +We wish there were more swimming baths in London +than there are. Such as exist are all overcrowded in the +summer, and in many of them the ventilation is not +of the best. To take violent exercise in a close, badly-ventilated +room must be wrong, and we would advise +no one to patronise a bath which smells in the least +degree stuffy. Swimming should be practised not more +than once a day, and about midway between two meals. +The bather, at the commencement of his course, should +not remain more than five minutes in the water; and if +his bath be not followed by a healthy glow, he will +recognise that even that is too much for him. The time +of the bath may be gradually extended.</p> + +<p>The cold bath in the morning is a luxury of which +most of us know the value. It cleanses, stimulates, and +braces; and, if used in moderation, conduces to health. +A word of caution is necessary to those who use their +“morning tub” too heroically. The best criterion as to +the advisability of continuing its use is the readiness and +completeness of the reaction; and, if there is any feeling +of chilliness, languor, or want of appetite, with an inability +to eat breakfast, it is as well to ask whether, +possibly, the cold bath had better be moderated. Persons +who suffer from rheumatic pains, or sciatica, or neuralgia, +ought also to be careful about continuing a practice +which may be too severe for them. It is always easy to +add a small quantity of warm water to the bath. There +can be no doubt that a daily bath is absolutely necessary +for the health of children who are tender-skinned and +too young to attend to their personal cleanliness.</p> + +<p>There are certain diseases in which cold bathing is of +acknowledged service:—</p> + +<p>Foremost among these is <i>fever</i>, and it is not too much +to say that many lives have been saved by the timely +use of the cold bath. The use of it, however, requires +great judgment and knowledge, and it is not applicable +to every case, and is not without danger. In this country +its use is restricted almost entirely to those cases in +which the fever runs a very severe course, in which the +bodily temperature rises above 105° Fahr., and the patient +attains what is technically known as a condition of hyperpyrexia. +The use of cold baths in fevers has been known +from time immemorial, although it has only attracted the +attention of modern physicians during the last ten or fifteen +years. The usual method of employing this treatment +is to immerse the patient in a bath of about 90° Fahr., +or 95° Fahr., and by means of removal of hot water and +its renewal by cold, gradually, in about 20 minutes, to +reduce the temperature to 60° Fahr. In this way the +temperature of the patient may be reduced as much as +four or five degrees, and his sufferings are usually very +much diminished. Cold bathing cannot be said to <i>cure</i> +the fever, but it prevents some of its worst results, and may +enable the patient to pass through a trying ordeal unscathed. +All forms of fever may, occasionally, be treated +with cold baths; but this method of treatment in no case +shortens the course of the fever.</p> + +<p>Cold bathing is of considerable use in some nervous +affections, such as hysteria, St. Vitus’s dance, and spasmodic +croup. These affections often, if not always, +depend upon a depressed condition of health, and a +cold bath of short duration (before a fire in winter), and +followed by a brisk rubbing, is a very efficient means for +their relief.</p> + +<p>Rickets is benefited by cold bathing; but for the relief +of this and other conditions of weakness the greatest +moderation must be observed.</p> + +<p>Cold water is sometimes of use when locally applied, +and seems to act as a wholesome stimulant to parts which +have become stiffened by want of use, such as strained +and sprained joints. In some skin diseases benefit will +be derived by the use of cold water. This is particularly +the case in itching of the skin or <i>Prurigo</i>, and <i>Acne</i>.</p> + +<p>Warm baths are far more generally useful in diseases +than cold baths. For the removal of the thickenings +around joints, which have been caused by gout or rheumatism +or “rheumatic gout,” bathing in tepid or hot water +is justly considered as a powerful means of alleviation, +and as a valuable accessory to treatment by diet and +regimen. The hot water of Bath and the tepid water +of Buxton have long enjoyed a great reputation for gout +and rheumatic gout, and there are many baths on the +Continent, which have a reputation, equally high, in the +treatment of these affections, such as <i>Teplitz</i>, <i>Gastein</i>, +<i>Wiesbaden</i>, and <i>Wildbad</i>. The treatment of gout by +bathing is usually aided by the internal administration of +mineral water, but into this question we are unable to +enter, notwithstanding its great importance.</p> + +<p>For exudations round joints, which have arisen from +causes other than gout and rheumatism, warm bathing +is of very great service, as well as in relieving the stiffness +and thickenings which sometimes occur as the result of +severe wounds.</p> + +<p>For <i>paralysis</i> warm bathing is often of great use, provided +the cause of the paralysis be a removable one. +Formerly, the principal method of treating cases of lead +paralysis occurring in the cider counties of the West of +England, was the sending of the patient to the warm +springs at Bath, and the results were generally very good. +There are many forms of paralysis which could not be +benefited by treatment with hot water or anything else; +but it is impossible, in an elementary treatise, to enter +into a question requiring a high degree of medical +knowledge for its proper appreciation.</p> + +<p>For neuralgia, sciatica, lumbago, and many forms of +muscular rheumatism, hot bathing may be employed +with advantage.</p> + +<p>For Bright’s disease of the kidneys, warm baths, vapour +baths, and Turkish baths, are all employed with benefit.</p> + +<p>An occasional Turkish or hot bath is a very great aid to +the well-being of dwellers in cities who get an insufficiency +of air and exercise, since it produces an activity of the +skin which can only be brought about by such means or +by violent exertion.</p> + +<p>A common cold may sometimes be cured by means of +a Turkish bath. To bring about this result, however, the +treatment must be applied in the very earliest stages of +the disease, when the slight tension in the head, or a +trifling feeling of chilliness, is warning the patient of his +coming trouble, and before the running of the eyes and +nose has thoroughly set in. A Turkish bath in this very +earliest stage of a cold will sometimes cut the disease +short, but such a result is, unfortunately, by no means +invariable.</p> + +<p>Warm baths, as aiding the action of the skin, have been +regarded as of some value, when combined with proper +diet and regimen, in the treatment of diabetes.</p> + +<p>In diseases of the skin warm bathing is occasionally +of service. For <i>psoriasis</i> a soaking in hot water has the +effect of removing the scales from the body, but it has +probably no real curative influence on the disease. In +acne, chloasma, and diseases which are fostered by a +want of attention to cleanliness, warm bathing is of great +service, especially when aided by a liberal supply of +soap and the rigorous use of the flesh-brush and rough +towel.</p> + +<p>Although we are all ready, perhaps too ready, to +recognise the great value of water applied externally, we +are not always so quick at recognising the evil effects of +an excessive use of baths.</p> + +<p>Professor Hebra, of Vienna, one of the greatest authorities +living on the diseases of the skin, speaks in very +decided tones of the occasional harmful action which +water exerts upon the skin. “It is,” he says, “almost +universally believed that the frequent use of vapour and +shower baths, frequent bathing in warm or cold water, +frequent washing and scrubbing, are healthful operations +which can never do any harm.</p> + +<p>“Against this opinion I must enter my decided protest. +On the one hand, we know that there are millions of +human beings who have never bathed in warm or cold +water all their lives long, who, at the utmost, give their +hands and face a superficial rinse once a week, and +nevertheless enjoy up to old age a state of health which +may well be envied. On the other hand, none can prove +by statistics that the frequent use of the various kinds of +baths protect people from sickness, or that washing in +cold water strengthens the body against catarrh and +rheumatism and catching cold. So long as bathings are +accompanied by a feeling of comfort, and are not followed +by any eruptions on the skin, they may, no doubt, be +allowed as a pastime, an amusement, an aquatic sport; +but whenever the skin thus repeatedly irritated begins to +react—as soon as itching, more or less severe, follows; as +soon as persistent redness or wheals, or pimples or +watery heads make their appearance—it is high time to +leave off bathing and washing if we do not wish to produce +diseases of the skin, which often take months and years +before they disappear, and give the patient unspeakable +misery.”</p> + +<p>Simple baths do not irritate the skin so much as when +combined with shampooing and wet packing and shower-baths, +or when a vapour bath is made more efficient by +friction and by the various manipulations of the Turkish +or Russian bath. The result of such attacks upon the +skin are seldom long to wait for. Sooner or later a +continual redness appears, followed by burning or itching; +then come pimples, boils, and pustules; and though +in past times these eruptions were regarded as critical +and beneficial we must now look on them in their true +light, as simply the injurious results of the action of water.</p> + +<p>Hebra has used the warm bath with success in alleviating +the pain and misery arising from extensive burns +of the skin, and he has also used it for some of the more +troublesome of the scaly and itching diseases of the skin. +Although he seems more alive than most authors to the +evil effects produced by the irritation of water in cases +which are unsuited for it, he has, on the other hand, +surpassed every one in the extensive and continuous use +of warm water. He says, “I began with two hours, then +advanced to days, and at last extended the duration of +the warm bath from one to nine months. I find that +people can eat, drink, and sleep just as well in a continuous +warm bath as out of it; that nutrition, respiration, +and excretion go on as before.”</p> + +<p>Hebra asserts that in the external use of water it is a +matter of small moment whether we apply the water hot +or cold to the part; that the water soon approximates in +temperature to that of the part to which it is applied; +and that in this matter the wishes and inclinations of the +patient need alone be consulted. With regard to <i>salt baths</i>, +we may remind the reader that they may be used either +cold or hot, and that they may thus be used in almost all +those cases (some skin diseases excepted) in which baths +of hot or cold water are found useful. When salt is +added to the water, the stimulating effect upon the skin +is increased, and the bath may be considered by so much +the more powerful. Sea water, natural salt waters, and +even crystals of sea-salt, or common salt added to ordinary +water, have so firm a place among popular remedies +that it is almost superfluous to make any formal remarks +upon them.</p> + +<p>It is perhaps in the treatment of scrofulous affections +that sea bathing and salt water have their greatest reputation. +The sea-bathing infirmary at Margate is too well +known, and its work too highly valued to need any words +of approbation from the author of this Primer. It is +probable that the inhalation of sea-air has more to do +with the successful treatment of scrofula than the bathing +in sea water, although we have no wish to cast a doubt +upon the efficacy in the treatment of such diseases of a +systematic stimulation of the skin.</p> + +<p>Dr. Jacob of Cudowa, in Silesia, has made a series of +experiments on the power of stimulating the skin which +is possessed by various kinds of baths. He has proved +that mud and bran baths of the same consistence produce +the same alterations in the circulation, which are to be +regarded as the real expression of the amount of skin-stimulation. +It has been ascertained also that mud baths +retain the heat of the bather more effectually than simple +water baths. A carbonic acid bath is said to have the +greatest stimulating action on the skin; a saline bath the +next greatest, and mud and pure water follow next. A +carbonic acid bath is also said to have the greatest power +of causing general stimulation and excitement. As to +the cooling effect of these varieties of baths, Dr. Jacob +has noted that a water bath of an hour’s duration, and of +a temperature of 91·4°, lowers the bodily temperature of +a healthy man about ·9°; the mud bath of same duration +and temperature 1·5°; the salt bath 2°, and the carbonic +acid bath about 2·6°.</p> + +<p><i>Sulphur baths</i> in former times enjoyed a very great +reputation in the treatment of skin diseases, gout, rheumatism, +and the effects of metallic poisons, especially +lead and mercury. There is, however, probably nothing +peculiarly beneficial in the sulphur, and the good effect +of these baths is due more to the heat of the water than +to anything else. Many of the sulphur springs may +rightly be regarded as salt waters also, and they have a +great power of skin-stimulation, a power which adds +immensely to their therapeutic efficacy. The bather in +sulphur water is constantly inhaling the vapour of sulphuretted +hydrogen, and this fact may have not a little +to do with the good effects of the water. A course of +bathing at a sulphur spring is generally combined with the +internal administration of the water, and it is consequently +a very difficult problem to determine whether the internal +or external administration of the water has the greater +effect in producing the desired cure.</p> + +<p>Steel baths, or baths containing iron, have fallen almost +entirely into disuse, and any effect which was formerly +attributed to the chalybeate water is now with more +probability ascribed to the water and its temperature. +The change in this respect is scarcely greater than that +which has taken place at Carlsbad, where purgative +waters, formerly used chiefly for bathing, are now almost +exclusively employed for drinking.</p> + +<p>The author of the ‘Bubbles from the Brunnens’ thus +describes his feelings while taking a steel bath at Langen +Schwalbach, some forty years ago:—</p> + +<p>“As soon as the patient was ready to enter his bath, +the first thing which crossed his naked mind, as he stood +shivering on the brink, was a disinclination to dip even +his foot into a mixture which looked about as thick as a +horse-pond, and about the colour of mulligatawny soup. +However, having come as far as Langen Schwalbach, +there was nothing to say but ‘<i>en avant</i>,’ and so, descending +the steps, I got into stuff so deeply coloured with the +red oxide of iron that the body, when a couple of inches +below the surface, was invisible. The temperature of the +water felt neither hot nor cold, but I was no sooner +immersed in it than I felt that it was evidently of a +strengthening, bracing nature, and I could almost have +fancied myself with a set of hides in a tan-pit. The +half-hour which every day I was sentenced to spend in +this red decoction, was by far the longest in the twenty-four +hours, and I was always very glad when my chronometer, +which I regularly hung on a nail before my eyes, +pointed permission to me to extricate myself from the +mess. While the body was floating, hardly knowing +whether to sink or swim, I found it was very difficult for +the mind to enjoy any sort of recreation, or to reflect for +two minutes on any one subject; and as, half shivering, +I lay watching the minute-hand of my dial, it appeared +the slowest traveller in existence.”</p> + +<p>In the delightful book from which the above quotation +is taken, no mention is made of the disease, if any, for +the relief of which the author underwent the unpleasant +ordeal of the iron bath. The reader, however, will have +no difficulty in surmising that the good he derived at +Langen Schwalbach was due more to the change of air +and scene and occupation than to the disagreeable bathing +process to which he submitted daily. There is, or has +been, a great deal of superstition in medicine, and the +public have, or used to have, a surprising amount of +faith in nasty medicines. In old dispensatories will be +found the records of prescriptions into the composition of +which there entered hideous and nameless abominations, +and we are very much inclined to think that the lingering +belief in steel baths, sulphur baths, and mud baths is but +the remnant of a dying faith in nasty prescriptions, and +the necessity of doing penance.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> + +<div class="chapter"> +<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.<br> +<small>A VISIT TO A BATH.</small></h2> +</div> + + +<p>When the doctor’s fiat goes forth that his patient is to +visit this or that bath for the benefit of his health, far +more is implied in the injunction than the mere use +of water, whether mineral or indifferent, hot or cold. It +means that the sufferer is to leave his usual place of abode, +and the climate which may perhaps have been instrumental +in working him ill; to forsake the numerous causes +of mental worry and bodily fatigue which may be connected +with his occupation or his family cares; to bid adieu +for a while to the cook—good, bad, or indifferent—who +perhaps has tickled his palate to the ruin of his stomach, +and the cellar which has daily furnished those wines which, +gravitating to the toes, have necessitated the big boot +and the stout staff; to turn his back for a season on all +that is implied in the words “good society,” and exchange +all these for something else. Whether that +exchange will be beneficial or otherwise will depend +upon the knowledge of the patient possessed by the +adviser—knowledge, not only of his constitution and his +ailments, but of his pocket and his inclinations. The +man of cultured mind, like Sir Francis Head, whose +diary of life at Langen Schwalbach forms so charming a +volume, who is able to find amusement in the contemplation +of human nature, or of natural phenomena, who</p> + +<div class="poetry-container"> +<div class="poetry"> + <div class="stanza"> + <div class="verse indent0">“Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,<br></div> + <div class="verse indent1">Sermons in stones, and good in everything;”<br></div> + </div> +</div> +</div> + +<p>whose resources are within himself, will find his recreation +everywhere, and provided the place to which he is +sent be wholesome, he will get all the benefits which are +derivable from change of scene and air. It would be +cruel and useless, however, to send the votary of pleasure +to a resort where art provides nothing for the amusement +of the guests, and equally useless to condemn a man +accustomed to a simple country life to mingle all day +long in a fashionable crowd, intent on artificial joys. +There is no doubt that on the Continent the arrangements +for the comfort and amusement of guests visiting +a bath are more perfect than they are in this country; and +the invalid who crosses the “silver streak” which +separates us from the rest of Europe will find a greater +difficulty in continuing in that groove of existence which, +mayhap, has been prejudicial to him. On the other hand it +must not be forgotten that to many persons foreign travel +is exceedingly distasteful. There are many who know no +language but English, and whose prejudices are so in favour +of English manners and customs that they cannot be +induced to fall in with Continental habits. We remember +seeing a gentleman at a fashionable bath abroad, whither +he had been sent for the relief of his gout, who was +evidently most grievously bored by the process of cure. +He associated with none, dined alone, and day after day +partook, in a solitary corner of a restaurant, of a fried sole, +a mutton chop, stilton cheese, and a pint of dry sherry.</p> + +<p>A man who thus carries his own atmosphere with him, +and who persistently goes against the stream, wrapping +himself in insular prejudice, will find very little benefit +in foreign travel or in change of scene.</p> + +<p>There are few bathing places, either in this country or +on the continent, where the drinking of water does not +hold a position in the “cure” which patients are prepared +to undergo, at least equal to the bathing. Drinking +of mineral water and bathing go everywhere hand in hand, +although at different spas the one or the other method +of treatment will be found to preponderate. With the +drinking of water we have, as we have before said, +nothing, at present, to do; but, although in theory it is easy +enough to separate the effects of bathing from those of +water drinking, it is found less easy to do so in practice.</p> + +<p>What Epidaurus was in the palmy days of Greece when +thousands flocked to seek health and recreation at its +renowned temple of Æsculapius; what Baiæ was to the +luxurious Romans who came to its famous warm springs, +impelled equally by fashion and disease; what Bath was +when at the zenith of its popularity; such is the Badstadt +of the present time. The throng in the town in the +height of the season (July and August) is very great, +and the crowd of visitors is as fashionable as it is cosmopolitan. +Here are German petty potentates, Russian +princes, English nobles, and wealthy Americans, by scores; +and there can be no doubt that the charm of a fashionable +watering-place like this is by many found in the +fact that all men are, more or less, upon an equality +where there is only one fountain from which they all +must drink, and one source in which they all must bathe. +The duke, whose pedigree reaches back to the Dark Ages, +must equally wait his turn with the merchant whose +wealth is of yesterday’s creation; and in waiting-rooms of +bath-houses, at tables-d’hôte, and at the brink of healing +fountains, blood which is of the bluest tint comes into +very close contact with that which is of other shades.</p> + +<p>The town of Badstadt is most charmingly situated +upon an elevated plateau, some 600 or 700 feet above +sea-level, and in the midst of delightful scenery, which +is to be found among the mountains which surround the +town on every side but one. The mountains are clothed +to their summits with pine, and these pine woods are +amongst the most favoured places to which the “cure +guests” of Badstadt resort. In the depths of the pine +forest there is always, even in the hottest day, a refreshing +coolness and an invigorating aroma, and to wander +here with a book, or a companion and some luncheon, is +a most pleasant method of killing the sultry hours of +noon. One day is pretty much like another at Badstadt, +although here is just sufficient variety to obviate any feeling +of irksomeness. What will the fashionable Londoner +think when, at six o’clock in the morning, he finds that he +can no longer sleep because every one in the hotel is +already stirring? There is nothing for it but to go with +the stream, to get up and dress oneself (in the nattiest of +lounging coats if of the male sex, in the most bewitching +of light summer costumes if of the female), and away with +the rest of the world to drink the water at the Betsinda +Quelle, the most fashionable spring in all Europe. It +is not seven o’clock, we are nearly four hours earlier +from our beds than is our wont, the fresh morning air +is bracing and delightful, the sun has not yet dissipated +the dew, and yet the whole world of Badstadt is alive. +Here beneath the trees of the Cur-garten are some +2000 or 3000 fashionables, all sauntering and talking, +so that the hum of conversation is audible at a great +distance, and forms a not inharmonious obbligato to the +music of the orchestra in the Kiosk which is hard by. +Few prettier sights than this can be seen or imagined. +The avenue of limes offers in either direction, a most +attractive vista; the sunlight comes glinting through the +fret-work of leaves upon the gravel, creating little dancing +shadows and lighting up the many and varied colours of +the ladies’ costumes; the roses in the neighbouring flower-beds +lend their bright colours to give the eye additional +pleasure, while their aroma tickles yet another sense; +and the ear is pleased by a performance, by an excellent +band, of the best compositions of the best masters. The +focus, as it were, of all this gaiety is the Betsinda Quelle, +and most of the guests may be seen to advance to the +edge of the health-giving fountain, which is enclosed in a +sunken ornamental basin, and tender a glass for the prescribed +dose of the water. The water contains a good deal +of common salt and not much else, and is nearly as nasty +as sea-water; but it is surprising to see how methodically +and with how little fuss the <i>habitués</i> get through their +allotted portion. The physician probably said to this +or that patient: “You are to drink two glasses of the +Betsinda, and you are to walk for twenty minutes after +each glass;” and one may see hundreds, who, watch in +hand, carry out their directions to the letter. He who +frequents the springs regularly will soon recognise that, +morning after morning, the same people arrive at the +same time, consume the ordained number of glasses and +disappear. The majority of these, it must be confessed, do +not appear to be very ill, although here and there may be +seen some whose faces bear evidence of disease, whose +limbs are crippled with gout or rheumatism, and who +accomplish the morning promenade with the aid of sticks +or crutches, or, in place of walking, perform a cruise upon +wheels in an invalid chair. Badstadt is above all things +a pleasant place, and everything has been done that +money can accomplish to charm the senses and make +life agreeable. The notables of society are its chief +patrons, and there can be no doubt that the majority of +the visitors come here for the season, strange as it may +seem, that they may meet the same persons that they +have been meeting earlier in the year in the “Row,” +upon the lawn at Goodwood, or in the salons of Paris. +“Good Society,” by which term we mean those wealthy +and noble individuals who prefer an artificial to a natural +existence, annually makes itself ill by attending too assiduously +to its duties. Having risen from its bed some eight +hours later than the sun; having dined largely every night +on a mixture of all that is rich and unwholesome; and +having freely partaken with its meals of all manner of +liquids other than water; having danced night after night +in rooms reeking of androsmia (which is polite Greek +for the “smell of humanity”), and rendered stifling by +wax lights or gas; having retired to bed just before sunrise, +and, in short, having shown an unaccountable dislike +for the light of heaven, and an equally unaccountable +preference for those wretched and poisonous substitutes +which our dark northern latitudes have rendered necessary, +Society takes itself to Badstadt to try the experiment of +undoing all the mischief which has been brought about +by its own folly. The morning promenade is an integral +and most important factor in the Badstadt cure; +and the potations of salt water have not only a cleansing +and “alterative” effect, but they damp the appetite a little, +and help to prevent Society from taking too much food. +The Badstadt breakfasts are very simple repasts; one +cup of coffee and delicious bread, butter is not allowed +except to a favoured few who can find some good excuse +for being treated exceptionally; eggs are a luxury which +the local doctors regard with manifest dislike; and +as for the chops, devilled kidneys, fried bacon, bits of +fish, cold grouse, dabs of marmalade, and other “necessaries,” +which Society takes at home, they are not to be +thought of.</p> + +<p>After the frugal repast of coffee and bread has been +disposed of, a novel or the newspaper serves to wile away +an hour or so, and then the all-important time for bathing +is at hand. The baths are of all kinds here, and are +made of mineral water or simple water, according to the +fancy of the patient or the prescription of the “Bad-artzt” +(as the local practitioners are called). Both before and +after the bath the patient scrupulously observes the +directions of Hippocrates, and is careful to keep both +body and mind in a state of complete rest, so that +sufficient power may be left to thoroughly digest the +mid-day meal, which the English call luncheon and the +Germans dinner. With those who are wise this meal is +as simple as it can be made, and consists of a portion +of braised or stewed meat, vegetable, and some simple +farinaceous pudding. As for wine, half a bottle of weak +Rhenish or Moselle is all that is allowed; visitors being +especially warned to avoid even the stronger of the +Rhenish wines, such as Rüdesheimer or Steinberger, +vintages, towards which those English who have well-filled +pockets are very apt to gravitate. In the middle of the +day the Germans habitually take their heartiest meal, and +towards one o’clock a stream sets in the direction of the +‘Adler’ or the ‘König Wilhelm,’ where possibly the +same sixty or eighty persons meet day after day at +the table d’hôte. These repasts are often regulated by +the advice of the local physicians, and one great advantage +of patronising them lies in the fact that it is impossible +to get viands which are at all difficult of digestion, +or which are likely to disagree with the waters. After +dinner comes an open-air concert beneath the trees, in +the garden of the Cur-haus, and the process of digestion +is allowed to complete itself in the fresh air, while the +ears are tickled by the sound of first-rate music.</p> + +<p>For those who wish to read, the salons of the Cur-haus +are always open, and every journal of note which is +published in San Francisco or St. Petersburg, or any of +the intermediate cities, is freely placed at the disposal +of the guests. When we say freely placed we mean +freely to those who pay the “Cure tax,” a small sum +which is levied from all who come to participate in the +enjoyments which are provided by the Badstadters for +their guests.</p> + +<p>The afternoon is devoted to a drive or a leisurely walk +to the neighbouring forest; and at six o’clock the English +return to dine; and at seven or half-past seven the +Germans come home to supper. The <i>cuisine</i> at the +Cur-haus, being modelled on Parisian lines, attracts many +of the guests who cannot submit to the Spartan <i>régime</i> +of Badstadt in its entirety; and there may be seen +occupying the small tables on the terrace snug parties +of three or four having just one of those very “little +dinners” which have been the main cause of that indisposition +which has made a “cure” necessary. The +evenings are usually occupied by promenading in front +of the Cur-haus, and occasionally a display of fireworks, +or an illumination is provided. There is a theatre +too, at which the best actors and singers appear during +the season; but these after-dinner amusements are mostly +of short duration, and, as a rule, Badstadt retires to bed +not later than ten o’clock.</p> + +<p>Thus it will be seen that life at a bath is spent largely +in the open air, that the amusements and the routine of +each day are regulated mainly with a view to health, +that the diet is restrained within the limits of prudence, +and that “early to bed and early to rise” is a wise +maxim, to which a rigid adherence is expected of all +who come in quest of health to the baths and springs of +Badstadt. It is not surprising that the Badstadt waters +should be regarded as a panacea throughout the whole +of Europe.</p> + + +<p class="c">LONDON: PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, STAMFORD STREET +AND CHARING CROSS. +</p> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75757 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/75757-h/images/cover.jpg b/75757-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fc5fe7e --- /dev/null +++ b/75757-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/75757-h/images/i_01.png b/75757-h/images/i_01.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ec6474 --- /dev/null +++ b/75757-h/images/i_01.png |
