This bath can be readily and successfully administered with such
conveniences as every family possess. Place the patient in a cane-seat
chair, having first taken the precaution to spread over the seat a dry
towel. Surround the patient and the chair first with a woolen blanket,
and then with two or three thick comfortables, drawing the blankets
close around his neck, and allowing them to trail upon the floor so as
to exclude the air as perfectly as possible. Now place under the chair a
large pan or pail containing two or three quarts of boiling water. Let
the blankets fall quickly so as to retain the rising vapor. After a
minute or two, raise the blankets a little at one side and carefully
place in the vessel a very hot brick or stone, dropping the blankets
again as soon as possible avoid the admission of cold air. Before the
first brick or stone has cooled, add another, and so continue until the
patient perspires freely. The amount of perspiration must be judged by
the face and forehead, as much of the moisture on the skin beneath the
blankets is condensed steam. Should the bath become at any time too hot,
a little air may be admitted by raising the bottom of the blankets a
little, being careful to avoid chilling the patient in so doing. The
bath should seldom be continued more than half an hour, and fifteen to
twenty minutes will usually accomplish all that is desired by the bath.
If too long continued, it induces faintness. A too high temperature will
be indicated by a strongly accelerated pulse, throbbing of the temples,
flushed face, and headache. The head should be kept cool by a compress
wet in cool water and often changed. The temperature of the bath should
be from 100° to 115°. Unpleasant effects are sometimes produced at 120°.
After this bath, apply the tepid spray, rubbing wet-sheet, pail douche,
or full bath. No time should be allowed to elapse after the blankets are
removed before the concluding bath is applied, as the patient will
chill. He should not be allowed to become chilly by exposure to cool air
before the application of the spray, douche, or other bath, which should
be followed by vigorous rubbing.
For “breaking up a cold,” relieving rheumatism, soreness of the muscles
from overexertion, and relaxing stiffened joints, this is a valuable
agent. It may also be used to advantage in chronic diseases in which
there is torpidity of the skin; but great care must be exercised to
avoid excessive use, as too frequent repetitions of the bath produce
debility.
This is a milder application than the hot-air bath, unless employed at a
high temperature, 120° or more, when it becomes more severe.
In institutions where the bath is in daily requisition, a permanent
arrangement for giving the bath is usually employed. It sometimes
consists of a box in which the patient sits upon a stool, his head being
allowed to remain outside by a suitable opening. A wet towel is placed
around the neck to prevent the steam from rising about the head. Others
prefer a box or small room large enough to admit the whole person, the
whole body being subjected to the warm vapor. An opening guarded by a
curtain is made in one side to allow the bather to inhale cool air if he
should wish to do so, and to give the attendant access to the patient
without chilling him by the admission of a large quantity of cold air.
As in the simpler form of vapor bath, the head should be kept constantly
cool by a cool wet compress often re-applied. Patients troubled with
“rush of blood to the head,” should be further protected by a large cool
compress placed around the neck and the upper part of the chest.
Steam may be generated for these larger baths by boiling water in the
box with a spirit-lamp or a gas-burner, or it may be conducted into the
box by a rubber tube connected with a tight boiler.