Numerous substances have been employed in bathing, under the idea that
they possessed peculiar specific virtues; the following are some of the
chief:—
_Mud Bath._—Immersion of the body in warm mud has been a favorite
practice at several places in Italy, France, Germany, and other
countries. The effects are not very different from those of any warm
bath, and are said to be very pleasant, by those who have taken them. If
the mud were not medicated, this kind of bath would not be especially
objectionable for those who could enjoy it.
_Earth Bath._—Burying the body in the moist earth has also been
practiced. We have known of one instance in which this remedy was
successfully used in the treatment of ague.
_Bees’ eggs_, _milk_, _blood_, _wine_, _sand_, and _gelatine_ have also
been employed by different nations, at different periods, in bathing.
None of these applications are superior to pure water, which all nature
recognizes as the proper material for bathing purposes.