"Dr Wood had a severe trial case to use Messrs. Allen and Son's. It
was a case of heart disease and kidney affections where it was dangerous
to give the patient a bath, or anything that would excite the
circulation, and yet essential to have copious sweating. The patient
was delirious. He has got well."
A great sanitary authority, Dr Richardson, said the other evening at a
public meeting, that if it were possible to attain perfect cleanliness
of person and surroundings, disease would become an obsolete term.
These are not the exact words, but they convey the sense.
But independent of the use the bath may be put to, for the purpose of
curing or alleviating disease, for thoroughly cleansing the body and
sweetening the system, or simply as a luxury, there are at least two
other uses to which it can be put. It is a means of banishing fatigue,
and also of producing refreshing sleep. And this fact may be turned to
good account on many occasions. A person may have been out all day on
the hill, or hunting, or he may have been on the river or lake rowing,
or by its banks fishing. He returns tired and weary, and very probably,
wet.
A wash and change of clothes, followed by a stimulant, are the usual
remedies for such fatigues. How much better is it both for the comfort
and health if he can spare a short half-hour, and enjoy the advantageous
comforts of the Turkish Bath. Why, he feels double the individual
afterwards, and if he is not all throughout the evening after as bright
as a new florin, he must be a dullard at the very best, that is all.
Well, but a person may be a mere guest at some country Squire's, how
about his Turkish Bath then? This is a difficulty that is easily
overcome. We have the Tourist's or Traveller's bath, handy, convenient,
useful and cheap.
This little contrivance will be of great benefit in dispelling the
fatigue usually felt after a long journey in train or steamboat. While
out boating or touring in any way it will be found invaluable. Indeed
it is so small and compact that a tricyclist might easily take it in his
bag.
Plate Three represents the apparatus set up ready for use for a hot-air
or vapour bath, to be placed under a chair, the body to be well
enveloped in blankets. The apparatus may also be used for boiling water
for making tea and coffee, as well as for frying bacon, chop, steak, or
cooking omelets, etc.
The Turkish bath is a calmative to the nervous and the vascular systems,
and therefore of great utility in cases of sleeplessness. We advise
those who are troubled with this disagreeable complaint to give it a
fair trial.
For female complaints, of nearly all kinds, unless especially forbidden
by the family physician, this bath may be also used with marked benefit.
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We earnestly hope that this little guide of ours will fall into the
hands of many sufferers, whose ailments are likely to be relieved, or
banished entirely, by the regular use of this prince of baths; we cannot
therefore do better, we believe, than finish this short chapter with
some useful advice to those who may intend to give it a fair trial.
But first, let us endeavour to dispel a phantom that stands at the
threshold of every Turkish bathing establishment, and tries to prevent
those who have never bathed before from entering. We allude to the
phantom fear. This bogle stood at the doorway when we ourselves went to
have our first Turkish bath. "Oh!" he cried, "don't come in, don't come
in, you'll catch your death of cold from the douche, don't come in,
don't come in, I beseech you, I'm sure you have heart disease."
"Bother!" was our curt reply.
"Well," cried the bogle, extending his ghostly arms over his head, "_do_
go and see a doctor first." But we pushed the bogle boldly aside. That
bogle looked very small indeed as we strode out again, about an hour
afterwards.
Now, dear reader, the phantom will treat you precisely as it treats
everyone else. Are you to fear it? That is a question which must be
answered in no bantering mood. We honestly believe that ninety-five
people at least out of every hundred, can enter an ordinary Turkish
bathing establishment and go through all the processes with perfect
safety.
Well, we will suppose that we are conversing in the consulting-room with
some one who means to try the Turkish bath. He will ask such questions
as:--