Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-06-08
(from tho hon,sonian Recorder.
opinions OF a REGULAR RM u.

OPINIONS OF REGULAR M D.
The following articles from the "Botanc
Advocate" were written by DIR. Holmes OF
Montpelier, w., who has brcone a conveItto
the Botanic Practice. His remarks are
equully candid and true Ed Rec.
STEAM OK vApoR BATHING.
q A strong but wholly untuundcd prejudice
exists III the opinions ofmnny highly respect
ed persons in the community, and ereh u
mong many respectable physicians, against
the Vapor Bath
\ would ash why vepor bathing is so much
neglected by physlcluns in this county,
They very generally acknowledge its etilca'
cy us Il remedy, and lis great power as pre-
servative Of health-Stil it is, muy almost
say, criIninally neglected. lfthere ever was
a time when the use of the bath was indls-
pcnsable. it cannot be less 20 ut present,
when so great u number Of various diseases
are deemed by the regular faculty incurable:
such as scrofulu, cancer, leprosy and con-
sumption, with long catalogue OF chrome
complaints. Yet these lamentable results
might have been prevented, II the sufferers
| had been timely brought under the influence
! Of this system Of Practice.
| Vapor bathing is more beneficial 'laii
bathing in warm water, IN Diseases connected
! with obstructed perspiration, inasmnch as IL
restores and promotes that salutury discharge,
! while the weight Of warm waller closes the
| pores and confines the perspiratlon. Heat
and moisture united have long been known
to intelligent physicians, to be among the
most valuable means Of cure in certain cases;
and in no way can they be 50 effectually ad-
ministcred us by vapor baths. As proof o'
their powerful influence, we would observe
! Tint. if person were to drink half u pint OF
brandy, and then 90 into bath, no lntoxlcat-
ing effect would be produced by it, but the
towel which he used would be strongly lm-
| pregnatcd with the spirit
| The idea so commonly entertained, that
! one is more liable to take cold after vaPor
bathing, is incorrect. In proving the cor
! rectness Of our assertion, we will, therefore,
! appeal to the results Of experience, that "the
use of the vapor bath S, in reality, lnnc,
and tortiies the system against cold Facts
are of more consequence than deductions
| from established principles In Captain Par
RVS cxpcd,ion to the North Pole, the bath
was constantly used by the men, previous to
tuking their post on deck; aud 1t was lnvarla'
bly found that the man who neglected to nse
it, could not remain on deck half so long as
he who availed himself of its aid. The Rus
sian constantly plunges at once from the va
por bath to the cold bath, or exposes lis DO
dy to the rigorous frost; this sudden transition
hardens him to all the severity OF Climate,
I and to every vicissitude "f weather. Ana
we are told by Lady Mary Wortley Mon
tague, that the Turkish Ladies, who do not
weld in point of delicacy to those OF this
country, bear this sudden alienation OF TEN.
perature equally well with the Russian peas
ant. Sir Arthur Clark says, 'there is no dan
ger Whatever from cold-the truth is, we are
less liable to cold after vapor bathing, than at
any other time, for the increased circulation
on the surface of the body keeps up great
degree Of heat, which the non conducting
state of the skin long preserves in the medi-
um of even cold atmosphere" consequently
the fear of taking Cold expressed on such
occasions, is both groundless and injurious.
Could these facts be generally known,
much of the apprehension now existing, III
regard to the steam or vapor bath, ana the
Botanic practice, would be done away, aud
the cause of reform much advanced. we
would urge our friends not To be backward
in disseminating light on this subject. Our
canse does not sl,un, but courts inquiry. ST
Arthur Clark says, Improvement or dlscov-
ery in any urt or science, ut first, |. general
ly opposed. either from motives OF prejudice,
which it ohends, or ignorance which 1t NOR
tities." One of the greatest physicians that
ever lived. acknowledges the truth of This OBJ
sr,ya,ion, MS applied to the medical profess
sion in particular-"There is scarcely an i'm
provcment, (says he,) in our art, however OBJ
vious, that did not experience, at first, the
! almost unanimous opposition OF the faculty"