The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1847-08-03

der the aggravated shower-bath enormlly
of The .i0uche.
HYDRoPAFHIc IIoUsE,
BRATTLEBoRouGH, JUNE %, 1917.
| 1t would be an injurious error to sup
pose that any Of the more powerful modes
oftreatment, as the plunge, douche. and
running sitz, are ever applied in the first
instance or abruptly On the contrary,
every one OF these is preludcd by care
ful preparation, consisting OF graduated
system Of baths, beginning at seventy-6ve
or eighty degrees, descending by one de-
degree, every one, two, or three days, to
the natural temperature, most unnaturally
cold just as an apothecary would slowly
increase doses of laudanum, drop by drop;
and even when for any reason the treat
ment is for while suspended, il is often
Recommended in the same manner as at
first, and finally is as gradually termina-
ted. There is no haste in letting us
down into the pool of health, for here the
waters are always aDgel-stirred.
Accordingly ii must rot be thought
that the douche about to be described is
suddenly applied to weak invalid, just
out Of this flannel, bcd-gown, and slip
ipers. Yet though never administered SO
roughly as to endanger the health, it may
lin analogy to cups and calomel, often hurt
the feelings.
/ After from two weeks to two months
of preparation, the patient whose case
needs it is promoted to the douche, and
is seen stepping off, with proud look on
his face and a sheet on his arm, bound for
the douehe houses, halfa mile distant,
on the other side of the ravine. He here
begins with the very mild river douche
but without following him through the
transitions to the hose douche, to the mid
die donche, and from that to the grand,
extra potent, heavy wet, scocdolager
douche, we Will sketch his first interview
with the latter.
On his way there he meets fellow
sufferer, who asks, "Where away so fast,
nv friend - Congratulate me, my
rood fellow, am going to the big one,
10 take it FIVE minutes at the first start
Is it really very hard to take 20 40, no,
/ | have lust come from it--a mere bagalelle
but here, as YOU are going in for the
I first time, | may as well bid you good
/ bye for if any thing shonH happen il IS
satisfaction. you know" Good bye"
He goes to a different house from any
he has vet entered, and, opening door,
perceiVes he has made a mistake, and
closes it quickly. but not before having a
full view of truly strange spectacle. A
gentleman, whose only clothing in actual
wear is pair OF pantaloons, down at the
calves, dusty boots, and nicely brushed
hat, is seated navel deep in a small square
tub, full Of water, and with folded arms
looks pensively at his watch. He is en-
! during the running sitz-so called because
the water is kept at the lowest tempera-
ture bv means Of constant stream from
IA spring near by, conducted in at the bot
| tom and by another stream carried off
/ from near the top Of the tub. 1t is usual
! ly taken from ten to twenty minutes, and
is esteemed by many the most comforting
OF all the baths. The water never being
warmed by the body, it is+he same thing
as making your sest in spring, and full
~ comes up TO the idea Of 'cold comfort.
| Verify this same running sitz is some
thing worth mentioning in July. Thomas
Carlyle would like il: no doubt he woald,
for he loves every thing that is not
sham, and this is no sham, by no means,
but a stern reality.
Our"lIge subject" enters the right door
aud commences to prepare his body and
compose his mind for The operation. As
he undresses he screws up his resolu
tions by calling to mind the bold deeds
of ancient heroes, and particularly those
Of our Revolutionary ancestcrs-how
Stony Point was stormed, how old Put
entered the VOLTS den, and how Samuel
Patch jumped off the falls but his mind
continually reverts to calculation III hy-
drostatics, to wit, ifa column Of water
$50 big" aud fifteen ieet high comes down
with such force, what must be the power
Of one. twice as large and twenty feet
high :
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