The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-22
Local Matters.

BATHS AND BATaIsG.-Could the advantages Of
the bath be made apparent to all our people, indi-
vidual health and comfort would be greatly pro-
NOTED thereby, and, as a necessary consequence,
the healthfulness of the community would be more
securely preserved. No one will dispute this; and
those most intelligent upon the subject attach the
most importance TO il. Men of the medical profess
sion who attend closely to the sanitary agencies
10y which disease can be prevented as TO the art of
curing, ever urge upon their patients, and upon
all, the duty Of personal cleanliness; yet with but
little avail. Bathing is not common practice
amongst Americans, and Americans therefore
hart that in the Turkish bath there is rubbed from
the surface of the body quantity of scurf equal,
when collected together, to the size of hen egg!
Our bath is not SO thorough this, yet, from its
more frequent repetition, good results will no
doubt flow. But the fact quote may serve to de-
monstrate TO all minds that the act OF bathing is
Of importancethat while the surface is thus clog
ged up, the impurities that should be given off by
an insensible perspiration retained, the blood
rendered impure, and the constitution enfeebled.
But these things never will be understood by the
thoughtless multtudes of men till the general adop-
ton of the custom of bathing has made its advan-
tages known to them. Disease to whole communi-
y is doubt often the penalty pay for this igno
constitutional rulers find no difficulty in providing
ample means and the suffering poor, who are per-
mitted to bring such evils upon us, readily pro-
vided with hospital, physician, nurse, and
grave. Then what can forbid the prevention of
these things' Can good policy omit the enforce
ment of any preventive means? Is il merciful to
the poor and uniformed; is it just toward the in
teiligent and prudent, to permit the rowth of con-
tagions II is in our power to prevent.
We think good, comfortable bathing establish
ment should be provided by our city for the Of
all who desire it; that it should be well furnished
and watched over, and that they who can set
proper example to others should daily resort to it.
There would be some expense incurred, but what
ofthati 1t would probably be less than is often in
Cured for less salutary purposes. But if it were
ten times as great, what of it, Would it not pro-
mote health, beget self respect and bring security
TO those whose temperate, prudent, and ceanly
habits entite them to the protection thus afforded?
In Turkey, we are told, in the baths provided for
the public by private enterprise, the poor made
welcome, though they pay price much smaller than
the expense occasioned by them; and this is cheer
fully made up by the more wealthy, who have too
much regard to the general veal to permit any
cause to produce flthiness and disease amongst
any portion of their community. Are not suf-
hcienty elevated in the scale of morals and intel
lect to emulate this noble trait, exhibited by
semi civilized people? 1t is marvellous how we do
in some pursuits lag behind the most benighted;
and surely this is one of them. The day will come
when that portion of our history which records that
no public baths are provided for the people will be
read with shame, if not with incredulity. We are
at least progressive people, and with eyes but half
open we can and ought to progress SO far to
achieve the purpose herein suggested