The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-07-10
A Turkish Bath.

AIMS hill, consists oil three chambers. Inc
first, or "Divan" (the apodylherium of the
ancient Romans) is large, well ventilated
| room, furnished with sofas and couches.-
F., Here the Dather divests himself of his
clothes, and puts on light bathing dress
and wooden slippers, and passes on TO the
second <the cal:derium of the Romans)
this room is furnished with marble slabs,
and mattresses, and Gin the centre) large
marble seat or ottoman, so that the bathers
can recline or sit, as they please. The light
is partially dimmed by frosted and coored
! glass, which tends TO produce tranquii-
zing, dreamy slate of mind, favorable to the
equalization of the circulation. This room
is heated to liz deg (and here it may
/ be remarked once for all, that from the ap.
proximate dIyness of the atmosphere, and
| complete system of ventilation, the air of
this and the next-the "hottest"-room is
respired with perfect ease by the most deli
cate and nervous person). Here the bath
er remains until perspraiion is fully induc-
ed, and not TIL then should the third room
be entered. The time requisite varies de-
|
from ten 10 thirty minutes.
The third chamber (the laconium of the
Romans) is also furnished with marble slabs.
upon which are placed light frames of
wood, as protection against the heat of the
marble. The temperature of this chamber
is l4O deg. TO $50 deg.
Il is here the process of "shampooing';
! (f desired) is performed. 1t is a process
which has so often been described. that it
is unnecessary 10 enler into that subject at
present beyond stating that a modification
OF the Eastern system is found 10 assist in
removing impurities from the pores of the
skim while it calls into activity (as in the
Swedish Movement Sysiem") sinews and
muscles often LETT inert, and the benefits OF
friction TO the body in most cases is gener-
ally admitted. After Precipitation has COM
! menced cold wafer may be drank with great
advantage. Under the increasd tempera-
ture of the skin is brought into full action,
and no material rise is observable in the
pulse.
Contiguous TO This chamber are rcesses
( ing fountains and simple apparatus, so ar
ranged that the hot and cold water may be
mixed 10 any temperature required-and
here ''douching" or washing process take
! place after this refreshing operation the
bather returns 10 the third lhottest room)
chamber for minute or so TO insure perfect
reaction, and then proceeds 20 the first room
! (divine) and remains on sofa couch,
only partially enveloped in his sheet, TO en-
Joy The tonic influence of the pure atmos-
phefe. After remaining from fifteen TO
twenty minutes he resumes his garments,
7 and experiences an elasticity of mind and
body, and feeling of invigoration which
proves to him that the bath is as beneficial
/ as deleciable
/ Its hardly necessary TO remark that the
above description of the "ba,h-lalking''
refers TO the ordinary bather; in cases of
some patents the node is varied, in minor
respects, according to the conditions of the
or the directions of their medical advisers
Many persons pass from the third chamber
to the cold "plunge BATH" or use the ''cold
douche."
With reference TO the effec: of what may
be called extreme heat on human beings, it
may be stated that at the Patent Slate En-
ameling Establishment near London, the
workman sustain a temperature Of 200 deg
to 300 deg, for six hours daily, not only
without inconvenience, but with positive
advantage to health, the men being report
ed "iree from bodily ailments" That ex-
posure to high temperature is not debil-
iatng, may be father demonstrated by ref
erence to the shampooers in the Turkish
baths of ConstantinopIe, who are, according
10 Mr. Urquhurt's inquiries, a peculiarly
healthy class. They enter The bath at the
age of eight, and enjoy long life. And the
porters, who carry weights beyond the usu-
al of those in this country, use the bath as a
"refreshment," and resume their work ''be-
ter men," The attendants OF DR.. Bar,er's
establishment are employed for six hours
every day, and some have been so employ
ed for six hours every day, and some have
been SO employed for more than a year,
not with diminished, but with increased
health and strength.
is propabIe that some may say, "in a
country such as America, or at least New
York, the time could not be spared which
requires" but, even assuming that there is
a necessity for the hurry .skurry which Of
ten prevails among men OF business-when
the merchants and traders (often dyspep-
dc) find the adv antages which the bath
would produce on the fatigued bodies and
over-worked brains, they would make time
for an occasional Bath. In the great manu-
factoring towns of England, like Manches.
ter and Bradford, etc., the working classes
frequent the baths in numbers, and the ef-