The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1862-03-22

In all, saw the llliyilus anil persistent use Of
ws'er for bathing aud medicinal purposes, the
Chrsi,u nations Of the 13th Contury are in aa-
vance Or iho Eastcu oorl,-l in this respect
A, indeed. did the Kihhns, &CNGrn cogniried
fact, bathing, IN the Roman Empire, was car
ricI 10 such an excess as 70 le IN eliminate
luxury rather than a hculthiul and stimulating
pgrsat'ye.
In tho p,lmy dlys II Rome thrro wore
slG Public t.ir. She free use d water
a which, t.>,l th' resources ~ all the
mum ross aquoJuc,s ami -pruls Nh.rh n'"uil-
oil u such p.uiUHiUn Jt ,U.i ,i'.. lie ,NpaCiiy
4 many o' ,hose baths may ur inferred, when
those ui Diu,iEliAE, were capable o' arcpiumo-
dating U.s. usu persons al ono time and Tor AL OF
u.s uum,use uumuer Vt uathers, uo! water WAS
trprI.u Ia great ahunIhhee. 10 me IunHc
pat.s, the iguciucts were estiut 10 convey
haif a m.iion Of hogtuoais u water every
twenty -lour hours. Extensive suites Of rooms
were comprised, IN which we're TO be
found, not alone hot, cold, swimming,
dUucho. shower and vlpor baths, but reading,
dro,sing, smoking, loungins AMI exchange
| rooms were provided, where l.HdlnS clu"nM
! were accustomed TO cungresate .Ouie Aourt DO
tura dinner, uH,h afternoon, ami there engage IN
! conversation OF the day. There were likewise
/ upon the premises itIiorant vendors OF ONT
| muuts, perfumes toilet n lpurtenai,,si garments
/ luI other smiil WDTc1 uiisc thcu IN demand.
/ The baths were usually oprncn about tho hour
/ ot noon, and were much iIequen'ri until sun
] down which was tine usual dinner hour ul NE
/ city, Tie price Of admission to the baths
waf As low M one hult coHt per person, AMI thr
use ul tnCm became M general 40 that VI bells
Tor sleep. Al psrtouk VI the baths, and regard
ed a deprivation Ot the privilege ~ serious
misfortune, criminals having been dsDAIIeu We
privilege ol bathing, ~ an auxiliary punish
st.rtII Of 9 hair fTI
Next are the Persian and Turkish baths, which
comprise the same varsity but are less eNton-
siys than those which were the pride and glnry
| Vi the Roman capital Their elaborate
system OF bathing, rubbing ot the skin
cracking Of the joints, &C., &C., arc extensively
known. From Turkey the practice Of bot bath
ING, and more particularly of steam baths, Hp'
pears to have extended throughout Russia IL
these the bathrr is subjected 10 heat Ol ~ Il
1888 degrees Fuhrenheit, and when in prous'
porspiratiOn from this temperature, cold watti
is poured or shUwered upon The body, causing a
notable rsastion, opening OF the pores, ana
hcnltlfu glow to the whole system. By The
constant uss Of the yapur baths, the Russians
acquire 30 much physical hariIhood that ~
their severe climate, II 40 cold water IS AT mana
the LGtieT viii rush from the bath and plung'
himself into an adj Joining stream Or lake or Tul
himsef in .hc snow, without Ill result from th
exposure.
The yapor, or perspirAton baths, also prevail
in Northern Europe, viz; Finland, Lapland
, Sweden and Norway, whero they are attached 4
or form part uf the houses VI all classes. EYe
the Finnish peasants, littlO provided as they ar
with this worlds goods, have small hous
built puTpOsely Tor bath. In this stove
placed IN an upper chamber Of which Toun
stones aro heated aud yapOr is dispersed b.
throwing water upon these stones. The apart
men,s are small, an. no Light Ia admittei eXcel
: through an aperture at the top. Out OF the'
\ highly heated apartments, wish the AerlnometS
ranging at l67 degrees Fahrenheit the FINLAND
: ers win uncOncsfnedly come out, naked, inl
Z the open air, wtere the thermometer stands
I "a del grOos bec " zero, and converse together,
y with any ono near them, without eXperioncn
colds or chill5, If travellers happen to psss b.
n while the pc casanB OF little village arc in Il
d bath, they will leave thu bath, 50 states Aeeri
/, a writer on this subject and assist
yoking, Unyoking, or providing the horses wit
= proyenter, or rundoring other seryirea, witho'
. any covering whatever, while travellers !
V shiyering although Wrapped mp In good Woli
skia. Other people, not addicted TO bathing n
= to seyere climates, will be afIctol with IheuI
ID Atism upon a variation d comparatively few
q, orees. or exposure to a chilling wind.
y OF The modern nations, France h5 exceed
- all others In the extent, variety ar ohAapni
ofbathing accommodations, but bit AID var
haths were furnished more eheari' and Abu
= dainty In former times than at pr ,sent. In
m raign of ST, Louis these baths were especla
All nu@erous. and the price Of 8 isir accommOd
en- en- LfionS averaged but four Ger 3 per person.
Iiatsr years ths hahS pIlS's Og vapOr and wa