Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-06-04
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The Turkish Bath.

Colon Angel, was recently delivered
before the Medical Association. in this
city 1t is somewhat surprising that,
while the best physicians in Great
Britain now prescribe the Turkish bath
as one of the most useful agents in their
practice, the subject as yet has attracted
very little attention among physicians in
this country. DIR. Angel thus de-
scribes the bath and its, advantages and
uses: -.-.,f --..,.,-sr..r2 .~rr
The Turkish bath consists in the ap-
plication of heated air to the surface of
the body, for sufficient period and at
sufficient temperature to induce free
perspiration. When free perspiration
has been induced, the bather is conduct
ed to the shampooing room, where the
dead skin which has been accumulated
upon the body is removed This re-
moval is accompanied by skillful ma
nipulation of the muscles, joints, and
deep-seated tissues, securing free
dom of motion, Aexibility and general
elasticity, and the removal of obstruc-
tions from the glandular and other struct-
ures, imparting new vigor to every func-
tion. Following this by means of the
sponge, cactus fibre, or horse-hair brush,
the body is thoroughly soaped for the
purpose of removing the exuvi9 which
may have been thrown off. The free APP
plication of water succeeds this, by
means of spray bath of graduated tenn
perature. Commencing just low enough
not to chill, it is gradually reduced un-
til the temperature of ncroton has been
reached; this, however, is not usually
arrived at in the first bath. The changes
are agreeable, no shock is necessary
from first to last. The application of
water at a low temperature reduces the
body to its normal standard, and closes
the skin which had been opened. The
surface is then dried by means of towels,
the head turbaned, and the bather, en-
veloped in sheet, is conducted to the
cooling room. Though originally en-
ployed by the Romans, and subsequent
ly by the Turks, as means of luxury, it
was not until within few years that it
came to be regarded as possessing any
specific medicinal advantages; and even
now doubt if it can lay, claim to being
a specific for any special disease. 1t is
simply one of the essential links in the
chain of hygienic conditions, which can
be left out with as little propriety as
bread can be left out of the dietary. By
means of the artificial conditions under
which we live, this agent has become en-
inently essential to the we'll being of
adult human organism, and pre-eminent-
ly essential to all who lead indoor sed-
entary lives. Few men comparatively
arrive at eminence in the liberal profess
sions without greatly impaired health,
and a high state of mental discipline
usually discovers a proportionately low
state of the physical forces. The gym
nasium naturally suggests itself. but here
again is our old enemy, Toll; the Turk
ish Bath comes to the rescue, and pers-
piration flows freely without exhaustion,
and at the hands of the shampooer all
the benefits of exercise are afforded
without the expense of fatigue. 1 have
briefly described the bath as usually ad-
ministered for the general purpose of lux
ury, or as a means of physical training.
When employed in the treatment of
disease, it is susceptible of the highest
modification in temperature, duration,
frequency; and general management
For bathing purposes water cannot be
used much higher than 100 degrees !;
while fvapor cannot be used much higher
than lis degrees. In vapor, before per-
spiration is induced, the pulse is usually
accelerated from forty to fifty beats per
minute, while in the Turkish Bath the
bather may reach a temperature of $50
degrees haonly sligh variation from
the normal standard. Prolonged bath
ing in hot water or in vapor, produces
great debility, as either applied to the
surface hinders free perspiration be
sides, both are good conductors of cleo
tricity, and rob the body of this volatiz.
ing agent. Employed as a means of re-
ducing obesity, its effects are most rapid
when water is drunk only moderately (;
as a means of increasing rotundity of
person, water should be induIged fully
up to the want, which in the hot air
bath becomes a most grateful beverage,
even to those who have long been
strangers to its employment. Its action
as means of purifying the blood
is well illustrated by a simple case of
poisoning which came under my obser-
vation early in the spring of 1864. A
gentleman had oversight, and, that he
might not fail to meet business en-
gagement, hurried off without breakfast.
He tasted up to one o'clock, when he
dined on corned beef 1t might have
found its way too late to the brine, or it
might have been the character of the
pickle, at any rate he passed an after,
noon of great discomfort, and night of
great misery, suffering much pain, and,
with all, most intolerable itching.
When, at last, daylight came, he found
himself covered from head to foot with
purple blotches, which were consider.
ably elevated. Recourse to hot water
bath palliated the itching in some de-
gree, but the blotches remained. He
was put into the Turkish bath, where he
remained for tw hours, during which he
drank six tumblers of water, most of
which soon after showed itself upon the
surface of the body. When he left the
bath no trace of the eruption remained,
nor did it return. He was enveloped in
blankets, and fell into most profound
sleep, which was uninterrupted for the
period of three hours, when he awoke,
saying he had never felt better during
his whole life.
have repeatedly seen the poison of
rheumatism washed out almost as speed
lily; and even malaria can by persistent
bathing in hot air, be completely eradi-
Gated, and 1 think there is no form of
fever which cannot be abated, abridged,
or greatly palliated by this means. We
treat the diseased body as the soiled
sponge. When water is first passed
through it, it is very much discolored
aocb washing shows less Discrimination