Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-10-19
SOMETHING NEW.
How it Feels to Take Genuine Mud
Bath,
Cincinnati Times Star.

Cincinnati TiR,es-Stdr.
$50 you want mud bath?"
eyes, sir, that's what 1 want" replied
a TimeS-lStdr reporter to Superintendent
| McDougall, of the Cincinnati Medicated
Mud Bath Company.
swell, then, step in, my friend,' said
he, as he led the way into the bath house.
This institution is novelty in this city;
in fact, a novelty anywhere outside of
Las Vegas, New Mexico, of whose natu-
raj mud baths it is an exact copy. The
idea of establishing them here was con-
ceived by DR.. o. E. Davis, of this city.
While performing surgical operation
he had the misfortune to make a slight
cut in his hand with the scalpel he was
using. Blood poisoning set in, and after
trying every available means OF cure he
determined to try the mud baths of Las
Vegas. They proved an entire success,
saving his life. He then conceived the
idea Of starting bath-house here, and in
furtherance OF the scheme he analysed
the mud and determined the medicants
found in it. Taking cut patent for the
process of making the baths, he at once
started to complete the present bath
house.
The reporter entered a neat waiting
room while tbs bath was being prepared.
In few moments he was ushered into a
dressing-room, where he was told to di-
vest himself of his clothes. This was
done, and he stepped forth in puris natu-
ralibus. The attendant led the way into
the bathroom, large room with a zinc
covered floor, heated to a temperature of
IS degrees. A number of bath tubs were
arranged in the room and were filled with
a substance that reminded the reporter
of thick mOlaSses.
Mr.. McDougalI seized a flexible hose
with bent nozzle about three feet long,
and, giving a signal to an attendant, who
turned a cock admitting a flow of steam
into the hose, he inserted the pipe into the
liquid mud. With a sound like distant
thunder the mud, dubbed and boiled and
leaped into the air like mad.
''All ready, sir; step in"
''Whatl step into that and get scalded"
demanded the scribe. ''Oh, no! Get my
clothes; I've got enough"
'sBut it amt very warm" assured Mr..
McDougall. "See?" and he plunged his
arm into the dark-looking mass and
stirred it around.
The reporter cast dubious eye on the
shot molasses," and finally ventured in
his foot and then the other, and finished
by lying down in the tub, with the eX-
ception of keeping his head above water
or rather mud. The sensation expert
enced was most pleasant, in fact, luxuri-
Gus, and to the scribe it felt as it did to
who, as he lay in the mud, exclaimed:
sob, Lordy, feel as though PVe got on
a suit of silk plush underwear, and the
plush sides turned Inland L owned Dea-
con Green's farm, and Pm chuck full OF
whisky, and Pm married to Zeke White
Nancy, and, and-Glory! Whoopeel Let
me die whar l am"
A mirror was brought the reporter, ard
a view given of himself. Nothing would
be better comparison than that of fly
caught in the mOlasses pitcher. After re-
naming suspended in the mire for over
half an hour-suspended, because the
density Of the mud does not cause the
body to sink much below the surface
the reporter was hauled out, looking like
an African with Caucasian head. and
placed in a zinc-lined closet. The at
PENDANT seized a hose and turned
stream of lukeWarm water on MIN, fol-
lowed by shower, thoroughly cleansing
him of the bath material. Then, without
his knowledge or consent, and decidedly
against his will, he was suddenly doused
with cold water that caused him to howl
like COmanehe and to think of the suf-
fering Greedy party.
'Step this way" said the attendant
leading the way to the drying room.
@'Ugh, you villain, all right" answered
the shivering scribe as his teeth played
march.
and rubbed him until a lobster would
look white alongside of his skin. Wrap
ping a linen sheet about his manly form,
he was laid on cot for few minutes to
prepare himself for the massage process.
Sausage would be more fitting, for sau-
sage machine, even in a delirium, would
never have acted as did the massage
operator. He grasped the reporters arm
and tied it into bow knot, pulled it and
united it and then formed a running moose
and again pulled.
Selling him by the leg he dislocated his
hip, and reaching down did the same kind
offices for both his knees. He then twisted
them back into shape again.
ollie perfectly STILL" said he; ''after l
get through with your muscles Pll put
'em back where found them"
Cheerful intelligence. He then admin
istered vigorous humping to the meek
scribe, who bore his castigation like
martyr for the sake Of finding out how he
did it. After this one-sided prize fight
was over the smiling brute pleasantly
said: ''All over, sir.'
The much-abused reporter stepped to
the floor and found to his establishment,
that he only weighed six ounces, at least
that was his impression. An insane de-
sire to fly and soar above the clouds en-
tered what was left of his mind, and he
wanted to shout "Hallelujah,' so bad
Iudb ne dlulOSL DuE5b q DIOOu VESSEL III Try
ing to keep still.
"Put on your Clothes" said the attend
ant.
II don't want any," replied the crazy
pencil pusher, who was finally induced to
enter his garments. 1t is certainly the
most luxurious sensation that can be
felt. Tongue or pen cannot describe it.
The mud used is alluVial earth, or, as it
is commonly called, black muck. 1t is
obtained at Madisonville, o., and brought
to the bath house, where it undergOes a
crushing and kneading process, after
which it is indicated and kept in a large
trough for further use. The temperature
of the baths vary from 102 to lis degrees,
the bath room air at IS to 80, the drying
room 70 to 50, and the waiting room at
only 20. The air in the massage room is
kept at 275 Fahrenheit, at least the scribe
thought so.