The Forrest City times., 1891-04-17
TIE TURKISH pArH.
Popular Imprsssions Corrected hy 0No Who Has Enjoyed lts Rensote.

Popular Imprsssions Corrected hy 0Uo
 Who Has Enjoyed It's Bensats.
 l suppose there is nothing that 70 often appears in print and Is 60 ut*la understood by the public as the Turk ish bath. Many of these descriptions have convinced me of one fact-thaA the writer never took Turkish bath. The general idea of the course of treat ment seems to be that the victim, after being divested of his ordinary apparel and clothed in grace and modesty and a towel, is placed in a room kept at . heat nearly approaching to that of the place the existence of which is denied by Col. Ingersoll. After being kept here to the limit of his strength, the victim is popularly supposed to be led or carried out, as the case may be, and plunged into ice-cold water. From this he is thought to be rescued by the sturdy attendants, who immediately proceed to beat cuff and pound him into consciousness again. only to be again soused into the wintry water. From thence it is the general belief that he is taken to his room, rcclOthcd and fired out upon cold and unfeeling world, only to sink into an early grave from pneumonia or kindred troubles.
 This, I believe, is about the idea that two out of every three of the un- initiated have of the Turkish bath. In fact the bath Is much moro prosaic and far from uncomfortable. The bather is first placed in the 'shot room, |" where the temperature varies from 125 to 160 Q, according to the wish of the occupant. This heat is not at all op- pressive, first because it is dry heat and secondly, because Q constant SUD- ply of fresh air is brought from out side, keeping thorough ventilation. If, however, from any cause 1t does be- come oppressive to any bather, he is immediately removed to cooler tenn perature by watchful attendants. While in the hot room ice water is furnished, and, if desired, towels soak cd in ice water are placed upon the bather's head, preventing all possibility of inconvenience to those unaccustoTh- ed to taking these baths. The duration of the bather's stay in the hot room is regulated by his own wish, and, in fact, is generally longer than is advis- ed by the attendants. who appear to be more solicitous for the reputation of the bath than is the reckless bather of his own health.
 From the '.hot room" the bather proceeds to the shampoo room where he is placed upon marble slab and thoroughly rubbed and kneaded. from head to foot This treatment is by no means unpleasant, the strength applied by the attendant in rubbing and the duration of the treatment being entire ly regulated by the wish of the bather. When he has been rubbed" to his hearts content the bather is thorough ly soaped with flesh brush. hard or soft. us he may desire. Then he is placed under . warm shower Tho temperature he regulates to suit him- self and, if wise, gradually makes cooler. Then he is rubbed dry with turkish towels and taken into the
 '.cooling-room, where the tempera- | ture is about 80
 In the cooling room he reclines upon a couch, with such covering as may be comfortable, until he regains his nor
 nal temperature, when he is thorough l ly rubbed with alcohol and allowed to ! depart either for his home or to a com
 fortable bed in another part of the es- tablishment. To my mind few moments of greater physical contentment ever come to a man than reclining in Q
 "cooling-room after Turkish bath. So the Turkish baths have multiplied within the last few years until none of the larger towns are without them. Chicago Herald.