The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-09-14
RAIN BATHS FOR CHILDREN.


RAIN BATHS FOR CHILDREN.
hight Hundred New York sUrchins Can he
Dath~d Here la Eight Hours.
At the New York juvenile asylum
the problem of expeditions, thorough
aud sanitary bathing Of the one thou-
sand inmates has been solved at conn
paratively small expense. The plan is
ada pied only to institutions. but CON-
tains many suggestions for the con-
struction of the free-pu blic-all-the-
year-round hot and cold water baths
which are to be erected under author
ity of the law by the city authorities
in such sections as may be designated
by the board of health.
The old-time system of bathing
large numbers of men or women or
children in tank has been found to
be Objectionable from sanitary
standpoint. In fact there have been
instances where diseases have become
epidemic in institutions in consequence
of tnat plan. The shower or rain-bath
system is in force in the several lower
east and west side establishments
are not actually free, a nominal charge
of five cents being made for suap and
towel. Individual bathing compart-
ments are the rule in these.
There are eight hundred boys and
two hundred girls in the Juvenile asy-
lum. There are children of the streets.
chronic truants from the public
~, .s<~sb -
the Gerry society. The discipline OF
the institution is admirable in all the
educational and industrial depart
ments, and the average health of the
inmates is frequently commented upon.
The number of baths taken by each
pupil is regulated by the seasons In
the summer time there are daily ablu-
tions.
The '.rain bath" is located at the
end of large hall. sixty by one hum
dred and twenty feet, and the actual
| area of the bathing space is eighteen
by forty. The brick paved floor of the
bath is sunk two feet below the
level of the floor Two large
supply pipes, one containing hot.
the other cold water, are joined so
that the water may be given the
proper temperature before entering
the network of service pipes, which
are suspended below the ceiling
There are one hundred and ninety
two nozzles, each of which distributes
the water in a coarse spray. Two hun-
dred boys can be thoroughly bathed
every twenty minutes.
A reporter witnessed the process.
Along the walls of the room is ar
| ranged q series of lockers, one for
each boy, who has number. in this
his Sunday clothing is hung. A relay
of one hundred boys marches into the
large room and each halts before his
locker. The attendant claps his hands
and the lockers are opened. An.
other signal and the boys
quickly disrobe. Another and they
form into an orderly double
line. Then they march toward the
bath. An attendant gives each boy q
cake of soap. They enter the paved
space and stand at equal distances, moi
directly under the nozzles, but in such
manner that the streams from two o.
them strike the body. The tempera
ture of the water, controlled BY the en-
gineer, having been previously tested
the water is turned on and the boys
begin to use the soap, washing thu
hair first. There is no disorder OF
noise other than the sputtering sound,
that always attend = boys ADDITIONS
In eight minutes the bath is over
and the water is turned of. Then the
boys march out of the tub, which is
of course, constantly drained. Eacl
surrenders his bar of soap and receives
q towel, returns to post in front Of
his locker and at q signal begins
the work of vigorously drying
himself. Then clothing put of il
resumed. or IL it be Sunday OF
La holiday the best suit is pu,
on. In the meanwhile a second relay
of boys has entered the room and gone
through the same routine. Before the
first boys have donned their clothing
and are ready to march out the Others
are beneath the shower and are viRor'
ously scrubbing themselves and one
another
Eight hundred boys can u-nder this
plan be bathed in eighty minutes, al
though the time consumed is generally
Lextended to two hours. The same sys
tenn is followed with the girls in the
presence of the matron and female at
PENDANTS.
! Under the rain or shower system the
hest results are obtainable from what
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