Dr Traill on tJie Russian Vapour-Bath. 15 



part of the atmosphere, by sitting down on a low bench which 

 ran along two sides of the bath. 



At first our modesty felt some alarm at our perfect nudity, 

 and that of those around us ; but I soon filt that it would be 

 absolutely impossible to endure the contact of any sort of cover- 

 ing of our nakedness in a temperature so high ; and consoled my- 

 self with the reflection, that it was no worse than the promis- 

 cuous bathing I had so often practised at the sea-baths of 

 Liverpool ; an exposure which, notwithstanding my passion for 

 bathing, was always disagreeable at the commencement of each 

 season ; but to which custom had soon rendered me indifferent. 



The bath-room is about 15 feet long, by about as much in 

 breadth. It is lined with wood, rendered quite black by con- 

 stant immersion in hot steam. On two sides it has three tiers 

 of benches, or rude couches, each of which is calculated to 

 hold two persons, with their feet toward each other ; so that 

 twelve persons might bathe as the same time. The lowest 

 bench projects farthest into the room ; they rise two feet above 

 each other ; and each has a wooden pillow at the ends. 



In one corner of the farther end of the apartment stands 

 the furnace, which is supplied with fuel from without, and has 

 a thin arch of fire-brick turned over the fire, against which the 

 flame reverberates, until the arch is red hot. Over this arch is 

 built a small brick chamber, the only aperture to which is by 

 a small door about two feet long, and fifteen inches wide, 

 opening nearly to the level of the arch. To increase the heat- 

 ed surface, numerous small earthen jars, or broken pottery, 

 are piled on the arch, and all are kept up to a low red heat. 

 On these, a basin of water is occasionally dashed ; and the 

 clouds of steam which instantly issue from the door of the 

 heated chamber, form the source of heat employed to maintain 

 the temperature of the bath. 



In the corner opposite to the furnace is a reservoir of cold 

 water, into which the person who manages the bath frequently, 

 during our stay in the bath, plunged to cool his surface ; a 

 precaution not unnecessary for an individual who is exposed 

 daily eight hours, stark naked, to a temperature quite oppres- 

 sive to the uninitiated. Yet this exposure and this alternation 

 cannot be unhealthy ; for I never saw a more athletic man than 



