TURKISH BATHS. 421 



Should blood rush to the head, causing a red face or fulness about 

 the brain, place around the neck a napkin wrung from tepid water. 

 This is preferable to douching the head, as it has the advantage of 

 not spoiling the arrangement of the hair. With the first bath, she is 

 liable to become faint or sick at the stomach, in which case have her 

 drink copiously of hot water or ginger tea. Should the perspiration 

 be slow in starting, or the heat become too intense, bathe the sur- 

 face with a sponge dipped in cold water. Let her remain fifteen or 

 twenty minutes, or as long as is necessary to induce copious perspira- 

 tion. That accomplished, she can be rubbed and bathed while 

 sitting in the chair. If feeble, and longer perspiration is desirable, 

 transfer her to a bed or lounge, still enveloped in the blankets, 

 where she can be bathed under cover, if need be. The manipulation 

 should be thorough. Press, knead, pinch and squeeze every muscle 

 in the body, using only the fingers and wrist. The use of the entire 

 arm and palm of the hand in the process of massage makes hard 

 work and does not give as good results. She should remain on the 

 lounge or couch for an hour to rest, cool and sleep. 



This is a simple and inexpensive apparatus, and can be con- 

 structed and used in every home. The bath should not be taken 

 earlier than two hours after eating, otherwise it is almost impossible 

 to start perspiration; besides it interferes with digestion. Before ten 

 or eleven o'clock in the forenoon is the best time for invalids to take 

 the bath. Persons engaged in business can take it upon rising in 

 the morning or just before going to bed. There is no risk in going 

 out after the bath as the danger of taking cold is small when the 

 vapor bath is immediately followed by tepid or cold sponging, or 

 still better the dripping wet sheet 



The Thermal bath can be taken at least once a week as a san- 

 itive measure. For diseases, the frequency depends upon the case. 

 There is usually nothing enervating about the bath, as many inva- 

 lids gain strength with its daily use. It is alike valuable in health 

 and disease. The healthy action of the skin is procured by it as by 

 no other bath. The excretory organs are relieved, the system 

 cleansed and healthy action procured. 



The circulation of the blood is equalized and local congestions 

 of any and every part are removed, which are the most important 

 things to be sought in treating diseased conditions. For purifying 

 the blood it is the quickest, easiest and most effectual means known. 

 The blood is literally washed of impurities by it. Pure water is 

 taken by the patient, absorbed, passed into and mixed with the 

 blood, by which it is carried to the capillary net work of the skin 

 and poured upon the surface in the form of perspiration, not pure 

 as when it was taken into the stomach, but commingled with the 

 impurities in the blood. The nervous system is soothed and tran- 

 quilized by it, and the cobwebs of care are swept from the brain, 

 leaving it clear and refreshed. It is especially useful in the treat- 

 ment of all diseases arising from impurities of the blood, inactivity 



