3QO Human Physiology. 



patient who was not able to take a bath and sit up and walk 

 the day after the birth of her child. In all the writer's practice, 

 and in the practice of other water-cure physicians, she has 

 never known an instance of the least evil resulting from judi- 

 cious treatment, while the good effects upon the health of the 

 child are enough to repay the mother for the little trouble and 

 self-denial which will be a life-long benefit." 



The Turkish or hot-air bath, now accessible in most large 

 towns, is a mode of hydropathic treatment well -adapted to 

 many diseased conditions, and, as a luxurious means of clean- 

 liness and health, should be introduced, as it easily might be, 

 into every dwelling. All that is needed is pure air, raised to a 

 temperature of from 100 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, a little 

 soap, and plenty of hot and cold water. The heat opens the 

 pores, and brings on profuse perspiration; soap and hot water 

 cleanse the skin ; the wash-down, douche, or plunge bath at 

 the end restore the tone of nerves and skin, and prevent any 

 danger of subsequent chill. For sudden colds, influenzas, 

 rheumatic attacks, and the ailments and disorders of persons 

 with considerable strength and reactive power, such baths have 

 great efficacy. But in delicate constitutions, where the nervous 

 power is exhausted, where the brain is irritable, where the 

 patient cannot bear the excitement of circulation produced by 

 heat, the Turkish bath cannot be used without great care in 

 adapting it to the condition of the patient, and in some cases, 

 even with the best care, it proves injurious. 



The same must be said of the Russian, or hot-vapour bath, 

 steam bath, lamp bath, and generally of all modes of applying 

 artificial heat. The lamp bath is simply sitting naked in a 

 chair over a spirit lamp, with or without a vessel of water over 

 it, giving off steam. A box or blanket surrounds the patient 

 The body is enveloped with hot vapour, mixed with carbonic 

 acid and the fumes of burning alcohol or methylated spirits. 

 The perspiration relieves the system, and the cold bath which 



