164 SPRINGS, RIVERS, CANALS, LAKES, 



use for drinking and dressing tbfir victuals, it being brought from 

 Baden, or some springs on the other side of the Limmat, the water 

 of that river being always thick and muddy, from the rapidity of 

 its course among the rocks and sand. 



PREFFERS, in Latin labarium, and in French Faviere, is also 

 famous for its baths. They are seated in a valley at the bottom 

 of two steep rocks or mountains, through which the river Tamil* 

 pushes down with a frightful noise. The crags of the rocks advance 

 so as to form a kind of arch. The descent to the baths was first 

 by ropes, as into a well, afterwards a passage was made down to 

 them by wooden bridges fastened in one another, and suspended 

 between the rocks, and then with infinite labour were built bagnio* 

 and lodging-rooms : but the buildings were so darkened by the rocks, 

 that they were obliged to employ lighted candles in the rooms at 

 noon-day. In 1629 these buildings were all burned down ; but 

 the next year the abbot caused others to be erected, in a pleasanter 

 and more lightsome place, by cutting passages in the rock, and 

 erecting wooden bridges where the earth was wanting. The water 

 is perfectly clear, without either taste or smell. It generally rises 

 about the beginning of May, and goes quite away about the 

 middle of September. It is impregnated with sulphur, nitre, and 

 several metals, particularly gold. It is hot in the second degree, 

 and good against various distempers, particularly obstructions of 

 the brain and nerves, pains in the head, epilepsies, deafness, weak 

 eyes, palsy, obstructions of the viscera, fistulas, and other ulcers. 



BADEN, in the neighbourhood of Vienna, is also much celebrated 

 and resorted to on account of its warm baths. Here both sexes 

 bathe, without distinction, in the same bath, and at the same lime. 

 The bathing clothes are made to cover the whole body ; and those 

 of the women have lead at the bottom to keep them down. There 

 are seats within the baths for the convenience of sitting in the 

 fvater, which can be raised or lowered at pleasure. The company 

 walk up and down in the bath, conversing together, and the ladies 

 are sometimes treated with sweetmeats. There are particular doors 

 and stairs leading into the separate stove-rooms out of the bathr 

 where the different sexes dress and undress apart* Some of the 

 common baths however, are within the stove rooms themselves, 

 and in most of them the water is extremely clear. The princi- 

 pal is called the Womeu's Bath, and next to that the 



