59^ Of the Salubrity of Warm Bathing. 



I am very far, indeed, from wishing that my example 

 should be followed in all points. All the unadvised 

 and iixiprudent details of the experiment may, and 

 ought to be, omitted. It would, indeed, be more than 

 imprudent — it would be foolish — to repeat them. But 

 I do really believe that all those who will be persuaded 

 to adopt the practice of warm bathing, in health and 

 in sickness, will find the greatest and most permanent 

 advantages from it. 



Were the general and constant use of the warm bath 

 by persons in health a new thing, I should have many 

 scruples in recommending it to the public, whatever 

 my private opinion of its salubrity might be. But so 

 many nations have practised it for ages, and there are 

 so many who now practise it, and, what is very remark- 

 able, one (the Russian) which inhabits the coldest parts 

 of the globe, that there cannot possibly be the smallest 

 reason to doubt of its beneficial effects. 



With regard to the pleasant effects that result from 

 the use of the warm bath, there never has been any 

 difference of opinion. But still I am quite certain that 

 the true luxury of warm bathing is not understood in 

 this country ; and, till the construction of our baths is 

 totally changed, and a different manner of using them 

 adopted, we never can enjoy a warm bath as it ought 

 to be enjoyed. 



As we must allow that in most cases, and particularly 

 in a matter of this kind, it is much more wise and pru- 

 dent to adopt those arrangements and improvements 

 which have been the result of the experience of ages 

 than to sit down and attempt to invent any thing new, 

 I think we cannot do better than to rebuild some of 

 the baths which were left us by the Romans. They 



