300 Russian Vapor Bath. 
The vapor-bath resembles that already described, ners is much 
neater. rieubs 
The variety of shower-baths surprized me. They are of. every 
conceivable form, from the powerful stream to the minute drizzing of 
water from orifices as fine as a needle, which jet tiny streams of 
warm or cold water, at the option of the bather, in every possible di- 
rection on her person. By means of polished brass arms, curved 
so as to enclose the body, movable by universal joints, connected 
with a cistern, and perforated with innumerable minute holes, a cross- 
fire of jets (if I may be allowed the expression) is kept up on any 
part of the body. If the bather inclines to sit, a perforated seat is 
placed on a large flat trough, which collects and carries off the water; 
jets of water play from the various movable arms from each side, 
from above, and from below, so that every part of the surface is be- 
dewed. A general stop-cock commands the whole flow of water, 
while each brazen-reed is under the control of one appropriate to 
itself. These are at the disposal of the bather; and each trough 
or bath is surrounded by curtains to sxraee the person from the - 
of the assistant. 
Similar shower-baths are appropriated to gentlemen. The wile 
forms one of the most elegant and perfect establishments of the 
kind I have ever seen, and is a source af emolument to the epirtes 
proprietor. 
I inguired anxiously into the medical efficacy of the Russie ya- 
por-bath, and found that in chronic rheumatism, in the stiffaess 
— Serger: gout, and other long continued inflammations, it 
cases of palsy, in various cutaneous diseases, it is a most power- 
ful and valuable remedy. While in the eutablichineat T saw an inva- 
lid enter, who informed me, that, after severe acute rheumatism, of © 
several months’ duration, he was so lame that he had been carried by 
two persons into the bath ; but that, after five or six times undergo- 
ing the discipline I have dekcribed, he could walk alone as well as 1 
saw him (he had walked, aided by a stick, from his house to the bath), 
and appeared confident that in a little time he should speacteagssp saison 
er the power and flexibility of his limbs. bab 
Raiy all that ¥ could learn in Hamburgh, I am a cont 
ee as a most valuable remedy in some 
chronic diseases, regret that we have not a similar soporte ee 
in _ of our medical charitab 
1882, Je institutions. 
