Russian Vapor Bath. 297 



descend on the head of the bather, when a valve managed by a cord 

 is opened. 



Such is the apparatus necessary for a Russian vapor-bath. 



After remaining some time in the bath, the first sensations of op- 

 pressive heat subsided, and I ascen'ded to the second tier of benches, 

 the wood of which, however, was somewhat cooled by the plentiful 

 affusion of cold water. At each remove this operation is repeated; 

 otherwise the contact of the wood would be insupportable to the skin. 

 It is needless to say, that the perspiration very soon began to run 

 from every pore, not merely as a moist exhalation, but ran off in co- 

 pious streams. This greatly moderated the sensation of heat. 



After lying extended for some time on the second tier of benches, 

 a bucket of cold water was dashed on the upper one, and we remov- 

 ed there ; but the heat, so near the ceiling, was fully as oppressive 

 as on first entering; and I found it necessary to allow the air to enter 

 my nose through my fingers. If I inhaled it with the mouth wide 

 open, I felt an oppressive heat in my chest; but by degrees even 

 this degree of heat became supportable ; though I never was able to 

 sit upright on the upper bench ; so strong was the temperature of the 

 humid atmosphere close to the ceiling. 



While we were groping our way from bench to bench, the assis- 

 tant more than once plunged headlong into his cold bath, to refresh 

 himself ere he commenced on us the next part of his professional 

 occupation. 



We were one by one requested to descend to the second tier ; and 

 the assistant, grasping in his hand a bundle of birch rods, began as- 

 siduously to whip his patients who lay extended on the bench at full 

 length, from head to heel. This application differs essentially from 

 the well remembered scholastic birch discipline ; for the leaves are 

 left on the twigs, and the sensations produced in no way resem- 

 ble the effect of the instrument employed in English schools to 

 convey a knowledge of Greek and Latin into the heads of our 

 youth. In fact, this species of whipping is performed very dexter- 

 ously, with a sort of brushing motion, from the shoulders downwards ; 

 and the application becomes general over the body and limbs, as 

 the bather turns on his wooden couch. The sensations produced by 

 this operation are agreeable, and are very far from producing that 

 excessive redness of the surface described by Acerbi. 



The operator now anoints the whole body with a liquid mild soap ; 

 and, after again mounting to the upper tier for some time, we descend 

 Vol. XXIIL— No. 2. 38 



