Russian Vapor Bath. 299 



The effect of the Russian vapor-bath is to accelerate the pulse, 

 which soon regains its natural standard on leaving the bath ; and, 

 when I took it in a highly feverish state, I was within an hour after 

 entirely free of fever, and able fully to enjoy the philosophic soiree 

 that evening. 



On bathing a second time, I was accompanied by the same two 

 friends : our pulses were about seventy four in a minute. On just 

 coming out of the bath. 



Dr. Traill's pulse, - - =116 

 Mr. Johnson's do. - - = 88 



Mr. Palk's do. - - - =88 

 A quarter of an hour afterwards, while on the couch, they were as 

 follows : 



Dr. Traill's pulse, - - =114 

 Mr. Johnston's do. - - =88 

 Mr. Palk's do. - - - =88 

 After being dressed, and sitting in an adjoining coffee-room, perhaps 

 one hour after the bath, 



Dr. Traill's pulse beat, - - =88 

 Mr. Johnston's do. - - = 88 



Mr. Palk's do. - - - =80 

 These experiments shew the great difference in the excitability of 

 the heart in different individuals, from exposure to the same heat. 

 My pulse in ray best health, is about seventy ; since I had the gout it 

 ranges from seventy four to eighty, but is very easily excited ; and I 

 have often found it raised to more than ninety by an interesting con- 

 versation, or even a cup of strong tea. 



The process of the vapor-bath is completed by a plentiful supply 

 of towels, with which we gradually dry the surface, while we are well 

 rubbed down by an assistant. We then resumed our dress, and re- 

 tired to a coffee-room, where there was a plentiful supply of news- 

 papers, and had a cup of good coffee for twopence Sterling. As 

 I have already stated, the baths were free to the naturforscher ; but 

 I ascertained that the whole expense of the bath and its accompani- 

 ments is not more than one marc, or sixteenpence English, and for 

 twopence more the bather is entitled to a cup of coffee, and to read 

 the newspapers in a handsome apartment. 



I received from the liberal owner permission to examine his splen- 

 did establishment of vapor and shower baths devoted to females. 



