J5STH0NIAK baths* 



calling wood into the oven, and pouring water on the 

 itones. 



The thick watery vapors drive out the fumes and the 

 fmoke ; and till this is done one muft not venture into 

 the room ; left, as the natives fay, the agreeablenefs of 

 the vapour-bath be infected with the poifonous fumes. 



When you are entirely undrerTed in an antichamber, 

 you go into this hell — and, for thoroughly enjoying 

 it, you muft mount up to the higheft region of the 

 benches ; where, like Satan on his throne, you find the 

 quinteffence of the fweltering glow concentrated. Here 

 you lie quietly as long as you pleafe, five, ten, or more 

 minutes. All the pores of the body open, and water 

 Hreams from you on all fides. Now comes the woman 

 of the bath, or the man, with the bath-brum. 



The bath-brufh is ufually a bundle of birch twigs, 

 with the leaves on. For this purpofe, in the fpring 

 feafon, whole roods of young verdant birch twigs are 

 cut and tied together at one end for bath-whilks or 

 bruihes. Before ufing it in the bath, it is commonly 

 dipt in water to render it the more foft and pliant. 



With this bunch of twigs the naked body is well 

 flogged all over, fo that the humidity runs in ftreams 

 from it, arid the ftrongly agitated watery exhalation is 

 collected about the bather. At certain intervals the fkin 

 is rubbed with a fpunge, or with linen cloths, and all the 

 parts and members of the body, particularly the moft 

 flefhy, are prefled and kneaded with the hands of the 

 bath- wife. She then proceeds to pull the joints of the 

 arms and fingers, legs and toes, till they fnap, and 

 fcrapes the foles of the feet with fcraping irons, or her 



finger 



