ESTHONIAN Bf THS. 389 



nation of our times. At learl the lacedemonian pyria- 

 terium * anfwers in the main to the defcription of the 

 ruffian bathing- houfe. In both an aqueous vapour is 

 excited by means of red-hot flints; in both we find 

 perfpiration and friction. Perhaps the fame circum- 

 ftance obtains with both nations, tending to raife thofe 

 that live to grow up, to an herculean durability and 

 force. Weak confutations which cannot Hand out 

 thefe and fimilar horfe-breakings, die betimes ; where- 

 as thofe which hold out and are once inured to them, 

 are lefs hxkly afterwards. Hence I may venture to 

 affirm, at leafl in general, that the Spartan as well as the 

 Ruffian, hardened and fteeled againft wind and wea- 

 ther, would endure hunger and third, cold and heat, 

 in private and in public life, better than others. 



III. I have frequently been obliged to remark that 

 the ruffian ladies do not fo long retain poffeffion of the 

 youthful charms of face, as the englifh or even the 

 german. When a lady can reckon up twenty fummers, 

 the rofes of her cheeks are already faded, though fhe 

 be otherwife ftrong and healthy. This is fo much the 

 more finking, as the young inoot from its firm texture, 

 colour, and ilrenglh, feemed to promife a longer 

 bloom. Together with brandy-drinking, early mar- 

 riage, and immoderate enjoyment of love, the frequent 

 ufe of the fweating-bath may be one of the principal 

 caufes of it. For this muft neceffarily very much widen 

 the delicate channels of perfpiration, deprive the cheeks 



* Balneum laconicum, with the hypocauflo, affeum, afta feu 

 ficca fudatio per ignitos lapides, &c. See Strabo, lib. iii. Vitruv. 

 de A?chit. lib. v. cap. 10, 



c c 3 of 



