Part 60
The arrangements for supplying cold and hot water must necessarily greatly depend on circumstances, and the quantity required. For a single fixed bath, or even for two or three of them, the common circulating water-heater or boiler, placed in some apartment on a rather lower level than the bath, is, perhaps, the most convenient; but where this is not attainable the water may be run, by means of a pipe, from a boiler situated on a somewhat higher level. In either case a supply of cold water must also be at hand, and conveyed in a like manner, to enable the bath to be reduced to any required temperature. On the large scale, as in our public baths, where numerous baths are in constant use during the day, the hot water is best supplied from a large cistern somewhere above the level of the bath-rooms, and which is heated by a coil of pipe supplied with high-pressure steam from a boiler situated on a lower level, as the ground floor or basement. The hot and the cold water, conveyed by separate pipes of about 1-1/2 inch diameter, unite in a two-way cock close to the bath, so as to enter it together, by which only _one_ aperture in the end of the bath is required for the purpose. The bath is emptied, and excess of water removed, by a grated aperture in the bottom, also stopped by a cock which, like the former, has handles or keys so placed as to be accessible to the attendant outside the bath-room, as well as to the bather, whilst the danger of overflowing is obviated by a two-inch waste-pipe, opening into the bath at about two inches from the top.
For heating portable baths, so many plans are in use, and have been suggested, and even patented, that the reader cannot possibly be at a loss for one to suit his particular case. A small grate for burning charcoal is the one most commonly adopted; but where attainable, a ring or cross of small inflamed gas-jets, is more cleanly and manageable.
When the bath consists of a wooden tub, or any other deep vessel, a simple and inexpensive apparatus brought out in America, under the title of the 'ITAL'IAN BATH'-WARMER' (see _engr._ 3), and made of thin sheet-iron, will occasionally be found useful.[111]
[Footnote 111: A small cast-iron 'horse' with three legs (not shown in the engr.) to support the 'warmer' about 2 inches above the bottom of the bath-tub, and to keep it steady and upright, is usually sold with it.]
This situation and the minor details connected with the comfort and convenience of the bath, must greatly depend on the character of the building, and the sum to be devoted to the purpose. When possible, the bath-room should always be on the same floor as the bedrooms, of easy access to them, and so situated and arranged, that a plentiful and constant supply of pure water can be ensured, and the waste water removed without trouble or inconvenience. The basement story should always be avoided; for, as observed by Dr Ure, there is a coldness and dampness belonging to it, in almost all weathers, which is neither agreeable nor salubrious.
The ranges of the temperature of water appropriate to the respective baths, according to the common nomenclature, are shown in the following Table:--
Name. | Temperature. Fahr. ------------------------------------ Cold bath | 33° to 75° Temperate bath | 75 " 82 Tepid bath | 82 " 90 Warm bath | 90 " 98 Hot bath | 98 " 112 ------------------------------------
_Concluding Remarks._ The importance, and indeed the absolute necessity of frequent personal ablution, has been already insisted on and explained. But however important and beneficial the use of water in this way may be, the effects arising from the immersion of the body in that liquid, as in the practice of bathing, are far more extensive and complete. What the one does usefully but not completely, the other accomplishes readily, satisfactorily, and perfectly. There is no absolute succedaneum for the entire bath. Its physiological effects are peculiar to itself, and of the utmost importance in pathology and hygiene. The practice of wearing flannel, the daily use of clean linen, the mere washing of the more exposed parts of the body, are but poor attempts at cleanliness, without the occasional, if not frequent, entire submersion of the body in water. Nor should the action of judicious bathing in the promotion of personal comfort and personal beauty be forgotten. Intellectual and moral vigour are also gradually, but materially, influenced and promoted by the beneficial action of bathing on the system; for mind and conscience being linked to matter in the 'house we live in,' become perturbed, or lethargic, in almost exact accordance with the fluctuations of our physical health. The neglect of bathing in this country is, to us, an absolute enigma. We are always talking about health, and continually professing to be seeking it; but the practical applications of the principles which we advocate, and the doctrines which we teach, are, unfortunately, the exceptions and not the rule.
Our recommendation of bathing applies chiefly to the warm bath and the tepid bath, which are alike adapted to the delicate and the robust, and to every condition of climate and season. Cold bathing, in this climate, is only suited to the most healthy and vigorous, and can only be safely practised during the warmer months of the year, and in a mass of water sufficient to permit of the heat of the body being maintained by swimming or other active exercise. The plunge and shower baths are partial exceptions to these remarks; whilst sea-bathing, for the reasons given elsewhere, comes under another category. This last, "on account of its stimulative and penetrating power, may be placed at the head of those means which regard the care of the skin; and it certainly supplies one of the first wants of the present generation, by opening the pores, and thereby re-invigorating the whole nervous system." "Besides its great power in cases of disease, it may be employed by those who are perfectly well, as the means most agreeable to nature for strengthening the body and preserving the health." Another important advantage which sea-bathing has over bathing in fresh water is, that persons seldom take cold from indulging in it.
For old people, or those of middle age, the cold bath is not to be recommended, or if taken, considerable caution is required in using it. By such persons, also, bathing in very hot weather, or in the sea, should likewise be prudently practised. For these, the warm or tepid sponge-bath will be found the much safer method.
It sometimes happens that, both with the old and young, the cold bath gives rise to headache, palpitation, shortness of breath, loss of appetite, or great languor. Whenever any of these effects are produced, the bath should be at once given up.
The best time for taking a cold hath or for swimming is in the morning, not too early, but when the sun is well up. Immersion is best practised after a light meal, but not immediately following one. After breakfast, from 10 a.m. to noon, are the preferable hours. Should the bather be unable to swim, when going into the sea or into a river, he should keep briskly moving all the time his body is immersed in the water. If in a room bodily friction must be substituted for exercise. A desirable glow may often be produced by rubbing the body with either a rough towel, a flesh-brush, or a pair of horsehair gloves.
The above remarks are meant to apply only to persons in average health.
Weakly and delicate persons, even without any disease about them, would always do well to consult their medical adviser before taking to cold bathing.
We may add, that for bathing to produce its best effects the water should be soft and pure, and good soap sparingly, but regularly, employed whenever the skin requires it. See ABLUTION and WASH-HOUSES.
The medical and hygienic properties of baths are noticed below, under their respective names:--
=Bath.= In _chemistry_, &c., a vessel or apparatus containing some medium in which the vessel holding the substance to be heated is immersed, instead of being exposed to the direct action of the fire; by which means a limited and uniform temperature may be ensured.
The highest temperature that can be given to any substance contained in a vessel placed in another of boiling water, is about 205° or 206° Fahr.; but by adding 1/5th part of common salt to the bath, a heat of fully 212° may be obtained. Baths of fusible metal, saturated solutions of salt, sand, and (on the large scale) steam, are also used for the same purpose. A bath of oil may be safely heated to about 500° Fahr. without suffering decomposition, and will be found an exceedingly appropriate and convenient source of heat in many processes. The simplest and most convenient form of water bath is that afforded by raising water to the boiling point in a copper basin placed over a gas lamp, and supporting the vessel to be heated over the basin, by means of a circular hoop of copper resting on the top of the basin. By this means the lower surface of the dish or vessel to be heated is brought in contact with the steam. Copper basins, fitted with a series of concentric copper rings, so as to render the basin capable of supporting dishes of different sizes, are made for this purpose.
For drying many substances an air bath is required. The accompanying cut represents a convenient form of air bath. It consists of a cylindrical copper vessel (_A_), the cover of which is moveable, and has two apertures, the middle one (_E_) serving for the escape of vapour, and the lateral one (_C_) for the insertion of a thermometer. The vessel holding the substance to be heated rests on a ring within the box, supported on a tripod.
A larger air bath, by means of which several small vessels can be heated at once, is seen below.
Air-baths are sometimes surrounded with a jacket, and may be converted into water or oil baths, according as the jacket is filled with either of the fluids. For a Table of Boiling-points, see EBULLITION.
An air-bath of constant temperature between 100° and 200° C. has been contrived by Sprengel. It consists of an ordinary hot-water oven made of sheet-lead autogenously soldered, and filled with dilute sulphuric acid boiling at the required temperature.
In order that the temperature may remain constant, the water which distils from the dilute sulphuric acid is condensed and allowed to flow back again into the bath by means of a worm of lead cooled by the atmosphere, or a long vertical metal or glass tube.
=Bath.= In _medicine_, the medium in which the body, or a part of it, is bathed or immersed, for some object beyond that of mere personal cleanliness or enjoyment; the composition, use, or temperature of the medium being generally indicated by some epithet, as in the instances below. When only the last is pointed out, pure water is, of course, intended to be used.
Baths are divided by medical writers into classes, and even minor subdivisions, in a manner which is more ingenious than useful. They are said to be SIMPLE when water or its vapour forms the bath; and COMPOUND when the water or vapour is medicated by the addition of other substances (COM'POUND BATHS; BAL'NEA COMPOS'ITA, L.). The latter class is also subdivided into THERAPEU'TIC BATHS (MED'ICATED BATHS; BAL'NEA MEDICA'TA, B. THERAPEU'TICA, L.); and NUTRIT'IVE BATHS (B. NUTRIEN'TIA, B. NUTRI''TIA*, B. NUTRITO''RIA*, L.). Thus, besides the ordinary water and vapour baths, the medical uses of which are hereafter noticed, we have WINE'-BATHS, MILK'-BATHS, SOUP'-BATHS, &c. (used to convey nourishment, or to sustain the body, as in occlusion of the [oe]sophagus, certain diseases of the stomach, &c.); CHLO''RINE BATHS, SUL'PHUROUS B., MERCU''RIAL B., &c. (used in skin diseases, syphilis, &c.); AROMAT'IC and CHALYB'EATE BATHS (employed as tonics); and ACID BATHS (sometimes used to remove the effects of mercury).
On the Continent a variety of substances are employed to medicate baths, which are seldom or never so used in this country.
The quantity of any medicinal substance used to medicate a bath, for an adult, may be, in general, for each gallon of water employed, about the same as that which is used to form a half-pint lotion of medium or rather weak strength. Thus; taking the quantity of bichloride of mercury to form the lotion at 5 _gr._, and that of sulphurated potash at 1/2 _dr._, the quantity required for a bath of 30 to 40 _galls._ will be about 2-1/2 _dr._ of the first, and about 1-3/4 _oz._ of the second of these substances. Much, however, depends on the nature of the case, the length of the immersion, the periods of recurrence, and the intended number of repetitions. In the case of very active remedies it will be safest and best to begin with less than (say 1/4 to 1/3) the quantity thus indicated.
Medicated baths are, in nearly all cases, taken warm or fully tepid.
[asterism] In the following baths the quantity of the ingredients ordered, when not otherwise indicated, is that proper for an ordinary full-sized bath for an adult; viz., from 40 to 60 _galls._ Those which do not contain volatile substances may be used more than once; and many of them several times by adding a small quantity of fresh ingredients to keep up their strength.
=Bath, Acid= ([)a]s'-). _Syn._ BAL'NEUM AC'IDUM ([)a]s'-), L. See HYDROCHLORIC, NITRIC, NITRO-HYDROCHLORIC, and SULPHURIC ACID BATHS (_below_). Enamelled, hard-glazed, or wooden vessels must be used with all of them.
=Bath, Air.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM PNEUMAT'ICUM, L.:--_a._ (Cold.) Simple exposure of the body, in a state of nudity, for a short time to the atmosphere. Tonic, anodyne, and sedative; in febrile excitement, nervous irritability, and restlessness accompanied by a quick or full pulse, &c. Safe and often very effective. It will frequently induce sleep when all other means fail.
_b._ (Hot:--ASSA, A. SUDA'TIO, L.) An apartment to which dry heated air is admitted. Sometimes the arrangement is such that the air is _not_ inhaled. Stimulant; sudorific; more so than even the vapour bath; produces copious perspiration, being, indeed, the most powerful and certain diaphoretic known. It has been advantageously employed in cholera (for which its advocates state that it is almost a specific), congestive fevers, chronic rheumatism, contractions, stiff joints, paralysis, scaly skin-diseases, dropsical swellings, and most of the cases in which the vapour bath is usually employed. The temperatures are--as a sudorific, 85° to 105° Fahr.; as a stimulant, 100° to 130°. When not inhaled it may be often raised, with advantage, 15° to 25° higher. See BATH, TURKISH.
_c._ (Compressed.) Recommended, by M. Tarberie, in aphonia, &c. It has recently been employed in asthma, phthisis, and some other like diseases, with extraordinary success, at Ben Rhydding.
_d._ (Rarefied.) Applied locally. Revulsive; resembles CUPPING, DRY (which _see_).
=Bath, Al'kaline.= _Syn._ AL'KALISED BATH; BAL'NEUM ALKALI'NUM, B. ALKALIZA'TUM, L. Carbonate of potash (salt of tartar), 3/4 _lb._ In itch, prurigo and chronic skin diseases accompanied with dryness and irritation, acute gout, lithic gravel, scurvy, diarrh[oe]a, &c. Scotch soda, 1 _lb._, is sometimes substituted for the 'potash'; but is less effective, and is theoretically objectionable.
=Bath, Al'um.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM ALU'MINIS, L. Alum (in powder, or previously dissolved in hot water), 3/4 _lb._ to 1-1/2 _lb._, or even 2 _lbs._ In troublesome excoriations, extensive burns, obstinate vesicular eruptions, diarrh[oe]a, &c.; also in obstinate piles and prolapsus ani. See BATH, ASTRINGENT.
=Bath, Ammoni'acal.= See HYDROCHLORATE OF AMMONIA BATH (_below_).
=Bath, Animal.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM ANIMA'LE, L. The skin or any part of an animal just killed, wrapped round the body or a limb. Once much esteemed; now, happily, disused in this country.
=Bath, Antimo''nial.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM ANTIMONIA'LE, L. Tartar-emetic, 1 to 2 _oz._ (Soubeiran.) In lumbago and certain skin diseases; also as a counter-irritant.
=Bath, Antipso''ric.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM ANTIPSO''RICUM, L. See BATH, SULPHURETTED (also others).
=Bath, Aromat'ic.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM AROMAT'ICUM, L. Balm, chamomile, lavender, mint, rosemary, sage, thyme, with any other like aromatic herbs (at will), of each a handful, mixed together and steeped in a (covered) pail of boiling or very hot water, for an hour, and then strained, with pressure, into the bath. Sometimes 2 or 3 _oz._ of sal-ammonia, a 1/4 _lb._ of alum, or 1 _lb._ of common salt, is also added. Occasionally used in cutaneous affections, chronic rheumatism, diarrh[oe]a, dyspepsia, stiff-joints, &c.; also in debility arising from loss of blood, spermatorrh[oe]a, suppressions, hysteria, hypochondriasis, &c.
The AROMATIC VAPOUR BATH is made by causing the vapour to pass through the herbs.
=Baths, Aromatic Malt= (J. Hoff, Berlin). Wittstein says these consist of coarsely crushed barley malt at six times its selling value.
=Bath, Astrin'gent.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM ASTRIN'GENS, L. _Prep._ (Most.) Alum (2 to) 4 _lbs._; dissolve in boiling water; and add, whey, 6 or 8 pailfuls, or q. s. In extensive burns, piles, prolapsus ani, &c. See BATH, ALUM, BATH, OAKBARK, &c.
=Bath, Balsamic.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM BALSAM'INUM, L. Bordeaux turpentine and tar, of each 2 _lbs._ (or of tar alone, 3 to 4 _lbs._); hot water, 6 or 7 _galls._; stir continuously until nearly cold, then add the clear portion to water q. s. to form a bath. In mumps, pruriginous diseases of the skin, eczema, impetigo, &c.
=Bath, Barèges= (Factitious). _Syn._ BAL'NEUM BARETGINEN'SE (Factitium), L. _Prep._ 1. Crystallised sulphide of sodium, 3-1/2 _oz._; chloride of sodium, 1-1/2 _oz._; gelatine (dissolved), 4 _oz._
2. (Trousseau & Reveil.) Dry sulphide of potassium, 4 _oz._; water, 16 _oz._; dissolve, and add the solution to the bath; then further add, of sulphuric or hydrochloric acid, 1/2 _oz._, previously diluted with water, 8 _oz._ In itch, moist skin diseases, chronic diarrh[oe]a, chronic rheumatism, lead colic, &c. See BALLS, WATERS, &c.
=Bath, Benzo'ic.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM BENZO'ICUM, L. 1. Benzoin (in powder), 1/2 _lb._; water (at 90°) q. s. In irritations, hysteria, hypochondriasis, &c. It is also reputed to be feebly aphrodisiac. 2. A common warm bath, with a little powdered benzoin laid on a heated plate near the bather, so that the fumes may be inhaled. Slightly soothing or anodyne; in chronic laryngitis, relaxed uvula, &c.
=Bath, Bichlo''ride of Mer'cury.= See BATH, MERCURIAL.
=Bath, Bran.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM FUR'FURIS, L. Bran, 5 to 7 _lbs._; boiling waters, 2 or 3 galls.; digested together for an hour, or boiled for 15 minutes; the strained liquid being added to the bath. Emollient; in dry and scaly skin disease, and to allay itching and surfacial irritation; also to promote suppuration, &c.
=Bath, Bromine.= The saline waters of Kreuznach contain bromides. The salts derived from the evaporation of these waters are imported into this country, and are employed in baths. Or the following substitute may be used:--Artificial sea-salt, 11 _lbs._; bromide of potassium, 4 _oz._; mix, and let the above be added to a bath containing sufficient water for immersion. The bromine bath is more especially used for tumours of every kind. It requires to be continued in for a long time. When the patient does not possess the conveniences for taking the bath, flannels dipped in a strong solution of the salt and wrung out may be applied wet to the abdomen for some hours daily.
=Bath, Cam'phor.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM CAM'PHORÆ, B. CAMPHORATUM, L. Camphor, 3 or 4 dr., coarsely powdered, and placed on a plate heated by boiling water, in the bathroom. Anodyne, anaphrodisiac, and diaphoretic; in spasmodic asthma, chronic cough, relaxation of the uvula, ardor urinæ, nervous irritability, &c.
=Bath, Carbon'ic.= _Syn._ CARBON'IC ACID BATH; BAL'NEUM CARBON'ICUM, B. AC'IDUM CARBONICUM, L.
1. Carbonic acid gas applied, by means of a suitable apparatus, to prevent its being respired. Antiseptic, diaphoretic, and excitant to the vascular system; in amenorrh[oe]a, chlorosis, hysteria, scrofula, cancerous and other ulcers (particularly foul ones), &c.
2. Water, at 50° Fahr., charged with the gas. Powerfully antiseptic and sedative; in foul ulcers, gangrene, &c.
=Bath, Chlo''ride of Ammo''nium.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM AMMO''NII CHLORI'DI, B. AMMO''NIÆ HYDROCHLORA'TIS, L. Sal-ammoniac, 2 to 3 _lbs._, or even 4 _lbs._ In chronic inflammations, glandular enlargements and indurations, chronic rheumatism and affections of the joints, leucorrh[oe]a, chilblains, frost-bites, &c.
=Bath, Chlo''ride of Soda.= Solution of chlorinated soda, 1-1/2 _lb._; water, 30 _galls._
=Bath, Chlo''rine.= _Syn._ BAL'NEUM CHLORIN'II, B. CHLORINA'TUM, L. Tepid water to which a little chlorine has been added. Antiseptic, stimulant, and subsequently sedative and antiphlogistic; in itch, foul and gangrenous ulcers, chronic liver affections, &c. Chloride of lime is commonly substituted for chlorine.
2. (Magendie; Wallace.) Chlorine gas (obtained from salt, 1-1/2 _oz._; oil of vitriol and water, of each 1 _oz._; and black oxide of manganese, 1/2 _oz._ to 1 _oz._) diluted with air, at a temperature of 104° to 150° Fahr., and applied, by means of a suitable apparatus, for 10 minutes to 1/2 an hour; every possible precaution being taken to prevent it being inhaled. In chronic liver affections, gradually and cautiously increasing the ingredients to three times the above quantity, and decreasing the dilution with air until the gas is used nearly pure.[112]
[Footnote 112: A dangerous remedy in careless or unskilful hands; and even with the experienced not always free from danger. The writer of this article once nearly lost his life from a single inspiration of the gas which accidentally escaped its proper limits. Terrific spasms of the glottis and a convulsive cough immediately came on, and lasted, with more or less severity, for nearly 14 hours.]
=Bath, Cold.= _Syn._ BALNEUM FRIG'IDUM (-fr[)i]j'-), FRIGIDA''RIUM, L.; BAIN FROID, Fr. Water, fresh, saline, or mineral, at a temperature varying from 33° to about 75°; but usually understood to apply to water between 50° and 70° Fahr. When below 50° it is considered very cold. At a temperature ranging from 60° to about 75° it is commonly used by the healthy and vigorous as a luxury, and for cleanliness.