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too much practised, I have thought it needful to show, that neither the customs of different nations, in the countries where the use of the bath has been notoriously the most practised, nor sound principles derived from an observation of the effects of bathing on the human system, serve to justify a daily practice of immersion in water, of any temperature whatever, in the generality of cases.

As to the period of the day, on which a cold, tepid, or warm bath, may be most advantageously taken, there is no doubt that a bath of any kind should, in very few cases, be made use of after dinner. If taken within one, or two, or three hours, after the dinner, there is considerable risk that the bath will interfere with the processes of digestion; and at the same time, that the digestive processes may interfere with the due maintenance of the superficial circulation, temperature, &c., which is so important after the use of the bath;-and if taken at a longer period after the dinner, there is a risk lest the system having become unduly fatigued by the labours of the day, or the need of sleep, on the one hand; or lest the sleep following too soon after the bath, on the other hand; may interfere with the re-action, or render the sleep unrefreshing, or the system feverish. In most cases, the bath should be used either before breakfast, or about three hours after breakfast; or at all events, there should be an hour between the bath and dinner time. In the case of the more delicate, bathing is found to be better borne about three hours after breakfast.

The use of the vapour bath has been alluded to, in the instance of the Russians and Egyptians; and it is a valuable and excellent means of applying heat to the surface. It seems that a much higher temperature can be borne without discomfort in the vapour bath, than when the body is immersed in warm water. The temperature of a hot bath cannot be higher than about 113°, without discomfort, and a risk of much subsequent irritation of the surface, and consequent feverishness and general derangement of the economy; whereas it is said the inhabitants of Finland sometimes remain more than half an hour in a vapour bath, at a heat of 167° of Fahrenheit. Dr. Kilgour says, that "the weight lost by perspiration, in a vapour bath, is much less than that lost in a hot water bath of much lower temperature. Berger found, on weighing himself, four minutes and a half after quitting a vapour bath, at 122° Fahrenheit, in which he had remained twelve minutes and a half, that he had lost ten ounces and one grain; but Lemonnier found that, after remaining about eight minutes in a water bath at 113° Fahrenheit, he had lost twenty ounces." The less degree of exhalation, and consequent exhaustion, produced by the vapour bath, may often be a sufficient reason for preferring its use to that of the warm water bath; and the greater temperature that is borne without inconvenience in the use of the vapour bath, appears to make it more useful in some cases, and particularly in some cutaneous affections, than the warm water bath.

The effect of the water bath may be considerably

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modified by the addition of salt, &c.,-or if only part of the surface be immersed in the water,or if the water be poured over the body, as in the shower-bath.

The effect produced by the addition of salt to the water of the bath, is very important and considerable. It assists and promotes re-action to a great extent; and hence many weakly and invalided persons can bathe advantageously in sea-water, who cannot bathe with safety in fresh water. Hence, in cases of dyspepsia and debility, it is usually advisable to add salt to the water of the bath: about half a stone of common salt to the ordinary sized bath, will be found to be usually an average quantity for this purpose.

The remarkable uniformity of the temperature of the ocean, peculiarly fits it for use as a cold bath ;* independently of the great advantages offered by its saline constitution, to the promptness and degree of the re-action; conjoined as these are, moreover, with the advantage of breathing at the same time the peculiarly stimulating atmosphere of the sea-coast, which exercises so beneficial an effect on many disordered conditions of the system. Warm baths of sea-water are often of much service, in cases that are

* At a sufficient distance from the land, in the temperate latitudes, the temperature of the ocean is probably seldom below 45°, or above 70°; exhibiting extremes of temperature only amounting to 25° ;the temperature of the land in the same latitudes often varying as much as 100o, at different periods of the year. The mean temperature of the ocean within the tropics, is said to be about 80°: a temperature which varies but little at different periods.

marked by a greater degree of combined sensitiveness and debility, than would justify bathing in the open

sea.

If only part of the body is immersed in the bath, the effect produced on the system is, of course, much less considerable. But such partial bathing is not found to be of much service under ordinary circumstances. The use of the hip-bath, which may be included under this head, is perhaps the most important and valuable form of partial or local bathing. In this case, the hips, lower part of the back, and the abdomen, are immersed in the water, which is of any required temperature, the lower extremities and upper parts of the body being out of the water. In many cases of irritation, and of spasm, and of visceral obstruction, even of inflammatory character, affecting the gastro-intestinal tissues, the liver, kidneys, bladder, &c., the warm or tepid hip-bath has proved a useful auxiliary to the more active treatment, and one that may be had readily, and almost as soon as suggested, in the poorest person's house: a common washing tub answering every purpose required; and a sufficient supply of warm water being obtainable from the boiler of the common kitchen-range, or even from two or three kettles or pans full of boiling water. In many cases of local debility affecting the female system, the regular use of the cold water hip-bath, for a single instant's immersion, or longer, according to circumstances, every day, has proved to be of efficient service. The more or less regular use of the hip-bath, of a temperature that is determined by the individual cir

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cumstances of the case, deserves to be considered to be of general importance to females of all ages. The period of the day at which it should be used, must be determined by circumstances.

If the water is poured over the body, either partially or generally, the effect is very different from that of immersing the body in the water.

The shower-bath seems to chill even more than a plunge-bath of the same temperature; but in most cases, re-action takes place much more quickly from the use of the former than the latter. This may be often a sufficient reason for preferring the use of the shower-bath to that of a plunge-bath. The showerbath affords a very convenient mode of bathing,—and one that is readily introduced into any house; but, as a remedial agent, it is seldom to be compared in its effects with bathing by immersion. In many cases of head-affection, however, the shower-bath is deservedly preferred to the plunge-bath. The temperature of the shower-bath may range from the ordinary temperature of the water, to that of 65°, 75°, or 85°, or even warmer. The quantity of water used at a time, usually ranges from four to ten gallons. Two, four, or six pounds of salt, may be dissolved in the water, if required.

The affusion of water, of any required temperature, and in any desired quantity, over the whole of the body, or any part of it that may be indicated, constitutes a very powerful and important remedial agent. In many cases of undue determination of blood to the head, with or without vascular excitement, or marked