Practical observations concerning sea bathing. To which are added, remarks on the use of the warm bath / By A.P. Buchan.

  • Alexander Peter Buchan
Date:
1804
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations concerning sea bathing. To which are added, remarks on the use of the warm bath / By A.P. Buchan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    223/244 (page 191)
    During the times of the republic, we learn from Hieronimus Mercurialis, that it formed a part of the duty of the officers called iEdiles, to enter the baths, in order to judge of and regulate their heat, before the public in treneral were admitted. With the univerfal corruption of manners, that accom- panied the druggies of the various competitors for fupreme power, this falutary cuftom fell into difufe : and, as Pliny informs us, the people were at length accudomed to enter the baths at almoft a boiling heat;—“ balnea tunc Jimilia fere incendio.” That debility and dif- eafe ffiould be the confequence of frequently expofintj the body to the operation of fuch violent ltimuli, cannot excite much furprife. The Romans attempted alfo to render the ufe of the warm bath, in another mode, fub- fervient to purpofes of the moll grofs fenfu- al>y, by employing it to excite artificial appe- tite, and to liberate the con'litution, more fpeedily than by the regular courfe of Nature, from the opp effive effects of an overloaded ftomach. The crapulous glutton entered a fmall