BATH, a sufficient quantity of water collected in some convenient receptacle, for people to wash in, either for health or pleasure.
Baths are distinguished into natural and artificial, and natural again into hot and cold. The chief hot baths in our country are those at Bath, near Wells, in Somersetshire; and those at Buxton and Matlock in Derbyshire.
In the city of Bath are four hot baths: one triangular, called the cross bath, the heat of which is more gentle than that of the rest, because it has fewer springs in it; the second is the hot bath, which was formerly much hotter than the rest, but it was then not so large as at present: the other two are the King's and Queen's Bath, divided only by a wall; the last having no spring, but receives its water from the King's Bath: each of these is furnished with a pump, to throw out the water upon the diseased, where that is required.
These waters abound with a mineral sulphur; they are hot, of a bluish colour, and strong scent; they do not pass through the body like most other mineral waters; though if salt be added, they purge presently. On settlements, they afford a black mud, which is used by way of cataplasm in aches, and proves of more service to some than the waters themselves: The like they deposit on distillation, and no other: The cross-bath preys on silver, all of them on iron, but none on brass.
The use of these baths is found beneficial in disorders of the head, as palsies, &c. in cuticular diseases, as leprosy, &c. obstructions, and constipations of the bowels, the scurvy and stone, and in most diseases of women and children; they are used as a last remedy in obstinate chronic diseases, where they succeed well, if they agree with the constitution of the patient.
Of the three hot European waters of note, viz. Aix-la-Chapelle, Bourbon, and Bath, the first abounds more eminently in sulphur, which makes its heat, nauseousness, and purgative faculty so great, that few stomachs can bear it.
The Bourbon are of a middle nature, between the Aix-la-Chapelle and the Bath waters; being less hot, nauseous, and purgative than those of Aix-la-Chapelle; but more so than the Bath waters.
Cold baths were by the ancients held in the greatest esteem; and though they were long banished out of medicine, the present age can boast of abundance of noble cures performed by them, and such as were long attempted in vain by the most powerful medicines.
The cold bath is serviceable in most chronic disorders; it always acts the part of a diuretic; and will do more, especially plunging over head in sea-water, in the cure of melancholy, madness, and particularly that occasioned by the bite of a mad dog, than any other medicine.
Artificial baths are various, according to the various occasions; as aqueous baths, vaporous baths, dry baths, &c. Aqueous baths are made from common plants, and other emollient, resolvent, and nervine substances; consisting sometimes of milk and emollient herbs, with rose-water, &c. when the design is to humectate, or when it is only to cleanse, it consists of bran and water alone; and when it is for an excessive pain or tumour, &c. in these cases it consists of a decoction of roots, plants, and some spirit of wine.
In vapour-baths, the design of which is to promote a perspiration, the steam or fume of some decoction is received upon some part of the body for that purpose. In these baths there is no part of the patient's body plunged into the decoction, only those parts which require it are properly disposed to receive the steams of some proper fomentation. Of this kind are the bagnios, where persons are made to sweat by the heat of a room, and pouring on of hot water.
Vapour-baths are of singular service in cold distempers, anasarca's, œdematous tumours, paralytic cases, swellings of the testicles, &c.
Dry baths are made of ashes, salt, sand, shreds of leather, &c. This bath is successful in provoking sweat in a plentiful manner, the patient being placed conveniently for the reception of the fumes: They are found useful in removing old obstinate pains, and are very effectual in venereal complaints.