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A BATH.
PLATE XXV.
A BATH.
AMONG the decorative buildings employed for the embel-
lishment of gardens, the bath should not be neglected, for its im-
portant usefulness demands a place wherever pure water can be
obtained; and the agreeableness alone of bathing, without its sa-
lubrity, should suffice to procure to the bath a higher degree of
patronage than it has yet received in this and its neighbouring
country: but during many years the difficulties of dress, conse-
quent on the fashion of wearing powder in the hair, were inimical
to its use: this impediment being removed, it is probable that
baths will be employed by us as common and frequent sources
of innocent pleasure as well as for medical relief.
Bathing among the Romans was held in very high estimation,
so much indeed, Rome alone is said at one time to have contained
eight hundred and fifty-six public baths; and the emperors
endeavoured to conciliate the people by the erection of such
buildin's. Those of Paulus £milius, Titus, and Dioclesian,
ranked amongst the noblest edifices of the empire.
The use of the tepid bath is now so much prescribed, and
the method of imparting heat to water is so simple and perfect in
its application, that the warm bath ought to accompany the
cold one.
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