White Sulphur papers; or, Life at the springs of Western Virginia

160 APPENDIX.
is
The Salt Sulphur has a temperature of 50° which
the same of those of Tunbridge, in England.
The Warm Springs have a temperature of 97° Fa.
The Sweet Spring water is nearly tepid at 73° Fa.
At the Hot Springs, in Virginia, the temperature
of the different baths verge from 103° to 106°
They have the Gentleman's Hot Spout bath ;
the
Gentleman's Boiler or Sweat bath; the Lady's
Boiler ; the Lady's Hot Spout bath. And in addition
to these four baths above mentioned, is the
Pleasure bath, which is contained in an octagonal
reservoir of thirty feet in diameter, and five feet
deep ;
there are two spouts of two inches diameter
constantly pouring streams of hot water into the
reservoir ;
the temperature of this water is between
98° and 99° and the whole is covered by an octagonal
building, furnished with a dressing room ;
this
bath is used alternately by ladies and gentlemen for
periods of two hours.
Baths are usually taken in the morning, two or
three hours after drinking, at a temperature between
86° and 96°. They increase the activity of the
cutaneous circulation and secretion ;
perspiration
being not unfrequently produced. They have also
a sedative effect on the nervous system ; the pulse
becomes slower while in the bath, and a
tendency^
to sleep frequently supervenes. Acting on the