A thorough sweating occurs while the subject remains in these rooms, during a period of from ten to forty minutes. The secretions of the skin, at first impure and loaded with the débris of dead cells and extraneous matter, gradually become purer, and clearer, until, finally, all trace of color disappears and the pearly drops of sweat come full and free. Soon the attendant appears and leads the way to the shampooing-room, where, lying upon a warm marble slab, massage is applied most thoroughly to every portion of the body.
By the massage, shampooing, or rubbing, the superficial veins are thoroughly emptied of their contents, the muscles are given elasticity and tone, and glandular activity is promoted. Innumerable dead epithelial cells, together with other impurities, are rolled off in flakes under the skillful manipulation of the attendant.
After a thorough shampooing, the shower bath is applied, to secure a contraction of the capillaries and a diminution of the perspiration.
The Spirit Vapor-bath is very effective when employed in the earlier stages of acute, febrile, inflammatory, and painful diseases. In many forms of chronic diseases the administration of a spirit vapor-bath once in from three to fifteen days, is a valuable adjunct to the treatment of these affections. It exerts an exceedingly beneficial influence upon the entire system, and, when habitually employed, may ward off disease.
The body should be moistened with an alkaline solution before the administration of a spirit vapor-bath. After the perspiration which it occasions has subsided, which will usually be in from three to four hours, sponge the body with a mixture of the following ingredients: water, three gills; alcohol, one gill; salt, one teaspoonful. By this method the patient experiences none of the unpleasant effects which generally follow the employment of diaphoretics. Various kinds of apparatus have been devised to facilitate the application of the spirit vapor-baths. Most of them are cumbersome and expensive, and, consequently, are seldom used except in hospitals or sanitariums.
The following method described by Dr. J. King, may be advantageously employed.
"The patient is undressed, ready for getting into bed, having removed the clothing worn through the day and put on a night shirt or other clothing to be worn while sweating, and during the night, if the bath is taken at bed-time. He is then seated on a high Windsor or wooden-bottomed chair, or instead thereof, a bench or board may be placed on a common open-bottomed chair, care being taken that the bottom is so covered that the flame will not burn him. After seating himself, a large coverlet or blanket is thrown around him from behind, covering the back of his head and body, as well as the chair, and another must be passed around him in front, which last is to be pinned at the neck, loosely, so that he can raise it and cover his face, or remove it down from the face from time to time as occasion demands during the operation of the bath. The blankets must reach down to the floor, and cover each other at the side, so as to retain the vapor. This having been done, a saucer or tin vessel, into which is put one or two tablespoonfuls of whiskey, brandy, alcohol, or any liquor that will burn, is then placed upon the floor, directly under the centre of the bottom of the chair, raising a part of the blanket from behind to place it there; then light a piece of paper, apply the flame to the liquor, and as soon as it kindles let down the part of the blanket which has been raised, and allow the liquor to burn until it is consumed, watching it from time to time to see that the blankets are not burned. As soon as consumed, put more liquor into the saucer, about as much as before, and again set it on fire, being careful to put no liquor into the saucer while the flame exists, as there would be danger of setting fire to the blanket, and producing injury to the patient. Continue this until the patient perspires freely, which, in a majority of cases, will be in five or ten minutes."
"If, during the operation the patient feels faint or thirsty, cold water must be sprinkled or dashed in his face, or he may drink one or two swallows of it,—and in some cases the head may be bathed with cold water. As soon as free perspiration is produced, wrap the blankets around him, place him in bed, and cover him up warm, giving him about a pint of either some good store tea, ginger, or some diaphoretic herb tea to drink, as warm as he can take it. After two or three hours, remove the covering, piece by piece, at intervals of twenty or twenty-five minutes each, that he may gradually cease perspiring."
The above method may be improved by using an ordinary hoop skirt, ten to twelve inches below the bottom of which is suspended a larger and stronger hoop. The upper and smaller hoops should rest upon the patient's shoulders. A woolen blanket, large enough to reach and rest upon the floor, and envelop the whole person, is thrown over the hoops. Unless the bath is employed to diminish the quantity of fluids in the body (as in dropsy), the patient may drink some simple, diaphoretic infusion, to hasten or facilitate perspiration. When he perspires freely, small quantities of cold water may be frequently given. "There is little or no danger of taking cold after this process, if ordinary precaution is observed, and it is easy, agreeable, safe, and effectual."
"Occasionally we will meet with patients, upon whom it is almost impossible to produce the slightest moisture, much less perspiration. The skin of such persons is generally dry and harsh, communicating an unpleasant sensation to the touch. In most instances the skin may be restored to its normal condition, by adopting the following course: 1st. Anoint the whole surface of the body and limbs with olive oil every night upon retiring to bed. 2nd. Every morning wash the whole surface with a warm, weak, alkaline solution, employing considerable friction while drying. 3rd. Every two weeks administer a spirit vapor-bath. A perseverance in this course for a few months will accomplish the desired result."