THE HOT AIR BATH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1316, 1 March 1883, Page 3

THE HOT AIR BATH.

Mr Bykes, patentee .of an extremely ingenious hot air bath, is now in Masterton. We have visited hjs premises in Church-street and can bear testimony to the fidelity of the folio,wing description of his modps operandi which we copy from an article -published in our Greytown. contemporary a short, time ago-There is a great deal, of physical suffering in this, world, arid many person?, appearing -sound enough, are often raoked with pam, and carry with them through a part of their lives a burden of disease grievous to be borne. To such persons any new, discovery which will mitigate their ailments deserves to be treated' with attention and made the subject of careful enquiry.' During a recent visit' to Wellington we had an opportunity of inspecting and trying tho effects of'a new patent hot air bath made by Mr K. D. Sykes, who for sonie time colfducted a hydropathic establishment in. Auckland, and have come to the conclusion that it is a most valnablo curative agterit in 'cases' of rheumatism, sciatica, fever, severe ; colds, general deiaiUty,' and- other of the ills " to which, human flesh ia heir to." ; This hot air bath was shown ; at the Christchurch Exhibition ; and created much attention.. The inventor, Mr Sykes, has adopted.the plan of travelling throughout the Colony, explaining the features of his invention, and subjecting to suclr his serviges, Mr Sj?k«Bisnowin Wellington and will probably visit the -Wairarapa - Distriot after a time: , are familiar with the, ji?8o, ,ofryjip6r bath's,. bvit this Uot air bath is a different thing'altogether.; In the vapor bath not only is the temperature incapable of proper regulation, but the confined and heated. air quicklyj becomes vitiated'by;exhalations from the skin-; its oxygen becomes, exhausted and the patient during the greater part of the time lie remains in tip bath is ' to an unwholesome !'iThe 1 / results arte of% increased rapidity in cifcula-, tiono|'t|be''bl o p 4 in ftp. jjeq4 accompanied by giddiness and faintness.: uThis new hot. air-bath,itfoids The, Mnietdlliii and shield plates, whioh heat and'iiistribute

) a current of air, entering by the aper- - turesiover ametallic: Seating;.,surface, i; and discharges it .through the interior s' of the bath, distributing heat like the !, rays vof.'the'sun, •' cqiMy^dfor the •; body. The perpetual change of heated' b and rarefied air, passing iii a continual 3 but imperceptible, current carries off ) all tHe impure exhalations from 'the i bather's skin. However long and at i whatever heat the father remains in s the bath; the pulse and; circulation j are i .unchanged, ]n the hot air bath the i skin requires a much purer atmosphere, i causing an invigorating feeling, and . an elasticity unfelt in, any other bath , except in a well-ventilated and proi ;ierly constructed Turkish bath. It, : ! in fact,: possesses almost allthe ' idyiintages secured by a Turkish bath. » This hot air batlr is heated by two 1 lamps burning mythylated spirits. It .brms a very neat piece of-furniture ind can be compactly packed in .sections when required to be sent to any part of the colony. Our experience of ■ a-personal trial of the hath as a means of treatment for a •■harp attack of cold and pains in the back and limbs, may not' be uninteresting, to; some of our readers. The patient gets into the bath and takes •ft place on a comfortable seat, 'ihen the wooden top of the bath is closed, the bead of the patient being the only . part of him left outside. A collar of woollen stuff and India rubber is placed round the neck to prevent the ingress of, cold air. The ;lamps |by. this time are fairly under way'and the atmosphere ef the bath is 'comfortably warm. In about seven minutes the patient perspires. By-and-by the perspiration pours .forth in small streams, but no unpleasant sensation of overheating is experienced. Then an attendant opens a small door in the apparatus and rubs the patient over .with, his hands. The door is then quickly closed and the sweating goes on. By-and-by the head is shampooed, The patient gets an occasional drink of water to promote peispiration, and in half-an-hour steps out of the bath. He is vigorously rubbed down with "a dipping sheet," the water used being tepid, Finally, ho gets a vigorous douching with cold water in a plunge bath, is rubbed dry with coarse towels, and the process is complete. The sensation in the hot air bath is one of delicious comfort and ease. There is no increased heart action and no temporary congestion of the brain. And curiously enough, there is no chill felt when the final plunge is made into the cold water. The feeling after getting a hot air bath is one of extreme buoyanoy. and vigor. It is fifty times better "peg" than 1 ! the favorite "reviver" of a "brandy ■ and soda," aiicl there is no reaction. In our individual case the bath cures the cold, and pain in tho limbs quite disappears. In really serious cases of ■ illness we believe'the hot air baths would be. very useful, Sufferers from : reheumatism, sciatica and fever would certainly be greatly benefitted by its iise, and in some cases'cured altogether. We have written:' about this hot air bath in order that any of our readers , who may be afflicted with those ] maladies already mentioned may learn that, apart from medicine, there exists a pleasanf means of treatment for the s alleviation or entire remoVai of their sufferings. ' ;