with man, and equally so is it with respect to all domestic animals. In pleuro-pneumonia, for instance, a range of temperature from 200° to 250° can be safely employed, and in hydrophobia we would not expect a less temperature to have any sanative effect.

During the prevalence of the cattle plague in England and Scotland, 1866-7, it was stated that the Bath was tried in some instances and failed. But there is no authentic evidence to show where in any case that it was promptly and skilfully tried, failure was the result, nor do we believe that such evidence is forthcoming. Legislative and national ignorance was never more deplorably exhibited, than in the enactment making the slaughtering of all the healthy cattle in an infected district compulsory. If the erection of Baths in every district had been made compulsory, and the regular bathing of the cattle, under proper supervision, made equally so, some millions sterling would have been saved to the country. The number of cattle that died or were killed, on account of the plague, up to the week ended 21st of April, 1866, the last return we have at hand, is represented as follows:

England. 141,514

Wales.
6,738

Scotland.
181,443

Total.

329,695

The estimated value may be taken at three millions sterling, and

it

may be safely affirmed that had the cattle been properly cared for, and fortified against disease by habitual Bathing, threefourths of those that died of the Plague would never have taken it, or if attacked, the disease would have readily yielded to the judicious administration of the Bath. The vast importance of this subject, not to individuals alone, but in a national point of view, becomes at once apparent when we consider how largely national prosperity and wealth are involved. The Cattle Census of 1866 gives the following results:

To promote and ensure the healthy condition of this immense property in animals, there is nothing comparable with the habitual use of the Bath. In his celebrated Inquiry, Jenner says “ "The deviation of man from the state in which he was originally placed by Nature, seems to have proved to him a prolific source of diseases. From the love of splendour, from the indulgences of luxury, and from his fondness for amusement, he has familiarised himself with a great number of animals, which may not originally have been intended for his associates. The wolf, disarmed of ferccity, is now pillowed in the lady's lap. The cat, the little tiger of our island, whose home is the forest, is equally domesticated and caressed. The cow, the hog, the sheep, and the horse, are all, for a variety of purposes, brought under his care and dominion."

It has followed that among the animals so domesticated diseases have been engendered, to which, in a state of nature, they are never subjected; and as there are no means comparable with the Bath by which man can counteract the evils resulting from habits of life that violate nature's laws, so with animals-the prophylactic and therapeutical properties of the Bath are equally applicable to them.

For training purposes, the Bath is now employed in several racing stables; but in the majority of instances it is not skilfully directed, and trainers have prejudices against it. Admiral Rous, no mean authority, is highly in its favour. "By the introduction of the Bath," he says, a new era has arisen; the present barbarous system of preparing horses to race by drastic purgatives, hot clothing, hot stables, and four and five-mile sweats, will be ameliorated; and we may lock forward with confidence to a revolution, by the aid of Hot-air Baths, which will enable a trainer to bring his horses to the post in first-rate condition, without subjecting them to a destructive apprenticeship.-Letter in "Times," March 26, 1863.

But whether applied to horses or to human beings, such a revolution in established custom is not easily effected. Indeed, it is probable that a regard for utility alone will accomplish

No

more for animals in this respect, than what reasoning intelligence will be able to do with the same facility for man. one can doubt the value of the Bath to the health and wellbeing of man; yet while thousands bathe, millions are content to despise its advantages. "In Australia," writes a friend, "sheep are now driven in lots into a Bath heated to 200°; they kill the scab, brush and clean the sheep at the same time -the scab being caused by a parasite worm, that is killed by the high temperature.”

In rearing healthy racing stock the Bath is invaluable. The system of forcing the premature development of growth, so as to make the two year old colt accomplish more than was required from a three or four year old one hundred years ago, necessarily involves the breaking down of a vast number of animals that never see the starting post. Nothing is equal to the Bath for promoting healthy growth-for maintaining the Nutritive organism of the young animal in a perfectly healthy condition-for strengthening the constitution to resist morbific influences, and for rapidly developing and invigorating muscular power.

The

Influenza getting into a racing stable upsets the most astute and confident calculations, but influenza never need get into a stable, if the trainer is properly instructed in a knowledge of the Bath. It is a certain preventive of the disease, and should it be taken, in any case it is a certain and speedy cure. only thing to be wondered at indeed, is, that owners of racing stock, generally so shrewd, intelligent, and calculating, and so alive to what is practically useful, have not ere this insisted on having their horses reared and trained by means of the Bath. The saving would be immense, and more than two-thirds of the horses now knocked out of training by disease would be enabled to fulfil their engagements.

We earnestly, indeed, advocate the Bath for all domestic animals as a matter of enlightened humanity. In town or country the cost is nothing in comparison with the saving effected and the good accomplished. What would man be without domes

ticated animals to minister to his wants and contribute to his pleasures? Yet how little intelligent humanity is bestowed upon them in return. There is a cruelty to animals in indifference to their healthful wants and enjoyments, which is as reprehensible as treatment of them with savage violence. Many highly philanthropic men subscribe to punish what is legally defined as "cruelty to animals," and yet they appear insensible of the fact, that they are guilty of a cruelty which the law does not define and punish, but which is reprehensible nevertheless― moral cruelty, arising from their ignorance of the laws of health, and their indifference to the simple and cheap means by which, for their own great benefit, the health of their domestic animals can be ensured.

Putting the matter in no higher light than that of utility, the Bath offers advantages to farmers and country gentlemen the value of which it would be difficult to overestimate. In regard to economy merely, those who have tested it concur in stating, that its utility pays it annual cost ten aye twenty times over, besides all the collateral advantages derived from it. A complete Bath with every requisite for farm purposes can be erected at a cost, according to size and local circumstances, ranging from £20 to £100. On the grounds of economy therefore, as well as of humanity, this subject ought to engage the attention of intelligent minds.

CHAPTER XXVII.

The summing up-Three main points for public considerationThe state of Medical opinion and practice-The position of the public in relation thereto-The present position of the Bath, and its future-Illustrative opinions-Conclusion.

THERE are three main points to which the attention of an intelligent public ought to be more particularly directed, in seriously considering the subject-matter of this work. First, the state of Medical opinion and practice, as set forth on the testimony of the highest medical authorities. Second, the position of the public generally, in relation to that opinion and practice. Third, the position the Bath now occupies, and the great future that is before it, as "the keystone of the Hydropathic arch." On these points we will now offer a few observations by way of summing up.

I. Is the state of Medical opinion and practice, as set forth and illustrated in the preceding pages-every single statement made resting on the undoubted authority of Medical men themselves—is it such, we ask, as to inspire any confidence whatever in the scientific soundness of that opinion, or in the safety of that practice-to say nothing at all about its therapeutical value?

Have we not seen that Medical opinion-so falsely called science-is fickle, fluctuating, and changeable, without any solid basis of positive science to rest on, or any settled principles to inform and guide it-that it is "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive?"

Have we not seen that this opinion has no more rational