described by Aëtius and Avicenna. The _douche_ or dashing with water is recommended by Aëtius, in ardent fever, ophthalmy, &c.; but he directs that it should not be carried far. Sprinkling with plain water, or the decoctions of emollient herbs, is recommended when the patients are so weak that they cannot bear the bath. Hippocrates thus explains his views as to the effects produced by baths: The bath of sweet waters humectates and cools, for it imparts moisture to the body. The salt bath is calefacient and desiccative; for, being naturally hot, it attracts moisture from the body. When the body is fasting the hot bath is attenuant and refrigerant; for by its heat it attracts the moisture from the body, and when the flesh is deprived of moisture the body is cooled. Put after a meal it heats and humectates, by expanding to a greater bulk whatever predominates in the body. The cold baths produce the contrary effects; for when the body is fasting they impart heat and moisture to it, and after a meal they abstract moisture, and being cold they fill it with dryness. Unction with oil is calefacient, moistening and emollient. (De Diæta, ii, 36.) In another place he states that the warm bath, in moderation, softens and enlarges the body; but when taken immoderately it humectates dry bodies, and dries humid bodies. (De Affectionibus, c. 47.) Celsus gives some ingenious reflections on the effects of the bath, especially in fever. He thus states the purposes for which it is applied: “Fere adhibetur, ubi summam cutem relaxari, evocarique corruptum humorem, et habitum corporis mutari expedit.” He recommends friction with oil before going into the bath. (ii, 17.) Our author copies from Oribasius (Euporist. i, 16.) See a fuller account in Med. Collect. (x, 6); Galen (de Sanitate tuendâ); Aëtius (iii, 169); and Avicenna (i, 3, 2.) Galen particularly recommends the cold bath to persons in the prime of life, and during the summer season. Before going into the bath they are to get well rubbed first with rough towels and then with oil. He recommends them to plunge into the water at once, and not descend gradually. After coming out of the water he directs them to get rubbed with oil, until the skin is warmed. Agathinus forbids infants to be bathed in cold water, but recommends the warm bath for them. (Oribasius, Med. Collect. x, 7.) Galen and Aëtius direct the bath of oil to be formed by adding the fifth part of heated oil to a bath of water. They recommend it in protracted fevers attended with chills, convulsions, retention of urine, and to relieve lassitude, and nervous pains. The learned Bernard remarks that it must have been the expense with which it is attended that has led to the disuse of the bath of oil. (Ad Nonni Epitom.) Avicenna and his expositor, Gentilis Fulginas, particularly recommend it for retention of urine. Mengus Faventinas pronounces it to be highly anodyne. (Auctores de Balneis.)