used were common salt, chloride of lime, nitric acid, corrosive sublimate, the hydroxides and carbonates of sodium and potassium, ashes, soap, iodine, sulphur, iron, etc.; the vegetable were wine, vinegar, solutions of essential oils, infusions of thyme, rosemary, lavender, wormwood, willow, oak, and Peruvian bark, etc. Such animal substances as milk, blood, bouillon of meat, etc., are also sometimes employed for baths, with a view to imparting nourishment, but that any is taken up into the system is denied. Mercurial Baths are used in syphilis. They are baths in which vapor of mercury is applied to the whole surface excepting the head. The application must be made in a fumigating-box, in which the body alone is inclosed along with the vapor, in order that the respiratory organs may not be incommoded. Another species of vapor baths is what is called an Animal Bath, which was used by the ancients, and was in great reputation in cases of lameness. Either the whole body of the patient was wrapped in the skin of a newly slaughtered animal, or an opening was made, and the diseased limb inserted into the breast or belly of the animal while yet alive, or into the newly drawn blood. Sometimes smaller animals were killed, split up, and immediately applied to the diseased part. Of Gas Baths, the most generally used are those of sulphureted hydrogen and carbonic-acid gas, which are to be had at certain mineral springs. In recent times, at Ischl and other places, the vapors that arise from the mineral springs loaded with saline particles are received in close rooms, in which the patients walk about and allow the vapors to act upon the lungs and skin. See Bath-Houses, Municipal; and Hydrotherapy.
The terms water-bath and sand-bath have been adopted in chemistry to signify a contrivance by which vessels are heated without being brought into immediate contact with the flame, but receive their heat through the medium of hot water or sand.
BATH, bath (Celt. Caer-badon, city of baths,
AS. Bathan, Bathum, short for æt thæm hātum
bathum, 'at the hot baths'; the Roman Aquæ
Solis, 'baths of the sun'). The chief city of
Somersetshire, England, beautifully situated in
a wooded valley, inclosed on the north and east
by a high range of hills, on the Avon (which is
crossed by numerous bridges), 20 miles from its
mouth, and 100 miles west by south of London
(Map: England, D 5). The houses are built of
white freestone — 'Bath Oölite' — worked in the
neighboring quarries. The city has a finer ap-
pearance than any other in England, the variety
of levels giving commanding sites for its fine and
regular streets, crescents, and public buildings.
The beauty and sheltered character of its situ-
ation, the mildness of its climate, and especially
the curative efficacy of its hot chalybeate springs,
have long rendered Bath a favorite fashionable
resort. The springs, which are four in number,
were known to the Romans, who built baths on
the spot in the First Century, and of which ex-
tensive remains were discovered in 1775. The
temperature of the springs varies from 116° to
120° F.; they rise near the river bank, in the
centre of the city, and discharge more than half
a million gallons of water daily. The water is
most useful in bilious, nervous, and scrofulous
complaints, palsy, rheumatism, gout, and cu-
taneous diseases. Bath has many handsome public buildings, first among them being the Pump-Room, inclosing some of the springs; the Guildhall, containing in addition to the munici- pal offices, technical schools, an art gallery and reference library; and the Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, containing several fine scientific collections and a library of over 20,000 volumes. The Abbey Church is a cruciform building in the Perpendicular style, dating from the Sixteenth Century. It has a central tower 162 feet high, and on account of the number and size of its windows has been called the 'Lantern of England.' There are several fine parks, in- cluding the Victoria Park of about 50 acres, containing a botanical garden, handsome assem- bly rooms, and an excellent theatre. The city obtains an excellent water-supply from springs in the surrounding hills. It is well lighted by electricity, which the corporation supplies. It also maintains public baths and markets. Bath is amply supplied with educational facilities. In addition to the technical school maintained by the corporation, there is a grammar school founded by Edward VI., Bath College, a school for officers' daughters, and Wesleyan College. Its charitable institutions include numerous hos- pitals and an eye and ear infirmary. Its three railway lines, and the Kennet and Avon Canal connecting the city with the Thames River, fur- nish excellent means of communication. It is a parliamentary borough, and sends two members to Parliament. Bath was a royal residence in Anglo-Saxon times. Richard I. and Edward III. granted it many privileges. In the Eighteenth Century Richard Nash (q.v.) made it the most fashionable resort in England. Population, in 1891, 51,900; in 1901, 49,800. Consult: "Municipal Roman Baths at Bath." in Municipal Journal, Vol. VIII. (London, 1899); Bath Committee, Handhook to Bath (Bath, 1900); Perkins, The Abbey Churches of Bath, Malmesbury, etc. (London, 1901).
BATH, bath. A city, port of entry, and the
county-seat of Sagadahoc County, Maine, on the
Kennebec River, 12 miles from the sea, and 30
miles south of Augusta (Map: Maine, D 8). It
is on the Maine Central Railroad, and has steam-
boat connections with Boston and Portland.
Ship-building is the main industry, and several
vessels for the United States Navy have been
built here. There are also brass and iron found-
ries, machine-shops. boiler-works, and manu-
factures of lumber, oilcloth, woolen goods, etc.
Bath contains a public library, a soldiers' and
sailors' orphans' home, and two homes for aged
persons. The charter, adopted in 1847 and re-
vised in 1899, limits the mayor's term to one
year, and provides for a bicameral city council.
The majority of administrative officers are
elected by the city council, though the mayor
exercises some appointive power, subject to the
consent of the board of aldermen. The super-
intendent of schools is chosen by the school com-
mittee, which is elected by the people. Popula-
tion, in 1890, 8723; in 1900, 10,477.
The first settler within the present limits of Bath was probably Robert Gutch, a missionary to the Indians, about 1660. In 1781 the settlement was incorporated as the town of Bath, and in 1847 a city charter was secured. Consult Reed, History of Bath and Environs (Portland, 1894).
