A Novel Bathing Apparatus

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!


On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


Our hydropathic friends will be surprised ta learn that the almost numberless vessels heretofore used for bathing, in taking the different kinds of baths, may be rendered quite useless, by one apparatus, which subserves the purpose of all the bathing utensils formerly requisite, besides a variety of other purposes—in fact it assumes about as many shapes and torms as Proteus had : our correspondent who is now constructing it, thus enumerates the different purposes to which it may be applied, within the small compass of 6 feet in length, 2 feet wide, and 2 or 3 feet high:—v-I combine all the following qualities in one and the same apparatus, and so construct it that it can be changed to either of these forms, at pleasure in a moment's time-first, a vessel for an immersion bath ; 2nd, a shower bath ; 3rd, a sitz bath ; 4 a head bath; 5th, a foot bath: 6th, a cataract bath; 7th, any other form of bath desired, a hose, &c. 8th, a bureau; 9th, a secretary, lOtb, a dressing-stand and mirror; 11th, a wash-stand, bowl, and sink. Vith, a writing table; 13th, a hat ami at hanger. 14th, an umbrella stand spittcin &c." It is stated that the article . nearly complete. No material is used that will be effected by the cold or hot water, or that will corrode, or emit an unpleasant odor. All is represented as substantial and durable. This must be a remarkably novel and ingenious invention; it will probably be more particularly noticed hereatter.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 8 Issue 44This article was published with the title “A Novel Bathing Apparatus” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 8 No. 44 (), p. 346
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican07161853-346a

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe