Hints for health : being two lectures on the influence of air, water, food, and wine on the system / by J. Sherwood Stocker.

  • Stocker, John Sherwood.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Hints for health : being two lectures on the influence of air, water, food, and wine on the system / by J. Sherwood Stocker. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    The remains of the baths of Titu?, thougli not very numerous, prove them to have been very extensive. One of the most considerable monuments, however, in the world is the baths of Antoninus Oaracalla, -which are situated at the extremity of the circus maximus between the back of the Aventine and that of the Coelian hills; in one of those stripped suburbs wliere fields and gardens flourish over the graves of an ancient quarter; contained in a narrow valley, measuring their height with that of the neighbouring hills, these baths are amongst the finest ruins in Eome. There remains some such considerable portions of the two chief blocks, forming two massive squares, the one in the other, between which extends the space of a vast close, Burronnded with porticoes, that with the aid of the Thermto of Caracalla it has been possible to trace out the destination of the analagous edifices of Titus and Diocletian. We should have a false idea of these establishments if we were to take things literally, and see in them only a place of luxurious and very perfect baths. Assuredly the stoves occupied a notable place- in them, since, according to Olympiodorus, the baths of Caracalla could siipply warm baths for 1600 persons at a time, but that was only a pretext of a monument, the porticoes of which were only erected according to Lampridius, between Heliogabalus and Alexander Severus. Besides the baths of different temperatures, the chambers heated by steam and the fountain?, there were found in the Thermae shops for the sale of perfumery, etc. From the above extracts I think we may conclude that the Eomans had very practical ideas upon the advantages to be derived from bathing, etc. To the neglect of the laws of health in the construction of streets and houses, must in a large measure be attributed the sweating sickness which prevailed in London in the middle ages. This malady ceased after the great fire, which consuming a vast portion of the city, necessitated its rebuilding more in keeping with the requirements of its inhabitants, and in accordance with, the laws of health. ^ The following abstract of a letter written by Erasmus to the Ijhysician of Cardinal Wolsoy is extracted from Dr. Guy's