on separate bobbins and kept at a uniform tension during the operation of weaving. It will, in most cases, be advisable to have the wire used as the weft of smaller size than that used as the warp.-In witness whereof, &c. ROBERT STIRLING NEWALL.

Enrolled May 16, 1842.

Specification of the Patent granted to MOSES POOLE, of Lincoln's Inn, in the County of Middlesex, for Improvements in Steam-Baths and other Baths.Sealed July 13, 1841.

WITH AN ENGRAVING.

To all to whom these presents shall come, &c., &c.

Description of the Drawing.

Fig. 1, represents the section of a room suitably constructed, and having apparatus combined therewith according to the invention.

Fig. 2, is a plan thereof. a, represents part of a steamboiler, which I prefer to be of copper, which is to be fitted with a safety-valve, and also suitable means for keeping up a proper supply of filtered soft water. In this boiler a constant supply of steam, at a pressure of ten pounds to twenty pounds on the square inch, is to be kept up for supplying the bath, and for heating water in a suitable vessel, for producing what I call rain douche-baths, as hereafter explained. b, b, b, b, represent a room, the walls or sides and top and bottom of which are to be made steam-tight, which is usually done by lining the same with lead or zinc or other suitable materials, and there is a double glazed window, z, for admitting light; and there is to be an opening, y, near the floor to admit air freely, having a shutter in order more or less to close it, and to regulate the supply of fresh air into the room, and on the op

posite side of the room, at the upper part thereof, is another opening, x, to allow of the steam and air from the room to pass off, such opening having also a shutter by which it may be more or less closed; by this arrangement the ingress and egress of air may be adjusted to the feelings of the person taking the bath. c, c, is a wood floor perforated with holes, by which the water used for the rain douche-baths may flow off freely. d, is a steam-pipe leading from the steam-boiler to the room; on this steampipe are two nozzles, e, e, with stop-cocks, by which steam is permitted to flow into the room constituting the bath, for it will be understood that the whole room constitutes the chamber in which the bath is taken; thus allowing of the person taking a steam-bath, according to the invention, to sit, stand, walk, or lie, during the time of administering the bath; and the temperature of the bath, owing to the using of steam at considerable pressure in the boiler, will not be above the natural temperature of the blood of the person taking the bath, which is very important. At the same time, I would remark, that I do not claim the simple use of steam generated under pressure, when uncombined with a room or apartment wherein there may be a ventilation of atmospheric-air, and a consequent change of the atmosphere of the room or bath during the act of bathing. On either or both of the pipes, e1, e', may be applied a flexible tube with a suitable nozzle, for directing a strong flow of steam of different temperature and pressure, which is regulated by the cocks on the pipes, e', against any part of the person or persons taking the bath. g, h, are two tanks of water, the tank g, containing cold water, which should be pure water obtained in condensing the steam used to heat the water of the vessel, h, such vessel, h, being kept supplied with filtered soft water, and by means of a steam-pipe and worm, i, the water in the vessel, h, is kept constantly boiling. j, k, l, are three rose-heads, or they may be douche-nozzles screwed on to the pipes, m, n, o, such pipes

having a communication with each of the tanks or vessels, g, h; and these three pipes are to allow of the person being subject to a flow of water to three different parts of the person at the same time, which water may be at the same temperature from each pipe, or each differing in temperature, and the jets may have more or less force, according to the size of the perforations of the rose-heads and the opening of the cocks; and these may be regulated according to the feelings of the person taking the bath; for instance, cool to the head, warmer to the stomach, and still warmer to the feet; or only one or two of the pipes may be used, according as may be desired. The pipe, m, by the pipe, m1, is in open connexion with the tank or vessel, g, and by the pipe, m3, the pipe, m, is in open connexion with the tank or vessel, h; each of the pipes, m' and m3, having cocks, it will be evident that if only the cock on the pipe, m', be opened, cold water will flow through the pipe, m; and in like manner if only the cock or the pipe, m3, be opened, the flow of water would be boiling water from the vessel, h, through the pipe, m. It will, therefore be readily understood, that if both cocks of the pipes, m', m, be open at the same time, a mixture of the water of the vessels, g and h, will flow through the pipe, m, and, therefore, according as the two cocks, m1, m3, are respectively more or less opened, so will be the temperature of the water used, and the temperature of the water as it flows through the pipe, m, may be regulated instantaneously, by varying the relative quantities of hot and cold water allowed to flow to the pipe, m. And it only need to be observed, that the pipes, n and o, have a similar arrangement of pipes, n', n3, and o', o3, by which a similar regulation of the temperature of the water may be obtained, whether there be a douche-nozzle on each of the pipes, m, n, o, or a rose-head, as shewn. Although I prefer to prepare the skin by means of the rain douches before the steam-bath, yet such preparation may be performed in an ordinary plunge-bath, p. q and r, are four inclined benches, with thick canvass or bed-tick stretched tightly

over them, in order that the person or persons taking the bath may recline thereon. s, is a bench of wood perforated all over with small holes. In administering a steam-bath according to the invention, the person is first subjected to a fine rain douche-bath, from all or any of the pipes, m, n, o, and at any temperature or force which may be felt to be agreeable to the person, and what is considered necessary for the particular case; and such temperature may be varied and made either hotter or colder, as above described. And before taking the steam-bath I prepare the skin by using a rain douche-bath at a comparatively low temperature, gradually increasing, depending on the season and temperature of the atmosphere, and according to the medical directions for the particular case. The person having been thus prepared, high pressure steam is admitted into the room, gradually, by the nozzles, e, e, and if desired also to a particular part or parts of the person, by means of the flexible tubes on the pipes, e1, permitting the steam to flow so as to keep the room from 80° to 100° of Fahrenheit, which will readily be done by means of the cocks and the ventilators; and the patient may lie, sit up, stand, or walk, during the time of taking the steam-bath, and it will be found that the room will be light, in addition to the advantage of the bath being at a temperature from 80° to the natural temperature of the blood, which is consequent on using steam at high pressure. The person having remained subject to the steam-bath a time, according to the circumstance of the case and under medical advice, will again be subjected to the rain douche-bath of any or all the pipes, m, n, o, commencing with a temperature agreeable to the feelings of the person, gradually lowering the temperature till the skin is prepared according to the temperature of the external atmosphere; the person will then pass from the bath-room into a dressing-room, and it will be found that owing to the use of comparatively high pressure steam, in a room constructed as above explained, and from the circumstance of having sufficient atmosphere

to breathe freely, during the time of being subject to a high-pressure steam-bath, there will be no feeling of oppression to the chest or head. And it is, as above stated, an important and novel feature of this invention, to use high-pressure steam in a room, wherein the person taking a bath can have a plentiful supply of fresh atmosphericair in conjunction with the steam, and also the further advantage of having an attendant present to aid the patient, and to regulate the state of the bath according to the feelings of the patient, and, if thought necessary, the patient can have his medical adviser, to observe the effects produced during the bath and such is the peculiar effects of this bath, that an attendant may continue throughout the day, and from day to day, subject to the bath, with several persons in succession, without prejudice to health; on the contrary, the attendant's health has been found to be improved under such circumstances. And an important improvement constituting part of this invention, is, the combining the use of a previous and subsequent water-bath, with progressive and gradually changing temperatures, with a high-pressure steam-bath in a room under the circumstances above explained. And another improvement, above described, consists in the mode of obtaining any desired temperature and force of douche-baths, which may be used separate from, or conjointly with, the steam-bath, as above described; and when to be used separately the rain doucheapparatus may be made portable in place of being fixed. And it will be evident that, when required for particular cases, the water for the douche-bath may be combined with vegetable, animal, or mineral matters, which, however, forms no part of the invention; and the direction of the douche-pipes may be varied by screwing on other pipes, according as the patient requires to receive such baths in a sitting, standing, or reclining posture.

Having thus described the nature of the invention, and the manner of performing the same, I would have it understood, that I do not confine myself to the precise details, provided the peculiar character of either of the improve