Page:Once a Week Dec 1860 to June 61.pdf/160

 . 23, 1861.] so as to hide the border, and look like an extra-sized muffin attached to the back of the head; and the striped petticoats, of every shade of pink or red, or of alternate yellow and brown stripes, which look very pretty and harmonious in the green landscape, or when half-a-dozen of their wearers are kneeling at their washing beside one of the many brooks about Aix, or at the smoking, boiling fountains in the town, cleaning their pots and pans.

I say little as regards the character and efficacy of the waters. There are hot and cold baths of every kind, douches, vapour, water, &c. The principal spring, I believe, resembles that at Harrogate, but the vast body of hot water is unequalled. A patient may, if so ordered, be shot at by at least six douches, each douche being equal to the stream from the hose of a fire-engine; and as regards the doucheurs and doucheuses, these are most skilful in rubbing the patients. Many, for a long succession of years, have been educated to the work from father to son, and from mother to daughter. The establishment of the baths, and their management and arrangement is admitted to be the most complete in Europe; and I think there is one rule which is advantageous, though some complain. No person is allowed to bathe without the certificate of one of ten doctors attached to the baths, and this has the advantage of preventing the improper use of the remedy, though it compels each person to fee one of the ten doctors; but as all but the Baron Despine charge only five francs as a fee, I think it is well spent. It is, however, supposed that this regulation is to be abolished. If I were to suggest an improvement, it would be to do away with the leaden pipes through which the water is conducted, which, as regards the patients who take the waters internally, may add to disease; and as regards the room for inhaling the steam of the hot waters, it would be another improvement if some provision for a cooling-room were made, so that the patient should not be sent forth into the long, cold, windy passages of the building. Although it is not important to discuss the particular merits and effects of the waters, I observe that by the tables 390 in 1,000 are