A VISIT TO SYKES'S TURKISH BATHS AUCKLAND, AND ITS RES. LT

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 1850, 21 January 1876, Page 2

A VISIT TO SYKES'S TURKISH BATHS AUCKLAND, AND ITS RES. LT

" Fvthk", father," called, out yesterday a little buy, " h»w lino and sleek you look "Sou," said the aatouifched patent i have just come forth from Sykess Turkish Baih, cold like marble, sleek as glass, and aa agile as Gonzales," Ah, souny, if you should bo spared to be as old as I am, a'Hi as wise you will go there too, find you will be laf-e, sletk. cool, agile, and happy ; listen, whilst I relate to you how it came about ; bein" as you ;-re aware, rather overburdened with fat. aud farther, inclined to rheumatism, I consulted with some friends, as to the adv.sabilify of taking a Turkish o- rather a Roman Bath at Mr K. D. SjkeVs establish ment Upper Queen-street, one enquired it 1 was mad, another said, " Sir, let me advise you to make your will first, you are large headed, short Decked, full habits, inclined to rush of blood to head, with every symptom of a tendency to apoplexy, and if you go there sir, you rush to certain death ; another asked the question, "Are you aware that you are suffering from heart disease? and that the bath will kill you ;" another assured me that several members of his family had died in a Turkish bath, and that he knew of several other cases of the kind. Son, I was like a man on the horns of a bull, I wanted to go, but my newly arisen fears almost overcame the desire, at last, however, I resolved to consult as physician, this gentleman with great cardour and liberality of spirit, nrst admitted that he knew little or nothing of the practical use of the bath, but advised me to go there and consult Dr E. Turner, who has recently established himself there to give advice with regard to their proper use and the practice of hydropathy in general. So summoning up courage, I proceeded to the establishment, and there acquainted Mr Sykes with my desire to take a Turkish Bath. This gentleman received me with gentlemanly courtesy and after sayiDg a few words in reference to their uses etc., he introduced me to Dr Turner, this gentleman enquired very kindly after my health, and after carefully weighing me up in his mental scales, very kindly volunteered to put me through the, to me, mysterious process of a Turkish "■Bath, here I must confess great fear and trembling, in consequence of what my friends had tolil me, nearly again overcame my desire, and I [was on the point of making some excuse to go away, when something in the doctor's manner so assured me that my fears banished like smoke and I felt confidence in my guide having descended a flight of stairs, I was rather taken aback by the doctor turning suddenly round and asking me how long it was sin^e I partook of my last meal. I assured him that it was quite two hours ; he appeared satisfied, and introduced me at once into the fiigidarium or cooling room, around which were a number of small dressing boxes and soft,luxurious,dreamy couches inviting the weary to sweet repose. I was told to go into one of the boxes and get into a state of Adan>, after which a fig-leaf, as the doctor poetically called it (a small apron), was handed in; with this on, and n toga thrown carelessly round my shoulders, I was led into the sepidarium or washing-down room, the toga being removed, tepid water was poured rather liberally on the back part of my head, then cold water dashed upon my feet; taking up my toga the doctor rigged me in a kind of turban, and desiring me to fol- ' low him into the sacred precints of the tepidarium or first hot room, where he introduced me to one or two familiar faces a3 a companion of the bath; here I was directed, to lounge, lay, sit, or walk about just as I felt inclined. The temperature of this room was 100 degrees fahrenheit. I remained there until the perspiration stood out upon the skin in a bead-like form. After fifteen minutes had expired,the doctor came in,and having carefully examined my state, and observed the progress I was making, intimated his intention of introducing me into the sudatorium of a temperature of 120 degrees fahrenheit. I followed, half fearful of an unknown, terrible something going to happen, which my wondering faculties failed to unravel, at last a peculiar tickling sensation at the end of my nose recalled my wandering senses, and that which I at first concluded was blood turned out to be only* perspiration trickle-trickle down its nasal spoufc it came, streams poured out from every pore, pain banished, ease, enjoyable and delightful ease took its place, the air deprived by contacb with dry heat of its watery and impure particles, 'twas a fore taste of Paradise, a mo3t delightful atmosphere to live in, but oh, my pocket handkerchief! At the call, Grim Coglin entered and presented me with, not a cambric, but a Turkish towel; tumbler after tumbler of water was presented and, being gratefully drank, seemed to turn my swearing! body into a filter. After being in this room some fifteen minutes more the doctor tested the strength of the acids flowing out with the perspiration, and finding that a favourable change had occurred in the discharge, directed me to take a seat in the third hot-room, being at a temperature cf 135 degrees fahrenheit ; my turban was changed and a glass of cold water handed me to drink every few minutes. The sensations of delight which I had previously experienced in the other rooms were here renewed with redoubled, force, creating pleasures too great for the pen to describe. At last the period of sweating was at end. The doctor, robed in the most scant and recent style a la Turk, turban, and fig-leaf, desired me to follow him to the tepidarium. Here I sat whilst he manipulated my arms, hands, and fingers, joints cracked, muscles were kneaded, skin wrung in such a manner that every pore was made to vomit out its core of eperdemis, filth, salts and acids, and the whole in such a manner as to produce not the least inconvenience or pain but rather pleasurable sensations. After the hands and arms came the face and head, then placing his hand gently behind my head He lowered me gently full length upon the manipulating bench, then began a series of movements on his part all over my body and legs, which strongly reminded me of the manner in which they skin eels or new potatoes, suggested the doctor. The dead and filthy matter of my body lay in long thick folds all over and around me. I flattered myself before this that I was thoroughly clean, for it is my custom to take a bath daily, but here I discovered for the first time in my life how dirty a man really is who has not taken to a Turkish bath. The manipulating process was not attended with any inconvenience or pain, but rather pleasurable symptoms. After it was over I was carefully washed down with warm water and soap ; then came a shower of milk-warm water, followed, at my choice, with delightful jets of nearly cold, then with soft downy towels smelling pure and sweet. I was wiped dry from head to foot, then a turban being put upon my head and a white toga round my body hanging a la Koman over my right shoulder I was again conducted into the frigidarium, there to recline upon its inviting couches, a cigar and a cup of coffee handed to my joy. After getting' thoroughly cool and dry I slowly dressed, and with a heart full of gratitude, meditating upon the joys which nothing but a Turkish bath cau possibly afford, I took a courteous leave of my banefactor, for in such a light I now view him—as lam sure the general public will shortly learn to do—and resolved within my own mind never more to listen to the false rumours emanating from the uninitiated in the mysteries of a Turkish bath.