body to be anointed with oil of bitter almonds, of violets, new or fresh
butter, [2964]capon's grease, especially the backbone, and then lotions of
the head, embrocations, &c. These kinds of baths have been in former times
much frequented, and diversely varied, and are still in general use in
those eastern countries. The Romans had their public baths very sumptuous
and stupend, as those of Antoninus and Diocletian. Plin. 36. saith there
were an infinite number of them in Rome, and mightily frequented; some
bathed seven times a day, as Commodus the emperor is reported to have done;
usually twice a day, and they were after anointed with most costly
ointments: rich women bathed themselves in milk, some in the milk of five
hundred she-asses at once: we have many ruins of such, baths found in this
island, amongst those parietines and rubbish of old Roman towns. Lipsius,
_de mag. Urb. Rom. l. 3, c. 8_, Rosinus, Scot of Antwerp, and other
antiquaries, tell strange stories of their baths. Gillius, _l. 4. cap. ult.
Topogr. Constant._ reckons up 155 public [2965]baths in Constantinople, of
fair building; they are still [2966]frequented in that city by the Turks of
all sorts, men and women, and all over Greece, and those hot countries; to
absterge belike that fulsomeness of sweat, to which they are there subject.
[2967]Busbequius, in his epistles, is very copious in describing the manner
of them, how their women go covered, a maid following with a box of
ointment to rub them. The richer sort have private baths in their houses;
the poorer go to the common, and are generally so curious in this behalf,
that they will not eat nor drink until they have bathed, before and after
meals some, [2968]"and will not make water (but they will wash their hands)
or go to stool." Leo Afer. _l. 3._ makes mention of one hundred several
baths at Fez in Africa, most sumptuous, and such as have great revenues
belonging to them. Buxtorf. _cap. 14, Synagog. Jud._ speaks of many
ceremonies amongst the Jews in this kind; they are very superstitious in
their baths, especially women.

Natural baths are praised by some, discommended by others; but it is in a
divers respect. [2969]Marcus, _de Oddis in Hip. affect._ consulted about
baths, condemns them for the heat of the liver, because they dry too fast;
and yet by and by, [2970]in another counsel for the same disease, he
approves them because they cleanse by reason of the sulphur, and would have
their water to