More Frank Muir on bathrooms

[bunnyjadwiga]

Frank Muir on Francis Bacon's prescription for a bath (which follows): "His instructions on how to take a bath read more like a course in Do-It-Yourself enbalming." (p. 35)
The quote:

"First, before bathing, rub and anoint the Body with Oyle, and Salves, that the Bath's moistening heate and virtue may penetrate into the Body, and not the liquor's watery part: then sit 2 houres in the Bath; after Bathing wrap the Body in a seare-cloth made of Masticke, Myrrh, Pomander and Saffron, for staying the perspiration or breathing of the pores, until the softening of the Body, having layne thus in seare-cloth 24 hours, bee growne solid and hard. Lastly, with an oynment of Oyle, Salt and Saffron, the seare-cloth being taken off, anoint the Body."
-- Francis Bacon (1561-1626), Sylva Sylvarum