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In order to take the bath, the water must not be entered at once. The skin must first be moistened with a towel or sponge soaked in the warm water; the hands, feet, armpits and breast. The hair must be allowed to float unfettered (this is for the natives and for women) and a hishaku (dipper) should be used to pour water over the knees, shoulders and head. Only after this preparation should the bath be entered. It is not well to remain too long immersed. If this is done the blood mounts to the head, the lungs become congested, vertigo ensues and consciousness is lost. It is not uncommon to see accidents of this nature happen to persons who use the baths without these safeguards. (I have been a witness of this; the natives often lose consciousness while taking excessively hot baths.)
Generally speaking, and if the virus is diffused throughout the body and into the members, syphilitic patients on taking the bath should place a folded cloth upon ulcerated portions of the body and dab them repeatedly with another cloth. In this manner the virus can be quickly expelled from the body. (Text is obscure here.)
In spite of adherence to this treatment it some time happens that fits of shivering are experienced, headaches, intolerable irritation of the skin over the whole body, eruptions on the skin and slight excoriations which produce distress. But these need cause no disquietude; they are signs that the disease is diminishing: the impure blood is disappearing. (Irritation of the skin more or less acute almost invariably accompanies the treatment. It is well to intermit the baths for a few days in case this irritation becomes very severe and to wash the parts most affected with white rice water. After a stay of proper duration at Kusatzu it is customary to pass a few days at the neighbouring villages the waters of which have the property of allaying the irritation produced by the waters of Kusatsu. When the skin is irritated, and in general, it is not well on coming out of the waters of Kusatzu to rub it with force as is customary among Europeans. It must be dried by light dabbing, and hot clothes should
