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CHAPTER X.

OF THE ARRANGEMENT AND PARTS OF BATHS.

First, as warm a spot as possible is to be selected,tbat is to say, one sheltered from the north and northeast. The hot and tepid baths are to receive theirlight from the winter west; but, if the nature of theplace prevent that, at all events from the south,because the hours of bathing are principally fromnoon to evening. Care must be taken that the warmbaths of the women and men adjoin, and have the sameaspect; in which case the same furnace and vessels willserve both. The caldrons over the furnaces are to bethree in number, one for hot water, another for tepidwater, and a third for cold water : and they must be soarranged, that the hot water which runs out of the heatedvessel, may be replaced by an equal quantity from thetepid vessel, which in like manner is supplied from thecold vessel, and that the arched cavities in which theystand may be heated by one fire. The floors of the hotbaths are to be made as follows. First, the bottom ispaved with tiles of a foot and a half inclining towardsthe furnace, so that if a ball be thrown into it, it willnot remain therein, but roll back to the mouth of thefurnace ; thus the flame will better spread under thefloor. Upon this, piers of eight inch bricks are raised,at such a distance from each other, that tiles of two feetmay form their covering. The piers are to be two feetin height, and are to be laid in clay mixed with hair, onwhich the above-mentioned two feet tiles are placed,which carry the pavement. The ceilings, if of masonry,will be preferable ; if, however, they are of timber, theyshould be plastered on the under side, which must bedone as follows. Iron rods, or arcs, are prepared andsuspended by iron hooks from the floor as close as pos-