Some ideas were best discarded. This is one of them, from 1916.
“The rowboat bath is the newest contribution to the physical enjoyment of living.”
“The rowing-bath has been perfected in a western sanitarium for the purpose of adding zest to the morning plunge. It is valuable as a curative measure, but it may also be used with enjoyment and benefit by any one.
The rowing-bath consists of a metal container which is attached to the nozzle of an ordinary tub by means of a rubber cord sufficiently strong to give the element of exercise. Entering the tub, the bather attaches the rowing device and turns on the cold water. As it pours into the tube he scoops up the water and, pulling the container toward him with a rowing motion, empties it full upon his breast, thus securing the zest which accompanies the pleasant pastime of buffeting surf. This bath is a diversion from the ordinary “shower” on a hot summer day.”
I wonder how many people bought this ridiculous thing before it sank into obscurity. Looking at that picture, all I can envision is what a mess it would make, and it wouldn’t be the male enthusiastic ‘rower’ who cleaned it all up, either.
Via The Public Domain.
Just leaving this link here in case you haven’t heard of this chap:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lku7tsvrxSw
With a sufficiently strong rubber cord, all kinds of injuries, some of which are uncomfortable to contemplate, could occur.
Ice Swimmer, indeed. One slip with such a thing, you’d end up cracking your head.
Also, there is no way the man in the picture could fit in that tub in that position -- his legs would be absurdly short for him to not have to bend his legs, but decency concerns, I suppose. Can’t have bare knees showing!
“sanitarium” plus “enjoyment of living” don’t work in the same paragraph. Weren’t those early sanitariums places where anal retentive pseudoscientists mortified the flesh?
Ice Swimmer@#2:
With a sufficiently strong rubber cord, all kinds of injuries, some of which are uncomfortable to contemplate, could occur.
It would be better if it somehow used household current.
Marcus:
Depends on what kind of sanitarium. If it was for a specific condition, like consumption, they weren’t bad places. If it was one for ‘exhausted’ rich people, then they were quite delightful places. If it was one that was more in line with asylums, then yes. This whole thing smacks of being lifted from the incredibly cruel practice of ice baths, applied to those in asylums and prisons. People died from those damn things, and unfortunately, ice baths haven’t gone away. They’re still used in some prisons, and there’s been a recent surge in popularity of them, with sports therapists claiming they can cure anything.
Of course, when it came to mental patients or prisoners, the plunge method was used, being repeatedly immersed into ice cold water until you were half dead, or all the way dead.
Forcing an ice bath on somebody is horrible. Also, I’d say doing it based on alleged health benefits is somewhat iffy.
It’s whole another thing to go into cold water for fun, doing it the right and safe way.
Caine @ 6
With forcibly plunging somebody’s head into cold water, AFAIK, there’s a risk of drowning because of the reflex to breath in when exposed to cold suddenly, in addition to all the other dangers and suffering.
Oh dear. Y’all has upset the mildly deranged penguin, who points out frequent freezing-cold high-speed underwater swims, acrobatic aerial flying, along with long waddles on the ice, and males so stooopid they stand on the ice — in the Antarctic winter for months at a time — is very obviously healthy. The invention in the OP was obviously somebody’s (not hers) attempt to crudely replicate her healthy lifestyle. She is very annoyed, and eventually will waddle in from sitting out in the S.France sunshine, drinking vin, eating cheese, eating moar cheese (and moar vin), to, to, to, well… something.
My first thought, “liability”. Now-a-days selling a metal scoop on an elastic cord that one pulls towards one’s face in a BATHTUB is going to get the company sued.
My second thought, “Please! Won’t someone think of the plumbing!” Pulling on a durable plastic cord attached to your FAUCET is going to rip the plumbing fixtures out of the tub or wall. Even back in the days of cast iron pipes, somebody is going to get a visit from Mr. Leaky.
Curious Digressions, yes, the device is awash with problems.
.
.
.
Sorry!