1648 PUBLIC BATHS AND WASH-HOUSES 004. CHAMBERLEN, Peter. A paper delivered in by Dr. Alston. Dr. Hamens. Dr. Bates. Dr. Micklethwaite. On Monday the 16. of October, 1648. to the Honourable Committee for Bathes and Bath-Stoves from the Colledge of Physitians in London. Together with an answer thereunto. London: Printed in the Yeare 1648. Quarto. [2],5,[1]p. very nice copy. WING C 1899. L, 0, LW, DT only. No copy in America. Not in NUC. Bound with CHAMBERLEN, Peter. A vindication of publick artificial Bath-stoves from the objections and scandalls obtruded on them, by those that do not, or will not know their great benefit to the Publick. By way of Answer to some fellows of our Colledge of Physitians in London and others. London: Printed in the yeare 1648. Quarto. [2],6p. A very nice copy. WING C 1909. WSG, WU, only in America. Two items bound together in quarter calf,,, cloth boards, spine elaborately gilt, by Riviere. In very fine condition. These pamphlets give evidence of an interesting early proposal for the improvement of public health. Chamberlen's plan, however, ran into opposition from the College of Physicians who for various reasons tried to prevent its implementation. The college argued that the baths would be both unhealthy and immoral places: "...publike Bathes have been by their abuse, the causes in the Greek and Roman states...of so much physicall prejudice, effeminating bodies, and procuring infirmities, and morall in debauching the manners of the people, that in either of them upon the coming of Christians into power, they were demolished or converted into other uses. . . '' Chamberlen answers these objections by saying that the fact that a useful institution is or has been abused does not constitute a valid attack. on the institution itself. To the suggestion that Bath-houses "... may be occasions of sinne", Chamberlen answers "We may with the same reason, pluck down Churches, or anathematize all publick meetings, where Men and Women appear..." But as a concession to this anxiety he states that men and women shall be segregated in the bathes and have separate times of attendance. An undisclosed but no doubt a no less real reason of the College's hostility was the belief that Chamberlen would make money out of his monopoly and that this would harm the interests of other members of the medical fraternity. At all events it is interesting to see a puritanical aspect of Christianity so early in the field against public health reform.