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The chairs and tables are made of cypress wood, which resists the decaying action of water. It is not the perfect solution, however, since it becomes somewhat slippery. Another material, which is neither expensive nor so heavy that the equipment would be difficult to remove, is needed.

A pipe rail (a 2-inch diameter pipe, centered two inches below the water surface and nine inches from the side is satisfactory), already mentioned as an aid to the patients' getting in or out of the pool, has proved also of value for coordination exercises, with the arms resting on the bar for simulating bicycle exercises, for spreading the feet apart, and for lateral trunk. It is convenient to have this rail around the entire perimeter of the pool.

For practice walking in water with hand support, parallel bars have been devised with adjustable hand rails and a level plank floor.

The steps into the pool with hand rails on either side are important for graduated exercises in negotiating stairs; the lower steps naturally being easier to manage than the ones nearer the surface of the water. Rails for steps should be approximately 2 feet apart and 3 feet high, measured from the top of the step at the face of the riser. A good step has a 6-inch riser and 12-inch tread, with no nosing.

Flying rings hung over the pool have been shown to be of assistance for trunk, hip, and arm exercises, as well as for play.

Stools of different heights are necessary for the physiotherapists to stand on for managing the various exercises.

For giving exercises when a physiotherapist is unable to work in a pool and for cases of arthritis, spastic, hemiphigia and post acute poliomyelitis, where heat is beneficial to eliminate soreness, a very large bath tub is used. (See diagram E). Note that this tub has a wide rounded wood rim, so that the operator may comfortably lean against the edge.

For exercising patients who are unable to enter the water, tables approximately 3 feet by 6 feet in dimension, with padded tops, have been found useful.

It is rather beyond the aim of these notes to take up the matter of pool construction, of which there are a number of well known methods. It isn't only necessary to emphasize the urgent importance, in planning pools for polio patients, to take every precaution to prevent slipping of patients and of attendants carrying patients. The pools and surrounding platforms at Warm Springs are of concrete, and have given a very satisfactory service. The platform surface is rough float surface. Tile floors necessarily are more easily kept clean, and there are many kinds of non-slip tile for the platforms which safeguard the patient.

Other important features used with the pools at Warm Springs are the sun rooms and outdoor curtained spaces for sun baths. The former are heated, glass enclosed and roofed rooms 20 feet by 30 feet where patients may remove bathing suits, and take sun baths. The latter are similar for use in warm weather and consist of curtained-off spaces open to the sky. Dressing rooms are provided with a hand rail on either side wall. Of especial interest are the porches, with floors at grade, surrounding the pool building for over 300 feet, which enable buses and private cars to be parked close to the porch and patients to enter the building with a minimum distance to walk or be wheeled.