Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-07-09


 in.pot with cold water; let the patient sit dGn undressed upon stool, which may be bleed in large tub, and let the hair, if not GU short, be spread over the shoulders as loosely as possiblej then pour the water from th3 pot over the patients head, neck, and shulders, and all parts of the body down to tn feet, till the whole has been thoroughly bahed; let him next be rubbed dry and take getle exercise, as has been already recom- maded, till the sensation of cold be succeed cdhy gentle glow over the whole of his body
 When this kind of bath is first resorted tojt may be used gently, and with water hay mSsome degree of warmth, so as not to make th{shock too great; but as the patient becomes accustomed to it, the degree of cold may be inFeascd, and the water may be allowed to fal from greater height, so as to make the shaver heavier
 The external use of cold water is often of singular benefit in the commencement of fc- ves, in sprains, old swellings, and rigidity of pa'ticular parts; in which cases it may be ap- pied directly to the sGected parts, and its em- pigment confined for almost any length of tine.
 I have known some delicate people to de- ri'e great advantage from daily washing inc swface of the body with a sponge previously immersed in sea water or cold water. To inb thu skin till it glows, with a coarse towel wIung out of salt water, will be found motle fcatinn of ths ssld both peculiarly adapted tA the case ofi some persons.
 Before Quitting this subject, will make d few remarks upon the impropriety of plung- ing into the cold bath, after the body has been greatly heated by exercise. It may be safely asserted, that in the early stages of exercise, before protuse precipitation, has dissipated the heat, the fatigue debilitated the living power, the cold bath is generally safe and useful; on the contrary, nothing is more dangerous than tor person to go into the cold bath after ex- cicise has produced great precipitation, and terminated in langor and fatigue. The req son of this is sufficiently obvious. In the first case, the exercise is short of fatigue, being just sufficient to produce an increase of action of the vascular system, with some increase of heat, and thus secure a force of reaction un- der the shock which otherwise might not take place. In the second instarce, where the person waits till he is perfectly cooled, and some degree of langor follows as a necessary the heat is not only sinking ra- pidly, but the system parts more easily with the portion that remains, and on plunging in- to cold water, a sudden chilness is felt, which is both alarming and extremely dangerous- Hence, if an individual were compelled to go into cold water after very active exercise, he had better go in zvhcn hot than 7vhen cooHne ? fer having 6etn heated.
 It is generally proper to take a moderate degree of exercise after bathing; but the in valid should beware of prolonging the walk pr the ride so far as to induce any degree of sensible precipitation or of lassitude
 If in consequence of going into the bath in an improper state of health, or of remaining too long in the water, the perception of cold and the convulsive shivering should continue so long as to become painful or alarming, the person ought without delay to be put into warm bed, and bladder filled with hot wa ter should be applied to the pit ofthe stomach. This last mentioned expedent is the most ef- fectual method of restoring warmth to the living body in all cases where, from chance or it has been long exposed to intense 1old. Independently of these circumstances, tle practice of going to bed after bathing is always to be reprobated.
 NJ The frequency of bathing must be in grea, neasure regulated by the strength of the con- sitution. It is generally considered sufficient tr those in health to bathc on alternate days. Indeed, daily bathing is found tobe productive Q lassitude, accompanied with manifest vast hS Oi tHC OOul Dut II liO OtuSi Deltl COHSG- qiences are perceived, these symptoms, on dscontinung the bath, will disappear, and be succeeded by increased alacrity and vi sour.
 Cold bathing is upon the whole to be con sdered as remedy much more adapted to the early that to the more advanced periods If life. Those who have been accustomed from their infancy to the use ofthe cold bath, may, perhaps, persevere in it during the whole course of life with safety, and perhaps with advantage. But persons after certain age ought to be very cautious how they com nence the practice of plunging into cold wa ter. If they find that their constitutions are Incapable of that reaction which gives rise to a glowing warmth on the surface of the body, they should by no means persist in the prac tice.
 THE WARM BATH
 Warm Bathing.-The cold bath is water at temperature below 85 degrees; from 85 to 95 degrees is usually called the tt7iid bath :; and from 95 to 98 it is called a zvarm 6ath.- When the temperature of the water exceeds 98 degrees, it constitutes the hot bath, which is seldom used above 125 degrees. From 10C to 13O degrees is the vahour bath, which de- gree could not be endured in the condensed state of the water. The tepid and warm baths are sedative in their effects. They ex cite the sensation of heat, lessen the frequen cy of the pulse, relax powerfully the skir and simple solids, diminish increased excite ment, and prove very refreshing. The effect of the pahour bath are nearly similar, but il acts with much greater power than water II the liquid form. The hot bath is stimulant it augments the action of the heat and arteries renders the skin red, quickens respiration and produces copious flow of sweat. These effects prove that a hot bath would be yer, improper in any case of acute inflammation though zvarm bath might then be very ser viceable.