Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-06-28

The effect of bathing is greatly overrated
in the following article; yet so for as it
urges this means Of preserving and pro.
noting health we entirely concur, and
therefore copy the article and recommend
it TO the attention Of our readers.
THE BATH.
The use of the bath is becoming more
general in the United States than formerly,
bu, still it is not fully appreciated in the
South, particularly. it is too much neglect
cd. The reason, perhaps, of our negii.
gence in using the bath, is the great incon-
veniencc attendant upon its use. There
are no public baths to which persons of both
sexes might resort, and find all the comforts
of a private chamber. In the Southern
countries Of Europe, where the heat IS in.
tense, the human form exists in lis finest
proportions, and in all its vigor and beau.
ty, fact which SHOWS how ". ongly we at
tribute our imperfections to climate and
weather. In the hottest weather. under a
proper discipline. there will be finer health
and greater muscular strength than in the
coolest season. The debility VIII ch is pain.
fully fell by many during the summer, and
which prepares the way for bilious and
other complaints, has no necessary connex.
ion with warm weather. A person who
undergoes the training process, and not only
rids himself of all superAaous flesh, and OF
every bilious tendency, and attans the
greatest strength, and. what is technically
termed, the pitch of condition, but will also
acquire pliance of the muscles which rare.
" cannot be felt in winter.
1t may be asked, why is the general i'm.
preston so adverse to the doctrine we have
advanced? We answer, the main reason
why wrong notions prevail upon this sub
iect, is precisely that which accounts for
our bad practice in other matters touching
our health a thorough disregard and lg.
norance of the laws Of the animal economy.
There is not nation under Heaven, so
negligent Of their health, as the people Of
The United Safes. The bad teeth, the
early broken constitutions, the slouchlng
gait, the ben: shoulder, the contracted chest
the young eye with its spectacles, and the
wan cheek, tell the sad tale too plainly
That there is nothing in our climate to
cause premature decay Of the teeth, is
evident from the fact that the negro has fine
teeth; and it has been remarked that the
town negro of two or three generations,
who gradually acquire the tastes and graf.
i6cations ofthe whites: suffers decay Of
the teeth, and is decidedly inferior in this
respect 10 the negro from the country, who
has 5een more exposed to the heat, but less
dain,ily fed.
We have said that the people of the Uni.
ted States are inatntive to their health,
and the result is every where evident. And
among other causes of their bad condition,
is the almost total neglect of the bath. In.
stead of bathing room being found in
every family, it is hardly known at all. In
fact. The use Of the bath. which ought TO be
as lntuitlvc as the qualification of the appe-
lite, is hardly understood except as holi.
day affair. Hence, TO a certain extent, may
be attributed the fatal catalogue Of deaths
by consumption, pleurisy. colds. rheuma.
tism, and in some degree, gout itself. There
is vigor impaired 10 the system by this cold
bath, which repel the progress Of inaamma.
lion, and it is well known. that, by the use
Of the bath, persons have escaped the slight
est colds or coughs for many successive
years. We say then of the bath, that it is
proper in cold clima,es, needfu in temper
ate, and indispensable in hot.-Arena.