Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-01-12
Ifislelaneous.
The Philosophy of Bathing.

DR.. MAYO G. SMITH, in the following
article, gives sounder reasons for the pra.tice
OF frequent bathing than any other writer on
this subject we have ever met with. Indeed
We see nothing for it but to give the plumber
a job forthwith, so we may tumble out Of bed
iuto cold.water bath, even though the
temperature be twenty degrees below zero. |
There are in the human body 300. 900
glands and 100000 pores, from 1000 to
5000 to the square inch, and one bth of
an inch in depth-makiDg twenty. eight miles
Of human drainage
Fiveeights of all that is eaten passes off
through these pores and but one per cent. OF
all perspirable matter consists OF solid sub.
stances. The change in the muscles, tissues
and bones occurs in from one to three years
and in the entire body in from six to seven
years. II this old matter be retained, il
causes disease-it is a real virus
Some diseases are relieved almost instantly
by opening the pores. Diarrhea is frequent.
cured ; matter from the mucous membrane
is expelled through the skin tobacco, opium
and mercury have been thus excluded
Whatever through the skin the body can
expel, it can absorb. Hold the end of your
finger in spirits of turpentine-it is absorbed /:
goes through the system, and may be detec.
ted by its odor. Constant handling of arsenic
has produced death by absorption.
The doctor relates an account of O gentle.
man 10 Barbados, who was in the habit of
daily intoxication, and had constructed tub,
with pillow to accommodate bis head, and
when n this state was placed therein and
the tub was filed with cold water, in which
be reposed for two or three hours, and would
then arise refreshed and invigorated. When
his wife or family required him, they would
wake him up by taking out the plug, and
allow the water TO escape, when he would
pleasantly complain OF the "loss of his bed
clothes"
once poisoned a dog, which Immediately
plunged into a neighboring river, and re-
maiued for some time with bis body entirely
submerged, after which he left his watery
hospital and ran home cured. Dogs have
been repeatedly cured Of hydrophobia by
holding them in water.
Thirst has often been relieved by INNER
sion, even in salt water, the salt, probably
being excluded during the process OF transu-
daton. Mutton bones, boiled long time in
soft water, with a slight addition of calcined
potash, made fresh every day, nave impaired
10 the water such nourshlDg properties that
the patient bathing therein daily, aud taking
nothing save few teaspooniuls of tea twice
day, aud one tablespoonful of tonic syrup,
gained l5i pounds in as many weeks, simply
by absorption.
Perspiration is eliminated from all parts
Of the body, aud the excretlOns, cutaneously
forced, may, from some parts OF the surface
be 70 admitted TO the circulation, and if poi.
sonops or injurious, whenever the blood visits
it, it must carry disease. Nature keeps her
side of the interior clean and soft aud demands
an unobstrucled exterior, aud exudes to the
surface the refuse matter for removal by
bathing and evaporation. A dry, light pow.
der, mixed with sweat aud oil from the glands,
and dust, clogs upon the pores. AS all parts
of the cuticle have pores, as well as the face
and arms, oil the body should be bathed at
least one third as many times as those are.
On board slave ship the small pox sud.
denly broke out. Medical aid was powerless
Every morning the dead in great Numbers
were thrown overheard. In the midst of
terror and anguish, the negroes cried out,
let US do as We do 10 our own country with
the Sick" aud permission being given, they
gently lowered their sick companions iuto
the sea, letting them remain Q few minutes,
and then raised them. and placed thsm IN the
sunlight on deck until dried. when tbs dis
ease left them aud they we're cured.
At Charleston. S. o.. during the recent
epidemic. among several northern mechanics
who bad gone thiihsr iu company. but one
escaped the prevailing fsvsr, aud DO alone