Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-06-21
Philosophy of Bathing.

The following is from DR.. Mayo G.
Smith on the subject, and is worthy of
confederation:
There are in the human body g.
100, 900 glands and 100000 pores,
| from 1000 to 8, 900 to the square iuch,
ana one-eighth of m inch in depth.
making twenty eight miles Of human
drainage.
"Five- eighths Of all that is eaten
passes off through those pores, and but
re per cent Of all perspirable matter
cens;ots Of solid substances. The
change in the muscle, tissues and
bones, occurs in from one to two years
and in the entire body in from six to
seven years. If this old matter DO re
sained, it causes disease-it is o real
virus.
"Some diseases are relieved almost
Instantly by opening the pores. Diar-
rhea is frequet thy cured. Matter from
the mucous membrane is expelled
through the skin, tobacco, opium, and
mercury, have been thus exuded.
Whatever through the skin the body
can expel, it can absorb. Hold your
finger in spirits o. turpentine it is alb
sorbed, goes through the system, and
may be detected by its odor. Constant
handling Of arsenic has produced death
by absorption.
"The Doctor relates an account of q
q gentleman Of the Barbados who was
| in the habit of daily intoxication, and
had constructed tub with a pillow to
accommodate his head, and when in
this state, was placed therein, and the
tub was filled with cold water, in which
he reposed for two or three hours, and
would then arise refreshed and invig-
Grated. When the wife or family re-
quired him, they would wake him w
by taking out the plug and allow the
water to escape, when he would pleas.
antly complain of the Gloss of his bed
Clothes"
Transportation is eliminated from al
parts of the body, aud the excretions
cutaneously forced, may from some
parts of the surface be re-admitted t.
the circulation, and if poisonous or in
furious, whenever the blood visits it
it must carry disease. Nature keep
her side of the interior clean and soft
and demands an unobstructed exterlo
and exudes to the surface the refus
matter for removal by bathing an
!, evaporation. A dry, light powder
mixed with sweat and oil from tn
, glands, and dust, clogs up the pores.
, AS all parts of the cuticle has pores
as we'll as the face and arms, all tn
body shoul1 be bathed at least one
third as many times as those are.
ION board slave ship the small
pox suddenly broke out. Medical al
/ was powerless. Every morning tn
D dead in great numbers were throw
overheard. In the midst of terror an
anguish, the negroes cried out, LET U
DO as We do in our own country wit
the sick.' Permission being giver
hey gently lowered their sick compan
> ions into the sea, letting them renal
a few minutes, and then raised then
, and placed them in the sunlight o
. = deck until dried, and repeated the pre-
cess Several times, when the diseas
> left them, and they We're cured.
8 cat Charleston, s. c., during th
! recent epidemic, among several NORTH
= ern mechanics who had gone thither
= company, but one escaped the preval
!, ing fever, and he alone bathed fre
. quently, and never slept at night in an
= Of the clothes worn by day. The OIL
ers cast off only their outer garmeAt
slept in their perspiration, and died.
> "Cold water is used and prescribe
a much more than formerly, thong
= many would think physician NJ
n worth sending for who would present.
= so simple remedy. Abernethy's &C
vice to one of his wealthy patients wa
Let your servant bring to you three {
four pailsful of water and put it in,
e a wash tub take off your clothes or
y get into it. and from head to foot ru
e yourself with it, and you'll recover
: This advice of yours seems very muc
like telling me to wash myself sal
D the patient. 'Well,' said Abernethy
it is open to thai objectlon.'
i "Dr. Currie used fresh water genel
; ally, and by long and careful exper;
cnce he found that bathing prevente
or cured most diseases -