Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1861-06-15
Baths and Bathing.

A cold bath is seventy Eve degrees and un.
der; temperate. IS to 50 degrees tepid, IS
to s5 degrees warm, 95 to 100 degrees; hot,
100 degrees aud over.
The temperature of the body is ninety
eight degrees Farenheit. Fo- purposes Of
cleansing the skin, o hot bath is the most e Ii
cent, but il should be INDUCED in only occa.
sionslly, and for a very few minutes at q time,
as 1t rapidly exhausts the physical powers
1t opens the pores Of the skin and increases
the activity ofthe circulation for tho moment,
but il followed by On instantaneous cold show.
er bath, an invigoratipg effect is Produced
hot bath excites, o warm bath soothes and
tranquilizes it makes the pulse slower, and
causes more equable breathing.
A vnpor bath is of steam instead of water,
and is applied inside as well as out I; it's first
effect is feeling of oppression, but soon per.
spiration is induced. and delightful sensations
ensue. To prevent taking cold, the person
should pass from the steam chamber into te-
pid bath for single moment, then wipe dry
briskly. dress and walk.
No kind Of bath ought to be taken within
au hour before O regular meal, nor sooner
than four hours after sudden death has often
resulted from inattention to the latter. The
best time for bathing is Immediately after ris-
ing iu the morning, as then there is greater
power OF reaction, without which there Is no
invigoratioD, DO benefit.
The spouge-bath is the application Of wa.
ter to the surface Of the body by means of q
sponge When persons are feeble, one por.
tion Of the person the process at o time, then
quickly wiped aud dried, and covered before
another is exposed. There are few persons
indeed who would not be greatly benefited
by the following procedure every morning
summer and winter: Wash the hands first In
a small amount of water with soap, for il but
little is used, a teacupfuil, it is warmed by the
hands, and thus becomes more cleansing, with
out the trouble of preparing warm water -
then rinse them well and afterwards wash
the face in a large basin of cold water just
drawn or brought into the room, for oil cold
water becomes filthy in an bocr or two if kept
standing in sleeping or sitting apartment.
After the face has been washed pleutfully,
throw the water up to the elbows, then lit
tie higher at every dash with the hand, until
the arms, neck, throat, behind the ears, arm
pits, and the upper portion OF the chest are
deluged with water; next Except women with
long hair,) wash the whole scalp abundantly,
rubbing the water into the and about the
roots of the hair with the ends of the fingers
theu wipe with towel, absorbing as much of
the dampness from the hair as possible with
an extra dry cloth, and dress, leaving the ar.
rangemen: of the bair to the last, so as to
give it an opportunity Of drying somewhat -
for if wripgipg wet, it will not dress well, and
besides will keep the head cold by its evapo.
ratron. In dressing the hair after such q
washing Of the head, the comb should be pass.
ed through it in the gentlest manner, SO as to
make no strain upon the roots, nor break any
hair in disengagipg the tangles. The hair
thus dressed 10 the morning will remain so all
day, Or, if not, can be easily re-dressed with
the advantage Of perfect cleanliness, which
caun OF be said Of the flthy practice of using
hair ols.--Halrs Journal IF HellM.