Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-07-10
Philosophy of Bathing.

4 ~
The following is from Mayo G.. Smith.
on the subject, and is worthy Of consider
alton
There are in the human body 2,700..
900 glands and 100000 pores, from
1000 to $500 to the square inch, and
one-eighth of an inch in depth, making
twenty-eight miles of human drainage.
Fiyo-eighths Of all that is eateE1easss
on through these pores, and bpt ones pr
cent OF all perspirsble matter ro1sists OF
solid substances. The change IA the mus.
Gle, tissues. and bones occurs in from SIX
to seven years. If this old matter bc 70.
tanned, it causes disease--it is real Vi.
rus. :
Some diseases are relieved almost in
stantly by opening the pores. Disrrhsss
is frequently cured, matter from the siu-
cous membrane is expelled through the
skin; tobacco, opium, and mercury thus
exuded Whatever through the skin the
body can expel, it can absorb. Hold tho
end of your fingers in spirits Of turpen-
tine it is absorbed, goes throug b the sys-
TEN, and may be detected by its odor.--
Constant handling of arsenic has produced
death by absorption.
The doctor relates an account Of =
gentleman in the Barbados who was in
habit of daily intoxication and had con-
structed tub with pillow to acccmdats
his head, and when in this state he was
placed therein, and the tub was flied
with cold water, in which he 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 asd
allowing the water to escape, when As
would pleasantly complain Of the loss Of
his bed clothes.
Pcrspiration is eliminated from all
parts Of the body. and the excretions. Gu
taneously forced, may from some parts Of
the surface be re.admitted to the circula-
ton and if poisonous or injurious, whom
ever the blood visits it, it must carry dis
ease. Nature keeps her side Of the id
terror clean and soft, and demands an
unobstructed exterior, and exudes to the
re use matter for removal by bathing and
evaporation. A dry, light powder, mixed
with sweat and oil from the glands, and
dust, clogs up tho pores. As all parts of
the cuticle has pores, as we'll as the face
and arms, all the body should be bathcd
at least one-third as many times as those
are.
On board slave ship the small pox
suddenly 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 in
our own country with the sick Pormis.
sion being given, they gently lowered
their sick companions into the sea, letting
them remain few minutes, and then
raised them, and placed them in the sun
light on deck until dried, and repeated
the process several times, when the dis
ease left them, and they were cured.
At Charleston, S. G., during violent
epidemic, among several Northern me-
chanics who had gone thither liz company.
but one escaped the prevailing fever, and
he alone bathea frequently, and never
slept at night in any of the clothes worn
by day The others cast off only their
outer garments, slept in their preparation.
and died.
Cold water is used and prescribed much
more than formerly, though many would
think physician not worth sending for
who should prescribe so simple remedy.
Abernethy's advice to one of his wealthy
patients was, Let your servant bring to
you three or four pailsful of water and
put it in wash tub; take off your
clothes, Get into it, and from head to foot
tu5 yourself with it, and you'll recover
.Tai9 advice seems very much like telling
ne to wash myself said the patient
WELL said Ab2rnethy. 'it is open to that
objection
Dr.. Currie used fresh water generally,
and by long aud careful experience he
found that bathing prevented or Cared
most diseases"