The weekly Butte record., 1863-07-04
The Philosophy Of Bathing.

Dr. Mayo u. Smith, II the following article,
gives some sound reasons for the practice Of
frequent bathing
There are in the human body 100000
glands and 100000 pores, from 1000 to
/ 5000 in the square inch, and one-eighth Of an
inch in dep;h-making twenty eight miles Of
human drainage!
/ Fiveeighihs of al that is eaten passes thro'
/ these pores, and but one per cent. OF all per-
ishable matter consists Of solid substances.
/ The change in the muscle tissues, and bones
recuss IN from one 10 three years, and in the
entire body in from six 10 seven years. Ii this
old matter be retained, it causes disease-iti IS
real virus
/ Some diseases are relieved almost instantly
I by opening the pores. Diarrhoe is frequently
thus cured matter from the mucous membrane
/ is expelled through the skin tobacco. opium
and mercury has been thus exuded. Whatev
er through the skin the body can expel it can
absorb. Hold your finger in spirits of turpeu-
tine-it is absorbed goes through the system;
and may be detected by the odor. Constant
handling Of arsenic produces death by absorp-
tion.
/ The doctor relates an account OF a gentleman
/ in Barbados, who was in the habit of daily
| iutoxication, aud had constructed a tub. with
pillow to accommodate his head and when
in this state was placed therein, and the tub
was filed 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, aud allow the water to
escape, when he would pleasantly complain of
the a. loss of his bed clothes"
Dr. Crook, a student of Sir Ashley Cooper,
once poisoned a dog, which Immediately plung
ed into a neighboring river, and remained for
some time with his body entirely submerged
after which he left his watery hospital aud
ran home cured Dogs have been repeatedly
cured of bydrophobia by holding them in
water.
Thirst has often been relieved by immersion,
even in salt water, the salt, probably, being
Mutton bones. boiled long time in salt water,
with slight addition OF calcined potash, made
fresh every day have impaired TO the water
such nourishiug properties that the patient
bathing therein daily, and taking nothing save
few teaspoonsful of tea twice day and one
teaspoonful of tonic syrnp, gained fifteen and a
half pounds in as many weeks, simply by ab-
sorpton.
Perspratiou is eliminated from all parts of
the body and the excretions cutaneousy for
ced, may, from some parts of the surface, be
readmitted to the circulation and il poisonous
or injurious, whenever the blood visits it, it
must carry disease. Nature keeps her side of
the interior clean and soft. and demands an
unobstructed exterior, and exudes to the sur
face the refuse matter for removal by bathing
and evaporation. A dry. light powder, mixed
with sweet oil from the glands and dust, clogs
upon the pores. As all the cuticles have pores,
as well as the face and arms, all the body
should be bathed at least onethird 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 ter.
ror and anguish the negroes cried out, Z" Let
US do as we do in our country with the SICK"
and permission being given they gently lower
ed their sick companions into the sea, letting
them remain few minutes and then raised
them in sunlight on deck until dried, when the
disease left Them and they were cured.
At Charleston, South Carolina, during an
epidemic among several northern mechanics
who had gone thither in company, but one
escaped the prevailing fever, and he alone
bathed frequently, and never slept at night in
any of the clothes worn by day. The others
cast off only the outer garments, slept in their
perspiration and died.
Cold water is used and prescribed much
more than formerly though many would think
physician not worth sending for who would
prescribe SO simple a remedy. Abernethy's
advice TO one of bis wealthy patients was
" Let your servant bring to you three or four
palfuls OF water and put it into washtub.
Take off your clothes and get into it, and
you'll recover" This advice of yours seems
very much like telling me TO wash myself"
said the patient. Well" said Abernethy,
&" it is open to that objection"
Dr. Currie used fresh water generally. and
by long and careful experience be found that
bathing prevented or cured most diseases.
A FAIR correspondent of the Providence
Journal having inqnired if newspapers are q