The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-11-13

Il
Primary Hecessity-wOrdS OF Cau-
tIOn and Instruction.
FFom R@rcrs' Weekly:
Hufeland, German physician who
wrote on health at, the end of the last
century, said that the whole body ought
to be bathed in cold water every day,
and this has been very commonly re-
peated by writers on health up to the
present time. And yet there are very
few, even among those who conscien-
tiously intend to take suitable care of
their physical condition, who comply
with this Injunction. Are they who
neglect it altogether in error? 1t GER
tatnly would be q great Inconvenience
to most OF them to comply with it; but
Still, If the measure be requisite for se-
curing the full health of the body, the
Inconvenience should be no bar to its
used far more than 1t Is by most peo-
pie there is no doubt; but the question
is, to what extent is it required, and in
what ways should it be used2 We will
answer this briefly as well as we can.
There are two objects in bathing. One
is to cleanse the skin. This organ (for
IL must be remember that it is an active
organ, and not mere covering) is con-
tinuauy dtscharging a large quantity
of refuse matter from the system, In the
form of both insensible and sensible
perspiration. For this purpose there
are innumerable tubes closely set to-
gether. 1t is important that the outlets
Ofithose tubes, the pores OF the skin,
should be kept we'll open. They are
liable to be obstructed, both by the ac-
cumulation of some of the matter which
passes out of them, and by the lodg-
lnent of matter brought to the skin by
the air, and In various other ways.
These accommodations are removed in
three Ways-bY becoming attached to
the clothing in it's friction from the mo-
lions OF the body, by the application of
water, and by the washing out of the
perspiratton OccasiOned'by brisk exer-
else. Jl = =. HfsT
The second object of bathing is toin-
huence the skin as an active and sem
sltive organ. We see this in a amarked
manner when cold bathing is attended
with good reaction. The skin is high
ly endowed with nerves, and, as sem
stttve organ, has an important play in
the economy. of the system. The inn
preSstons that are made upon 1t, there
fore, exert a decided influence upon tho
great central organs of the body.
Yop see, then; that as tho skin is an
active secreting organ it can, to Il con-
siderable extent, take care of itself.
1t is not entirely dependent on bathing
to clear away the refuse which is dis
posed to collect at the outlets of its
tpbes. The whole of the skin does not,
therefore, need to be washed every day
as q measure of cleanliness. Only the
most exposed portions of it need this.
The freq with which it should be,
done in other parts depends much on
circumstances. We had better, howeY-
er, err on tho side of doing it too much
than too little. Not that no harm ever
comes from doing it too much, for there.
ia QnNh thing Q 1EfruP IN tFN,,
sensitive, and impairing its functions
by too frequent Stimulation. Daily
bathing, accompanied by friction, may
necessttate too active a renewal of that
very delicate covering ofthe skin, which
we call the cuticle, and SO injures theI
true skin, from whose surface this Is
constantly forming, the outer portions
of it being as constantly thrown Off in
the shape ofvery minute scales.
Neither is the skin wholly dependent
on cold bathing, as some seem to think,
to gtve it tone and activity. This is
only one of the many means of doing
this, and, we may add, subordinate
one. Free exercise is one of the most
important of these means, giving vigor
to all the organs, the skin MS we'll as the |
rest. This can not be dispensed with.
1t IS absolutely essential, while cold
bathing is far from being so, for even
high degree of healthy vigor is often
maintained without it, If there be ha-
bitual brisk exercise.
Observe that it is as true of bathing
with cold water as it is of exposure to
cold air, that good reaction is essen
not occur the effect is depressing to the
vital powers, and tends TO produce ILL
health and even positive disease. A
disregard of this plain fact has led to
much injury, especially In the case of
persons Of delicate health. So popular
has hlpT1 cold hnfhfnnr nf 1NfR { Tte,
use has been too indiscriminnte.
Let us look, then, Mt some of the |
points of discrimination which should
be observed. The robust can use cold |
bathing with comparatively little eau
ton, because they have a reaction so
readily e1cltedi but even with them it |
should not be resorted to when the sys- |
tenn is much fatigued. For this reason
1t is generally improper in the after
part of the day. The best time for its |
use, IN relation to securing full reac-
ton, is toward the latter part of the |
forenoon, for the system is then in its |
most vigorous condition. But early in |
the morning Is the most convenient |
time, and, after the rest of the night |
there is sufficient vigor for a suitable |
reaction in most persons.
In using cold bathing as tonic land |
1t is a capital one, there is no necessity |
tor bathing the whole body. Some
times one part can be bathed and some |
times another. We have known all the |
requisite tonic effect to be secured by |
merely putting the feet in cold water |
every morning. Neither is it essential |
that there should be immersion-sponp- |
ing will do as well. What is required |
is simply the impression of cold fol- |
lowed by reaction. The benefit that |
results comes from accustominR the |
system TO thus react on receiving the
Impression of cold through the nerves
ofthe skin, instead of succumbin9 un-
der it into state of depression. It is i
In this way that cold bathing Is so SER
ytceable in Kidding one of the disposi-
ton to take cold by using it in the
summer and continuing It on into
winter. n 9 ~
Many persons ofdelicate constitution.
as already limited, reap injury instead
OF benefit from cold bathing by the
failure to have a reaction. They can /
ordinarily succeed in obtaining this
results however, if they manage In the /
right way. 1t may be necessary TO be-
gin with using water somewhat warm,
having it cooler from day to day till |
they get to using really cold water. Or |
they can first apply the water over a I
small portion of surface, daily enlarg-
ing the bounds of its application as the |
habit OF reaction becomes established. /
VI course friction may be employed as
an auxiliary in securing reaction, the |
exercise requisite in applying IL and /
the stimulation of the skin both uniting
TO produce the effect.
VoIrAIRE ON MARR1AGE.-VoItaire
said: 1.-THE more married men Won
have, the fewer crimes Ehere will Iba