Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1870-07-22
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Bathing may DO practised for pleasure.
for cleanliness and for health. There il no
more pleasurable excitement than the bath.
properly prepared and arranged. In our
climate ii is only in the summer that the
luxury OF bathing in the sea, or lake, or
river, can be INDUCED in, and then only
for limited period. 1t is a heathful sport
to all classes, but especially to the young,
when iudiclously managed, combining, as
il does, vigorous exercise of all the mus
cles of the limbs in gently resisting mo
dunn which surrounds and envelops the
body. Bathing for pleasure requires that
the water should be of an agreeable tenn
perature ; ii must be neither too hot nor
too cold, and this will be determined very
much by the health of the individual. To
a robust person in a nude state, the cold
water of the lake and sea during the sum
mer heats is most exhiarating while to the
feeble 1t is chilling and depressing. The
degree OF temperature must be regulated
by the sensations, and especially the reac-
ton of the system after the first plunge. If
the body so reacts that tho water feels COM
Portable and agreeable, the bath will be
pleasurable and healthful but If the reac-
ton is feeble and the water seems to be-
como colder, the bath will be injurious.
To enjoy bath fully the bather must be
nude.
The condition of the body at the time of
the bath now spoken of is also important 4;
it should not be ovcrheated and in a state
of perspiration, for this would lead to an
immediate congestion of the internal or
gans that might re suit in grave disease.
Nor should the person be greatly fatigued,
as this condition would tend to prevent
prompt and healthful reaction. Finally,
the bather should exercise vigorously dur
ing the bath, and not remain in the water
until ii begins to grow cold and uncomfort-
able. On leaving the bath, the skin should
always be dried thoroughly, and then rub
bed by the person himself until ii is all
aglow.
Bathing for cleanliness should be regu-
lated as follows: l, Those parts of the
body liable to become daily unclean or of
fensive should be daily bathed in warm
soaped water. 2, The whole body should
be bathed in similarly prepared water ov-
cry fourth day. The object of such bathing
is to cleanse the body of all kinds of filth.
The filth may be acquired from the exter-
nal world, or it may be inherent; the for
mer consists of lint from the clothing, dust
from the air, etc., and the latter the ever
separating epithelum or scarf-skin, the oil
| from the glands of the skin, etc. Warm
water and soap are the best solvents OF
these substances. Such a bath may safely
be taken Just as the person is retiring fol
| the night, and Is great luxury, often Sc
| curing most refreshing nights sleep, and
not liable, even in winter, TO render the
bather susceptible to cold afterward. 1t is
well to lie down first in the water a few
minutes, and gently rub the skin with the
hand this relaxes the skin and softens the
layer of epithelium then stepping out, the
body should be rubbed with soap until 9
lather is formed. On entering the bath
the scurf flor this is its proper term,) sepa
| rates and leaves the skin soft and perfectly
| clean. A dash of cold water over the body
followed with gentle friction of soft tow
ell is the last step.
| Bathing for health offers wide field fol
| discussion. The bath, in its various forms
medicated and unmedicated, is a most i'm
portant remedial measure; unfortunately
it is too much i'm the hands of uneducatet
practitioners, who, by their malpractice
tend to bring it into discredit. No genera
rule can be laid down which it is safe fol
the invalid to follow but this, namely, con.
suit competent physician.-HearM ana
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