The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1870-06-24
by AN EMINENT PHYSICIAN.

Bathing may be pTacticed for pleas
ure, for q cleanliness, and for health.
There is no more pleasureable excite
ment than the bath, properly prepared
and arranged. In our climate, it is on
Iy 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 healthful sport
to all classes, but especially to the
young, when judiciOusly managed,
Ombining, as it does, vigorous exercise
of all the muscles Of the limbs in gent
Iy-resisting medium which surrounds
and envelOps the body. Bathing for
pleasure requires that the water should
be of an agreeable temperature 1t must
neither be too hot nor too cold, and
this Will be determined very much by
the health of the individual. To rO-
bust person in q nude state, the cold
water of the lake and sea during the
summer heats is most eXhiIarating,
while to the feeble it is chilling and de-
pressing; The degree of temperature
must be regulated by the sensations,
and especially the reaction of the syS-
TEN after the first plunge. If the body
so reacts that the water feels cOmfOrta-
BILE and agreeable, the bath viii be plea
surabIe and healthful; but if reaction is
feeble, and the water seems to become
colder, the bath will be injurious. To
enjoy a bath fully, the bather must be
nude.
The condition Of the body at the time
of the bath now spoken Of IS also I'M
DOrtant; it should not be OYerheated
aud.in a state Of peTspiration, for this
would lead to an immediate congestion
of the internal organs, that might re-
suit in grave diseases Of the Internal or
gans. Nor should the person be great
" fatigued as this condition would
tend to prevent prompt and heaIthful
reaction. Finally, the bSther should
exercise vigorously during the bath,
and not remain in the water until 1t
begins to grow cold and VI comfortable.
On Iesving the bath the skin should
always be dried thoroughly, and then
rubbed by the person hiHl5cy until 1t IS
all aglOW.
Bathing for cleanliness should Gc
regulated rs follows: I. Those parts of
the body liable to become daily unc.Can
or offensive should daily bc bathed III
warm soaped water; ,. The whole bo-
DIV should be b"thtt in similarly pre-
parcd water every fourth day. The OBJ
iect of such bathing Is to cleanse the
body Of all kinds OF tiith.- fhis NTH
may be acquired from the external
world. or if may be inherent; the for
mcr consists of lint from the clothing,
dust from the air, etc, and the latter
cvcr-seDaratiDg epitheiium, or scarf
skin, tbc oil from the glands Hi the
skin. etc Warm water and soap are
the best solvents of these substances
/ Such "a bath may be safely taken Just a
| the person j. retiring ioT tEe night, and
| is q great luxury. often securing q most
refreshing nights sleep, anu not liable
! even IN winter 10 reuUer the h3ther Sus-
! ceptiblc to cold atterWaTd. 1t Is well
! 90 lie down first i'm the waite! for few
minutes, ana gently rub the skin with
! the hand; this TclaNCs the skin and
/ soften- the layer Of cpitheiium then
/ stepping out, the BODY should be rubbed
/ with the soap until Il lathCr is formed
/ On cutCi 'ng the bath the scUTf for this
j. its proper term separates and leaves
| the skin soft and perfectly clean. 4
| dash of cold water over the body, fol
| lowed with gentle friction Of q soft tow
eI, Is the last step.
Bathing for health offers wide iiei,
for discussion. The. bath, in IFS various
forms. nedi ated and unmedicated, i
a most important remedial measure
unfortunately Il j. too much in thu
hands Of uneducatcd practitioners, who
by their malpractice, tend to bring 1
into discredit. 30 general rule can bt
laid down which is sale for the iuVali,
10 fellow but this namely co0eHlt :
competent physician
Eleven years AGO q citizen of Mont
aoulery, Ma, bcJ a hat with a citizel
of Troy, tlat Che Montgomery and Eu
faula goad would reach Union Spring
before the Mobile and CiraTd rOa,
/ reached Troy. At last accounts it wa