Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1870-07-06
Bathing.
by AN EMINENT PHYSICIAN.

D1 AN
Bathing may be practised for pleasure,
for cleanliness, and for health. There is
no more pleasureable excitement than the
bath, properly prepared and arranged
In our climate, it 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 healthful sport to all clas ses,
but especially to the young, when judi
ciously managed, combining, as it does,
vigorous exercise Of all the muscles of the
limbs in a gently-resisting medium which
surrounds and enveops the body. Bath
ing for pleasure requires that the water
should be of an agreeable temperature J;
| it must neither too hot nor too cold, and
this will be determined very much by the
health of the individual. To q robust
person in a nude state, the cold water of
the lake and sea during the summer heats
is most exhilarating while to the feeble
it is chilling and depressing. The degree
of temperature must be regulated by the
sensations, and especially the reaction of
the system after the first plunge If the
body so reacts that the water feels COM
Portable and agreeable, the bath will be
pleasureabe and healthful but if the re-
action is feeble and the water seems to
become 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 important !;
it should not be overheated and in state
of perspiratin, for this would lead to an
immediate congestion of the internal or
gans.
Nor should the person be greatly fa-
tigued as this condition would tend to
prevent prompt aud healthful action.
Finally the bather should exercise Wig
orously during the bath, and not remain
in the water, until it begins to grow cold
ard uncomfortable. On leaving the bath
the skin should always be dried thoroughly
and then rubbed by the person himself,
until it is all aglow.
Bathing for cleanliness should be regu-
lated as follows: J.. These 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 ev-
cry fourth day.
The object of such bathing is to cleanse
the body of all kinds of filth. This filth
may be acquired from the external world,
or it may be inherent; the former con-
ssts of lint from the clothing, dust from
the air, etc., and the latter the ever-sep-
arating epithclium, or scarf skin, the oil
from the glands Of the skin, etc.
Warm water aud soap are the best sol
vents of these substances. Such bath
may be safely taken just as the person is
retiring for the night, and is great lux
ury, often securing a most refreshing
lights sleep, and not liable even in win
ter to render the bather susceptible tc
cold afterward.
4 1t is we'll to lie down first in the water
for few minutes, and gently rub the
skin with the hand this relaxes the skin
and softens the layer Of epithelium ther
stepping out, the body should be rubbed
with the soap until lather is formed
|, On entering, the scurf (for this is its pro
per term) separates and leaves the skin
soft and perfectly clean. A dash of colo
water over the body followed with gentle
friction of soft towel, may be the las
step.
Bathing for health offers a wide 6el'
for discussion. The bath, in its variou
f forms, medicated and unmedicated, is
most important remedial measure unfor
tunately, it is too much iu the hands o
ignorant practitioners, who, by their NAL
practice, tend to bring it into discredi'
I. No general rule can be laid down whic