The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-06-24
FrOIll 1tarCu anu HOIfI
.I Bathing.
BY AN EMINENT PHYSICIAN.

Bathing may be practiced for pleas
ure, for cleanliness, and for health.
There is no more pleasureable excite
ment than the bath, properly prepared
and arranged. In our climate, it is on
ly in the summer that the luxury of
bathing in the sea or lake or river can
be indulged in, and then only for a
limited period. 1t is healthful sport
to all classes, but especially to the
young, when judiciously managed,
combining, as it does, vigorous exercise
of all the muscles of the limbs in gent
ly-resisting medium which surrounds
and envelops the body. Bathing for
pleasure requires that the water should
be of an agreeable temperature it must
neither be too hot nor too cold, and
this will be determined very much by
the health of the individual. To q rO-
bust 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 de-
pressing; The degree of temperature
must be regulated by the sensations,
and especially the reaction of the sys-
tenn after the first plunge. If the body
so reacts that the water feels cOmfOrta-
BILE and agreeable, the bath will be plea
surable and healthful; but if reaction 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 also inn
pOrtant; it should not be Overheated
and::in a state of perspiration, 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
ly fatigued, as this condition would
tend to prevent prompt and healthful
reaction. Finally, the bather should
exercise vigorously during the bath,
and not remain in the water until it
begins to grow cold and uncomfortable.
On leaving the bath the skin should
always be dried thoroughly, and then h
rubbed by the person himself until 1t Is
all aglow. --.ta) s..
Bathing for cleanliness should be
regulated as follows: l. Those parts of
the body liable to become daily unclean
or offensive should daily be bathed in
warm eOaped water; 2. The whole bO-
dy should be bathed in similarly pre-
pared water every fourth day. The OBJ
ject of such bathing is to cleanse the
body of all kinds of filth. This filth
may he acquired from the external
world, or it may be inherent; the for
mer consists of lint from the clothing,
dust from the air, etc., and the latter
ever-separating epithelium, 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 be safely taken just as
the person is retiring for the night, and
is great luxury, often securing most
refreshing nights sleep, and not liable
even i'm winter to render the bather sus-
ceptible to cold afterward. 1t is well
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 then
stepping out, the BODY should be rubbed
with the soap until q lather is formed.
On entering the bath the scurf (for this
is its proper term) separates and leaves
the skin soft and perfectly clean. A
dash of cold water over the body, fol-
lowed with gentle friction of soft tow
ell, is the last step. ttt, -.
Bathing for health offers a wide field
for discussion. The bath, in its various
forms, medicated and unmedicated, is
a most important remedial measure !;
unfortunately it is. too much in the
hands Of funeducated practitioners, who,
by their malpractice, tend to bring it
| into discredit. No general rule can be
laid down which is safe for the invalid
to follow but this-namely, consult a
competent physician.