Mower County transcript., 1871-07-13
Bathing.
BY DIR. j. II. HANAFORD.

THERE is a constant tendency toward
ultI;tisln among ~ certain class a disposi.
ton to adopt extreme ideas, to be heroic
in domestic treatment, and, indeed, in the
gcnclal management Of the human system
The advocates of a general bath Of the
whole body have not escaped this rapid
tendency, while, in the adoption Of these
extreme views, they have, to a certain cx-
tent, brought bathing into disrcputc.
. Some Of this class, after practicing for
short time some of the most cruel forms
of the cold shower batll-all Of which are
sufficiently unplcasant-or have taken
" "swms' in cold weather, breaking the
ice for that purpose, have discontinued
bathing. and afterward urreasonably de-
nounced it in all it's forms as unfavorable
to the promotion Of good health. A char
liable conclusion in reference to such
would be that they know but little of
bathing and the principles on which it is
based, and that they should never attempt
any treatment without the advice Of a
medical friend, or that Of some person
blessed with sound common sense.
To understand the necessity for bathing
or some means of cleansing the surface, it
should be remembered that single square
inch of the surface of the body contains
more than three thousand pores, and that
al adult Of medium size has about seven
millions of these, which are really the out
let's Of the system, the means of conduct
ing off the decaying and putrid particles
of our ever decaying bodies. These, in.
deed, are but the openings Of abou, TWEEN.
ty-sevcn miles Of "sewcr pipes" of body,
or small spiral tubes, which arc constantly
collecting the waste of the system and
.t,,
ol,s as it is should endangcr the general
health Indeed it is as necessary that this
waste and putrd matter, the worn out and
useless particles of the body, bone, mus
Gle, nerve, etc, should be removed when
its presence is no longer needed and posi-
lively poisonous as it is that food should
be taken at regular periods to make blood
from which every particle composing the
body must be constructed.
L is reasonable to infer, therefore, that
while these constant rills of impurity are
being cmpticd on the surface of the skin,
day and night, in the form Of sensible and
insersible pcrsriration or "swcat," that
some method should be adopted for tho
Of this pu!rid matter as means
Of promoting cl' Hnlincss, and to prevent
the closing up of these outlets, a free dis
charge from which is a necessary condi-
ton Of sound health When this dis
charge is impedc,l, either from want Of
cleanliness, or from cnld-which is only
another term for the closing of these pores
and a arrangement of the circulation of
The blood in consequence Of undue expos
',rp, etc, the health is certainly impaired
and HE natural condition disturbed as the
closing of the "jsS,,rs" of the swine is
certain to produce disease il long closed
Indeed, the escape from he human body
,f thra" waste and putrid matters through
mis- vast number Of pores and through
he lungs ut every breath, is the most I'M
oortait of all m"ans of purifying the
Whole system, far more etltctual than
I'll Of the sArsaparilIa and other blood puri
icrs in the market, though the use of some
IF th.s:, is not ini,,licious under some cir
and when used as auSi|iarics.
How ard " lien should We i,,;ll"? The
subject is too vast to be fully treated in
l single short article, yet a few of the
more general and fundamental principles
nay be given. The most important con-
sitrration is that all latbs should be
ur,lrrlnh,c, that is, tlat Ill should, on
he whole, pr'mnte our comfort, since
sensations are designed
IS warnings, to remind us that we have
lone or are now doing wrong 1t is not
denied that uncomfortable sensations,
lust for the moment, to be succeeded by a
glow of heat and general f cling of com
iort, are admissible; it is simply >assert' Il
that all treatment, tn he hrEcii>ial, must
produce more ple"sl,,c than pain, either
present or prosVcct!vv G. ntinucd chill
after bath is but a waning to ". slst from
it or take il untlrr more favorable Circum.
stances. On the contrary, Il comfortable
glow, general feeling OF comfort, clear
ness of mind and an elasticity Of body
with an inclination to exercise, are the
most positive and convincing evidences
hat not only no harm has been done, but
hat the health has b"en promoted. A
oath taken each day, in the morning, If
succeeded by such sensations, is cmincntly
safe, while one THAT results in languor,
| month, is unsafe. In such case, some
friction of the suracc-nonc is superior
!, the flesh brush-wnuld be far prcicra
bic to an uncomfortable bath, either cold
II warm All persons may be benefited
by SUCH friction, since there is no material
exposure. to cold, while it is admirably
; llculatcd to remove offending matter
rom the skin, open the pores, and invig-
,ratr the system by inviting the blood to
he surface, wh re about one half of the
entire mass Of the hlood--tw'nty eight
pounds should be, in the smaller vessels
,f tho skin, giving life and viEnr to this
part Of the body, AMI tending directly to
reach and warm the cxtrcmilics-a ncces
sary condition Of health.
While some mavIprclrr the tub bath, the
swim, the shower bath or douche, the sitz-
bath, etc, the hand bath, on the whole,
may be regarded as the safest and most
available. This is taken in ones room, or
by simply wctting the hands
in cool or cold water, and rubbing the sur
face brskly, wiping thoroughly with
crash towel. securing 81 reaction, feeling
rf decided comfort. The warmth of the
hand will m"dity the temperature OF the
water, making it Il mild form Of the use of
coo! or cold water. while only part OF