St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1872-07-26
Bathing.
BY MARIA \. ELNORE..

Although bathing is necessary and
hcalth-producing at all times of the
year. Yet ut this particular season when
We are obliged to resort to ii 81 often.
II becomes Il subject of paramount i'm
portancc. Few. we imagine. are aware
of the vast amount of ''biHcS" that might
he di>pclled 10y well timed applications
of water To the skin. We almost seem
to overlook the important part which
the skin plays in regard To health. 1t
Is through its minute pores that many
of the impurities of the blood were or
dained to pass. and i'll order for them to
pass. the pores must he kept open. This
can he done only 10y washing the skin
frequently once Il day is none to often.
Unless they are kept open 10y the con
>tant Use of water. external matter will
lodge itself on the skin. fill up the pores.
and thus impede the blood from throw
ing of its poisonous matter through its
legitimate channels. OF course. illness
and arrangement of the system follow
a. Il natural sequence. We would net
continc the use OF the bath to the early
hours of the morning immediately after
| rising.
Dear reader. are YOU Obliged during
this sultry oppressive weather to spend
1 much of your time over the hot cooking q
stove, the tariguing washtub. or the tire
som" ironing table. and do YOU feel
when you sit down in the afternoon as
though Nou could scarcely draw one
foot after the other" as though to
more were il great eNcrtion 1t is hard
to ask You To do more. Yet for your own
sake. we shall venture To advise YOU to
hathc Yourself from head to foot. 1t
requires some effort We know. when we
are tired and exhausted to give our
selves II thorough ablution. but the ex 70
ira amount OF rest aud comfort gained
Thereby will repay us for our trouble.
| Headaches can often he removed by
this simple remedy. Rubbing the body
helps To draw the too great amount of
blood ut the head downward. thus re
heNlng 1t. Are your nights long and
weary DO NOu rise from Nour bed
nervous. uneasy. entirely worn out with
your long hours of SleeplcsSne>s EV-
cry night before You retire accustom
yourself To Il full bath. | se water free
lN. DO not he Sparlng of ii. Instead
of rubbing with Il cloth that has been
wrung as dry as possible. use IL large
quantity OF ii. Put i'll the face and
head all over, and if possible have Il
basin large enough To throw the water
upon the rest of the body Then if
sleep comes not to your eyelidS. repeat
ii during the night. and we think tired
natures sweet rcStorcr" will soon come
To your relief. Nothing is more sooth-
ing to weary frame. Not only is il
{ If fhnS.. "a h,,-.. I,,,Ii..,
worked. hut To the oVeItaSkcd book
worm whose mind has long been en-
gagged i'll some intellectual struggle.
these hints are equally applicable. Too
severe mental pressure caIIseS AN excess
Of blood at the brain. and bathing us We
have said has Il tendency To bring it
lWaN.
But the bath. though very essential.
should nevertheless he used with the
utmost caution. Many suffer. and oft =
entimes death ensucs in consequence of
drinking "r plunging into cold water
when i'll state of perspcration.
And just here one word about drink
ing. 1t Is not Il very uncommon thing
to hear of people dropping down dead
from drinking ice water. Now the
practice of drinking this. which is very
prevalent i'll cities is very hIrttul at all
times. but its destructive power is i'm
mcaSlIrablN increased if drunk when the
system Is i'll Il state of intense heat. II
drunk ordinarily. it should never hr ta-
ken then. nor indeed. should comm ON
cold water. Milk would he far less harm
full; or some warm drink might hc taken
Almost anything would he better than
cold water. And iS to bathing. il eau
ScS the body to cd off too quickly
and sudden 'NtIch:t~ are always dan
gcroIIS. sometimes tatai. Dcatmc>SiS CaIIS-
ed sometimes by >uhjrciing the head to
such treatment when in tins state. and
rheumatism of the limbs and stiffness of
,the joints. 10y the rash usage, of it to
other parts OF the body. The most eff
tcctual way of getting ont of the cN
tremelN uncomfortable condition, and
at the same time the least hazardous.
is To hathe thoroughly in hot water.
and after bathing. let warm water fall
for some time upon the pulse of each
hand. and if Il bath is indulgcd in at
such times. hot water instead of cold
should always be used. Mass. PIongh-
man.