The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-20

find ourselves trenchinR upon the borders OF
disease, for that. beyond q certain proportion TO
the osseous framework. corpulence is non-nat-
ural may DO admitted. and that It Is dependent
on defects in the working OF tho animal mechan-
ism seems TO DR.. Couplnnd highly probable.
The tendency to an abnormal deposit OF fat Is
quite M much the fruit Of inheritance ae is the
inclination to spareness. Itruns in families. and
IL can rs ll,tlo DO avoided as man can rid him
self Of his features. or the color OF his hair or
tho tendency 10 carly badness. or any OF the
thousand and ono propensities which he derives
from his parents. In DR.. Oouplond's JUDGMENT,
no amount @! abstinence in diai or Of regulated
or even excessive exercise will except at the coet
Of health. relieve him from his proclivty. al
though care may keep II within the limits native
and peculiar to his constitution 1t "a worth
noting. however. that marked changes may oc-
eur in given individual as regards the tend
ency to fat production. It is not an intrepucnt
phenomenon that an acute and wasting fever
will cause such permanent alteration in tho
nutritlve processes Of tho body As 10 lay the
foundation for condition OF eorpulence TO
which tho subject WIS previously stranger.
Another point germnne 10 tho topic OF abnormal
variation in form may here be mentioned. In
persons suffering from long standing disease
of the heart or chest there occurs often whit is
called clubbing" OF the extremitics. II is best
seen in the fingers. the tips Of which become
broad md rounded. especially tho soft palmnr
surface. The same clubbing moreover may
be observed NJ the tip Of the nose. In all cases
II is dependent on the slowing Of the circulation
which takes place in such malndies. 80 that there
is an Utmost permanent state OF overiulness In
the minute blood vessels OF these cxtremities.
In another recently issued number Of these
Health Primers. entitled Baths and Bathing
We find discussed the question OF the place
which baths ought to occupy az remedies for
disease We IND here none OF those cxtrava-
giant assertions put forth By professed hydro
pathists as to the curative powers Of hot and
cold water. but clear statement Of the condi-
tons for which bathing may reasonably DO OK
pected 10 be Of service. We arc reminded. in
the lrst place. that additions without friction
are OF relatively small utility In the ease OF
sedentary persons. A clean skin means clean
pores as we'll as n clean surface. Hence the In
dolent man whose cuticle may be epotess. but
whose sense Of the proprieties will not permit
him TO indulge in good. vulgar sweat has not
in reality so healthy and clean n skin IA the
navy whose myriad sweat-ducts are CON
stantly being flushed by the severity Of his toll
There are certain disorders. such "a hysteria
ST. Vitus's dance. and spssmodic Group. 70
which q cold bath Of short duration. followed By
a brisk rubbing. affords considerable relief. In
fever cold bathing may often be OF eminent ser
vice. although the use OF this Appliance requires
great wariness and judgment On the whole.
however. warm baths are more generally ser
viccable in disease. For rheumatic govt the
hot winters OF Bath and Of Teplitz. wiesbaden.
and wildbad have long enjoyed high rcputc
"a a potent means OF alienation. For paralysis
warm bathing "a often Of great use provided
the cause be- removable one. And go With
Brcht's disease Of the kidneys neuralgia.
sciatica. and lumbago. We may add that warm
baths. as aiding the action OF the skin. have
been regarded az Of some value when combined
with proper dict and regimen. in the treatment
Of diabetes.
While most Of US. however. arc prompt enough
at the present day TO recognize tho utility OF
water applied externally. We are By no means
so quick 10 perceive the evil Consequences that
may flow from IN excessive use Of baths. Prof
Hebra Of Vienna. one OF the greatest authori-
tiee on diseases Of the skin. speaks in the most
decided tones OF the occasional harmful action
which water exerts upon the cuticle. He enters
his protest against tho notion that frequent
washing and scrubbing are healthiul opera.
, tions. which can never work mischief He 70.
minds US. on the other hand. that there are
millions Of human beings who have never
bathed in warm or cold water oil their lives
who at the utmost give their hands and
! face a superficial rinse once o week. yet who
| nevertheless. enjoy up 70 old age a state o
health which may we'll be envied He afirms
| moreover that no medical authority hos Ye
demonstrated by statistics that the constant us,
! Of baths protects people from sickness or tha
washing in cold watcr strengthens the bodl
against c0tarrh. and rheumatism. and catching
! cold. So long as bathines are not followed BY
| any eruptions Of the skin. they may. he thinks
I be allowed as pastme but whenever the skin
| thus repeatedly irritated. begins 20 react q.
| soon "a itching results. or wheals. or pimplee
or vatery heads make their appearance. 1t ID
high time 20 leave OF washing II We would no
| produce intractable affections ofthc skin. HEIR,
asserts too that In the external employment o
| water 1t is matter OF small moment whether
we apply the water hot or cold 20 the fesh. sinc'
the water soon approximatee in tho tempefa
| ture 10 that Of the part touched.
| In his judgment. the wishes and indina.ionJ
need alone be consulted in this matter. o
courso there are cases above mentioned II
| which the specific object OF bathing Is 70 in
duce the greatest amount Of remedial Elmu
| lation and excitement II appears that wate
I is not the most efficient Of agencies for thi
purpose. carbonic acid bath IS satd L
| havo tho highest stimulating acton on u
| skin. a saline bath the naxt greatest. then bath
OF mud and bran and in the fourth place
| pure water. Steel baths. or baths containing
| iron. have fallen almost entirely into disuse
| and any effect formerly attributed 20 chaiybeat
| springs ia now more plausibly ascribed 10 tn
| water and its temperature So too. It ts aflrme
OF sulphur baths. still resorted 10 for renefiror
metallic poisons that there Is probably nothin
| peculiarly beneficial in tho sulphur and tha
the healthful results remarked are due rnthe
TO the heat Of the water than to anything elst
Many of the sulphur springs, however. ma
rightly be regarded az salt water also. on whic
account they would naturally be expected 10 e1
hbtt a great power OF skin stimulation.
| DemOnOiogy and Devil Lore.
Under the above title Mr.. MoNcuRE I
CONWAY has compiled mass OF interostin
materials which Henry Holt & Co. have pull
Itch in two at slt-a al -tef