The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-07-23
About Sea Bathing.
Some Timely and Valuable Hints and
Cautions

1t is quite. absurd to lay down positive rules
as to the time people should remain in the
water, since they do not carry watches with
them. And any days experience on the beach
in the season will show a great many bathers
sporting in the water for half an hour or an
hour and even longer without any perceptible
i'll effect 1t is quite common practice among
the young to go in, take bath, come out and
lie on the sand go in again, perhaps a number
of times There can, however, be no question
that for sanitary purposes, and as a matter of
prudence, it is better to take the bath and to
leave the water for the day. What is wanted
in ordinary sea bathing is to carry the chilling
OF the body only SO far as to promote the SUBJ
sequent reaction. The first sense of cold on
entering the water is soon followed by the feel
ing of returning warmth and this continues
for some little time, to be again succeeded by
a sense of chilliness. The second cooling is
accompanied by diminution in the activity
of the circulation, shown especially by blue
ness of the lips or finger nails; and this should
invariably be regarded as signal for leaving
the water aU once. To wait until the teeth
chatter and the skin of the fingers become
shriveled like those of washerwoman is in
very high degree of imprudent. For those
who have young children or invalids under
their charge and who are able to observe and
regulate the exact time of their stay in the
bath, it may be said that this may be accord
ing to the condition OF the skin, somewhere
between two and fifteen minutes. 1t is always
safe to err on the side Of prudence and to cut
the bath needlessly short rather than to pre-
long it at any risk. One should enter sea
bath comfortably warm and exercise actively
during the stay in the water. The Temporary
chilling OF the surface will then give place
quickly to glow, which may be kept up or
even increased by thorough rubbing.
There are very seldom opportunities for div.
ing into the sea, and only very small number
OF Dathers are expert enough to do it. The
best plan is to walk or run rapidly into the
water, wading out at once far enough either to
dip the whole person, head and all, or to allow
wave to break over the bather. Some like to
have bucket of sea water dashed over them
before going in. Once in the water and thor
oughly wet one need only keep moving, occa-
Slonally going under wave, as long as the
water is agreeable, and there is no sense of
chllllness Ii is not safe to swim in the sea
when the tide is running out, as then it is diff
fcult to make headway toward the shore. 1t.
is not safe to swim when there is heavy surf,
90 won "a Souu SHiullleF may DC SO confused
and bafded by waves breaking over him as to
lose his presence Of mind and perhaps swim
seaward instt ad OF to the shore; or he may be
so exhausted by the force of the water as to
sink. 1t is not safe to swim when there are
strong currents running in the general line of
the shore, as these sometimes set outward
enough to keep the bather in deep water
longer than the powers can hold out. Should
he find himself in such current he should
never try to make head directly against it, but
should swim diagonaly toward the shore, and
above all, should try to keep his presence of
mind and save his strength. On leaving the
surf bath it is always best for the bather to
wash the head with fresh water, so as to tree
the hair from salt, which would otherwise
make it very stiff and harsh. AT many places
there are connected with the bathing houses
hydIants at suitable height, by means of
which this may be very conveniently done.
The whole surface of the person should be
thoroughly dried and rubbed down with coarse
towels. This is luxury even in hot weather,
and adds greatly to the benefit of the process
of bathing. Immediately after the midday
bath slight lunch should be taken; and, if
there is afterward any sense of chilliness, exer-
else in some form, such as billiards, tenpins or
walking ION piazza, not in the sun), should
follow this for half an hour or an hour. Then
nap is often very agreeable, and not in any
way harmful
The beneficial effects of sea bathing upon
children are usually very manifest, especially
in the weakly and delicate For them, the
outdoor life at the seashore and the stimulus
OF the salt air and water viii often do more
than any tonic known to the druggist. All
good effects which might be expected from the
bathing are nullihed by the fright and nervous
shock. and there may be left lasting impress
sion OF terror which will for many years pre-
vent enjoyment or even comfort in the water
The proper way is to get the little ones gradu-
ally accustomed to the sea, to let them have
their bathing clothes or and play on the beach,
when they will go to the edge of the water,
and perhaps find their own way in. The whole
person should always be thoroughly wetted,
and as early as possible on entering the water.
1t is very bad thing to let a child get its feet
and hands chilled for any length of time with
out the head and body being also subjected to
cold. Neglect of this may give rise to head
ache and good deal of discomfort. Very old
people should, OF course, be cautious about
bathing in the snrf, as reaction in them often
occurs but imperfectly. and the fatigue may be
injurious to them. But this is not always the
case, and no definite rule can be laid down.
There is no valid objection to bathing az any
time of the day except just after a meal. The
reason for avoiding this is simply that the pro-
cess OF digestion requires and involves a full
ness OF the blood vessels of internal organs as
we'll as certain amount of nerve force.
Hence any shock, as Of cold water applied to
the surface, which is apt to determine the
blood toward the interior of the body, may
readily induce an extreme congestion there.
Persons suffering from acute disease in any
form ought to abstain from sea bathing, unless
with the express sanction of a competent ply
sician; and the same may be said with regard
to all who are laboring under organic affec-
tions, whether of the brain, heart, lungs, liver
or kidneys Robust persons may occasionally,
in hot weather, bathe twice day in the sea
without harm. But for most people once is
enough. And it may be laid down as a rule
that if the fatigue of one bath has not wholly
passed away. another ought not to be taken.
Children can generally bathe daily without
harm