Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-02
Hints on Sea.Ba,hing.


none" -
Hints on Sea.Bathing.
July and August are the months for sea bath
ing, which, If properly managed, is one OF the
most healthful and 1nvigorating of exercises,
though Its good effects are often neutralized
lnTOdgn ignorance or careleSSneSS. The fol-
lowing extracts from DR.. j. q. Packard's Sea
Air ana Sed-Bdthtrsg zone of the american
Health PrlmersD furnish very good summary
OF rules for the guidance of the unprOfessionaI
reader In this matter:
HOa1 Long TO Bdthe.-It is quite absurd to Law
down positive rules as to the time people should
remain in the wat r. since they do not carry
watches In with them. And any days eXOe-
r1eDce 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 with
out any perceptlble ILL effect. 1t is quite
common practice among the young to go in,
take bath. come out and lie on the sand, and
go In again, perhaps number OF times. The
powers OF endurance vary greatly; and it is
we'll known that swimmers have sometimes
remained In the water for many consecutive
hours without harm.
There can, however, be no question that for
sanitary purposes and as matter of prudence.
1t 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 subsequent reaction. The first
sense OF cold on entering the water is soon fol-
lowed by the feeling Of returning warmth and
This continues for some little time, to be again
succeeded by sense OF chllliness. The second
cooling Is accompanied by dimlpution In the
ACTIVITY OF the circulation. shown especially by
should Invariably be regarded as signal Tor
leaving the water at once. To wait u1tu the
teeth chatter, and the skin OF the fingers be-
G; come il shIiveiled Ike those OF washerwoman,
Is Ia very high degree tmprudent.
For those who have young children or inva-
nos unoer their charge and who are able to
observe and regulate the exact time Of their
stay In the bath, 1t may be said that this may
oe according to the condition OF the skin,
somewhere between two and fifteen mlautes
1t Is always safe to err on the side OF prudence.
ana 10 CUT me path needlessly short rather than
70 prolong 1t at any risk.
Perhaps it hardly need be said that the colder
the water Is, the less time should be spent in it.
When the air and the water are both cold, the
duration OF the bath should correspondingly
diminish. This condition of things increases
the danger OF shock and Of insufficient reac-
ton.
One should enter a sea bath CONT ortable
warm AID exercise actively during the stay Ia
The water. The temporary chilling OF the sur
face VIII then give place quickly to glow,
whlcn may oe Kept up or even Increased by
thorough rubbing.
Hoo TO Bahe.-There are very seldom oppor-
tuDtties for diving into the sea, and only very
so nr h ere OF r na.hers are expert enough TO
into the water, Wading out at once far enough
either to dip the whole person, head and all. or
~ olloH wave W UEedk over CQo DaCler, SOM
like to have bucket Of sea- water dashed over
tnem before going 10. Once In the water and
thoroughly vet. one need only keep moving oc
cas10nally going under a wave, as long as the
wafer Is agreeable, AID there Is no sense OF
chiIness.
StctaaDttng.-1t1S not safe to swim In the sea
when the tide is running out, as then it is diff
cult TO mske headway towards the shore. IL Is
not safe TO swim when there Is heavy surf, as
even good swimmer may be so confused an
baffied by waves breaking over him as to lose
his presence OF mind, and perhaps swim sea.
ward instead of to the shore; or he may be eX-
bausted by the force OF the water as to sink.
1t is not safe to swim when there are strong
currents running III the general line OF shore
as these sometimes set outwards enough to
powers can hold out. Should he nnd himself
In such current he should never try to make
head directly against It, but should swim dag
onaily towards the shore, and, above ALL should
Try to keep his presence OF mind and save his
strength.
On leaving the surf bath 1t is always best for
the bather TO wash the head with fresh water.
SO as to free the hair from SALT which would
otherwise make 1t very stin and harsh. At
many places there are connected With the
oathlng- houses hydrants at a suitable height,
oy means OF which this may be very convent.
emily done.
The whole surface of the person should be
thoroughly dried and rubbed OOwn w1tL coarse
towels This is luxury even In very hot
weather, and adds greatly TO the benefit OF the
process OF bathing.
Immediately after the midday bath slight
lunch should oe taken; and, = there is after
wards any sense OF chilliness, exercise liz some
form. such as billiards, ten pins, or walking ION
piazza. not In the sum. should follow this for
half an hour or an hour: Then nap is often
very agreeable, and not In anyway harmful.
bathing for Cbildrer.-Tne beneficial effects
OF sea- bathing upon children are usually very
manifest, especially In the weakly and delicate
For them, the out door life at the sea-shore and
the stimulus OF the salt air and water viii
often 90 more than any tonic known to the
druggist
Children ought Nerer to be Forced into the
Su'J.-All good effects which might be expected
from the bathing are nulufed BY the fright and
nervous shock. and there may be left a iastiEg
impression OF terror which Will for many years
Ws7 OF re S@io1 IN The
ally accustomed to the sea. to let them have
their bathing clothes on, and play on the beach,
ss T he F. 1ne Sgs the and
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
witt out the head and body being also subjected
to colo. 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 surf, as reaction In them
often occurs but fmperfectly, and the fatigue
may be Injurious to them. But this IS not
always the case, and no definite rule can be
When to Battle There is no valid objection
to bathing at any time OF the day except Just
after meal The reason for avoiding this is
simply that the process OF digestion require
and Involves fulnees OF the blood vessels OF
internal organs. as well as certain amount OF
nerve force. Hence any shocks, as of cold
water applied to the surface, which Is apt to
determine the blood towards the ints rior of
the body. may readily induce an extreme con
gestion there.
When Not to Bathe.--Persons suffering from
acute disease In any form ought to aostain
from sea bathing. unless with the express
sanction Of q competent physician; and the
same may be said with regard to all who are
laboriDg under organic affections, whether OF
the brain. heart, lungs, liver or kidneys.
HOD OFTEN to Bdthe.-R0bust persons may
occasionally, In hot weather, battle twice day
In the sea without harm. But for most people
once Is enough. And It may be laid down as q
rule that If the fatigue OF one bath has not
wholly passed away, another one ought ut TO
be taken. Children can generally battle daily
without harm.
TWENTY. FIVE Tons OF HARD CAsH-On sat
urday last, Mr.. Eckfeld, connected with the
mint bureau at washington, began weighing
the precious metals now on hand at the mint
In Philadelphia. 1t will take several days vet
70 complete the work. There are about 200. 600
ounces. or Is tons, OF bullion silver noa n the
mint, making the total value Of the gold and
silver On hand at 81, oe0. 00A al EIAa !