The Republican journal., 1883-02-15
Physical Training.
DIR. DUDLEY A. SARGENT ON "BATHING II.
USES AND ARISFS,3

DIR. DUDLEY A. SARGENT ON ''BATHING. ITS
USES AND ABUSES"
At the Union Hall, Boston, the other
evening, DR.. Dudley A. Sargent deliver
ed his fourth lecture in the course on
"Physical Training" the subject being
"Bathing; its Uses and Abuses" His
remarks were confined to the skin. and
he opened with an interesting descrip-
ton of that portion of the body, illustrat-
ed by a diagram section which he had
prepared upon the black board. He call
ed particular attention to the fact that
although people were much exercised
about the sewerage and drainage of the
city, comparatively little attention was
given to the proper care of the drainage
of the body. The sweat ducts or the
system Of tubes which throw off or drain
the refuse and filth from the body through
the skin, although only about one quar-
ter of an inch in length, when stretched
out would form continuous tube %
miles long from this, the Importance of
keeping these clear and unobstructed is
apparent. In referring to the functions
of the skin, DR.. Sargent spoke of it as a
respiratory organ, and cited the fact that
rowing men claim they are longer wind
ed'' when working in their bare skin
than when covered by jersey
Coming to the subject Of baths, he
touched upon the prevalence of the fash
ion of washing the face always with cold
water, and never with soap, claiming
both practices to be erroneous. The
plmples which come upon the face of
many people are caused by the discharge
from the oll-ducts Of the Skin and being
a fatty substance, becomes matted and
cannot be removed by the application of
simple cold water He claims that in
every case where parties troubled with
this humor have been brought to his no
tice and followed his directions all such
eruptions have disappeared. The rene
dy consists III washing twice a day in
warm water ana soap. For cleanliness
the ordinary bath should be twice a week
III warm water, not ottener as warm
baths tend to debilitate the system. On
the subject of cold baths he was most eX-
plicit, not advising any one to use them
| unless strong and vigorous, but iii case
| they were taken it should always be in
the morning and in warm room, while
the warm bath should be taken at night
before retiring, to avoid the danger Of
taking cold. Another bath which was
strongly advised was the "dry rub" it
having better cleaning effect often than
any other, the principle being the renov-
| al Of the dead scales Of the epdermis, as
| dust would be brushed from the window
sill, without the use of water. Hot and
| Turkish baths should only be tolerated
for medical purposes, while the shower
bath is even more acceptable than the
cold sponge, 1t having a toning effect up
on the nervous system. In speaking OF
| bathing after exercise, the tepld bath
was strongly urged and the cold bath
condemned, although the old fashioned
idea that going into the water while
| heated was detrimental to health and
dangerous was claimed to be an eNpl9d
ed one, provided the warmth and per
spiratlon were brought about 10y SIMPLE
running, and not by violent exercise
| such as gymnasium practice