Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-07-05
OUNCES OF PREVENTION.
The Question of Bathing.

Titus Muison Coan in Harper's Weekly.
A healthy person needs no preparation for
sea baths: he only needs to use intelligent pre-
cautions and to get rid of unintellgent preiu-
dlces- very injurious prejudice in this matter
is that Of the people who say, always coo, off
before going into the water" The truth of the
case Is exactly the reverse. The natural instinct
In this matter may be safely followed by every
healthy person, and the natural instinct is to GO
warm. not cold, into the water. You cannot.
indeed be too warm. under any ordinary cir
cumstances. for bath in the summer streams
or sea. Unless you are actually exhausted with
fat igue, it is safer to enter cool water before
I cooling or than afterward; the more cooling
Off you permit yourself the less you are in con-
ditOn to resist and to enjoy the lower tempera-
ture of the water. The schOol-boy perspiring
from his games. the workman from his labor.
the colt racing in the summer pastures know
very well what is good for them when they
plunge into the stream without waiting to "cool
OF"
OF course there are rational precautions which
must he borne in mind. The water must not be
too cold for comfort; the bather must not stay
In too lcng. And how long is long enough?
The rule is that the swimmer must not over
look the first sensation of cold that comes over
him, and sooner or later this sensation will
come even to the stoutest swimmer. 1t will
come the sooner with the weaker individual
and with the colder water it will come the later
in proportion as the swimmers own animal heat
Is abundant and the water is warm. The proper
duration of Il bath will thus vary indefinitely
accordin. to the circumstances.
The proper duration of bath is the resultant
OF three factors: tn" strength or vital heat of
the Individual bather. the amount of exercise
he takes While in the water, whether by SWIM
ming or otherwise, and the temperature OF the
water itself OF course no one can say before
hand. either for himself or another. how long
any bath should last: but the practical rule Is
very simple. and will repeat it: it is to leave
the water before you begin to SILVER: to STAY
longer is to take certain amount of risk, which
wares with the strength of the individual con-
stitution. In proportion as one is active and
expert III swimming will both the safe duration
and the enjoyment of the bath be increased
swimming is fatiguing exercise to those who
are ilnperectly practiced in it. or out of prac-
tce; but even to them. In moderation. it is
strongly tonic. Nothing more promotes good
sleep ant! good appetite But when the accom-
pi!shmeEt is well matured. and kept in hand
from day 20 day. there is no better exercise
Skating III the winter and swimming in the
summer are sufficient training to form the con-
sttution and to make the athlete and these are
exercises that are available for a larger part of
the world OF young and vigorous persons
IMAM MISUNDERSTANDING is. or even rowing.
having pointed out one current fallacy about
swimming, let me point out another. Every
plent advice to bathers. of which the formula
usually runs pretty much as follows:
ITO Persons About TO DrO,cn-Retain your
presence OF mind as if you were in your own
rarlor. Throw yourself promptly on your back
Cease to struggle. Simply keep your nose out
OF the water. and breathe through your nose,
and you will float. and presently some one will
come and pull you ashore"
Now we all read this every summer and per-
haps some Of US believe it, What are the facts?
hn1r fnf is
cases out CT ten heavier than fresll-water so
that You will nfallibly go the bottom in spite of
your prcSonce of mind unless you can swim.
2. The human body is little lighter than
saltwater. and aperson might float upon his
back If he were provided with tank or other
perfectly smooth surface for the experiment.
But
3. Yachting accidents. shipwrecks, and other
sea casualties do not usually occur in perfectly
smooth water, and person who should try
TINS plan In saltwater In case of need could only
float If the water was perfectly smooth and If
ne held his nose accurately skyWard. The least
submcrsiOn OF the face by the waves. and our
foater is gone as hopelessly as if in fresh
water.
This question (recently discussed by German
SCIENTIST have repeatedly verified by expert
menting On the floating and sinking quafca-
lions OF the human body. In many trials have
not found single person who can float in fresh
water except during full inspiration of air.
Some experts. by taking very rapid and full
inspirations. can keep afiOat for time in fresh
water. without moving hands or feet. But they
sink promptly in making the ordinary respra-
tory movements. How much sooner would
person ignorant OF swimming sink No. there IS
no way of keeping afioat that is quite SO good
as knowing how to swim. The art is easiest
learned in saltwater, for the reason | have
pointed cut. And whenever any one of nv nom
swimming readers comes across the cOnVen-
tional eyhortation to retain his presence OF
mind ami keep his nose out of water let
him use his presence of mind in going to
swimming school.