Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-07
OUNCES OF PREVENTION.
Sea-Bathinx Fer InyalilS.

From Harrer's Weekly
Sea-bathingis not a cure-all; yet there are few
classes Of people to whom 1t may not bring
some benefit. For delicate constitutions, and
for many Of the complaints of debility, bath
ing is a powerful tonic; It is medicinal for many
inyalds. For persons In ordinary health a
plunge in the sea Is a pleasure while for the
strong swimmer it is a delight; and either tor
the athlete or the infant there is no better eXer-
else than holding your own against the dancing
waves More than all, swimming Is not the
least useful OF the accomplishments; it will save
hundred lives for one that is saved, for in-
stance. by eioquerce, as when Cesar, during
storm at sea, spoke SO much to the point to his
pilot. But let Us keep to the hygieuic questions
that are connected with this extensive theme.
And first, OF sea-bathin9 for the delicate. OF
the many persons who are in need of a tonic
and strengthening treatment, there are but few
who will not derive benefit from sea-bathing,
provided only that they will make haste slowly,
and bear in mind the necessary precautions.
The question of the sea temperature is an
important one for safe beginning. The water
must be warm enough. A chief source of benefit
III SEA or river bathing is. indeed, the coOlness
o. the temperature, and the consequent healthy
glow of warmth caused by the rushing OF blood
10 the skin on leaving the water, and the stimu-
lating influence upon the visccra. But all this is
toe active treatment for the invalid at the begin
ming; one must be educated up to the tolerance
of the cold bath.
At some of the French seaside resorts and
recently at some of our own, as at Marblehead.
the excellent plan is followed of giving prepa-
ratory baths OF warm sea-water indoors. 1t is
good beginning for some very delicate women,
who find even the summer heat of the Medter-
ranean as degrees to 80 degrees Fair. too cool
at the outset. But whenever this Initiation is
practiced, it should not be long one. The arti-
fetal warmth of the bath should be lessened day
by day, until after moderate time it is reduced
nearly to that of the sea, and the patient is
proven strong enough to cultivate more init
mate and !nyigorating acquaintance with old
Ocean himself
For this purpose calm warm and sunny day
should be chosen; windy day should be par
ticularly avoided, for the evaporation from the
clothes and the body is then so rapid as to chill
the bather both on entering and leaving the
water. Meier 90 into cold bath ,chen you feel
cold. This We'll applies to all bathers. whether
strong or delicate. To make it effective, 1t is
desirable to lose no time after beginning to I'M
dress in getting into the water. The best time
of the day Is two or three hours after eating,
and preferably In the forenoon. 1t may be borne
in mind that the beach and the waves themselves
are generally cleaner during the ebb tide than
during the flood; and 1t liz desirable that the
air should be warm as well as the sea. The sun
being we'll out, the first bath from the beach
may be taken. and it should be q very brief one
lasting no longer than is necessary to wet the
body from head to foot On leaving the water
the bather should strip and be rubbed dry, and
this Immediately. lndolent bathers run more
risk by lingering and shivering in their wet
clothes than from any amount Of swimming.
The glow of warmth which should follow the
bath represents more than the activity Of the
superficial circulation: 1t meaDs also reaction
upon the central organs and vscera. When this
occurs. the bather is receiving benefit, and will
receive more; he may be assured that the vital
powers are sufficient to profit by the stimulus.
A cold bath that is followed by no reaction is
useless and may be a dangerous thing. But
sea-bath taken not less frequently than every
other day during the season august Is gener-
ally the best month; 10 July and September the
sea-water is nearly as warm) is most effective
treatment for nervous complaints, diseases Of
debility. headaches, neuralgia, hypochondria
and anImia. There are sea fanatics who con-
slider the saltwater as cure-all / am not a
sea fanatic, but sea-baths have great virtues of
their own.
l. They produce the tonic reaction just men,
toned; 2. They provide lively gymnastic eXer
else for the bather, whether in holding himself
upright against the shock of the waves, or in
moving over them or diving through them as an
expert swimmer; and 3. An almost always pleas
urable mental excitement attends the bath. l
take no account of the effect OF the salts con-
tanned in the water, though this is reckOned by
some rather visionary German writer's on the
subject as having an appreciable medicinal
Vaiue. 1t may be thrown in gratis as doubt
full quantity, the human skin having. as have
already said, little power of absorption. But
sea-NaIeT mas q virtue WHICH tncSe somewhat
visionary doctors. not being themselves swim
mers. and therefore to that extent being i'm
practicable men, have failed to count in their
enumeration of the advantages of bathing. Its
contained salts make sea-water about two and
half per cent heavier than fresil-water and
therefore noticeably more buoyant, and there
fore considerably easier medium tor the
learnerin swimming
In another paper we will advance the invalid
from her two minutes dip into salt water on
sunny morning to the status Of re-instated
health and spirits, and permit to her strength
enough to begin learning the delightful art of
natatIOn. TITUS MUNSON COAN.