Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1884-09-12
Air aud Sun Baths.

Air and Sun Baths.
There is no more valuable mode OF
treatment, in cases of depressed vital
function, and general systematic weak
ness, than that Of air bathing. The
method to be followed Is, in most cases,
by no means difficult, as will be sppaf-
emit to the reader as he peruses the fol-
lowing brief directions, which are given
by contributor to the Journal Of Chspl-
istry. 1t should be said, by way of in
PRODUCTION, that the writer's conclusions
are the outcome of careful study on the
sabject: "The air bath is a means of re-
cuperation which needs to be inteli-
gently and carefully adopted, and, like
all other good things, must not be
abused. There are hundreds of thous-
sands of people of both sexes in this
country who lead miserable lives. And
yet they are not in bed-not, perhaps,
confined to their dwellings. They suf-
fer from nervous prcstration, from inn
perfect digestion and assimilation, from
worry, from overwork, from the care OF
households, etc. A vast number in the
mighty army of invalids are not
themselves to blame for their ply
steal weakness; the idiosyncrasies of
organization come by Inheritance. Her
edity is the cause of one-half of all the
misery in the world. Now, the air-bath
comes to the feeble and physically i'm
poverished as a kind and good friend (;
and let US see how we can obtain from
it the highest good. Nearly all semi
invalids are inclined to sedentary habits,
and as the circulation is languid, the
body, in winter, is under a persistent
chill. In the morning, upon getting out
of bed, the clothing cannot be too
quickly adjusted, as the body is in a
SILVER, and the air of cool room is the
thing to be dreaded The morning is
the time for the air-bath, and all that is
required is a hair-cloth mitten and a
moderately cool room. When the in
valid steps from the bed to the floor
in the morning, let the hair glove OF
mitten be seized, and without re-
moving the night clothes proceed to
rub gently all parts of the body, at
the same time walking about the
room until feeling of fatigue is
experienced; then drop the glove, and
gently pass the hand over all parts Of
the body before resuming the clothing.
Unless the nude body is extremely sensi-
tive to cold, portion may be exposed
to the air for a few moments while in
motion, even on the first morning.
The next morning jump out of bed,
in moderately cool room, and go ovel
the same process as before, remaining
little longer exposed to the air after tho
rubbing. The third morning repeat this
treatment; and on the fourth, or at the
end of week, take off all the night
clothing and briskly apply the hair glove
first with the right hand and then will
the left, all the time walking about
Following up this, as the degree o
strength permits, morning after morning
until the body is so reiuvenated and thu
blood so attracted to the surface that the
cool air is felt to be luxury. Let tn,
body be entirely nude-no socks upol
the feet, no scarf about the chest. A
first, or after the first week, perhaps tn
exposure to the pure, cool air may b.
three or four minutes; soon increase tn
exposure, until, after month or two
the air-bath may continue for twent,
minutes or half an hour. Do not fail t.
walk about during the first month, using
the hands in polishing the skin. Afte
the first month the patient may sit in tn
air of the room part of the time, but con
slant, gentle exercise is best. Now
another most important curative agen
connected with the air bath is sunlight
In summer sunlight is accessible, but il
winter only the late risers can secure it
benefits. If possible, sit and walk in tn
sunlight during the bath. 1t is astonish
ING what the direct actinic rays of tn
morning sun can do for an invalid whe.
the whole nude body is brought unde
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