The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-15
BATHING IN MEXICO.
SEA BATHS REGARDED AS A REM
EOY FOR HYOROPHOBIA.


Some Parts of Mesiso-Some Queer
| Ideas-Customs at the Capitas-Ap-
parent Lack Il Dignity.
| 1t NAV be stated as general rule that
| on the coast Of Mexico bathing is more
| frequent than in lakes and rivers. owing
| to the curative properties of sea water,
| and in some instances on account OF ell
| matte conditions. In Vera Cruz. for in
| stance, during the heated term. sea baths
| are Of almost universal use. nOtwithstand-
| ing that sharks are SO numerous in the
| waters thereabouts that bathing places
| have TO be palisaded in guarded by boats
| filled with men TO beat the water, and
| otherwise protected against the inroads
of the sanguinary monsters. At the castle
of San Juan de Ulua, just outside this
port, there is large, eEcellently arranged
| bath house for the use of the officers at
| tho castle and their families, and the
present writer remembers 10 similar ex
periencc more pleasant than plunge
| therein. enjoyed after mornings tramp
around the island fortress, climbs 10 the
top Of the lighthouse and signal towers
| and other such gentle exercise scarcely in
keeping with the scorching heat Of sum
mer days there.
On the coast of Barlovento, particularly
about Misantla, where rabid dogs are
frightfully numerous, sen baths are re.
garded as a sovereign remedy for hydro.
phobia When mad dog runs amuck
there the parties bitten are bundled Off 10
the shore as speedily as possible, and put
through a course of fortnights system
attic bathing. The Oldest inhabitants de
clare that hydrCphobia has never been
known to develop in Il patient who has
undergone this treatment Domestic ami.
mails with the trouble are subjected TO the
same process, and it is said the results
are equally etiicacious save in the case Of
mules, with which it is utterly futile.
FEVER AND AGUE.
On the other hand. although this section
is blessed with On Astounding number of
beautiful streams and rivers, bathing
therein is extremely unpopular. the in
habltants declaring that river bathing is
sure 10 produce caient;lras fever and
ague), especially if one walk at all in the
sun-a performance hardly 10 be avoided
unless one condemns oneself TO prison
like scclusion During considerable
stay ia Mislntla the writer. accustomed
to cold bath every morning. used TO rise
at dawn. ride the mile or 80 10 Il particu-
larry fine bathing place at the river, take
glorious plunge, tramp about all day IN
the tropical sun in quest of butterflies,
coleoptcrs and "~irh like spCciwens Of
natural history: AID toward evening again
wend TO the river. entering tie water hot
and debiitatcd, yet never shake of
calenturas appeared Cne rides past the
little ranches or villages in that section
and sees the people painting like lizards
from the heat. inert languid and useless.
Before their doors runs abundance of
clear, cool water, and yet they sweltcr in
their hot and dirty misery. I'm the state
of Morelos. particularly in the Cuernayaca
and Cacahuamilpa district. baths, whether
cool or otherwise, Gr' said 10 produce
calenturas if taken in the evening, while
in the morning they may be indulged in
with impunity.
In the same way all over the republic
there are queer ideas a. to the pernici0ns
effects of bathing at certain times or un-
der certain conditions Few things call
the attention Of MeXicau5 more strongly
than the eagerncss with which Anglo
Saxons seek the bath Oh coming off Il
journey; the people here prefer to retain
the dust of the road and other discom
forts attendant on travel for some days
at least after debarking firmly convinced
that the other course would result In a
bad cold, at least To bathc, having a
cold would be to sign the death warrant;
and one often sees people under these
conditions who have not so much as
touched the tips of their fingers to water
for fortnight This Is peculiarly awl;
ward stumbling block fer those who de
sire the practice of cleanliness by their
servants. In chihuahua, for instance.
it is almost impossible to induce the ser
want class to keep themselves tidy TO the
degree of their presence near one being
endurable In other cities also the writer
remembers to have suffered Il species Of
martyrdom from the proximity Of the
people serving at table, yet their masters |
seemed to perceive nothing unpleasant, |
not Notwithstanding they we're people of the !
highest rank, and themselves Of exquisite
personal habits.
BATHS AT THE CAPITAL.
In the City of Mexico the inhabitants of |
the better order, as general rule. battle |
freely, aud they laugh TO scorn the pro |
vincial prejudices on this point, seeing in |
frequent baths one Of the best preventivcs |
of rheumatism, typhoid, pneumonia and
other ills that flesh is here heir TO, owing |
to the dampness and bad drainage. Il
have a bad cold coming on must go and |
take shower bath, " is remark very |
often heard here One is always recon.
mended to walk for exercise after bathing |
in this city, as one is apt to be chilled II
one enters Immediately tho houses, as a |
rule rather damp and gloomy. Il am |
going to take a bath; will it please you |
to accompany me?' is a very common |
speech With the Mexicans who have tho |
habit Of inviting one to partalie of what
ever they indulge in at the moment, be 1t |
coffee, drink, dinner, ride, a drive, or |
whatnot, including a bath, as aforesaid.
Mexican men of good standing, lawyers, |
merchants, etc, may be met going to the |
baths guil.less of linen, the coat put on |
directly over the undershirt. sometimes
with handkerchief or scarf about the |
neck, at others showing the bare throat, |
and il they chance to meet ladies of their |