Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-01
THE BATHING SEASON.
The Great Danger of Ignorant and In
discreet Bathing.

From Medical Classics.
The bathing season, though not vet ad-
vanced, has already been marked by the levy
OF that fatal tribute which year by year is ex-
acted Of the ignorant and the indiscreet. The
recent death by drowning of young man sug-
gests one cause of accident which is too apt to
be overlooked The deceased had entered the
water soon after partaking Of hearty meal,
and the fatal result was attributed to cerebral
congestion (effusion Of blood in or upon the
brain), due to sudden immersion at such a
time. 1t may be well, therefore, to consider
shortly some reasons why the practice of bath
ing soon after meals is justly condemned A
natural result Of cold immersion at this stage
Is to encourage or induce a tendency to syn-
cope, to concentrate surface blood still more
about the central organs including the heart,
which, especially II at all unequal to its
duties, labors Intellectually to readjust thu
blood pressure, and finally succumbs, with
lungs and venous system engorged by passive
congestion. 1t is as if an enemy occupied the
outworks of fortress left for time I'M
guarded, and forthwith paralyzed the resistance
Of the citadel. 1t is best. therefore to wait for
at least an hour and half or two hours after a
good meal before bathing. Another danger to
be avoided Is that of cramp. This is partic-
ulariy apt to occur after severe exercise or
long immersion. The effect of cold being to
prolong the contraction, while exhaustion
lowers both the power and the elastic recoil of
muscle, 1t is evident that we have in a COM
bination OF these forces all that is required for
the production OF this dangerous condition.
The obvious warning implied in these remarks
requires no further admonition to impress the
fact that the bather in cold water must be
economical of time and free from any appreci-
able signs of muscular exhaustion.
Moral. Don't battle just after a meal
z Don't battle when fatigued. Digest and rest,
and then battle.
An hour before noon and before going to bed
are the best times to battle. The average dura-
ton OF the bath should be from five to ten
minutes for children, fifteen minutes for women
and but little longer for men. To delay much
beyond these periods is a pernicious practice.
inviting debility and injury. How often one
sees, IN stroll along popular sea beach,
groups OF drenched, miserable objects with
blue lips. chattering teeth, and wrinkled
clammy skin. who have been spending half a
morning in alternately plunging into the waves
and walking about, dripping, in the cool air.
They return from what should have been an
inylgorating dip in a condition approaching
collapse. Such abuse Of sea bathing is, unfor-
tunately, too common, even among those who
have sought the seaside for the improvement
The immediate effect of cold bath is to
chill the surface Of the body, the temperature
OF which, as tested by Thermometer, may fall
several degrees-as much even as three or four.
The skin becomes pale. the lips blue, there il
chilliness, shivering, goose-skin, and the breath
has spasmodic and catching character.
Cold bathing 10 salutary under certain condi-
tions OF the system, while in others IL Il capa-
BILE of great harm. 1t benefits the strong and
robust and it can be made q restorative and
tonic-a revitalizer-to the rundown" when
wisely and tudciously used. Aged people
should use it with much care, and not oftener
than every other day, and should not remain
In the water longer than ten minutes at the
most. Persons who have heart or kidney dis
ease, and those in q feeble state of health,
should not indulge.
The ferry boat Beckwith was libeled yester-
day by the Canadian custom officials for carry
ing passengers mp the Canadian shore. The
hsad tax q N a x<xSg .. a. a