The record-union., 1893-06-21
BATHS AND BATHING.
Essential to Good Complexion and
Healthy Skin.
Absolutely Necessary to Our Physical
Well-Being and Safeguard
Against Disease.

Well-Befng and q Safeguard
Against Disease.
Bathing is essential to a good complex
Ion and healthy skin. The importance
OF cleanliness as factor in the health Of
the community can scarcely be over
rated, and yet. seeing that this is a recog-
nlzed fact, surely it is strange and un-
worthy of our much-vaunted civilization
That the immense advantage of public
baths is only now, in the last days of the
nineteenth century, receiving the atten-
ton that the importance of the matter de-
mands. Public bathing establishments
are now at last springing up in every
large town, sign of progress we well
come with much approval. Our ancestors
were Tar before us in this matter, and we
may take some shame to ourselves that
we nave been so tardy in following the
good example set us by the ancient ma
uons of the world. All the ancient peo-
pies OF whom records exist were ac-
quainted with the physical benefits to be
derived from the application of heat and
eolo 10 the human frame through the me
uiuln OF baths, medicinal and otherwise
1nelr use Is even carried back to the days
OF mythology, and we hear of the first
paths Delng consecrated to Hercules, a
bath being prepared for that muscular
nero by Minerva herself.
Hlppocrates testifies to the valne Of the
oatnlng establishments which were be-
coming universal in his day. From Plu-
tarch ana Josephus we hear of the baths
tnen IN existence, and from Pliny we
ma that Applus Claudius was responsi-
ble for the first public baths built in
Rome IN the year Al. From inyestiga-
ton amongst Roman remains, too, in our
own country, we see for ourselves how
important place in the domestic ar
rangements of those olden days was ac-
corded to the bathrooms.
Win The increased luxury of the latter
Gays OF the Roman Empire the public
Datns became more and more maguiti-
cent and costly, so much so that it was
SAID these buildings were erected rather
Win the view OF comforting glory upon
their founders than that of benefting the
public. They were built on scale which
appears extravagant III the extreme to
our modern ideas. Some of the baths in
Roma are said to have accommodated
5.0OO bathers. a supply such as this
would certainly far exceed the demand in
England at the present day, for we are
tar from recognizing the necessity of that
daily bath which would seem to have
been usual amongst all classes in the davs
of which we speak.
And the use of the baths was bv no
means confined to the Romans and
Greeks. Amongst Eastern nations they
held rank only second to that of the
mosques. In Spain their use was revived
by the Moors, and thence spread to other
nations In Europe. Perhaps the Russians,
among continental nations, will take the
palm IN the present day in this matter,
for almost every village and hamlet In
the north can boast of Its public baths. 1t
Is, therefore, surely strange fact that in
England alone, where we claim to lead
the van in matters OF practical progress.
we are only now beginning to understand d
the great importance Of making this pro-
vision for the national health. Unfortu-
nately, the British public, in this as in
other questions for the advancement OF
its good, does not go half-w to meet
any individual efforts in that direc-
ton. We are so suspicious lest those who
are responsible for the suggestion Of any
new departure may be, after all, only TAX :
ing advantage OF us under the plea that it
is Tor the common good, that we are dis
posed to meet all such efforts with oppo-
sition. Yet we may congratulate our
selves that there has been some improve
with the progress of education there must
come to the nation at large a better
knowledge of the physical laws of health.
and that knowledge will surely tend to
make us more ready to further auy prO-
ject for the good of the community that
may be advanced.
1t is certain that proper bathing is alb
solutely necessary TO our physical we'll
being, and safeguard against disease
which should not be neglected. The pres-
ent time Is particularly appropriate Tor
the consideration OF this question. in the
face OF the visitation OF cholera which
may be so near us. 1t is well known that
cleanliness is the greatest preventive for
this as we'll as many other diseases. and
we should do well to take to heart that
ott-quoted proVerD that cleanliness is
next to goodness" "A frequent and
thorough cleansing of the whole surface
OF our bodies" has an effect upon our
general health which can hardly be over
rated. W hen we consider that the prin-
ciples of medicinal and thermal baths
were fully understood by all the great
nations OF the world, and that the excel i
lence OF their public health was, no doubt.
mainly due to this tact, we cannot but
own that the subject is an important one.
and with the immense increase OF knowl-
edge IN nlcroScoplcal and pathological
sciences in our time, and the light which
this scientific progress has thrown on
much that was unknown to our forefath-
ers, we snail see that it is one which can
not be put aside.
Now let US see what is the actual effect
produced on our skin by the action of
baths. From scientific men we learn
that the skin IS composed of several
parts. The outer, or scarf skin, is being
constantly cast of from our bodies in
tiny scales, but these are prevented from
escaping because of our clothes, and he
ing retained against the surface, they be-
come mingled with the perspiration. and
thin crust is formed, which causes pores
OF the skin to be blocked up, and respira-
tory action is thus checked. The skin
will then become irritated and damp and
cold, from the attraction OF saline oarti-
cles, and will thus be a ready medium
for the transmission of poisonous gases
or infectious vapors. The pores beinp
choked up, the elements of these trans
fused fluids will be thrown upon the sys-
tenn, and removed by other organs than
the skin-by the lungs, kidnevs and
liver. This explanation proves the ne
cessity OF daily washing and bathing.
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