Evening star., 1902-08-15
VIRTUES OF THE BATH
A COLD PLUNGE IN THE MORNING
GOOD FOR HEALTHY MEN.
While Not Balm for Every Ill, It
Is Great
Fonic.

From the Baltimore American. -=
In warm, sticky days. il there Is one thing
more than another better calculated to pre-
pare the average person to sustain the heat
ana TO make him comfortable II is a mern-
Ing plunge into a tub of cold water Nearly
every one performs ablutions of some sort
every morning, but the number who patron
ize the most invigorating of all, the cold
plunge. is small This is the season for in
itiation, and If begun now, by winter the
shock attendant on such a sudden leap
from morning slumbers into the midst Of a
tub OF water about 80 degrees below blood
neat viii have given place to keen pleasure.
1t is not sufficient to take a bath two or
even three times a week: take one every
morning, and the humidity will seem less
oeoilitating and ones vitality greater than
ever before.
Plunge Bravely In.
With the first sign of awakening spring
out Of bed before thought is given to the
shivery sensation of getting into cold water;
convince oneself that it will not be so bad,
and then plunge boldly in. After the first
gasp of surprise at the sudden change Of
temperature the coldness will prove agree
able. and then the bather congratulatas IS
himself on having ventured 1t. Only stay
In the tub minute, then climb out, rub
br1Skly with flesh brush spray the sntira
body with water few degrees above freez-
ing point. and end by toweling with wire
aHalr that will make the blood tingle and
cause the bather to feel like entering a
hurdle race against a Sheepshead Bay fa-
vorite.
AS time passes the cold water advocate
Will find himself looking forward to his
morning plunge and rundown with plea
anticipation, and In a remarkably short
period ne will note beneficial results from
the practlce. Even in winter such bat hs may
pc taken, unless the person be extremely
oeilcate, without danger of taking cold or
increasing one already caught Afterward
breakfast will be eaten with increased ap-
petlte and the partaker of it will feel bet
ter, both mentally and physically.
OF course. there are some who carry hath
ing IN cold water to extremes; who declare
that 1t Is remedy for all ills, outward and
inward. that flesh is heir to- These en-
thusiasts, though they have the truth nf
principle on their side over reach sense In
making claims for hobby. AS a matter
OF 1act, many persons feel bad effects from
TINS practice that can be heard declared
palm for every Ill. These troubles how
ever, can more readily be traced TO- Other
conditions about the bather than to the
use or the cold water. For instance the
temperature of the room.
A Precaution.
The water should be between 20 and 40
degrees, and that of the room higher. so
that upon leaving the water the warmer
air Of the room may be very noticeable. At
the beginning Of the bath the water should
be about 20 degrees and a sponge should
be used to dash water over the BODY and
accustom 1t at once to the new thermal
condition. The bather. of course gasns
when first under the cold surface, but it is
this deep inbreathing that fills the lungs
and enables them to resume the functions
trey have partially abandoned during the
sleep.
The water should be made cooler each
morning until the bather can stand It at
90 degrees without discomfort About two
minutes Is the limit of time it is advisable
to spend In the tub at one time Then rub
with the flesh brush and dress, after dry
Ing the skin thoroughly with Turkish or
wire towels. II a person be particularly
sensitive to cold the water should be 90
degrees and only deep enough to reach to
the ankles. With feet in this warm water
spray tempered to 60 degrees NAV be
turned on the body, as this prevents the
nerve centers Of the feet being subjected
to the same degree of shock as they would
were they in contact with water of the
same temperature as that being passed
over the rest Of the body. Even in fever
cases water is being considered by prom
inent physicians as the best means with
which to fight high temperature