Evening star., 1903-08-01
HYGIENE OF SEA BATHS
TEMPTATION OF PEOPLE AT
BEACHES TO ovERDo THE SPORT.
Men Should Not Blister Themselves
in the Sun or Pickle Them
selves in Salt,

From the New York Herald
While the bathing season IL at its height
such as have the privileges that II accords
should be able to use them to the best ad-
vantages OF pleasure and health. Nothing
Is more exhilaratin9 and refreshing to the
strong and healthy individual than a
plunge In the surf, and nothing more harm
full and dangerous to a delicate person
who may overtax his powers OF endurance
In following the example
The opportunity for overindulgence in all
pleasures is the constant temptation to the
indiScreet With most of those who during
thei.' vacation must necessarily pay well
for What they there 10 always a
deSire to get the worth OF their money.
TGus the shore is constantly peopled with
slvering mortals who never seem 10 know
low TO get enough OF a good thing and is
crowded with beach loungers who blister
ard pickle themselves for hours In their
Salt-soaked bathing suits and vainly try to
tougnen themselves to their new environ
me,tt.
Foolhardy Exposure.
All such practices are not only unhyg1enic.
but in most instances foolhardy and dan
gcrous. Very many by thus violating all
the accepted rules for healthful bathing
have been not only attacked by acute Ill
nesSes due to exposure. but have laid the
foundation of diseases of the vital organs
which have made them more or less per-
manent invaiids.
The powerful impressions made upon the
body by extremes OF heat cold need no
demonstration. The only protection against
these influences Is a prompt reaction to the
shock. In the former instance a profuse
perspiration rapidly cools the body and in
the latter a healthy glow after a plunge
gives stimulation to the entire system. IL
ia a
feeling of warmth the bath is always detrt-
mental. Hence weak and old persons whose
skin circulation is languid and those whose
heart action is poor should not risk cold
immersion. With active swimmers the
dangers always less than with such
as are content to merely wade on the beach
with the upper part OF the BODY exposed 10
the rapidly evaporating effects of cool
ing breeze.
Swimming and Bathing.
Complete immersion obviously eQualiZes
the skin circulation. At the same time the
continuous exercise OF striking out main
tains 1t to the extent of allowing the strong
man to remain sometimes for hours IN the
water without harm. But the majority OF
summer bathers by no means belong to
such class. In the comparatively short
time allotted to their stay II is Impossible
for them to SO harden themselves as to to
immune against many OF the dangers that
may threaten them. What might be
mere recreation :'or the trained swimmer
might be death to them.
To who has not been accustomed to
the cool waters OF the shore certain pre-
cautionary measures are necessary before
venturing too much. Preliminary overhead
ing must be avoided. The body must be
gradually cooled before entering the water.
especially the head and neck. and then the
immersion Is better II quickly and COM
be only temporary and followed almost i'm
mediately by a sense OF warmth. SO long
as the latter continues while the body is
under water it is safe to prolong the bath,
but when a secondary chill ensues the per
son should take to the shore Immediately
and secure reaction by vigorous rubbing
The obvious benefits of sea bathing, the
pure fresh breeze. the stimulating, salty
waves the bracing effects of the swashins
surf and the invigorating reaction from the
plunge. can be obtained safely and easily
without a prolonged soaking in brine and
without q protracted exposure on shore.
A few minutes for the bath is all that Is
absolutely necessary. The ulunge, the
shock the reaction and the after rub give
all the real satisfaction that any one can
expect In a reasonable time well spent
What is really obtained in an ocean dip Is
the purely tonic and bracing erect or
temporary and cooling shock. 1t is the
dive and the swim against the soak and the
shiver The mere cleansing OF the skin Is
u secondary indication, as 1t can never be
so satisfactorily accomplished as by fresh
water with a minimum amount OF salt ana
ing bathing rig.
The Cramp.
Aside from the always dreadful accident
of drowning there many other catas-
trophies to be guarded against. Muscular
cramps in deep water cause more deaths,
even among good swimmers. than most OF
other unexpected occurrences. They usu-
ally attack the muscles Of the legs. and not
infrequently involve those OF the trunk, IN
either case causing the helpless victim to
sink rapidly. These attacks generally fol-
low long immersion, and are due to over
muscular strain. They come, as rule.
without warning. and generally during q
long SWIM a fact which should be remen.
bersd by such as venture far from shore
and beyond the reach of immediate help.
Swimming shortly after eating, always
dangerous in itself. is especially 80 IN con-
nect1on with its tendency to produce the
colicky pains which often precede the
fatal abdominal spasm. For this and other
reasons an accepted rule is never to battle
until two three hours after q meal. and
not any account partako again OF food
until reaction has been fully established.
Very many persons do not appreciate the
Importance of these injunctiOns and col
lapse from the acute indigestion which tho
shock and cold directly induce Often.
too, hotel hours are not arranged to suit
the tides. but the prudent bather might
better miss a meal than run a risk. The
practfced diver need not be told this. as
his earnest advocacy of the early morning
plunge most abundantly attests.