Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-11-24
Saint Maru's Beacon


science is the certain proof Of the
immense importance Of cold water TO
health. both as a remedy for and o
prevention Of disease.
But cold water should not be con-
founded with ice water, that is al
most as disastrous TO stomach, heart
and liver as a liquor or drug habit.
Cold water means the temperature
of spring water OF an October morn
ing, Just q crisp freshness about IL
but no shock. For drinking pur-
poses water should be cooled In an
ice box, just bottled or canned, but
never With ice in il, which is un-
hygienic as well as unaesthetic.
Physicians declare that very few
Americans drink enough water, that
the bad digestion, bad compilations,
bad nerves Of our city and town
people are largely due to the result
of not drinking sufficient cold water.
The system demands it's full al
lowance Of clear, cool, natural fluid
in order to do its work properly,
and breakfast coffee, luncheon choc-
olate and dinner cocktails are not
only a bad substitute, but worse
than none.
When the body is thirsty it's call
for water; at least half a pint be-
fore breakfast, another before going
to bed and three half pints during
the day, preferably not at meals.
II is an excellent\ plan every
morning and night before drinking
the water, TO rinse the mouth with
a solution of warm water and borax.
Just a pirch OF powder in bali a
tumbler OF water. 1t gives the wa
ter a deliciously fresh taste besides
sweeteniIg the mouth, hardening
the gums and cleansing the teeth.
A course OF this cold water treat
ment is worth trying IL just for sake
Of a hearty appetite and rosy cheeks
To get the best value of your Of
fort you should accompany the cold
water drinking with daily morn
ing cold bath.
The bath should be taken before
the drink, SO that there is not the
faintest chance OF arresting even the
simple process Of digesting water,
A cold bath is only success with
an empty stomach.
While the water is running in the
tub prepare for the slight shock of
the first plunge by taking long
breaths at an open window. Wrap
ped in wool bath gown, there will
be no danger of catching cold, and
two or three minutes long slow in
haling and exhaling fresh air will
start the circulation so that there is
no hesitation about q cold water
bath, rather a sense of enjoyment of
it. But il at the very start you
should still be at all sensitive to the
straight cold plunge, stand at the
edge of the tub, lean over, and dash
cold water over the face, arms, neck,
chest and throat. Dry thoroughly
with a crash towel, and plunge in
first one leg and then the other.
After a week of this sort of tenn
PORTING you will be able to take the
straight plunge. That is of course
il the room is warm. A cold bath
in a cold room may be fine herois m
for athletic boys, but is more than
likely to prove dangerous TO the
average woman who has not much
power Of reaction.
The daily tepid bath usually taken
by women in winter may be luxuri-
Gus and cleansing, but it is no sub
stitute for the health giving power
of the cold water. It's the sting of
the cold that starts the blood coursinp
throughlungs and heart, that warns
the hands and feet and gives q fine
color to the cheeks. A cold bath
should be taken quickly always fol-
lowed by a crash towel rub and
always in soft water.
Much of the value of the cold bath
is lost if the water is hard, the pores
are clogged rather than opened, il
is impossible to dry the skin
quickly, and it is left with clammy
sensation that is depressing. Il
also make sensitive skin rough. and
SO coarsens il.
Where rain water can be had no.
thing is better. Ii is an emolient
as well as stimulant TO the cuticle.
but in town and city the water sup
ply is artificial and it is the excep-
ton to find it soft.
Fortunately hard water is not an
irrevocahle misfortune. The worst
mineral water can be softened with
pure borax. Two tablespoonfuls of
pure borax viii soften the tub of
water 70 the mellowness of rain wa
ter. And in addition to its beneti-
cial effects in the water il has medi-
cinai properties that actually stimu.
late the action of the skin, and
whiten il.
In fact there is no simpler, more
economical. really enjoyable way of
keeping or .improvin0 ona's h.ol.h