Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09

who can intelligently measure its effects and
not self prescribed or used in a haphazard,
it-or-miss fashion, after some vague do
mestic or semiprofessional nursing formula.
This article will confne itself, therefore, to
the question of the use of water as a health
preserver, and to those emergencies when
some simple application of its powers may
safely be employed.
Bathing Hints
WITHOUT stopping to compute the
w number of bacteria on the overwashed,
as suggested by Sir Almoth E. Wright, we
submit that the value of the daily impact of
water upon that great organ, the skin, IS
better shown by comparing the loathely
countenance of the unwashed with the glow
ing face and clear complexion of the daily
bather.
For robust individuals, with smoothly
working nervous machinery, the daily cold
plunge or shower is healthful routine. The
Turkish or Russian bath should certainly not
be taken oftener than once a week. The
supposed dirt that rolls off so freely during
a Turkish bath is mostly epithelium cells,
which form the natural protection of the
body. Excessive warm bathing and scrub
bling NAV remove too much of this protec-
tive cuticle.
Anemc individuals with poor circulation,
especially women and children, and those
on the borderland of disease, Inconsistencies,
psychosthenics, etc.-may be seriously in
iured by injudicious cold bathing. Such
people should battle daily, but by a gradu-
ated system which trains their nerves and
blood vessels to beneficial response, and
also determines the limits within which such
response can be elected. The bather should
stand in about a foot of water, at about one
hundred and four degrees Fahrenheit, while
the body is briskly rubbed with rough
washcloth, wrung out of water at about
eighty degrees Fahrenheit. Beginning, if
necessary, with only part of the body, each
day larger surface may be treated, and the
temperature of the water gradually reduced
to fifty degrees. If an agreeable reaction is
established by such procedure, the cold "af
fusion may then be substituted. Beginning
at about ninety degrees, water from pitcher
may be dashed over the body, as the bather
stands in water at one hundred and four.
Lower the temperature every few days
until fifty to sixty degrees is reached. Brisk
friction should be used throughout the bath.
Where there IS strong water pressure, the
needle spray may be well borne; but slow,
feeble spray may be merely chilling, and pro-
woke no reaction. The cold bath should be
avoided, except on medical advice, by all
who suffer from rheumatism, govt, kidney
trouble, heart trouble, or other serious chron-
ic affection.
Value of the Hot Bath or Pack
THE hot BATH one hundred and six to one
hundred and ten degrees, is never re-
uuired in a condition of health. Lower tenn
peratures suffice for mere cleaning bath.
This measure is so frequently used in emer
gencies, however, that word regarding its
proper application is advisable. The bath
tub should be filled with sufficient water to
submerge the patients body completely to
the neck. The temperature should be one
hundred and two at the start, and gradually
increased to a hundred and ten degrees, ac
cording to the patients susceptibility and
tolerance Not more than fifteen minutes
should be spent in such a bath, and less if the
bather feels faint. On rising, the bather is
wrapped in a hot sheet, and put to bed,
thoroughly and completely enveloped in sew
eral blankets, in order to prevent the escape
of heat. After thorough sweating has taken
place, rubbing with alcohol or cold affusion
may be employed, depending on the special
conditions existing.