The Washington herald., 1913-09-21
SHOWER BATHS
in THE COUNTRY
Public Health Service Sur
geon Tells How to Con-
struct One.
OIL CAN MAY BE USED
DR.. Carroll Fox Gives Some Good Ad-
vice on Temperature of Water
and Other Points.
OIL CAN MAY BE USED

| polite.
| The hygienic regulations for the whole
country originate within the councils of
/ the Health Service All year round the
| experts Of the Public Health Service
laboratories are working, searching for
remedies for the diseases that puzzle the
physicians of 6he country. When these
specialists arrive at a solution, the
| result is given out for the benefit Of hu-
J manity.
But II is not alone with the more alb
struse problems of medicine that the
Public Health Service concerns itself. 1t
is constantly studying to benefit the citi-
zens of the country in ways either big or
little. Its experts are working night and
day for specific for tuberculosis, ty-
phoid fever and all other diseases in the
medical category, and yet the service
has time TO make a study of a compare
lively small problem, like the cheapest
way to provide a comfortable bath Tor
people living in the rural districts, where
sewer systems and modern bathrooms
are unknown.
The latest report issued by the Public
Health Service is one written by Sur
geon Carroll Fox on Shower Baths for
Country Houses" this Surgeon Fox
tells how a comfortable, practical shower
bath may be installed with no materials
but an old oil can, a bit of rope, stop
cock. and shower head, and good-sized
washtub, of the Monday morning type.
Condition of skin.
In his report Surgeon Fox says:
To maintain health and the feeling OF
well-being and comfort. which are es-
sentiaI to mans mental and physical
welfare, it is necessary that the skin be
kept in such a condition that II may per-
form its functions normally. The eNcre-
tory function of the skin is almost as
important as that of the kidneys and
lungs, and its work is essential in main
tanning the normal temperature OF the
body.
THE skin contains numerous glands
which constantly excrete perspiration.
We are not always aware that this i'm
pOrtaut process is going on. II is infiu-
enced by the condition of the atmosphere,
the amount of physical exercise taken by
the individual, and by the condition of
the skin. The perspiratiOn is usually
evaporated into the surrounding atmos-
phere as soon as it is formed. This evap-
Grafton produces a cooling of the surface
a.d makes our bodies comfortable. Any
I ing which interferes with this process
is detrimental and causes discomfort. We
should. therefore, do everything we can
to assist the glands of the skin in their
work.
We can aid in several ways: First. by
keeping the temperature of rooms in win
ter as wv as IS degrees Fahrenheit and
regulating the amount of moisture in the
air Of the room. A pan of water placed
at the source of heat in the room will
supply moisture to a thirsty atmosphere
and relieve to some extent excessive dry
n :. Second, we can assist by wearing
proper clothing: thi. d. by proper eXer-
else, and fourth. by sufficiently frequent
bathing, which is an important require
ment of personal hygiene,
Importance of Bathing.
Bathing cleanses the skin of dirt and
accun. ulations of epithelium. II the wa
ter of the bath is used at the proper tenn
perature. the skin is stimulated. its blood
supply is increased. and there is felt a
delightful ow all over the body. With
properly regulated baths. cold weather
can be withstood much better, less
clothes are needed, and there is less
likelihood OF taking cold
Most city houses are provided with
bathrooms, but there are many people In
rural districts who consider such a room
an unattainable luxury \ modern bath
room is great comfort and convenience
II Is not essential, however. in order to
Keep the body clean that there be porce-
lain fixtures. nickeled pipes. running wa
ter, and city sewerage system. All that
IS needed is a weIl-constructed home
made shower bath. With this apparatus
one can take as many satisfactory baths
as one desires.
"A shower bath has many advantages
over a tub bath. The apparatus is
cheaper and easier to keep clean than a
Dathtub. with its fixtures. 1t uses less
water, takes up less space, its mechani-
cal and tonic effects are better, and one
Is not compelled to bathe all parts of
the body in the same water, as is the
case in a bathtub.
"A shower bath that is especially use
full in the country when there is no rum
ming water in the house, is made from a
tin or can such as is used in shipping kero-
sene to the Orient, or such as turpentine
comes in. The solder around the
upper edges of the tin is melted
of and the top removed. To the
bottom are attached stopcock and a
shower head about six inches in diam
eter with very small outlet holes. The
tin is lowered and raised by a rope run
ming through a pulley attached to a
rafter or other convenient support
Need Not Wet Head.
THE tin is filled with water at the re-
quired temperature and hoisted over the |
head Of the bather. The water is then
permitted to flow until the body is en-
tirely wet. Then the cock is closed and
the body well lathered with soap, which |
is finally washed off by the water re- |
naming in the tin. The bather's head
need not be wet unless desired. An ordi- |
nary washtub may be used by the bather |
TO stand in, or the waste water may be |
collected on a cement platform with a |
drain leading to the outside A satisfac- |
tory bath can be taken with or 5 gal |
Ions of water.
The temperature of the bath water is |
important. Cold water, though more /
stimulating to some, is not as cleansing
as warm water. Therefore to secure the /
best results a warm shower with the wa
ter at a temperature of from 80 to 100 de-