The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1914-04-19
WHENANOWHEN
NOT TO Battle A
TOPIC OF NOTE
auEsrIoM WHICH WAS THOUGHT
TO HAVE BEEN SETTLED LONG
AGO IN. THE DAYS or THE Ro-
MANS, soBs UP At THIS LATE
DAY FOR DISCUSSION.
State Board of Health RMIetin).
To battle or not to batke!

State Board of Health BMIetin).
To battle or not to bathe!
OF course, we all thought that mat
ter had been settled definitely long
ago when the old Romans spent big
fortunes in building their bathing
places OF marble, surrounding them
with every LUXURY imaginable, and
made their bathing a kind of social
function. inviting in the neighbors
and spending hours at the entertain
ment. But 1t seems to have been ques-
toned recently by some eminent
medical authorities writing in their
Journals. whether or not the average
man and woman battle too frequently,
whether they should take a cold
plunge or shower or a hot bath;
whether they should use soap or not,
and IL so. what kind: whether 1t Is
Immediately after d hearty meal-fn-
deed the whole subject seems TO have
been upset and must be settled over
again for the satisfaction of those
who are disturbed by the learned dis
.cussion OF the ultra scientific.
It is a matter about which each of
us is quite likely to have rather fixed
views and probably most OF us con-
seolute necessity hygienically and for
comfort. Yet it is remarkable to note
the splendid physical condition of
some individuals, particularly among
whose
ing is an absolute blank. The proverb-
ial small boy appears to have an an
tipathy for water-cold water. at any
rate-and his chosen bathing season
closes about the middle of September
when the old swimming hole" be-
comes too chilly for comfort
But the matter Of bathing is an i'm
4 portant one, especially in warmer eli
mates like that of Florida and strange
as it may seem. the batn may be much
abused. wrongly used or neglected
with the result Of serious physical
harm.
The primary use Of the bath Is to
wecure cleanliness, to remove from the
surface OF the skin the accommodations
of refuse matter brought out through
the pores. Precipitation contains a
considerable percentage of solid mat
ter, which remains on the skin while
eorbed by the clothing. This solid
matter soon becomes offensive and,
according to some authorities, Is TAX
en- back into the body IL not frequent
produce a slow poisoning. The pores
become clogged and their natural
function Is disturbed.
The use OF the cold bath is a mat
ter of individual choice. The ten
dency of a bath OF a temperature very
much lower than that or the body, is
10 drive the blood from the surface
and to produce congestion I'm the in
T.,
or brain. If. however, the condition
Of the circnlatory system - such that
the heart 10 able to force the blood
back TO the surface and TO produce a
healthful glow. the result is invigo-
rating, stimulating the heart action,
and can not but be beneficial.
But as every individual is not pos
sessed of such strong heart action, the
cold bath is not a saft indulgence for
all. If the result is not a prompt re-
action of blood to the surface, a dan
gerous congestion may be the alter
native.
The physiological effect of the hot
bath is TO draw the blood to the sur
face and away from the brain, pro-
ducing a lassitude which makes exer-
ton either of the body or the brain a
decided effort, until normal conditions
are restored. Therefore, the hot bath
should never be taken by the individ-
,ual in normal health, in the morning.
when the days work Is before him.
The proper time is just before retir-
ing, when sleep will be encouraged by
the resulting tired. condition. The
cold bath is not so desirable at night
as in the morning for the same rea-
sons.
The relation of the bath to meal
time is not generally we'll understood.
The fiction OF digestion, dAaws the
energy of the physical system to the
stomach. Whatever may interfere
with the normal attraction of the
a
time, will interrupt or arrest the pro-
cess Of digestion. Any interference
with such blood circulation or it's at
traction toward the skin surface, may
produce such result. Unless the in
dividual is sufficiently vigorous to re-
sist or to overcome this effect, his all
over bath should not be taken until
digestion has so far been accomplish
ed that the blood energy may be safely
diverted. Eating and digestion should
be under normal conditions of body,
undisturbed by extra ordinary demands
upon the circulatory system. There
fore, don't battle within an hour be-
fore dinner nor within two hours
after.
How often should we battle? often
enough TO keep clean. A plunge or
n shower in the morning with tenn
perature adapted to the physical con-
dition OF the individual, and a sponge
off at night, are not excessive, and
we may preserve health with one good
washing each day.
Obviously the warm or hot bath Is
almost necessity to every one &C.
casionally for cleanliness. because for
that purpose it is more effective than
cold water. And the matter Of clean
illness brings up the subject OF soap,
for soap is necessary. Its alkalis dis
solve the acids of perspiration and re-
move them more quickly and thor
oughly than water alone can do.
The essential differences between
the numerous varieties Of soap are in
their relative percentages OF available
alkali. Too much OF this will attack
the skin itself eating into it and re-
moving not only the dirt but the
epidernis--the outer thin covering-if
allowed to remain long. And there is
almost AS much difference between
? the skins OF individuals as between
the expressions of their faces. Some
skins may be able to- withstand sa-
polio and even puEnice stone with lit
tie apparent effect, while others
would be made sore by excessive use
Of the most dainty OF toilet soaps. For
the baths OF very young babies the
only soap allowable is. one very low
IN its content of alkali. And so the