West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-09-02
THE DAILY COLD PLUNGE IS
HEALTHY BUT NOT CLEANSING
Medical Authority Says It Misses
Real Purpose of Bathing and
Does Not Open Pores-Swift
Plense into Cool Water Only for
Physically Vigorous

There are a lot OF people who pride
themselves on being well bathed be-
cause they jump into a tub of cold
water every morning. AS a matter OF
fact. 1t is quite possible to take a
cold bath 365 days I'm the year and vet
miss entirely the real purpose OF the
daily bath
The cold plunge or shower is all
right in its way for those to whom IL
Is suited. that is. the young and the
vigorous. who react perfectly. For
these II Is invigorating and stimulat-
Ing. AS cleansing process IL is
hardly enough, because getting clean
does not mean merely letting water
pass over the body or into the body.
Bathing both externally and internally
is necessary and must be performed
rightly to be OF benefit. To be really
clean one must make sure that the
millions OF tiny pores, by means OF
which the skin does IL work for the
physical economy and renders elimina-
ton perfect, are kept cleared OF waste
products and in good working condi-
ton. The skin is one OF the most i'm
portant OF the scavengers OF the sys-
TEN. but one cannot expect IL to per-
form its work properly If its myriads
of tiny holes through which IL gives
OIL waste matter are blocked. This
waste matter is largely given off I'm
perspiration, which is coming through
1t all the time, whether you are aware
OF 1t or not. II this perspiration is
checked the waste products are driven
back into the system and reabsorbed
with the result that the other organs
or elimination are asked to do double
duty; and double duty cannot be de-
manded OF any organ without heavy
bill having to be paid some time.
To keep the skin in perfect working
condition an occasional bath that real
ly washes is called for. This bath
should take the form of plenty of good
warm water. some good mild soap. a
small brush, and above all a good
rough towel for the final rub is more
important than the soap and water
wash. The skin is renewing itself all
the time, with the result that IL is al
ways giving off minute scales. 1t is
these that block the pores. You can
stand in good light and use a clean
dry brush and prove this Use the
brush vigorously on the skin for a few
moments and watch the dry particles
or dead skin fly Off A swift plunge
into cold water and rub with a soft
towel will not remove these scales. II
one were so placed that IL was impos-
sible to obtain bath IL would be pos
sible to keep the skin for some time
In healthy condition by vigorous dry
rubbing, so far as all the purposes of
health demand.
To thoroughly perform the function
OF breathing, 1t is as necessary to ex-
hale as inhale, although one seems to
enjoy inhallng more than exhaling.
We rather take 1t for granted that we
should exhale after we inhale. but
the one is as vitality important as the
other. In order to live we must pump
pure air into our lungs, but we must
also pump the impure air out. II is
natural to breathe, and we seldom
know that we are breathing. When
we inhale breath of ordinary air, we
draw into our lungs a mixture of about
the following composition: Oxygen.
2099 parts out of 100; nitrogen, 1903
parts out OF 100; carbon dioxide. .O3
parts out of 100; watery vapor, am
monia, other substances and gases.
Later we exhale this air. In the mean
time II has undergone certain notice
able changes so that when we exhale
It its composition is nearly as follows:
oxygen, 1908 parts out of 100; nitro
gen, 7o,5b7 parts out of 100; carbon
dioxide, 4,SS parts out of 100; watery
vapor, ammonia, other substances and
gases.
- We observe at once the changes
that have taken place in oxygen. ni-
trogen and carbon dioxide. About five
parts per 100 have been lost by the
oxygen; there has been a slight gain
In nitrogen, the amount OF carbon
dioxide has increased from .O3 to 4.SS
parts per 100. The watery vapor is
now in condition close to saturation.
The loss in oxygen can be easily ex-
planned, II has been absorbed and IS
busily at work purifying and preserv-
Ing the body The great gain I'm car
bon dioxide 10 easily explained. nature
expelled II as a poison from the sys-
TEN. That is why II is as necessary
TO exhaie az to inhale.
-k