Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-08
The Cold Bath

MANY people devote great deal OF
AV1 time to the training of the hand,
the eye and the brain, but the training
of the skin is seldom thought Of. Never-
tacless. a well-trained skin Is more es-
sential to health than almost any other
kind Of bodily culture. The neglect OF
the skin must be regarded as the foun-
dation cause Of a large number or
chronic maladies. II may be asserted
that a person who will keep his SKIN IN
a throughly healthy condition may defy
almost any known disease. A healthy
skin is warm slightly moist. smooth
reddens quickly when rubbed or en-
posed to the action OF hot or cold wa
ter. is supple and elastic, perspires read
ily under exercise or the application OF
heat and is free from pimples, eruptions
and discolorations.
To maintain this condition. the skin
must be subjected to daily bathing and
grooming. Horsemen rub ana groom
their charges daily. Wild and domestic
animals habtually groom themselves
by vigorous fubbing against trees or
other objects Man, of all animals
neslects to groom himself and TINS Is
especially true of civilized man, Tor
as is well known, the savage ha't-
civilized nations from time immemorial'
have practiced rubbing of the body as
a means OF maintaining health.
A daily bath should be taken reg
ularly on rising In the morning Inc
temperature OF the water should De coio'
or at least cool, fifty degrees to seventy
five degrees Fahrenheit. so that strong
reaction may be produced. The appl-
cation should be brief. not more thah
fifteen seconds to half a minute or
minute at the longest. ,and should pe
followed by quick drying and vigorous
rubbing with towel. The lower the
temperature of the water, the shorter
should be the duration Of the batn' lhe
purpose Of the morning bath rs not
cleanliness. although it aids in Keeping
the skin clean, but skin gymnastics or
training. When very cold water ~
applied to the skin, there is sudden
contraction OF the blood vessels. TINS
IL quickly followed. after the appiica-
ton, especially when the skin IL thor-
oughly rubbed by dilstion OF the
vessels OF the skin. which causes red
dening Of the surface. because more
blood IL passing through 1t, and reel
ing OF warmth
a cold bath Is real exercise or
gymnastics for the skin. When taken
daily the nerves and vessels OF the skin
are maintained In 80 healthy and vigor-
Gus "A state that they are able TO re-
act quickly when exposed to cold thus
avoiding the injurious effects following
slight exposure to cold. which In most
persons gives rise to what is commonly
known as "a cold" Persons who prac-
tice daily cold bathing are seldom sub
| ject to colds.
The idea that the daily bath Is debii-
itating and Injurious. and especially that
cold baths are weakening and danger
Gus and lead to consumption and other
maladies, Is a very grave error. II is
only the abuse of the bath that Ii to
be condemned A short cold bath taken
In a warm room. followed by vigorous
rubbing and exercise until an active cir
culation Of the blood Is established. has
never been known to injure any person
but care must be taken to secure prompt
! and thorough reaction IL the hands
/ and feet continue to be cold for some
\ time after the bath or the head aches,
/ the bath should be shorter, the rubbing
more vigorous and exercise should be
continued for longer time following
the bath By degrees the ability Of the
skin to react to the cold increases SO
that colder water and more prolonged
application may be advantaaeously EN-
ploysd
The benefits Of the cold bath are not
experienced In the skin alone; the whole