The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1921-09-30

strikes you is absolutely fresh and
clean; it rolls over your body just /
once. accommodating its share Of draft /
and is whisked away forever. There |
can be no cleaner method Of bathing
Furthermore, as DR.. Simon Baruch j
remarks, The shower provokes ther-
mic and mechanical stimulation Of the
nerves, blood vessels, and muscles.
which produces refreshment far ex-
eeeding bath tubs.
"A shower bath is a cheaper ar
ticle to put into building than a tub
and takes up much less room; it also
requires less care. as it helps to clean
itself If you want both kinds, the
shower may be erected over the tub,
as it is often done. When you are
treveling take hand spray with you.
aside from cleanliness, there are
! two great benefits resulting from the
cold shower: first, stimulation of the
circulation and of the nerves of the
skin, and second, physical and mental
refreshment resulting from the ply
siologic action As a year-round reg
/ linen for the average persons morn
ing additions, it can't be beaten. But
reason must be used with it, as in all
other things. Persons with a weak or
irregular hearts, or suffering from
rheumatism, kidney troubles or high
blood pressure should take nothing
but hot baths
Furthermore, if you are taking the
water just as it comes from the pipes /!
in winter. don't stay under it too
long, so as to get chilled You must |
give your circulatory system a chance
to react after the shock of the cold
water, else your bath will have been a |
detriment.
1T is not advisable to take cold /
bath in a cold bathroom. There may be
some big huskies who can stand it, T
but for most folks the bathroom
should be very warm. If the janitor
is not giving you much heat on win
ter evenings, it would be better at
least to temper the water bit
During the winter Mr. Harlow
goes on. morning is the only prac-
teal time for your cold bath; in sum
mer you may have one almost any
time, but neither in winter or sum-
mer should hot or cold bath be TAX
en- Immediately after a full meal The
blood at that time is occupied in sup
plying the organs which are digesting
the food, and it should not be called
away from them by sudden changes
in skin temperature" To quote further
Here's another don't: never take a
cold bath when you are exhausted or
your muscles are greatly fatigued by
strenuous exercise. Your whole sys-
tenn, including your heart, has been
working overtime, and is too tired to
give you the desired, nay, the neces-
sary reaction after the cold douche
The very best thing after hard day
on mountain climbing or other siren
uous work which has given you great
fatigue is a very warm, almost hot
shower, with the water little above
body temperature This will relax the
strained muscles, soothe the tired
nerves and act as soporofic, bring
ing the sleep which you then need so
much. You can tumble into bed and
sleep ten or twelve hours like baby.
There is no better remedy for mus
cular soreness than hot water If you
have been doing some unusual kind +
Of work or exercise, and having a sore /
arm or sore leg-so stiff that Won
can hardly move them. perhaps hold /
the member under a hot shower for
awhile, and you will feel the sore
ness vanishing as if by magic.
Two Italian scientists, vinaj and
Maggiora, have made some interest
ing tests of the effect of baths on en-
ergy. They have observed that the
power Of the middle finger of their
subjects to raise small weight was
trebled after a bath reducing grad
ually from cool to cold They obsery- d
ed lowering of muscular capacity
after tepid or warm baths, but slight
increase of strength after hot both I
with friction. as in strong shower q
All OF which confirms what we often
have observed for ourselves