Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-10-07
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
vnso,notor EiarcIIn,ion.

Somebody is forever dashn,, cold water on
the JOYS Of life. and though am no advocata
Of rasomotor nagcllation. / iind am no nlsi,
joy killer myself
My dear Or. Erady:
am regular subscriber OF Your paper and
- daily reader OF your articles. which are very
interesting and beneficial to mo-
am 40 years old. For the las, twenty
Years have been taking a cold plunge la n
every morning. summer and winter Recently
see YOU doctors are discussing the question
whether This is II EcaIthful practice 1 am six
feet TWO inches tall. weigh 1870 pounds (wcirht
/ below normaD.
would very much appreciate your opinion
whether should continue or discontinue rho
morning baths. Yours ycr, iruI,
me iencral r"!c which actual contcm-
piativc lagel!ators OF the v m nervous sys-
tom may follow is this: II YOU fc"l refreshed
cn'irencd and delightfully."- warm after tho
punishment. II is probably doing YOU no harm
hut n. on the other hand. you feel decreased
emily. "hiv'ry. blue. ianguid. or uurcfrcshcd
after taking. the bath is I'm uujuH,ita hlr waste
OF water For most persons under - another
general rule applies: No cold morning baths
II you are uuderwcight. I in doubt what
I" say To sir a.. but believe that IL / were
IN his place Id keep right on Negotiating my
'asomoior nerves FOR at least ano,he twenty.
Years ana let The doctors differ as cordially as
they like. Doctors have to Disagree about lit
TIE things like This. so that they may with bet
ter grace agree in the council chamber
nave never been able to convince myself
tina; a cold water plunge. sponge or show 81.
The iirst thint; in the morning every morning.
IS beneficial or advisable habit. And this
rot" outstanding my rather peculiar ncsation
al crid ana exposure as imagined factors Of
"I"c"S" Space rr"clmdcs mcutjoninc the ply.
S'"loStct reasons on which / base this dis
approval OF cold water bathing ON rising from
bed Man is neither auuaic nor amphibian Il,
nature. That is not a reason or course but
merely an intrudiug note.
Personally am clean enough 10 pass mus
ter In any other than suffocating crowd. III
SWIM once or. several times every day II the
weather and water. were always about like W.
lind them in the summer months in tho mort n
temperate zone. But IL just seems To me that
;herc is something unnatural and altogcthc-.
too Artificial about the shock of :. cold waite.
bath upon the vasomotor nervous system inn
mcdiatcly after a nights sleep.
The vasomotor nervous system controls the
distribution OF blood. through alterations OF
tho calibcr OF the artcriolcs or smaller arteries
1T mas an important influence upon normal ana
abnormal blood pressure. \ cold bath for u:
time raises the blood pressure. If the reaction
rs agreeable. Healthy persons have Il low
blood pressure early in the morning The cold
bath may do them good. IL the reaction i.
pleasant
My Substitute Cor cold water bathing morn
iugS is cold air bathiny--whcn cold air ir
available: anyway. an air bath. This is mild by
comparison, OF course Eut the rest OF the
prcscription--hve to ten minutes of room cx-
crcises-and think you have that rlrcst of
Notwithstanding just as good