Year: 1869

1. Baths should not be taken within at
least one hour before eating, nor with
in two hours after; and not within two
hours before, and three hours after is still
better.


The reason for this is, that in bathing
the blood is brought to,the surface in large
quantities and circulates freely in the Ca
pillaries of the skin, being drawn away
from internal organs and generally dlttus-
ed through the whole body, and the more
freely this external circulation and warmth
are kept up, the more refreshing and invig-
Grating the bath becomes, and the greater
the benefit derived from it; whereas, when,
the stomach has recently been supplied
with food, the blood is diverted from the ex-
ternal circulation to the digestive organs
to supply the secretlons and juices neces-
sary to carry on the digestive process.
From these facts, if will be evident that
if food be taken into the stomach too soon
after a bath the blood is directed, to the
stomach before full reaction has taken
place, thus interfering with its beneficial
| effects; while on the other hand, If the
bath be taken too soon after meal, the
blood is diverted from the digestiveaor-
gans before digestion is completed, and
| thus very important function OF the
| body is interfered with


| In cases of active congestion or inflmma-
| ton, in fevers or severe pain and distress,
| it may be necessary to make water appli.
cations irrespective of this rule.


2. The head and the face should be
| thoroughly bathed at the commencement
of every bath. This will prevent the
rushing of blood to the head and ward oil
unpleasant sensations.


8. A bath should never be taken when the
body is exhausted or too greatly fatigued
by exercise, as person in such a condi-
tion would not be likely to secure the pro-
per reaction and warmth. Moderate exer'
else before bath is usually beneficial, as
it accelerates the circulation and secures
| a comfortable degree of warmth, which
| is always desirable before taking bath
There is no danger from taking a general
bath while in a perspiration, providing
no fatigue accompanies it; for the sit7
and foot baths, however, it is better thai
the body be warm but not perspiring.


4. All general baths should be taken
briskly, and the bather himself, II able,
should rub vigorously that he may quicken
his circulation and respiration, and thus
secure the warmth and glowing reaction
that is so essential after every bath this
should be observed not only while III the
bath but in rubbing dry after it.


y.
bath, a strong linen or cotton sheet IL
much better than towels this should bC
for an adult at least two yards square
so to envelope the whole body like s
cloak, and with it he should be rubbed ol
rub himself till thoroughly dry-by using
the sheet for wiping, the body is protect
ed from the air, the escape of heat is pre-
vented, and there is much less liability t.


feel chilly afterward-towcls will suffice
however, for all local applications.


6. At the completion of the bath, the


bather should Immediately dress, and, i


able, exercise in the open air, or engage


in some active employment. If not able


to exercise, it is well to cover upHwarm il


bed for an hour or so, and sleep, If pos


sible.


Z. Very nervous persons, or those whose


digestion is much impaired, or circulation
is imperfect and feeble, or temperature il
below the normal standard, should bt
careful not to use cold water to any grea
extent in bathing; it may have tempo
rary beneficial effect, but in the end theil
, sufferings will be likely to be increased.


g. Feeble invalids, consumptives, per
sons subject to hemOrrhage of the lung


or the stomach, those who have jus


passed the crisis in fevers or other acut,
diseases, those suffering from profuse dis
charges, such as suppurations, diarrhes


cholera, etc, and also females during tn
menstrual period, should avoid the use o
cold water, as well as the excessive use o
it in any form.


o. Always use thermometer to deter
= mine the temperature of baths for invalds
g 10. An invalid should not bathe in
room with the temperature below 7Os
i and for most persons 800 or $50 would b
better, provided there is good ventilation


e p. Miller, M ID.