Certain portions of the body, as the armpits, the feet, and the groin, have many more pores to the square inch than the rest; hence these perspire more freely and should be cleansed often. The feet especially should be very frequently washed. There is no better practice from the health stand point than d. daily footbath.
The Bathroom.—Bathrooms are no longer a novelty in small towns and farmhouses. But it must be under stood that to enjoy these in winter, requires almost of necessity a range or furnace. Pipes in kitchens may be kept warm by stoves, and bathrooms adjoining the kitchen may be warmed by leaving the door open between or the bathroom may be over the kitchen, and a drum or smokepipe from the kitchen stove arranged so as to heat the pipes in the bathroom. But it is usually better not to have running water in the bathroom in winter until a furnace is put in. It pays, however, to partition off a bathroom near the kitchen and put in a bath tub, if there is running water or a hand pump in the bath room, with drainpipes to carry away waste—even if it is necessary to car ry cold water to the tub from the kitchen sink and hot water from the stove in pails. A good bath tub is not a luxury, but a necessity to com fort, cleanliness, and health.
If the bathroom is near the kitchen, the tub can be filled by bringing hot and cold water in pails; and if the tub is elevated slightly, the water can be drawn off in pails and carried to the drain after the bath; or, if a tub is used which does not have a faucet for drainage, the waste water can be easily. removed by using a small piece of rubber tube as a siphon, or by . dipper and large bath sponge. Every household should be provided with a full-size tub, even if it is only of tin. Portable rubber tubs which can be folded and put away when not in use are also obtainable. But a cast-iron tub is preferable and not too expen sive.
The entire cost of plumbing for a bathroom, including supply pipe, hot water pipe, and all necessary fixtures, provided you have a water supply in the house, will not exceed $150. This sum can be reduced by doing some of the work yourself.
Even if there is no furnace, the bathroom can be used from early spring to late fall, and especially through the summer season, when it is above all essential to health and comfort. Every family should make the necessary sacrifices to put in and enjoy this great convenience.
To Paint an Iron Bath Tiib.—Mix the paint to a proper consistency with best coachmaker's japan var nish. For white-lead paint, use half turpentine and half coachmaker's j a pan. It will not darken much. Ve netian red is best for a first coat for any color but white.
Bathroom Conveniences. — Conven ience has a great deal to do with the formation of habits; and parents, especially mothers, who desire to cul tivate habits of personal cleanliness in the household, will find that a bathroom furnished with the neces sary conveniences will largely solve this problem.
A closet should be constructed in one corner of the bathroom and stocked with the accessories of the bath and toilet.
A wire basket can be purchased for a few cents, or made by any ingeni ous member of the family, to hang on the edge of the bath tub and hold sponge, soap, etc. This will be found to be a great convenience.
A hamper or laundry bag makes a convenient receptacle for soiled body and household linen; or separate bags might be arranged—one for each kind.
A set time for each member of the family to take the weekly bath will also tend to promote the convenience of the household. Saturday night and Sunday morning are probably the best times for most persons. The weekly bath thus becomes a prepa ration for the Sunday morning toilet, which is ordinarily the most careful and elaborate of the week.
The following suggestions and rec ipes have been grouped about the idea of a thorough weekly personal " cleaning up " and toilet for " over Sunday." The reader will, of course, understand that these remarks and recipes apply equally well to, the daily morning baths and those for special occasions; and in many cases specific recommendations for these occasions have been made.
Dout's , for Bathers. — Don't take any kind of a bath within two hours after eating a hearty meal.