KINDS OF BATHS Outdoor Bathing.—This form of bathing, if moderately indulged in, is an excellent exercise for bodily devel opment. In warm climates it may be practiced throughout the year; but in northern latitudes fresh-water bath ing should not be indulged in except in summer. There are some fanatics who recommend outdoor bathing throughout the year, and now and then a person is strong enough to endure such exposure. But to rec ommend it to everybody is foolish, if not criminal. Particular care should be taken in outdoor bathing that the body does not suffer a chill. A reac tion should be produced by rubbing briskly' with a dry towel.
Sea Bath.—A trip to the seashore for the purpose of salt-water bath ing is very beneficial to persons in a run-down condition, with the excep tion of those suffering from nervous diseases, heart diseases, or consump tion. Salt-water bathing is especially good for children who have scrofula, and for persons who have catarrh.
Salt water and salt air are stimu lating and invigorating. The shock caused by the surf tends to produce a healthful fatigue which strengthens the bodily functions and promotes hunger and appetite. Bathers in salt water, especially invalids, should leave the water before they are chilled or overtired, dry the body thoroughly, and follow the bath by some mild exercise, as walking.
Air Bath.—After the bath all per sons, especially children, should ex pose the body to the air for. a con siderable length of time. Benjamin Franklin says that every morning at daybreak he was accustomed to get out of bed, and pass more or less than an hour, according to the sea son, in writing or reading in his chamber without any clothes; and he adds that this custom was agreeable rather than otherwise. There is no doubt that light, especially direct sunlight, upon the skin is one of the most valuable agents for the preser vation of health.
A complete change of clothing should be made after the bath. The contact of clothing with the skin greatly promotes its secretions, and this is very necessary to health. Flannel generates heat—hence opens the pores of the skin and allows the secretions to flow. It is therefore the proper clothing next the body.
If the effete matter thrown off by the skin in perspiration is retained by the clothing, the gravest conse quences to health may result in addi tion to the discomforts of uncleanli ness. Colds, fevers, and vermin of
all sorts are merely human ignorance, laziness, and uncleanliness out on ex hibition.
Cold Sponge Bath.—Many persons make a practice of taking a cold sponge bath every morning, followed by vigorous rubbing with a coarse towel or flesh brush. The best meth od of doing this is to fill a washbowl or basin with water and let it stand in the room over night, so as to ac quire the same temperature as the air in the room. Rub with the bare hands rather than with a cloth or sponge, wetting only a small portion of the body at a time and rubbing that portion until a reaction is expe rienced. Washing the face and head, next the arms, the back, the lower portion of the chest, and the lower limbs, in the order mentioned, is a good rule for cold-water bathing. After the rub-down with a coarse towel, the skin should be pink, all in a tingle, and the whole surface of the body should be in a warm glow. Some persons cannot endure this regimen, although it is highly bene ficial to others. A few days or weeks of experience will test its expediency. This is worth trying, because it often results in a life habit which is ex ceedingly beneficial. Those who are less robust may obtain some of the benefits of the cold sponge bath by a vigorous rubbing with a towel or flesh brush each morning when the bath is not taken. When bathing in winter, the shock from cold water is lessened by standing a minute in the cold air after removing the clothing and before applying the water.
Footbath. — This bath may be taken for cleansing purposes or for the purpose of drawing the blood from other parts of the body. Con gestion of blood in the head may be relieved by a footbath in cold water. If convenient, the patient may walk for a few minutes in a brook or stream reaching about to the ankles. This may be followed by a brisk rub bing and some exercise, as walking. Or the patient, may first put his feet in hot water for from three to five minutes and then plunge them for half a minute into cold water. Af terwards the feet should be rubbed dry and the person should take ex ercise by walking.