BATHING The sebaceous and perspiratory secretions of the skin require more or less frequent removal. This is best accomplished by bathing or washing the body in water. Those localities where the sweat is most likely to be poured out should be bathed daily in order to prevent accumulations which produce un pleasant odors. Furthermore a clean skin is less likely to be diseased than a dirty one. Bathing reduces the likelihood that body vermin might be able to establish a foothold. Too strongly alkaline a soap should not be used or the skin will become dry. The oil removed should be replaced by inunctions with lanolin or cocoa butter. Lastly the bathing of the hands and face, especially before eating and the avoidance of intro ducing the fingers into the mouth until after they have been washed, is an important safeguard against the introduction of infective agents by contact.
The 250,000 cold spots and the 300,00o warm spots are stimulated by temperatures differing from that of the body.
Thus in bathing the skin is stimulated by thousands of afferent stimuli. Baths are designated according to their temperature as follows: Cold 65 degrees F.
Cool 65—So degrees F.
Tepid 80-90 degrees F.
Warm 9o-98 degrees F.
Hot 98 or over.
Cold baths stimulate and are employed for that purpose. A reaction is induced by an exposure to cold of from ten to thirty seconds duration. The immediate effect consists in the dilation of the internal blood-vessels, a contraction of the cutaneous vessels, "goose flesh," cutaneous pallor, a sensation of cold, shivering, an increased heart rate which soon decreases, with a decreased respiration. The secondary effect is known
as the reaction. It is manifested by a slow and deep respiration, a reddening of the skin as the blood returns to the surface, accompanied by a feeling of warmth, perspiration and a sense of exhilaration. A warm body and skin before the bath tends to favor the reaction. The temperature of the bath should be as cold as may be tolerated. Cold baths should not be em ployed in infancy, old age, exhaustion, or fatigue.
Hot baths are better for purposes of cleanliness after muscular work resulting in soreness. They are useful when the irritabil ity of the person is increased or when one has insomnia. Very hot baths of ioo degrees F. produce a reflex resembling the effect of cold baths. The enervating effect is manifested by a lower irritability or indisposition for muscular work. It may be overcome by a cold dash.
A bath at the body temperature produces very slight effect. It has a calming effect and is used in the treatment of the insane. It is best for weak individuals or where cleanliness is the object of the bath.
Prolonged bathing may produce the following ill effects, namely, nausea, faintness, giddiness, weakness, dyspnoea, and a subnormal temperature.