11. Bathing.
Every person in health should bath or sponge the whole body once a day with cold water, immediately following it by friction and exercise to promote the reaction. Practised in accordance with the directions we have given, the bath is a most potent aid to health. Much of the vigour of the ancient Romans was due to the important place the bath occupied in the every-day employments of life amongst them; and undoubtedly as a nation we should be healthier in mind and body if the bath, so often recommended in this manual, were universally adopted amongst us. Merely washing the exposed part of the skin is by no means sufficient; the entire surface of the body requires the application of water, for the purpose of cleanliness and as a means of invigorating the capillary circulation, and so fortifying the system as to enable it to resist atmospheric vicissitudes. The secret of attaining these ends consists in employing the cold water in such a manner and degree and maintaining the body in such a state before and after the application, as that the reaction or glow shall be most perfect. The cold sponge bath may be adopted with safety by almost any one, the shock not being too great, and good friction rapidly causing agreeable warmth. The best period for a cold bath is on rising from bed, before the body has become chilled. When systematic exercises are practised they should be done immediately before taking the morning bath. The time the sponging should be continued must be regulated by the condition of the patient; if he be weak, the time should be brief, as from one to two minutes; for if continued too long, instead of tonic effects, depression will follow, which may continue during the whole of the day. If the weather and the water are very cold, and the bather delicate, the bath should be taken before a good fire. Very young children are benefited by cold sponging or bathing, even during the winter months. Cold bathing should not, therefore, be practised when the body is cold or cooling, or when it is exhausted by exertion or fatigue, or if the system is naturally too weak, or when the skin feels chilly, until this feeling has been removed by friction or exercise. A bath should not be taken too soon after a meal; for then the circulation should be undisturbed, as the stomach requires all its power to digest the food; nor should the time spent in the bath be too long; that may vary according to circumstances from about one minute to four minutes.
Temperature.- The water of the bath should not be colder than 59 degree, ranging from this to 64 degree; according to the season, and according to the temperature of the room. The temperature of the bath-room should be 64 degree or 65 degree; if lower than this, the water should be a little warmer, and if the room is cold, then the water should be 68 degree, and the bathing process performed as quickly as possible. The temperature of the bathroom is a point of considerable importance, and it can only be accurately measured by a thermometer; one of these useful instruments should be therefore be kept in every bath-room.
If the important conditions stated above are disregarded the immediate depressing effects of the bath will be continued; there will be no glow of reaction, and subsequent chilliness and dullness will ensue. An occasional addition of sea-salt to the water, as recommended in the next year paragraph, communicates a stimulating property favourable to reaction. A similar effect is likely to result from the force or shock with which the water is applied;probably a shower bath is the most excites those forcible and deep inspirations, which are the most efficient cause of the reaction which follows. The reaction is further promoted by vigorous friction over the entire surface with large coarse towels, which operates both by stimulating the cutaneous vessels, also by the muscular exertion, which promotes the more energetic action of the heart. A brisk walk after the bath also tends to promote reaction.
Sea-Salt Baths.-Those who are unable to secure sea-bathing may enjoy, to a limited extent, its advantages by adding a solution of sea-salt to the water of the bath. Sea-salt is the residuum of evaporated sea-water; and if it be added in proper quantity to a bath, so that the mineral ingredient approximates to that contained in sea-water, it will be very much more efficacious than a simple fresh-water bath, in consequence of the stimulating action of the water upon the skin imparted by the saline matter which it holds in the solution. The addition of salt obviates the chill which fresh water sometimes gives. It will often be found that consumptive patients with feeble circulation and cold hands and feet, are much benefited by a salt-water bath, who could not bear the shock of fresh water. In the absence of sea- salt, a handful of bay salt or of common salt may be used.
Such a bath, taken regularly in the morning, is conducive to health in two ways-It inures the body to a degree of cold greater than it is likely to be exposed to during the rest of the day, and so protects it from the influence of atmospheric changes; and it tends to remove irregularities in the circulation, and by exciting the healthy action of the skin aids that organ in removing disease.
It is not everyone, however, who can with safety practice bathing in the manner just now pointed out. Cold bathing would be very hazardous to patients who are extremely weak, or who have any organic disease, especially of the heart or lungs; there may also be some idiosyncrasy or condition of the constitution peculiar to the individual which would render such a course undesirable. Patients who have any ground for doubt on the subject should consult their medical attendant. Caution is more particularly necessary in infancy and old age. The adaptation of the cold bath to individual cases may often be determined by the following criterion- If, after a bath, the patient remains chilly, languid, and dejected, or suffers headache, it had better be discontinued, and subsequently gradually adopted; but if the sense of cold rapidly passes off, and a glow of warmth and animation of spirits succeed and continue for some time, the cold bath is almost sure to be productive of good.
The warm bath is a great luxury, and to the feeble and exhausted frame is often very beneficial. The temperature may be varied according to the sensations of the patient, but as a rule should be that of the temperature of the blood- 96 degree to 98 degree; if higher than 98 degree, the bath may be followed by a profuse perspiration, which weakens the system. Warm bathing, however, including the hot-air or Turkish bath, except as a remedial agent, and prescribed by a medical man, is generally prejudicial.
Sea-bathing is of the greatest value to convalescents from acute diseases, to those whose health has been injured by excessive work, town residence with sedentary occupation, excesses of various kinds, and in many chronic illnesses, when debility is not excessive. It should not be indiscriminate. The propriety of it depends on the heath of the bather, the temperature of the water, and the motion of the sea. Adults in robust health may remain from five to eight minutes; if they can swim and are accustomed to bathe, they may remain so long as they feel warm. If the water is very cold or the sea is strong, less time should be allowed. Delicate persons should choose a smooth sea. Strong persons may bathe before breakfast; others only in the forenoon. Sea-bathing is prejudicial when the body is exhausted, or overheated, or cold, or rapidly cooling. A short walk, without fatigue, should follow it. Stout, plethoric persons, liable to rushes of blood, palpitation, giddiness, etc., should bathe very cautiously. Aged persons should regard themselves in this matter as invalids. Persons in feeble health and old age should only plunge into the sea, remain a minute or two, then leave it. Infants feeble children, and timid children are scarcely strong enough for the open sea. Injury is done to the feeble by a disregard of their imperfect reactionary power, and to the timid by disregard of the strain upon their nervous system. Warm glow and exhilaration of spirits after the bath indicate its beneficial action. On the contrary, chilliness and depression are indications of harm.
The temperature of baths may be thus classified- cold, 40 degree to 60 degree; cool, 60 degree; to 75 degree; temperate, 75 degree to 85 degree; tepid, 85 degree to 92 degree to 98 degree; hot, 98 degree to 112.
For various forms of baths, and their adaptation to persons in disease, see page 81, et seq.
12.- The Influence of Professions and Occupations on Health.
Whatever may be the particular employment of an individual, it can rarely be divested of certain effects more or less prejudicial to health. Occupations which permit the free use of pure air and moderate muscular exercise, with exemption from want or anxiety, are most conductive to long life. Statistical tables afford abundant evidence of the correctness of this statement. The following table from Tarbell’s Sources of Health, although on too limited a scale for general application, undoubtedly approximates to the truth.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."