AND FAMILY DISPENSATORY, 201 
nd doubt the morning, or at leaft before dinner; and the bett mode, that of quick 
immerfion. As cold bathing has a conftant tendency to propel the blood and other 
humours towards the head, it ought to be a rule always to wet that part as {oon as 
-pofible. By due attention to this circumtance, there is reafon to believe, that vio- 
lent head-achs, and other complaints, which frequently proceed from cold bathing, 
might be often prevented. The cold bath, when too.long continued in, not only 
occafions an exceffive flux of humours towards the head, but chills the blood, 
cramps the mutcles, relaxes the nerves, and wholly defeats the intention of bathing, 
Hence, by not adverting to this circumftance, expert fwimmers are often injured, 
and fometimes even lofe their lives: All the beneficial purpofes of cold bathing 
are anfwered by one fingle immerfion; and the patient ought to be rubbed dry the 
moment he comes out of the water, and fhould continue to take exercife for fome 
time after. When cold bathing occafions chilnefs, lois of appetite, liftleffhels, pain 
of the breaft or bowels, a proftration of ftrength, or violent head-achs, it ought to. 
be difcontinued.. | | 
Or DRINKING raz MINERAL WATERS. 
THE waters moft in. ufe for medical purpofes in Britain, are thofe impregnated 
with falts, fulphur, iron, and mephitic air, either feparately, or varioufly combined. 
The errors which fo often defeat the intention of drinking the purgative mineral 
waters, and which fo frequently prove injurious to the patient, proceed from the 
manner of ufing them, the quantity taken, the regimen purfued, or ufing them in 
cafes where they are not proper. Drinking the water in too great quantity, not only 
injures the bowels and occafions indigettion, but generally defeats the intention for 
which it is taken. ‘The difeafes for the cure of which mineral wacers are chiefly 
celebrated, are moftly of the chronic kind; and it is well known that fuch difeafes 
can only be cured by the flow operation of alteratives, or fuch medicines as aft by 
~ inducing a gradual change in the habit. This requires length of time, and never 
| can be effected by medicines which run of by ftool, and ereher chiefly on the firft - 
paffages. Thofe who with for the cure of any obftinate malady from the mineral 
waters, ought to take them in fuch a manner as hardly to produce any effect what- 
ever.on the bowels. With this view a half-pint glafs may be drunk at bed-time,. 
and the fame quantity an hour before breakfalt, dinner, - fupper. The dofe, 
however, muft vary according to circumftances. Even the phleal ye.’ meonees ed 
* ; while others will drink twice as much without being 
above will purge fome perfons, ee 
in the leaft pie by it. Its operation on the bowels is the only ftandard for ufing, 
the water as an alterative. No more ought to be taken than barely to move the 
body; nor is it always neceflary to carry it this length, provided the water goes off 
fy s ne “ 
39. seas ed | | | 
>. 
