WATER 197 



as they always should be, they keep the skin in ex- 

 cellent condition, especially if one also takes a hot 

 bath once a week. Some gymnastic exercises to 

 stimulate the circulation should precede a cold bath. 

 Wetting the head, face, neck, and arms with cold 

 water before getting into the tub is also a wise pre- 

 caution. This is likewise a good thing to do before 

 going in swimming, even on the warmest days. Daily 

 cold baths cleanse the skin and are an excellent means 

 of gaining strength and vigor for the entire body. 

 In the morning before breakfast is the best time to 

 take them. Their first effect is to drive blood from 

 the skin to the interior of the body. One's breathing 

 becomes deeper, first quickening but afterward be- 

 coming slower. On getting out of the bath, the arteries 

 near the surface of the body dilate, causing the skin 

 to grow red with blood. The bather then experiences 

 a delightful feeling of warmth and exhilaration. This 

 is called the reaction, and without it the practice 

 would prove harmful. 



It is wise to begin the habit of taking cold baths in 

 summer, for the body gradually becomes used to cold 

 water as the fall and winter months follow. When 

 convenient, the best plan is to get into a tub of cold 

 water; but where this is not feasible a sponge bath 

 is a good substitute. After cold water has been applied 

 to the entire surface of the body, the skin should be 

 vigorously rubbed with a coarse, dry towel. A cold 

 bath of any kind is not complete without such rubbing. 



