BATHS AND BATHING 



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BATHS AND BATHING 



bath that has become known by this name. 

 The bather is exposed to high temperatures 

 until his body is profusely covered with per- 

 spiration. It is then washed off with cold 

 water, and the skin is rubbed with woolen 

 cloths and smeared with soap or salve. The 

 attendant at the same time rubs off the old 

 skin particles, kneads the muscles and bends 

 the joints (see MASSAGE). After the whole 

 body is scrubbed with soap and warm water, it 

 is dried with a haircloth, and the hard skin of 

 the feet is rubbed off with pumice stone. The 

 bather then reclines on a couch in a cooler 

 room until his skin acquires its natural degree 

 of warmth. 



The soaping and rubbing processes of the 

 Turkish bath free the skin of practically all its 

 grease and dirt accumulations, and it is to be 

 recommended for those in robust health. Those 

 suffering from sciatica, rheumatism, sore mus- 

 cles and various forms of lameness will find it 

 beneficial, but it should be avoided by people 

 with heart and kidney diseases. Never take a 

 Turkish bath to break up a cold when it is in 

 the fever stage, as there is then danger of con- 

 tracting pneumonia. The Russian vapor bath 

 is similar to the Turkish bath, but the perspira- 

 tion is induced by throwing water upon glowing 

 hot pebbles and permitting the steam to 

 envelop the bodies of the bathers. 



Bathing for Cleanliness and for Comfort. It 

 is only by frequent washing of the entire body 

 that one can keep the skin in a sweet and 

 wholesome condition. About two and one-half 

 million sweat glands are hard at work every 

 day pouring out upon the skin the watery sub- 

 stance called perspiration, which contains 

 water, oil and waste matter from the blood. 

 This perspiration, in evaporating, leaves upon 

 the surface of the body solid and oily matters, 

 which if neglected will clog up the sweat tubes 

 and interfere with the skin's work of eliminat- 

 ing waste matter. For this reason everyone 

 should bathe frequently. 



Just how often to bathe and what sort of a 

 bath to take are matters that must be decided 

 by the individual. Hot tub baths are said by 

 many physicians to be weakening if taken 

 oftener than twice a week, but doubtless there 

 are many persons who suffer no ill effects from 

 the daily cleansing bath in hot water. Whether 

 it be a dip in tepid water or simply a sponge 

 bath, daily washing of the entire body is a very 

 commendable practice. 



The bath in cold water is popular because of 

 its tonic effects. The first effect of cold water 



is a sensation of cold, which causes the blood 

 vessels to contract. Then follows the reaction; 

 that is, the blood vessels open again, the warm 

 blood flows rapidly through the body, the skin 

 feels warm, and the bather, who finishes his 

 bath with a brisk rub, experiences a delightful 

 sense of exhilaration and well-being. Not all 

 persons experience this reaction, however, and 

 the cold plunge is usually the exclusive privi- 

 lege of the vigorous. It should not be indulged 

 in if the after effect is a prolonged sense of 

 chill. Nevertheless, one can accustom the 

 body to the effects of cold water by a gradual 

 process, and even a cold sponge bath or a dash 

 of water over the chest and shoulders every 

 morning will be found a valuable help in pre- 

 venting colds. 



Baths for the Sick. Vapor baths arc used 

 in treating certain skin diseases, kidney trouble 

 and chronic rheumatism. Carbonic acid gas 

 mixed with water provides a highly-tonic bath 

 that has been found helpful in cases of In-art 

 trouble, nervous ailments, insomnia, neuralgia, 

 rheumatism and gout, and electric currents, 

 made to pass through the body of the bather, 

 are also employed by physicians for curing 

 abdominal and intestinal troubles, sprains and 

 contusions and other ailments. Electric-light 

 baths, in which the patient is affected by the 

 chemical and physical influences of the light 

 rays, were introduced at Battle Creek (Mich.) 

 Sanitarium in 1893. Such baths are strengthen- 

 ing, refreshing and stimulating. 



Mud baths, consisting of applications to the 

 body of warm or hot mud, usually mixed with 

 sulphur or other mineral substance, are given 

 to patients suffering from rheumatism. Another 

 curative agent is the so-called continuous bath, 

 introduced into America in 1873. The patient 

 rests in the tub in a hammock or a blanket, 

 with his body under water and his head out, 

 the temperature of the water being about 95. 

 He may remain in the bath for hours, days, 

 weeks or longer, according to his ailment. 

 Patients suffering from certain skin diseases and 

 affections of the joints have been kept in such 

 baths for years. Insane persons and those 

 addicted to alcoholic or drug habits are often 

 quieted by this form of bath,. Hot baths to 

 relieve pain, reduce inflammation, control 

 spasms and quiet the nerves, and salt rubs are 

 other commonly-known methods of treating 

 the sick. 



The hot springs and medicinal springs in 

 various regions of the earth attract many who 

 are suffering from rheumatism and similar com- 



