COLD, TEPID, AND WARM BATH. 75 



their agency to be used with safety by every one, 

 especially in cold weather. In proportion as cold 

 bathing is influential in the restoration of health 

 when judiciously used, it is hurtful when resorted 

 to without discrimination ; and invalids therefore 

 ought never to have recourse to it without the sane 

 tion of their professional advisers. 



Even where cold bathing is likely to be of service 

 when judiciously employed, much mischief often 

 results from prolonging the immersion too long, or 

 from resorting to it when the vital powers are too 

 languid to admit of the necessary reaction before 

 breakfast, for example, or after fatigue. For this 

 reason, many persons derive much benefit from 

 bathing early in the forenoon, who, when they 

 bathe in the morning before taking any sustenance, 

 do not speedily recover their natural heat and elas- 

 ticity of feeling. 



For those who are not robust, daily sponging of 

 the body with cold water and vinegar, or salt water, 

 is the best substitute for the cold bath, and may be 

 resorted to with safety and advantage in most states 

 of the system ; especially when care is taken to 

 excite in the surface, by subsequent friction with 

 the flesh-brush or hair-glove, the healthy glow of re- 

 action. It then becomes an excellent preservative 

 from the effects of changeable weather. When, 

 however, a continued sensation of coldness or chill 

 is perceptible over the body, sponging ought not to 

 be persisted in : dry friction, aided by the tepid bath, 

 is then greatly preferable, and often proves highly 

 serviceable in keeping up the due action of the skin. 



For habitual use, the tepid or warm bath is cer- 

 tainly the safest and most valuable, especially during 

 the autumn, winter, and spring, and for invalids. A 

 temperature ranging from 85 9 to 98, according to 

 the state of the individual, is the most suitable ; and 

 the duration of the immersion may vary from fifteen 

 minutes to an hour, or more, according to circum* 



