78 VAPOUR-BATH- 



ployed with every prospect of advantage. The 

 prevalent fear of catching cold, which deters many 

 from using the vapour-bath, even more than from 

 warm bathing, is founded on a false analogy be- 

 tween its effects and those of profuse perspiration 

 from exercise or illness. The latter weakens the 

 body, and, by diminishing the power of reaction, 

 renders it susceptible of injury from sudden changes 

 of temperature. But the effect of the vapour-bath 

 properly administered is very different. When not 

 too warm or too long continued, it increases instead 

 of exhausting the strength, and, by exciting the 

 vital action of the skin, gives rise to a power of re- 

 action which enables it to resist cold better than 

 before. This I have heard many patients remark ; 

 and the fact is well exemplified in Russia and the 

 north of Europe, where, in the depth of winter, it is 

 not uncommon for tha natives tcrrush out of a va- 

 pour-bath and roll themselves in the snow, and be 

 refreshed by doing so ; whereas, were they to at- 

 tempt such a practice after severe perspiration from 

 exercise, they would inevitably suffer. It is the 

 previous stimulus given to the skin by the vapour- 

 bath which is the real safeguard against the cold- 

 ness of the snow. 



Common experience affords another illustration 

 of the same principle. If, in a cold winter day, we 

 chance to sit for some time in a room imperfectly 

 warmed, and feel in consequence a sensation of 

 chillness over the body, we are much more likely to 

 catch cold on going out than if we had been sitting 

 in a room comfortably warm. In the latter case, 

 the cutaneous circulation and nervous action go on 

 vigorously ; heat is freely generated, and the vital 

 action of the skin is in its full force. The change 

 to a lower temperature, if accompanied with exer- 

 cise to keep up this vitality, is then felt to be bracing 

 and stimulating rather than disagreeable. But it is 

 widely different when the surface is already chilled 



