LESSON 24.] CELLS UPON FREE SURFACES OF THE BODY. 73 



are unable to maintain a sufficient degree of vital heat, hence, all 

 their functions are indifferently performed; they sicken and die. 

 Many females, of all ages, and even in the depth of winter, cover the 

 upper part of the body with but two garments, whilst the hips are 

 covered with an excess of clothing. Now it happens that the chest 

 and body, which are unclothed, contain all the important organs of 

 life, and special care should be taken to preserve them. 



403. European women, remarkable for their robust health, all 

 wear corsets, the substance of which, in addition to other appliances 

 (stay-bones), gives alike great support and warmth to the body. More- 

 over, they greatly improve the figure, and render the set and fit of a 

 dress perfect. It seems a pity that because a few silly, thoughtless 

 girls would persist in destroying themselves by tight lacing, that such 

 a very useful and necessary garment should be discarded. The prac- 

 tice of wearing so many clothes upon the hips is highly reprehensible, 

 as it originates disease of a serious and distressful character. 



404. If it be deemed essential to protect the lower portion of the 

 body with such a great accumulation of dress, each garment ought to 

 be suspended from the shoulders by means of straps, unless a corset 

 be worn ; but if a corset be not employed, it would be preferable, 

 on the score of health, to provide each article with a body ; in either 

 case the weight would be removed from the hips. 



405. After bathing a child and wiping its body quite dry, fric- 

 tion all over the surface, and especially of the limbs and down the 

 spine, with the palm of the hand, in the nature of good, brisk, quick 

 rubbing, should be practised till the surface be red indicative of 

 reaction ; after this envelope the body in flannel. 



406. For adults to bathe after a meal, or after fatiguing exercise, 

 is eminently dangerous. Three fatal cases were recorded by the New 

 York papers, all occurring within a year, from this sole cause ; the 

 first was the death of an American lady of refinement and position, 

 from taking a bath soon after dinner ; of Sergeant Hume, while alone 

 in a warm bath, and of Lorenzo Shepherd, of New York, under pre- 

 cisely similar circumstances. 



407. Those persons who do not happen to possess a sponge, may re- 

 sort to the following plan with great advantage : as soon as you get out 

 of bed in the morning, wash your hands, face, and neck ; then, in the 

 same basin of water, put your feet at once for about half a minute, 

 rubbing them briskly at the time ; then, with the towel that has been 

 dampened by wiping the face, feet, &c., rub your whole body well 

 (without the addition of more water), fast, and hard, mouth shut, and 

 the breast projecting. Allow five minutes for this operation. 



