THE SKIN. 235 



if, after the bath, there is reaction and a glow of heat through- 

 out the surface, then the cold bath is both safe and useful ;. 

 but if the body is feeble, or the flesh cold, and not easily 

 warmed after the bath, or even if the heat does not naturally 

 and spontaneously return, then this bath is injurious, and a 

 tepid bath should be substituted in its stead. Any one can 

 tell, by his own experiment, what temperature he can best 

 enjoy, and how great a degree of cold will be followed by 

 the comfortable sensation of warmth in his skin. 



568. Even for those who take the daily cold bath, the 

 warm bath is occasionally necessary. This is a more ef- 

 fectual cleanser of the surface. It softens and allows the 

 removal of the dead scurf of the skin more readily than the 

 others ; and for those who do not practise the daily ablution, 

 the occasional use of the warm bath, for rftere cleanliness as 

 well as for health's sake, should not be omitted. 



CHAPTER XV. 



Effect of Cold Bathing. Protects against Cold. Feeble and con- 

 sumptive Persons should bathe. Time for Bathing. Conditions 

 of Bathing. 



569 THE effect of the cold bath is not only to invigorate 

 the body, and give a tone and activity to both the skin and 

 to the internal organs, but it fortifies the skin, so that it ia 

 better able to endure the exposures to the cold abroad, I 

 formerly clothed myself very carefully, seldom went abroad 

 without an overcoat in the winter, and often wore a cloak over 

 this. Seven years ago, I began the practice of cold bathing, 

 and have followed it without intermission since, breaking the 

 ice in the coldest weather, and bathing in my chamber, 

 where was no fire. I now wear lighter clothing in winter, 

 a great coat much less than formerly, and never an extra 

 cloak; and, with so much less protection, I suffer less from 

 cold than when I was clothed more, but did not bathe. 



