482 THE HUMAN BODY 



and pale and the person feels chilly, uncomfortable, and depressed 

 all day. Then bathing is injurious instead of beneficial; it lowers 

 instead of stimulating the activities of the Body. How long a 

 stay in the cold water may be made with benefit depends greatly 

 on the individual: a vigorous man can bear and set up a healthy 

 reaction after much longer immersion than a feeble one; moreover, 

 being used to cold bathing renders a longer stay safe, and, of 

 course, the temperature of the water has a great influence : water 

 called " cold " may vary within very wide limits of temperature, 

 as indicated by the thermometer; and the colder it is the shorter 

 is the time which it is wise to remain in it. Persons who in the 

 comparatively warm water of Narragansett during the summer 

 months stay with benefit and pleasure in the sea, have to content 

 themselves with a single plunge on parts of the coast where the 

 water is colder. The nature of the water has some influence; the 

 salts contained in sea-water stimulate the skin-nerves and pro- 

 mote the afterglow. Many persons who cannot stand a simple 

 cold fresh-water bath take one with benefit when some salines are 

 previously dissolved in the water. The best for this purpose are 

 probably those sold in the shops under the name of "sea-salts." 



It is perfectly safe to bathe when warm, provided the skin is 

 not perspiring profusely, the notion commonly prevalent to the 

 contrary notwithstanding. On the other hand, no one should 

 enter a cold bath when feeling chilly, or in a depressed vital con- 

 dition. It is not wise to take a bath immediately after a meal, 

 since the afterglow tends to draw away too much blood from the 

 digestive organs, which are then actively at work. The best time 

 for a long bath is about three hours after breakfast; but for an 

 ordinary daily dip, lasting but a short time, there is no better 

 period than on rising and while still warm from bed. 



The shower-bath abstracts less heat from the skin than an or- 

 dinary cold bath and, at the same time, gives it a greater stimu- 

 lus: hence it has certain advantages. 



Persons in feeble health may diminish the shock to the system 

 by raising the temperature of the water they bathe in up to any 

 point at which it still feels cool to the skin. The very hot bath 

 is occasionally useful as the most efficient means for cleansing the 

 skin. There is no doubt, however, that its effect tends to be ener- 

 vating, and it should not be indulged in too frequently. 



