Human Physiology. 



liament more justifiably than the always doubtful and often 

 injurious practice of vaccination; for the daily bath is a safe- 

 guard against, as well as a remedy for, most diseases. 



The highest health and full vigour of the skin, and its vast 

 number of nerves, blood-vessels, and glands, requires a daily 

 washing of the whole body, preferably as a rule, in cold water ; 

 or, if warm water be used for cleaning, a dash of cold, for its 

 tonic and invigorating effect should follow. And it need not 

 be a very elaborate or expensive process. A broad shallow 

 tub to stand in is convenient, but not indispensable. Two 

 towels will do at a pinch, and a basin of water. Fold your 

 huckabuck along the middle lengthwise, and then in four ; and 

 dip it in the water, and if you have no tub to stand in, give it a 

 moderate squeeze. Wash face, neck, head, and arms. Dip 

 again, and wash front of body and lower limbs. Open out its 

 length, dip the centre, and, beginning at the neck, saw down 

 the back to the knees. Fold and dip again, and wash the front 

 of the body and feet. Wipe thoroughly, and polish off with a 

 rough crash, or Turk. There is a solid good bath, which may 

 be taken anywhere in five minutes. And such a bath every 

 morning, taken by every inhabitant of these islands, would do 

 more to increase the public health, and lessen the bills of mor- 

 tality, than all the doctors and drug-shops. Cleanliness in our 

 persons, our clothing, our dwelling's, the food we eat, the bever- 

 ages we drink, in our whole lives including physical and moral 

 purity is one of the most comprehensive of health conditions. 



We sleep from six to eight or nine hours out of every twenty- 

 four. More than a third of our lives, on an average, is passed in 

 bed. The character of the bed, as well as the ventilation of the 

 bed-room, is therefore a matter of some importance. A moderately 

 hard, firm, elastic bed is not only more healthful, but pleasanter 

 than a soft one. A feather bed heats the body, buries it in a 

 bath of perspiration, weakens the skin, enfeebles the nerves, 

 causes spinal disease, and amative irritation. It absorbs the 



