232 PHYSIOLOGY. 



cessive weakness and feeling of utter prostration that we experience 

 during an acute attack of diarrhea. We can now understand where all 

 the material comes from to make the profuse discharges, especially 

 after we have ceased eating for some time. 



It is a significant fact that diarrhea is usually called " summer com- 

 plaint." During the warm summer nights we are tempted to go to 

 sleep with very little covering over our bodies. But it almost always 

 grows cool before morning. The common summer diarrhea is, in 

 many cases, due to bacteria taken in food ; but, on the other hand, may 

 be simply a " cold in the bowels." 



Bathing. One purpose of bathing is to cleanse the 

 skin. For this purpose warm water is best, and it is de- 

 sirable to use soap, especially on those parts which are 

 especially exposed to contamination, such as the hands, 

 the feet, the armpits, and groins. 



Cold Baths. Another important function of bathing 

 is to act as a systemic tonic. For this purpose cold bath- 

 ing is better, but this should not be too long continued, 

 and must be followed by brisk friction to give the skin a 

 ruddy glow. For this kind of bath a tub is not necessary, 

 and hardly desirable. The water may be quickly applied 

 by means of a sponge, and the body thoroughly rubbed 

 with a coarse towel. The whole process should be com- 

 pleted very quickly, especially if the room be not warm. 



Bath Mits. Instead of the sponge and the ordinary 

 form of towel, it may be found more . convenient to use 

 bath mits made of Turkish toweling. These are easily 

 made, and are somewhat more convenient, as thus friction 

 may be more readily applied than with a towel, which is 

 apt to slip in the hand. The two hands may be used at 

 the same time, and the whole time of the bath need not 

 exceed two or three minutes. At the beginning of a bath, 

 cold water should be applied to the head and face. 



