ADVANTAGES OF SEA-BATHING. 55 



bath that it was customary to employ it at their festive enter- 

 tainments, and it was considered essential to the eclat of 

 public rejoicings. Establishments for this purpose were con- 

 structed, vicing with each other in magnitude and splendour, 

 as may be seen from the ruins which still excite the wonder 

 and admiration of the traveller. 



The importance of bathing cannot be overrated if we 

 consider that the skin upon which it operates performs the 

 several functions of absorption, secretion, and excretion, 

 and that upon its surface the bloodvessels and nerves 

 terminate. It has also a wide range of sympathies, in which 

 are included the alimentary canal and air passages, and it 

 co-operates also with those great emunctories of the circu- 

 lating system, the lungs, the liver, and kidneys, aiding them 

 in the elimination of noxious matters. Hence, the absolute 

 necessity that there should be no impediment to the perform- 

 ance of its functions. 



Sea-bathing has many advantages over ordinary bathing. 

 The sea may be considered practically as a medicated bath, 

 containing, besides well-known saline constituents, iodine and 

 bromine in minute proportions, which latter exert a peculiar 

 action upon the glandular and absorbent system. The sea is 

 also the habitation of innumerable organic beings, who live 

 and die there ; it therefore becomes impregnated with subtle 

 and volatile animal particles, which extraordinarily increase 

 the stimulating powers of sea water. We conclude, therefore, 

 that open sea-bathing, where it can be borne by the invalid, 

 is preferable, as in home or in-door bathing, although all the 

 elements of sea water may be present, there is still the absence 

 of a saline atmosphere, of the shock of the waves, the agitation 



