60 A HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHPORT. 



plunging into the water. It is in this cold stage that there 

 may be danger, for the excitement has already passed away, 

 and the system cannot resist the depressing influence of the 

 cold. If the surface of the skin be dry, and the heat somewhat 

 above the natural standard, little is to be feared from immersion 

 into a lower temperature. 



The next important question is the proper lime for bathing. 

 In delicate subjects, injury is frequently caused by cold bathing 

 at a time when the vital powers are too languid to admit of the 

 necessary reaction, before a meal, or after any great fatigue, 

 for example. The rule for the invalid should be, not to bathe 

 either just before or just after taking food, nor after too long a 

 walk. A bath early in the morning, before breakfast, exerts a 

 more powerful effect than one taken at a later hour of the day, 

 and requires proportionate energy and strength in the bather. 

 As a general rule, both bathing and exercise, on an empty 

 stomach, will be found unsuited to the invalid, and the best 

 time will be the period between breakfast and dinner, taking 

 care to avoid the other evil of bathing on a full stomach, which 

 is dangerous to persons of full habits, or advanced in years, 

 exposing them to the risk of congestion of the brain or even 

 apoplexy. Two hours after breakfast and three hours after 

 dinner should elapse before bathing is ventured upon. 



Too frequent bathing is to be avoided. Bathing, like all 

 other stimulants, depends principally upon its occasional use 

 for its legitimate effects. The evils resulting from too frequent 

 bathing are nearly equal to those resulting from too long 

 immersion. The practice of bathing every day is not to be 

 recommended. For persons of a delicate constitution and 

 reduced habits of body, a bath every third or fourth day is 



