24 HUMAN BIOLOGY 



heavy clothing and overheated rooms prevent the nerves 

 from being stimulated by cold air and sunlight. The best 

 way to counteract these weakening conditions is by frequent 

 cool or cold baths. An air bath, which consists of exposing 

 the bare skin to the air for half an hour or more before 

 dressing in the morning, may take the place of a cold 

 bath. Even the lower animals bathe : birds, dogs, and 

 many lower animals bathe in the rivers. An elephant 

 sometimes takes a bath by showering water over his back 

 with his trunk. 



Treatment of Burns. — Wet the burn with a little water 

 and sprinkle common baking soda or flour thickly on it. 

 Bind with a narrow bandage. For deeper burns soak a 

 small square of cloth in a strong solution of baking soda, 

 bandage it on wound, and keep it wet with the solution. 

 Olive, cotton seed, and linseed oils are excellent for burns 

 (Exp. 13). 



Hygiene of Bathing. — A bath should not be taken 

 within an hour after a meal. Cold baths (1) should 

 never be taken in a cold room nor when the skin is 

 cold ; (2) are more beneficial in summer and in warm cli- 

 mates, but are necessary in winter for those who live in 

 overheated houses or dress very warmly ; (3) should be 

 followed in winter by vigorous rubbing and a glowing re- 

 action ; (4) should usually not last longer than one minute 

 in winter. Warm baths (1) are more cleansing than cold 

 baths ; (2) should not be used alone but should always be 

 followed by a dash of cold water ; (3) are better than cold 

 baths if the body is greatly fatigued ; (4) are more benefi- 

 cial when going to bed than upon rising. 



Cold baths and very hot baths are both stimulants to 

 the nervous system and cause an expenditure of nervous 

 energy. For one whose nervous energy is at a very low 



