224 Physiology. 



Cold Baths. Another important function of bathing is 

 to strengthen the system. For this purpose cold bathing 

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

 must be followed by a 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, or bath mits made of Turkish toweling, 

 and the body thoroughly rubbed with a coarse towel. The 

 whole process should be completed very quickly, especially 

 if the room is not warm. At the beginning of a bath, cold 

 water should be applied to the head and face. 



Time for Bathing. For those who do not take a great 

 deal of vigorous exercise, which keeps the skin active, 

 bathing is especially valuable. The use of warm water 

 for cleansing seems best adapted to the time of going to 

 bed. But the best time for the cool bath is on getting up 

 in the morning. 



Warm Baths vs. Cold Baths. Prolonged warm baths 

 are weakening, and probably increase a tendency to take 

 cold, whereas cold bathing is one of the very best means 

 of fortifying against cold, and especially against the ten- 

 dency to take cold on slight exposure. For most persons 

 a cool sponge bath, on rising, will act as a most excellent 

 tonic ; but if it seems to produce neuralgia, it should be 

 used with caution. 



Exercise of Arterial Muscles. We have learned that 

 the blood supply to any organ is regulated by the action 

 of the plain muscle fibers in the walls of the small arter- 

 ies. Now, when we are subject to changes in temperature 

 these muscles get exercise, and one writer has well called 

 the cold bath the gymnastics of the plain muscle fibers. 



