422 THE HUMAN BODY. 



renders a longer stay safe, and, of course, the temperature 

 of the water has a great influence: water called "cold" 

 may vary within very wide limits of temperature, as indi- 

 cated by the thermometer; and the colder it is the shorter 

 is the time which it is wise to remain in it. Persons who 

 in the comparatively warm water of Narragansett dur- 

 ing the summer months stay with benefit and pleasure 

 in the sea, have to content themselves with a single plunge 

 on parts of the coast where the water is colder. The 

 nature of the water has some influence; the salts contained 

 in sea-water stimulate the skin-nerves and promote the 

 afterglow'. Many persons who cannot stand a simple cold 

 fresh-water bath take one with benefit when some salines are 

 previously dissolved in the water. The best for this purpose 

 are probably those sold in the shops under the name of 

 " sea-salts." 



It is perfectly safe to bathe when warm, provided the 

 skin is not perspiring profusely, the notion commonly pre- 

 valent to the contrary notwithstanding. On the other 

 hand, no one should enter a cold bath when feeling chilly, 

 or in a depressed vital condition. It is not wise to take a 

 bath immediately after a meal, since the afterglow tends to 

 draw away too much blood from the digestive organs, which 

 are then actively at work. The best time for a long bath is 

 about three hours after breakfast; but for an ordinary daily 

 dip, lasting but a short time, ther.e is no better period than 

 on rising and while still warm from bed. 



The shower-bath abstracts less heat from the skin than 

 an ordinary cold bath and, at the same time, gives it a 

 greater stimulus: hence it has certain advantages. 



Persons in feeble health may diminish the shock to the 

 system by raising the temperature of the water they bathe 

 in up to any point at which it still feels cool to the skin. 

 Bathing in water which feels warm is not advisable: it tends 

 generally to diminish the vital activity of the Body. Hence 

 warm baths should only be taken occasionally and for 

 special purposes. 



