B A 



BAT 



1. In the convulfions to which children are fo liable, Dr. 

 Currie of Liverpool (whofe obfervations on the fubjcA of 

 cold bathing cannot be too often quoted) has found this 

 application a molt ufcful remedy, whether the convulfions 

 originated in worms, or other caufes. In early infancy, 

 however, he remarks, that he has ufeJ it with caution, 

 fometimes tempering the water when the weather was cold, 

 and fometimes pouring it upon the patient, rather than i.v.- 

 nierging the patient in it ; making the application of the 

 cold water in this way fudden and tranlient, fo as tof^cure 

 reaction, and avoiding the remedy entirely in all cafes where 

 the vital energy feemed much exhauRed. He farther re- 

 marks, that the chief benefit derived from the cold bath in 

 convulfive difeafes, depends on its being ufed in the pa- 

 roxyfm of convulfion. It not only fhortens the duration or 

 abates the violence of the exifting paroxyfm, but has a re- 

 mote good effecl in retarding or wholly preventing its return. 

 In that convulfive dlforder termed c/jorca Su. Vitl, the cold 

 bath, though iirongly recommended by moll praftitioners, 

 has not fucceeded with this author ; and he candidly ax- 

 knowledges, that his experience of its effefts in epileptic 

 fits is as yet too limited to enable him to form any fatif- 

 faftor)- conclufion. The late Dr. Heberden, whofe expe- 

 rience in-thefe afFedtions was confiderable, had no great 

 opinion of it. Againii tetanus, whether idiopathic or arifing 

 from local injury, this remedy has been employed with 

 the moll decided good eflFtft, particularly in the tropical 

 climates ; nor has it proved Icfs beneficial in maniacal pa- 

 roxyfms. See Dr. Curric's work hereafter quoted. 



2. In certain forms and conditions of fever. In thefe 

 cafes, cold bathing, wh.ether by immerfion or afFufion, is of 

 eminent fervice when properly applied ; as, by abllracling 

 the preternatural degree of heat, it rids the body of an ex- 

 haulling ftimnlus and irritation, and thereby abates the fre- 

 quency of tl;e pulle, the delirium, and other febrile f) mp- 

 toms. It may be reforted to in mod fevers (fome of the ex- 

 anthematous fevers excepted) where the Ikin is hot and dry ; 

 but it is efpecially adapted to the typhus or common conta- 

 gious fever of this country, the ardent fevers of the hot 

 climates, and the yellow fever of the Well Indies, &c. — 

 " The fafell and mod advantageous time 'fays Dr. Currie) 

 for ufing the afperfion oraffufion of cold water, is when the 

 exacerbation is at its height, or immediately after its decli- 

 nation is begun ; and this"has led me almoft always to direft 

 it to be employed from fix to nine o'clock in the evening ; 

 but it may be fafrly ufed at any time of the day, when 

 there is no fenfe of chilhnefs prefent, when the heat of the 

 furface is fleadily above what is natural, and when there is 

 no general or profufe perfpiration." It is of the utmoft 

 importance that medical prattitioners be careful not to apply 

 this remedy during the cold fit of fever, when it would ex- 

 tingviilh life ; nor to apply it when the heat of the body is 

 lefs than natural, or even only equal to the natural heat ; 

 nor when the fever-patient is in a ftace of perfpiration. 

 Cold bathing has alfo been tried in tire fcarlat'ina ; but in 

 this fpecies of eruptive fever as well as in meafles, the appli- 

 cation of cold water to tlie furface of the body is, in our 

 opinion, by no means advifeable. Another caution we 

 would fubjoin with regard even to fevers that are not erup- 

 tive ; viz. that when they are complicated (as often happens 

 in this climate) with pneumonic inflammation, cold ablution 

 is inadmiihble. 



Cold bathing has often been recommended in certain 

 glandular difeafes, and particularly in fcrophula. Accurate 

 obfervation, however, has proved, that in thefe cafes it is 

 generally hurtful ; and that for fuch complaints, a temperate 

 bath, whether cf frefli or fait water, is preferable. 



Having thus defcribed the general effects of cold bathing, 

 as well as its particular application to certain dates of dif- ' 

 eafe; we have only further to add a few words rtfpecling the 

 manner of ufing it. In the cafe oi immcrj!on,ihc time of llay- 

 ing (hould in general not exceed a minute or two, where the 

 degree of cold is below 60 ; but in the fummer and autum- 

 nal feafons, immerfion in rivers, aVid efpecially in the fea, 

 maybe continued as long as is pleafant to the feelings of the 

 bathers ; provided the body is at the fame time exercifed in 

 fwimming. Much mifchief, however, is frequently done 

 by Haying in too long. 



It has been commonly fuppofcd, that if a perfon has made 

 hinifelf warm with walking or any other exercife.he muft wait 

 till he becomes cooled before he fliould plunge into the cold 

 water. Dr. Currie, however, has fhewn that this is an er- 

 roneous idea, and that in the earlier flages of exercife, before 

 profufe perfpiration has difiipated the heat, and fatigue 

 debilitated the living power, nothing is more fafe, accord- 

 ing to liis exptrience, than the cold bath. This is fo true, 

 that he has for fome years conftantly direfted infirm perfons 

 to ufe fuch a degree of exercife before immerfion, as may 

 produce fome increafed aftion of the vafcular fyllem, with 

 fome increafe of heat ; and thus fecure a force of reaction 

 under the fhock, which otherwifc might not always take 

 place. The popular opinion, that it is fafell to go perfectly 

 cool into the v.ater, is founded (he obfcrves) on erroneous 

 notions, and fometimes produdlive of injurious confequences. 

 Thus, perfons heated and beginning to perfpire, often think 

 it necefTary to wait on the edge of the bath until they are 

 perfedlly cooled ; and then plunging into the water, feel a 

 fudden chillnefs that is alarming and dangerous. In fuch 

 cafes, the injury is generally imputed to going into the water 

 too warm, whereas in truth it arifes from going in too cold. 



Befides immerfion, there are other modes of cold bathing; 

 fuch as affufion, which confifts in fuddenly pouring upon the 

 body a fuiScient quantity of cold water from buckets or 

 other veffels. This mode of applying cold water produces a 

 very confiderable (hock, and confcquent readlion. It is 

 this mode of cold bathing that has been reforted to with 

 advantage in the contagious fevers of this cli.Tiate, and in 

 the yellow fever of the Well Indies. 'What is termed the 

 fhower-bath is only another mode of afifufion. 



As cold bathing is a remedy which is fuccefsfuUy em- 

 ployed for the cure of various diforders, fo is it a preferva- 

 tive againft. others, and particularly againll febrile infec- 

 tion. When ufed by perfons in health, it increafes the tone 

 of the mufcular fibre, ilrengthens the digeilive organs, and 

 by diminiihing the fenfibility of the whole fyllem, and par- 

 ticularly of the fl<;in, renders the body lefs fufceptible of at- 

 mofphcric impreffions from cold, wet, and fudden changes 

 of temperature ; thus contributing to the produdlion of 

 what is termed a robuft or athletic conftitution. A tem- 

 perate bath (i. c. from 70 to 85, or more) is applicable to 

 the fame cafes as the cold bath, and may be ufed ii/^the fame 

 manner. It is preferable in many cafes where the flioek of 

 the ordinaiy cold bath is too great. 



If after going into the cold bath a perfon feels duU or 

 chilly, or complains of head-ach or tightnefs acrofs the 

 chell, it is a proof that it difagrees, and it fhould accord- 

 ingly be difcontinued. It rtiould further be remarked, that 

 this remedy is not fuited to thofe who have a tendency to 

 confumption, nor to fuch as arc conftitutionally liable to 

 bowel complaints. The bed feafons of the year for cold 

 bathing are the fummer and autumn. 



We now proceed to the confideraVon of * 



Warm Bathing: a remedy not lefs cfEcacious than 

 the former in difeafes of an oppofite nature ; but 



concerning' 



