ASH OF THE COMMON POTATO. 
247 
to all the horrors of “ sniffling, sneezing, coughing, 
and relapse.” That such results from bathing 
have no existence beyond the minds of the timid, 
the ignorant, and the prejudiced, must he obvious 
to every candid person. Even the cold bath, such 
as is used in the treatment termed “ hydropathy,” 
is beneficial when applied with judgment; and it is 
only when discretion is not exercised, that bathing 
under any condition ever proves injurious. 
Some persons, it is true, are very susceptible of 
taking cold, and are themselves “ living barome¬ 
ters;” but even to them, warm, or tepid bathing, 
would prove, in many cases, advantageous. One 
half of the rheumatic twinges, swollen limbs, and 
cramped joints, would give way to proper confi¬ 
dence and perseverance in this remedy. In short, 
it must be conceded, that bathing, especially in 
water at a temperature nearly similar to that of our 
•bodies, is, in itself, one of the most cleanly and 
health-preserving luxuries, or rather we should 
say, necessaries of life. 
The following is a brief notice of the advanta¬ 
ges to be derived from a cold bath, as best adapted 
for the general purposes of health, or will be of 
much interest to our readers, : — 
The temperature of the cold bath varies from 
45° to 85° F. In a medical point of view, it is 
considered both tonic and stimulant when not too 
long continued. In order to produce its full effects, 
the bather should feel a pleasant glow upon the 
surface of the body, immediately on coming out of 
the water. If the sensation of coldness, or shiver¬ 
ing, follow, on entering the bath, the immersion 
should not be repeated. 
In using the cold bath, it is of essential impor¬ 
tance to know that there is no truth in the popular 
opinion, that “it is safer to enter the water when 
the body is cool, and that persons heated by exercise, 
and beginning to perspire, should wait till they are 
perfectly cool.” For it is a rule, liable to no ex¬ 
ception , that moderate exercise ought always to pre¬ 
cede. cold bathing ; as neither previous rest , nor ex¬ 
ercise to a violent degree , is proper on this occasion. 
The best place for cold bathing is in the sea, a 
clear river, lake, or pond ; but -where none of these 
can conveniently be had, the bathing tub, shower 
bath, or wet towel may be advantageously employed. 
The morning is a proper time for using the cold 
bath, unless it he in a river, or lake ; in which case, 
the afternoon, or from one to two hours before sunset, 
will be more appropriate. On the whole, one hour 
after a light breakfast, or two hours before, or four 
hours after, dinner are regarded as the proper 
periods of the day for the purpose. 
The best preparation for cold bathing for inva¬ 
lids is, to begin with a warm bath, then a tepid 
one, after which, in most cases, they may plunge 
with safety into a cold bath. Generally, an im¬ 
mersion every second day from the commence¬ 
ment of warm bathing to the end of a fortnight, 
will be sufficiently often ; after this, the cold bath 
may be continued daily. Persons in health, and 
possessing robust constitutions, should bathe year 
in and year out, at least twice a week, in cold 
water, and if these ablutions be performed daily, 
so much the better will it be for their health. 
On entering a cold bath, the head should first 
come in contact with the water, either by immer¬ 
sion, by being showered upon, or by covering it, 
a minute'or so, with a wet cloth. After this, the 
bather may plunge into the water headlong. As 
the immersion w T ill be less felt when it is effected 
suddenly, and as it is of consequence that the first 
impression should be uniform over the whole body, 
the bath ought not to be entered slowly, nor timo¬ 
rously, but with a degree of boldness. A contrary 
method, in some constitutions, is dangerous, as it 
has a tendency to propel the blood from the lower 
to the upper parts of the body, and thus predisposes 
to a fit of apoplexy. For these reasons, the show¬ 
er bath is attended with considerable advantage, 
because it transmits the water quickly over the 
whole body. Therefore, while in the water, the 
bather should not remain inactive, but apply brisk 
and general friction, and move his arms and legs, 
by swimming, or otherwise, in order to promote the 
circulation of the blood from the heart to the ex¬ 
tremities. For, in all cases, it is extremely impru¬ 
dent to continue in the bath until the body is at¬ 
tacked with a second chilliness. 
The duration of the immersion ought to be short, 
and must be determined by the bodily constitution 
and sensation of the individual. In summer, a cold 
bath may be enjoyed by healthy persons for half 
an hour or more, while in spring or autumn, one or 
two minutes will be sufficient. Under similar cir¬ 
cumstances, cold water acts on aged and lean indi¬ 
viduals with more violence than on those who 
are corpulent and young. Hence, an old man of 
seventy, even in the hottest days of summer, can 
seldom remain in a cold bath, with safety, longer 
than ten or fifteen minutes ; whereas, the robust 
young man of twenty may safely sustain its im¬ 
pression for nearly an hour. 
Immediately after leaving the bath, it is necessa¬ 
ry that the bather should quickly wipe himself 
dry with a coarse towel, or cloth. He should not 
afterwards sit inactive, but if the season permit, he 
ought to take moderate exercise, till the usual cir¬ 
culation, and the customary action of the muscles 
be restored. 
The principal advantages derived from cold- 
water bathing, besides cleanliness and salutary ex¬ 
ercise, are either the reduction of excessive bodily 
heat, or the producing of a healthy reaction of the 
system. It is also serviceable in the treatment of 
several nervous diseases, as well as gouty and 
rheumatic complaints; but as this more appropri¬ 
ately comes within the province of the medical prac- 
t.ioner, it must necessarily be omitted here. 
Ash of the Common Potato. —In every 100 
parts of ashes of the common potato, there are 
contained the following chemical ingredients :— 
Potash, 
- 51.5 
Phosphoric acid, - 
11.3 
Sulphuric acid, 
7.5 
Lime, 
2.0 
Magnesia, 
- 5.5 
Carbonic acid, 
13.5 
Silica, - 
- 5.5 
Chlorine, - 
2.7 
Iron, 
trace 
Soda, - 
- 0.8 
99.8 
