B A T 
vioufly afcertained, whether it is adapted to the confirm 
tion, ftrength, or particular difeafe then exitling. To re¬ 
move as much as poffible every impediment to this falu- 
tary vital adtion, perfons of every age, before they bathe 
in cold water, fltould take one or two doles of fitch pur¬ 
ging medicine as may be proper in their particular date of 
health; and, if their flomach is difordered, a g.entle eme¬ 
tic might precede the cathartic, which will have the bell 
eftedl if taken in the morning falling. Thele evacuations 
are indifpenftbly necelfary, not only in guarding againft 
fever and other dilagreeable CQnfequences, but by empty¬ 
ing the firfl palfages of that foeculent matter which is al¬ 
ways lodged in them ; the conllitution being thus relieved 
from a load more or lefs opprefii'ng, the vis vita: is enabled 
to produce the re-action regularly, and thereby enfure the 
benefit expedted from bathing. 
The degree of re-fetion, and confequently warm fenfa- 
tion, would feern to depend in great meafure upon the re¬ 
lative degree of cold nets in the water, compared witlt the 
temperature of the body at the time of bathing. Deli¬ 
cate nervous women are lefs lenlible of the warm fenfa- 
tion, after bathing in water foiite degrees colder than ufu- 
al. When, therefore, the re-adtion does not'properly fuc- 
ceed the imrnerfion, it may be advifeable for fitch perfons 
to try the water two or three degrees higher, which it 
commonly acquires by noon in warm weather. Or, they 
may ufe the covered bath, which is generally two degrees 
warmer than the open fea. In the adtion of bathing, it is 
right that the head fltould at all times be fit'll in the wa¬ 
ter, to prevent an accumulation of fluid upon the furface 
of the brain, and after one plunge to come out as quick as 
poffible ; and it is not necelfary to be very folicitous in 
drying the body afterwards, as being wetted with fait wa¬ 
ter does not occalion indifpofition in the manner frefli wa¬ 
ter ufually does, probably from their different aftion up¬ 
on the extreme velfels; even the dew that falls heavy in 
the evening at the fea-fide is not attended with any bad 
confiequence to thofie who have beenexpofed to it. After 
bathing, moderate exercife fhould be taken, carefully a- 
vciding whatever may fatigue the body, or exhauft the 
fpirits, as that would defeat the intention. 
The cuftom of bathing early in the morning is certainly 
very proper, and fhould not be deviated from without 
good and (ttfficient reafon ; but the delicate and weakly, 
efpecially females who have been in the habit of lying late 
in bed, are foon fatigued upon riling fo much before their 
ufual time. Such perfons will do well in taking a flight 
bieakfaft early, and two hours after they may go into the 
fea with eale and fafety ; and, as this may be accomplifh- 
ed by ten o’clock, the water, even in the warnieft part of 
our funtmer, will not have acquired a perceptible increale 
of heat. Previous to their bathing, fltould too much ex¬ 
ercife be taken, it may fo far induce debility as to prevent, 
or greatly diminilh, the fucceeding warm fenfation, and 
thereby lelfen the good effects of the water. The moll 
common practice is to batiie two mornings fucceffively, 
and oink one; and to take three dips at each bathing; but 
in mod cafes this practice will be found improper. The 
bidden Ihock of the cold water -roufes the energy of the 
fyftem ; a repetition will not augment, and may probably 
diminilh, the effedt of the firft impreffion. In proportion 
as any action on the human body is repeated, in propor¬ 
tion it becomes familiar, and its effects gradually lelfen ; 
it being:a principle inherent in human nature, and indeed 
in all animal nature, to become familiar with, and acco¬ 
modate itfelf to, exifting circumflances. Thus, bathing 
two days in three, if it does not immediately difagree, 
will, by its frequency, diminilh the influence of the water 
upon the fyffeni, thereby depriving it of that full fttccefs 
it might have, if tifed with moderation. Bathing alternate 
mornings, and taking one plunge, is as often as is com¬ 
monly advifeable. 
People of all ages, and in almorf every condition of 
health, are accufiomed, when at the lea fide, to drink fait 
water in the morning, under the impreffion of its being a 
Vol. II. No. 104. 
fweetener of the blood, and an antifcorbutic. Salt water 
taken internally pollelfcs no quality fuperior to any other 
purgative taken in fuch quantity as will produce (imijar 
effects. It is a naufeous potion, often very rough in its 
operation; and, when it does not aft, always heats and 
difprders the body, efpecially in children. But, when it 
is taken, the addition of an equal quantity of warm milk 
will ameliorate the tafte, and render its action upon the 
bowels lefs painful. But, on the days of bathing, neithei 
falt-water nor any other purgative fhould be taken; be- 
caufe purging universally weakens the powers of the fyf- 
tem, which cold bathing is intended to invigorate. 
The air upon the fea is purer, and more free from nox¬ 
ious effluvia and exhalations, than upon the land. This 
pofition is proved beyond a poffibility of doubt, by feafa- 
ring people, w ho, with proper precautions, fuller lefs from 
difeafes titan any other clafs of men ; and by a late cele¬ 
brated and much-lamented circumnavigator having loll 
fewer men refpedting his numbers, in a given time, than 
would have died, during the lame period, in the healthi- 
eff fpot in Europe. The air on the fea-coaft partakes in 
an eminent degree of this falubrious quality, provided the 
foil is dry, free from marflies, and ftagnant water. Thofe 
afflicted with debilitated nervous constitutions, and from 
various cattles the hesitations have acquired fuch an increa- 
fed irritability, that cold bathing may either not be buf¬ 
fered, or may be improper, much, benefit may be received 
by moderate walking and riding in the fea air; alwavs 
carefully guarding againft fatigue. 
With refpect to the warmfea-balh , it has hitherto been 
but little ufed in this country, from the very general opi¬ 
nion that warm water, applied for any length of time to 
the furface of the body, univerfally weakens and diminifh- 
es the force and aClion of the mufcular fibre; but Dr. 
Reid is of opinion, from very great experience, that a te¬ 
pid fea-bath, heated from ninety to ninety-fix degrees on 
Fahrenheit’s fcale, does not relax the body, diminilh the 
ftrength, or exhauft the fpirits, after remaining in it from 
five to thirty minutes, even in perfons previoufly reduced 
and greatly weakened by difeafe; and that, on coming out 
of the bath, they feel themfelves vefrefhed, and their fpi¬ 
rits lighter and more cheerful. 
The degree of warmth in the water, and the time of 
the imrnerfion which we have recommended, probably act 
upon the fyftem as a fedative, but not fo as to debilitate. 
This, on mature conlideration, will probably appear nei¬ 
ther an apparent nor a real contradiction. As a iedative, 
it removes irritability and other morbid aClion in the 
nervoivs fyftem, in a manner fimilar to opium, cicuta, and 
medicines of that clafs, without inducing weaknefs or de¬ 
bility. Some perfons, on firft ufing the warm bath, feel 
a troublefome itching, tingling, or glowing heat, on their 
fkin ; but thefe lenfations rarely continue after the fecond 
bathing. In others, the breathing is much affeCled upon 
firft going into the water, which generally foon goes off; 
but we have known it remain, with fpaftnodic catching of 
the breath, lb that the perfon was obliged to come out after 
being in only a few minutes; thefe fymptoms arife from 
an increafed degree of irritability in the nerves, and are 
not to be confidered as of any importance; they foon dif- 
appear, and rarely return after the fecond time of bathing. 
The ufual efredl of the warm bath immediately on coming 
out is feeling light and cheerful, without any incrcafe of 
animal heat, or quicknefs of the pulfe ; yet in dome inftan- 
ces, which indeed rarely occur, it has occafioned head-ach, 
heat, difficulty of breathing, reftlelfnefs, difttirbed fleep, 
and flight delirium. When thefe fymptoms appear, they 
fufficiently indicate the impropriety of its repetition. In 
cafes of great debility, where it may be advifeable to ufe 
the warm bath, delicate perfons will be able to fupport it 
a longer time without inconvenience, by taking a cupful 
of wine and water, equal parts, brewed with an egg, and 
made milk warm. Dr. Reid recommends the tender and 
fickly to ufe the warm bath in the evening, and to be taken 
home in a chair, to avoid taking cold from variable wea- 
9 T ther. 
